Taking care of senior pets is a big responsibility. You have to pay extra attention to not just their everyday nutrition, but also ensure that they never miss a regular health check-up. Remember, healing is just treatment; it is comfort, love, and strength.
– by Dr. Shravani Bishnoi
It’s a normal day at the clinic. My first patient is Johnny, a 10-year-old male Labrador whose mom has brought him in with the complaint of reduced appetite and occasional vomiting over the last few months. After a physical examination, I discuss running routine blood work, a complete blood count (CBC), liver & kidney function tests (LFT & KFT). My heart sinks when I see his report – his serum creatinine is 4 mg/dl; way above the maximum normal level of 1.4mg/dl. Johnny has chronic kidney disease (CKD). In fact, according to the IRIS CKD Staging System, he can be categorized as early-stage 3 CKD. This means that most aspects of his life will henceforth need to be managed to ensure maximum longevity, from fluid therapy and diet change to constant medication and frequent blood tests. CKD is an all-too-common diagnosis amongst senior pets. It is not a curable condition; rather, it has to be managed for the rest of their lives.
Johnny’s case is just one of numerous such cases that we see daily as general practitioners. If we had caught the elevated creatinine values a few months prior, we would have had a less intensive treatment plan and better prognosis for him. Veterinary diagnostics have come a long way in the last couple of decades. Most clinics are equipped to run blood samples, do radiographs, and ultrasounds either in-house or at veterinary labs. However, the concept of running regular diagnostic tests on a pet that is not obviously sick is not easily digestible to many pet parents. Another big reason for delayed diagnoses is that our senior pets do a great job of hiding their chronic diseases.
From Supplements to Therapy – Managing Joint Pain in Pets
Chronic pain due to degenerative joint disease is a widespread issue in senior dogs, especially in breeds like Labradors, Golden retrievers, and German Shepherds. Osteoarthritis (OA) changes in the joints can set in from the age of eight years onwards. Most dogs tend to compensate for their chronic pain very well. They do not necessarily vocalize in pain, nor do they have obvious limps while walking. As they grow older, most of them are observed by their family as ‘slowing down’. This may, in fact, be the only sign of their chronic pain. A routine checkup & physical examination by your vet can help diagnose OA. There are many options to reduce their discomfort and slow down further joint degeneration, including joint supplements, omega-3; 6 supplements, painkiller, and physiotherapy modalities like TENS or acupuncture. Your vet can tailor a treatment plan to support your senior pet’s mobility for as long as possible.
Keeping Them Hale and Hearty
Heart disease is another geriatric ailment that can have an insidious onset. The earlier that cardiac dysfunction is diagnosed, the better the overall prognosis for your pet. Small changes in their behaviour, like excessive panting at rest, exercise intolerance, and coughing, can point us towards this diagnosis. During a routine examination, irregular heart sounds or murmurs can be picked up via auscultation by your vet. I also recommend screening 2-view chest x-rays for senior dogs yearly, after eight years of age, to monitor the heart size and lungs.
Hope and Healing Through Cancer Care Cancer is primarily a disease of geriatric animals. Some masses, like spleen, liver, or lung masses, may lie dormant for months before showing clinical signs. They can show up as incidental findings during screening x-rays or ultrasounds; another reason why routine diagnostics are so helpful! Masses on the skin are often found during clinical examination, which can be investigated via techniques like fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).
For me, the importance of a complete physical examination was driven home in the case of Daphne, a 9-year-old indie dog who had come for a regular check-up. While doing a rectal exam, I felt a small mass on the right side of the anus, which, on further investigation, turned out to be malignant carcinoma. Due to the small size and early stage of diagnosis, the mass was removed, and she is still in remission a year later.
Helping Senior Pets Stay Happy and Healthy
Most pet parents feel strongly that they want their senior babies to live a comfortable life with minimum medical intervention- a sentiment which I echo, having dogs of my own. However, a crucial element of maintaining a good quality of life is early diagnosis of chronic disease. A minimum diagnostic panel should be run once in 6-12 months for pets above 8 years of age, including –
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function test
- Kidney function test
- Chest x-rays (2-views)
- Basic quick scan of the abdomen
Our goal as veterinarians is always the health and comfort of our patients. With these diagnostics on board, we will be better equipped to help your senior baby and ensure they live the happy life they deserve!