Senior Pet Care
» What is a Senior Pet?» What is a Super Senior?
» What do Senior Pets need?
» What should I be watching for with my Senior Pet?
» What about Holistic Care for Senior Pets?
» How will I know when it’s time to say good-bye to my Senior Pet, or if my animal friend is suffering?
What is a Senior Pet?
The rate at which any individual animal ages is determined by many factors including breed, size, nutrition, and lifestyle. You can find your pet's approximate human-equivalent age in the chart below.If your pet falls into one of the senior stages outlined here, don’t worry. Just as with people, pets are enjoying longer, more active and healthier lives than ever before. The goal of senior pet care is to provide your pet with the best quality of life for as long as possible.
What is a Super Senior?
Sometimes called a “geriatric pet,” these are senior citizens who are living into advanced age — and we are blessed with many of these Super Senior citizens at Mendocino Animal Hospital! With the help of regular check-ups, supportive veterinary care, and a little extra TLC at home, many of our Super Seniors are living active and comfortable lives.What do Senior Pets need?
First of all, no two seniors are alike. They don’t all need the same senior food, exercise program, or healthcare support. We DO recommend that all Seniors and Super Seniors receive a Semi-Annual Exam instead of the single yearly visit. This is where we begin with the individual support of each Senior Citizen under our care. Having one of our veterinarians evaluate your animal friend twice yearly will be the best way to detect problems or abnormalities BEFORE they may affect the quality of your pet’s life. Our doctors will tailor a health plan for your Senior that is specific to their individual needs. These may include individually selected diagnostic tests (such as blood tests or x-rays), a change (often reduction) in vaccine recommendations, and in some cases, physical therapy recommendations or lifestyle changes that might be beneficial. Dietary considerations, such as supplements or change in the type of food help to maintain and support optimal health in the Senior citizen.Between the Semi-annual Exams, we recommend that you watch closely for changes in behavior or physical changes that may indicate your companion animal needs to have a special check-up to address an emerging problem or new health care issue that was not present at the last examination.
What should I be watching for with my Senior Pet?
Here are some of the signs and symptoms that your senior citizen needs a health evaluation:- abrupt or persistent weight gain or weight loss
- increased thirst or urination
- difficulty rising or handling stairs
- inability to exercise or winded after exercise
- persistent lameness
- changes in appetite (both increased or decreased)
- spending abnormal times alone or away from the family
- new problems with sight or hearing
- abnormal lumps or bumps
- generalized loss of hair or significant thinning of coat
- lethargy or difficulty understanding commands
- house-soiling accidents
- problems with constipation or diarrhea
- difficulty sleeping or excessive panting
- aggressiveness towards family members or other animals
- coughing or noisy or difficult breathing
What about Holistic Care for Senior Pets?
Dr. Katy Sommers specializes in Holistic Care at Mendocino Animal Hospital. Many people have found a holistic approach to their own health has been very rewarding and choose this approach for the animal companions in their family. Please see our section on Holistic Care for more information.How will I know when it’s time to say good-bye to my Senior Pet, or if my animal friend is suffering?
Many people struggle with this issue. We know that the quality of life your companion has is very important to you. Our veterinary training allows us to detect specific geriatric diseases (which in some cases may be terminal and in other cases quite treatable) to help in your decision-making process. We are trained to evaluate and offer compassionate therapies to improve the level of comfort whenever needed. Each situation is individual, but be assured that our veterinary team is on-hand to help guide you with end-of-life care. For more information and support, see our Hospice and Pet Loss section and Dr. Sommers’ book (The Complete Holistic Dog Book) in our Holistic Health Care section.to top »