In The Golden Years...................                              "Dave"

To keep your aging cat enjoying its senior years to the fullest, you are your cats best defense against the ravages of time.  Cats are famous for hiding pain and discomfort, and it is the truly observant owner who is able to first pick up on the subtle changes-it is the caring owner who takes action and seeks help for his/her cat.  Increased owner awareness is the key to keeping your cat comfortable and healthy.  Cats don't always show overt clinical signs when they are sick, and many of the signs are  vague.  The earlier a disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat successfully.  If you observe any new or odd behaviors in your elderly pet, they might be caused by a health problem, thus warranting a trip to see their vet.  Senility is a concern, and signs can include inappropriate elimination, persistent vocalization, an out-of-sync sleep cycle, confusion, disorientation, lack of appetite, repetitive and compulsive behaviors and listlessness.  These signs are common in the geriatric cat and are often signs of an underlying health problem.  Early detection does save lives...........we recommend bi-yearly exams, or sooner if you see any signs of a health problem.  Suffering from joint pain can affect a cat's ability to groom, so paying extra attention to your cats grooming habits is important, as well as making the food dish and litterbox easily accessible (no jumping up or bending thru a door) and offering a warm, soft spot to lie on.

"Corky"

Basking in the sunshine -a typical favorite pastime for geriatric dogs

Cognitive Dysfunction--Alzheimer's in Dogs

Sometimes older dogs get confused, maybe soil the rug or lose their way in the house. It's perfectly natural. Or is it?

In the past ten years, veterinarians have come to realize that severe cognitive (or thinking-related) problems are no more normal in older dogs than they are in aging people. While older dogs may move a bit more slowly and get a little gray around the muzzle, they shouldn't experience a complete change in personality. A dog that suddenly seems confused, distant, or lost may be showing signs of cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (or CDS) is a degeneration of the brain and the nervous system in dogs, roughly comparable to Alzheimer's disease in people. Like Alzheimer's, it is caused by physical changes in the brain and brain chemicals, and it is not a part of normal aging.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is a result of harmful lesions that accumulate on the dog's brain as he ages. A nerve-damaging protein builds up as debilitating plaque, which blocks the transmission of neurotransmitters like dopamine from one nerve cell to another and in turn, disrupts the dog's thinking and the way he acts. He becomes listless, disoriented and confused.

It results in a deterioration of cognitive abilities, causing behavioral changes that can disrupt the lives of pets and the families that care for them. An ongoing study performed at the University of California-Berkeley has shown that 62 percent of dogs between ages 11 and 16 demonstrate one or more signs of CDS, and the percentage goes up as dogs get older.

A lot of dog owners don't realize that their dog has CDS so they put up with senile-like behavior until their dog's bladder or bowel function deteriorates. Then they see the vet. To help prevent this from happening with your dog, there are common behavioral changes associated with CDS to watch out for. It's time to contact your vet if your dog:

The symptoms
So how can you tell if a dog is showing signs of CDS or if she's just getting older? Watch for some of the following behaviors:

Appears confused, disoriented or has memory loss

Stops responding to name

Sleeps more during the day and less at night

Forgets daily routines, like feeding times and when to go outside

Wanders aimlessly around the house

Barks for no reason

Loses interest in people, surroundings/events or doesn't recognize friends or family 

No longer wants attention or to be petted

Has a decreased activity level

Stops responding (ignores) basic commands

Engages in repetitive and compulsive behavior

Forgets tricks, has difficulty learning new tasks, commands, or familiar routes

Loses housetraining abilities,  may urinate or defecate where she normally would not

Frequent trembling or shaking

Has decreased attentiveness or stares into space

Has increased thirst, pants excessively

Has difficulty eating and/or has a reduced interest in food

Becoming lost in familiar places like the home or yard

Getting "stuck" in familiar places, like in corners or behind furniture

Having trouble finding the door or standing at the hinge side of the door

If you see these behaviors in your older pet, the good news is that you don't just have to accept them. Tell your veterinarian--he/she may be able to help.

There is no blood test or CAT scan that can effectively diagnose CDS, but If CDS is suspected, your veterinarian can take a thorough behavior and medical history of your dog, and also perform a physical and neurological exam and blood and urine tests to rule out other conditions that may present with similar symptoms. For example, if your dog has developed a hypoactive thyroid he may appear lethargic with mental sluggishness. If he has painful arthritis he may not be responsive and come running to the door to greet you.  If he is losing his vision he may bump into or get stuck behind furniture. Kidney issues, ear infections, and other ailments can cause many different symptoms.
Once any underlying diseases are ruled out, you can discuss treatment.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for CDS, but there is increasing hope.

Although there isn't a cure for CCD, drugs can help to improve your dog's quality of life and control the progress of these symptoms.

