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Keeping Senior Pets Happy and Healthy

Keeping Senior Pets Happy and Healthy


               It’s no secret that our pets age faster than we do. But, with improved veterinary care, pets are living longer meaning we get to enjoy more time with our furry friends. As pets age, they experience changes to their physical and mental health much as we do.  Here are five things we can do to keep our pets comfortable and help them transition gracefully into their golden years.

  • Regular vet visits and bloodwork: Having your pet checked by your vet every six to twelve months and having annual bloodwork starting at age seven can help detect early signs of disease.  Catching changes like heart disease, kidney disease and arthritis early means we can often do something to slow disease progression and keep pets healthy and comfortable for a longer period of time.
  • Maintain a healthy weight and diet: Keeping your pet at a healthy weight reduces stress on her joints and helps her to stay active longer.  Obese pets are also at higher risk for diseases like diabetes mellitus, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Overweight dogs and cats live an average of two years less than their fit counterparts and who wouldn’t want two more years of kitty kisses or doggie cuddles? Keep those pets lean and active!  Not all pets need a senior formula or prescription diet—ask your vet for the best diet for your senior dog or cat.
  • Keep pets comfortable in the face of mobility changes and sensory loss: About 60% of dogs and cats over the age of seven have some form of osteoarthritis.  Older pets may have more trouble walking on slick floors (think tile or hardwood) or maneuvering staircases due to painful joints and decreased vision. What can we do to help our pets stay more comfortable? Provide stairs or ramps to help pets get onto furniture or to get into the car, place runners made of carpet or shelf liner to help pets navigate slippery floors, and provide comfy cushioned areas or orthopedic beds for senior pets to rest those weary bones.
  • Supplements and Pain Medications: Starting supplements such as fish oil or glucosamine are more beneficial before pets develop full blown arthritis since they protect the joints.  No pet should be in pain—signs can be subtle but if your dog or cat struggles to get up, no longer sleeps on his favorite perch or piece of furniture or seems reluctant to go on a walk or play with his toy, chances are he has some joint pain.  Ask your vet about pain management—a variety of safe and effective medications exist to keep your pet moving and feeling good.
  • Mental Stimulation: Pets can’t join Lumosity or do crossword puzzles to keep mentally fit, but, we can challenge them with things like puzzle toys or even giving new or rotating toys, daily walks or exercise (what better year has there been for walking our pets with so many things closed due to the pandemic?) or games such as hiding treats around the house for dogs (or cats!) to find.  Feeding a food like Purina Bright Mind or using supplements for pets with cognitive dysfunction (similar to Alzheimer’s Disease) may also help boost brain power and improve quality of life.

We all love our pets and, while we hate to see them grow old, there are so many things we can do to keep them as healthy and happy as possible as they age so we can enjoy their company for as long as possible.

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital, serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

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