Ageing is a natural process and although many physiological changes accompany advancing years, age itself is not a disease.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Cats reach the geriatric life stage at the age of 15, but it's not unusual for them to live to late teens and even into their 20s. For dogs, seven years of age is considered geriatric (depending on their breed/size).
Just as improved diet and medical care have resulted in increased life expectancy in humans, advances in nutrition and veterinary care have increased the lifespan of domestic cats and dogs.
The key to making sure your senior pet has the healthiest, highest quality of life possible is to recognise and reduce factors that can be health risks, detect disease as early as possible and improve or maintain the health of the body's systems. This is best performed through regular veterinary checks (every six months).
Detecting disease early has never been easier, as technological advances have allowed instant blood testing in clinic. Routine blood testing once your pet reaches those critical age thresholds is important to recognise any aberrations especially within the organ systems (eg kidneys).
Blood pressure monitoring has become increasingly important to identify hypertension and underlying causes. Dental checks and mobility checks will also become routine.
Specially formulated diets are great to transition onto as your pet begins to age; these diets typically have lower energy but high fibre and important essential fatty acids for cognitive function.
Older cats and dogs are usually less adaptable to change. Introducing a new family pet, changing diet, moving home or even veterinary visits may be highly stressful and affect your pet more than it used to.
Never assume that changes you see in your older animal are simply due to old age and therefore are untreatable. Any alteration in your pet's behavior or physical condition should alert you to contact your veterinarian.
