Newsletter - Caring for Geriatric Pets
Aging is not for the faint of heart, whether you have two legs or four. Taking care of our dog and cat friends is important as they age, just as we take care of ourselves or our parents. Many conditions related to aging are similar between species – dogs, cats, and humans are all prone to arthritis, bladder incontinence, deafness, weakness, cancer, and less energy as we age. Starting early in trying to prevent some of these conditions is helpful.
One of the best non-medicinal treatments for arthritis are joint supplements. Joint supplements in general contain proteins that are the building blocks of joint fluid and cartilage. Although the mode of action is not known for sure, it is believed that these compounds help the joint repair damage faster. Since every joint has daily wear and tear, with athletic animals using themselves more and harder, it is usually recommended to start a joint supplement BEFORE you see signs of stiffness or slowing down. Hopefully these products could help prevent the arthritic breakdown of all the body’s joints and cartilage. Your veterinarian can help you decide what is best for your pet, since recommendations would vary by breed and use (or non-use!)
There is only one joint supplement labeled for cats – “Cosequin for Cats”, an oral capsule that is usually sprinkled on food. For dogs however, there are a host of joint supplements for oral administration, and each veterinarian will have her or his favorite. The ingredients “Glucosamine”, Chondroitin”, and “MSM” are some of the most important parts of most joint supplements. Many oral joint supplements also contain antioxidants and minerals such as magnesium and copper, which are believed to help the entire body heal faster as well as for joint health. There is one supplement for intramuscular injection called “Adequan”. Adequan works better than the oral joint supplements in most cases, and is labeled to be given monthly after a loading dose time period.
One of the most important things we can do as our pets age is keep them active, exercising every day. This helps prevent weakness most directly, and could possibly help with bladder incontinence and other target areas by keeping all muscles strong. Walking and swimming are great activities for most dogs – check with you dog’s veterinarian to see if he or she can participate in these activities. Although it is hard to exercise cats, scheduling play every day can help.
Diet is very important for your dog or cat. You should feed the highest quality food you can afford. It is also desirable to vary the diet if possible to take advantage of a range of nutrition. Many “gourmet” or specialty pet shops offer a variety of foods, some of which are not much more expensive that the grocery store brands. The people working in these shops usually can guide you toward what foods would be good for your pet and fit your budget. The investment you make in high quality diet now may pay off in a healthy geriatric later. There is growing belief that dry kibble is the most highly processed food you can offer your pet. Especially for cats, wet food seems to be very important for the prevention of kidney (renal) failure, and in some cases has been thought to reverse diabetes, both of which are very common in cats. Many fresh (yes, “human”) foods can be good for your dog or cat. Consult your veterinarian to see which ones are OK, and which may lead to problems.
Holistic treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic can also help aging bodies. Chiropractic can aid greatly in slowing down a progression of weakness because it targets keeping the nervous system healthy. Acupuncture can help in the management of pain such as arthritis, but it can also help get the body back into balance. Kidney failure, chronic diarrhea, asthma, liver failure, cancer/tumors, urinary or fecal incontinence, and back problems are all diseases that our medicine does not have good answers for, but can be treated and managed with acupuncture, sometimes with great success.
The most important thing you can do for your aging pet is to offer good food, and not procrastinate on solid preventative medicine. We all need a little extra TLC to deal with aging bodies and our pets are no different. The goal is quality of life, and there are many things a person can do to help a beloved pet age as gracefully as possible.