Page 22 - Boca Club News - April '24

Page 22, Boca Club News

Pet Matters

You and Your Pet:

How to Help Our Senior Pets at Home as They Age

By Dr Anthony Krawitz BVSc DVM CVH, Calusa Veterinary do not reprimand them if they have “accidents” in the house elderly animals have missing teeth or have teeth extracted by
Center, 6900 Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) as they can’t help it. This is a sign that they require help and the veterinarian when indicated. Softer food may help them,
999-3000. www.CVCBoca.com. perhaps a visit to the veterinarian. or adding water to their dry food to soften it. Always ask your
As we age we often develop more health concerns, and Senior birds may need their food and water placed nearer veterinarian if a dental procedure is needed, or if painkillers
require aids and adjustments to our lives and homes to make to them so they can access it easier. They may need additional or antibiotics are required to make them feel better.
life easier for us. Similarly, aging animals can become more perches, platforms and even stairs to help them get around What we are trying to accomplish here is to do anything
symptomatic as they enter their senior years, and they too their cages or play areas better (be creative). If they start we can to make our pets’ lives easier and more comfortable
require certain aids, lifestyle adjustments and more assistance getting soiled with stool on their feathers, body or feet, a light as they age. It does take a little thought, planning and effort,
from us, their owners and caretakers. Our precious pets give soak in a shallow sink to gently remove the matter may be but the reward is knowing that your sweet and beloved pets
us so much of themselves throughout their lives, so when the needed. Be careful not to fully submerge your bird, and do will be happier, more comfortable, more confident and more
time comes that they require more help we need to be able not submerge the head. relaxed in their senior years, and perhaps will even live longer
to provide it for them. Dental issues: Dental disease can be painful, and often lives due to your taking these important steps.
Nothing replaces regular veterinary visits to diagnose
and treat underlying concerns that are often blamed on “Old
Age,” but actually are issues that have diagnoses and specific
therapies. Most of the time there are things that can be done to
help, often by prescribing medications, supplements, special
diets and nutrition.
Below are some suggestions to improve the quality of
life of our elderly pets, and to make their senior years more
comfortable and fulfilling.
Orthopedic issues: Many elderly cats, dogs, birds and
other pets develop painful musculoskeletal diseases that
affect their ability to get around, to stand up, get to the door
to ask to go out, reach their litter boxes in the case of cats,
or to reach their feeding area. Our job is to help them have
easy access to their food, water, toys, favorite room, sleep
and elimination areas.
Keep their food, water, and bed closer together so they do
not have to go too far to get there. Use pet ramps or stairs to
help them get on and off the bed, onto furniture, their favorite
spot, or to climb into the car. Place non-slip surfaces on the
pathways they use to help with traction, like non-slip rugs,
carpets or runners. Apply non-slip dog shoes, pads or nail
grips which can also prevent them slipping when they have
weakness in their limbs.
Provide baby gates at the top or bottom of stairs to
prevent them from following you all the time and hurting
themselves by doing that. Place extra litter boxes for cats so
they do not have to walk as far to go to the bathroom. Lower
the sides of the litter box or get lower-edged litter boxes to
allow them to get in and out easier. Get extra padding for
their beds or purchase special orthopedic beds to make them
more comfortable. An extra blanket or bed in the car does
the same thing. Lower or raise their water and food bowls
so as to alleviate any discomfort in their necks from spinal
disease when eating or drinking.
Vision and hearing issues: Aging animals can have
decreased vision from a variety of conditions, such as nuclear
sclerosis (cloudy lenses), cataracts, pigment over their eyes,
Diabetes, or other degenerative diseases of the eyes or
nervous system. Hardness of hearing and deafness can occur
and can result in difficulty in knowing what is going on. This
can also all be complicated by cognitive issues (senility).
Keep a night light on to help them see their way in the
dark. If they usually sleep on your bed place extra padding or
extra cushions around your bed on the floor, as many animals
simply fall off the bed as they cannot see the edge anymore in
the dark and can seriously hurt themselves, including neck,
spine and head injuries. Changing their bed to the floor next
to your bed may have to be done.
Many pets with cataracts will see a bright dazzle when
walking towards a light or the sun, and they will seem
uncomfortable from this. Walk away from the light source
as much as possible, or cover the light with your hand or an
object to alleviate this. Make a clear path for them to and from
their most important spots, so it is easy for them to navigate
around. In addition, do not change the layout of your home
too drastically as they may not be able to navigate around the
new pattern of furniture. Sign language can be used if their
hearing is going but vision is still OK. For those with both
hearing and vision deficits, using a scent on your hands to
attract them in a certain direction helps, or tapping the floor
with your feet to tell them you are there, or picking them up
to move them around, are useful aids to know.
Bowel and Bladder issues: There are multiple
reasons for incontinence (leaking of stool or urine, or
inappropriately urinating or defecating). Provide additional
waterproof covers or blankets in strategic areas to protect
your furniture and home.
Some may need special pet diapers to prevent them soiling
these areas. Change the diaper frequently so as not to cause skin
irritation from exposure to urine or feces for long periods. There
are several drugs and supplements that can help many of these
cases, so make sure to discuss this with your veterinarian. Please