Way To Age Gracefully
Celebrate Senior Pets In November
As the weather changes, it can make joints twinge and make it a little harder to get up from the floor.
I could be describing myself as I’m in those years, but it is also how are aging cats and dogs feel. There are many things that change physiologically with aging, not just joints, so make sure your senior pets are being seen by their veterinarian at least twice yearly to manage those changes.
The most common change associated with aging in all mammals is arthritis. Arthritis, in fancy medical terms osteoarthritis, is known as degenerative joint disease and is caused by the inflammation from damage to the joint cartilage through wear from daily movement. That increased friction in the joint leads to boney changes and further inflammation.
Clinical signs of arthritis in dogs and cats include difficulty getting up and down, walking with a stiff gait, lameness in one or more legs, reluctance to jump or go up/down stairs and changes in stamina. Many pets will also develop reluctance to be touched in sore areas and sometimes can react with aggression if very painful.
Rather than there being one single cause of arthritis, many factors contribute as it develops over time. These can include:
• Body condition and weight: Being overweight or obese means the joints are carrying more weight.
• Confirmation: How the pet is built can make them more prone to arthritis.
• Congenital joint issues: Malformation of joints leads to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, and more can all lead to increased trauma to joints over time, igniting arthritic changes.
• Injury can change the biodynamics of a joint and when out of whack create chronic trauma that leads to the development of arthritis.
• Nutrition: Improper nutrition during development and growth can lead to abnormal bone growth that lays the foundation for changes over time in joints such as the elbows, knees or hips.
Arthritis is not a disorder that can be cured, but it can be well managed with food, exercise, supplements and medications. Keeping your pet lean and continuing exercise is key. Supplements for joint health, along with prescription medications for pain management, are also a cornerstone for arthritis management. Additional therapies include acupuncture, cold laser and physical therapy. Being a multifactorial disease means that treatment is often multi-pronged.
Aging, in and of itself, is not a disease, but it does open the door to physiologic changes that lead to illness, inflammation and/or pain. Key to helping your pets navigate their senior years gracefully is seeing your veterinarian regularly for preventive care examinations every six months, keeping teeth clean with regular dental cleanings and seeking your veterinarian’s care when seeing changed in behavior, mobility or seeming sick.
The month of November celebrates senior pets. Celebrate yours with a visit to your veterinarian to get everything checked out from nose to tail.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com