Recent studies have also shown that a diet rich in antioxidants can also ease the effects of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

There is now a prescription drug available to treat dogs with CDS in the US (two are available in Europe). It works by increasing the amount of dopamine in the dog's brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that the brain needs to function normally; an increased amount of dopamine can improve brain function. Though it doesn't work in all dogs, the drug can help many dogs with CDS think more clearly, remember more, return to their interactions with family, and enjoy a higher quality of life in their elderly years. Your veterinarian can help you decide whether a prescription is the right thing for your dog.

Once you've taken care of the diagnosis of CCD and its treatment for your dog, remember to take him to the vet every 6 months for check-ups and try to involve him in activities that will stimulate him and keep him active. And absolutely take advantage of the fact that he has bounced back, with lots of love and affection.

To Keep Our Older Pets Happy & Comfortable...........

As animals move into the geriatric phase of life, they go through changes that are remarkably similar to aging humans: hair turns gray, the body begins to wear out, and senses dim. Diseases that are commonly known to afflict humans also affect our pets: kidney, heart, and liver disease; tumors; cancers; diabetes; depression; Alzheimer's; and neuroses.

Since breeds and individuals have different lifestyles and different life expectancies, it is impossible to predict at what age you can expect to see changes. Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds, and cats live longer than dogs. Beyond that, the life span will vary with each individual, and your veterinarian will be able to help you determine what stage of life your pet is at.

Regular exams may save a life.
You know your pet needs special care as she grows older, but what kind of care is needed and what exactly does it entail?

Geriatric care, which starts with twice-yearly physical exams, is needed to catch and delay the onset or progress of disease and for the early detection of problems such as organ failure. Regular screening throughout a pet's life also provides your veterinarian with a benchmark against which to measure future test results.

If your cat or dog has had a history of serious, chronic medical problems, they may need to see us for a routine exam more often. Even if your pet has no unusual problems, regular screenings and advice from the veterinarian can help you maintain your pets body weight and condition and ensure a good quality of life during those senior years.

As their major senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell) dull, you may find that your pet has a slower response to general external stimuli. This loss of sensory perception often is a slow, progressive process, and it may escape your notice altogether (yet another reason to take your pet to the veterinarian for a yearly physical exam). The best remedy for gradual sensory reduction is to keep your pet active-playing and training are excellent ways to keep their senses sharp. The same goes for pets as for humans: If they don't use it, they'll lose it.

Depression and neuroses (mental conditions) may also be noticeable in your cat. She may chase invisible flies, or her behavior may seem more irritable or sad. As with any other condition, regular visits to your veterinarian can help catch and treat these problems before they control your pet's life.

A very common and frustrating problem for aging pets is incontinence. The kidneys are one of the first organ systems to wear out on a cat or dog, and as hormone deficiencies affect the function of the kidneys, your once well-behaved pet may have trouble controlling his bathroom habits. If you are away all day, he may simply not be able to hold it any longer, or urine may dribble out while he sleeps at night. In addition, excessive urination or incontinence may be indicative of diabetes or kidney failure, both of which are treatable if caught early enough. Be understanding and work with your veterinarian for treatments or tips on coping with these changes.

Old age is inevitable, but many of the problems associated with it are preventable with diet, exercise, and regular checkups. Keeping your pets indoors as they get older is also an important change.

Many older pets benefit from specially formulated food that is designed with older bodies in mind. Obesity in pets is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding and is a risk factor for problems such as heart disease. Because older pets often have different nutritional requirements, these special foods (often high in fiber and low in fat) can help keep your pet's weight under control and reduce consumption of nutrients that are risk factors for the development of diseases, as well as organ- or age-related changes.

Exercise is yet another aspect of preventive geriatric care for your companions. You should definitely keep them going as they get older-if they are cooped up or kept lying down, their bodies will deteriorate much more quickly. You may want to ease up a bit on the exercise with an arthritic or debilitated cat or dog. Otherwise, you should keep them as active-mentally and physically-as possible in order to keep them sharp.

And don't forget an older pet's physical limitations when it comes to little children. Quick and busy hands may be far more frightening to an older pet who can't see, hear, or move easily away from the quick advances of a toddler. Avoid traumatic incidents for both the child and the pet by limiting a child's accessibility to your older pets-no matter how well-behaved the child is or how good your pets were with children in their younger years.

Be sure to monitor behavior and physical conditions and report anything unusual to your veterinarian, who can help all of you head into the twilight years with ease.

Recommendations for Aging Pets;
-Keep vaccinations current
-Brush frequently to keep fur from matting
-Clip toenails to prevent overgrowth and to avoid slips and falls on slick surfaces
-Keep plenty of fresh water available and monitor consumption
-Keep indoors most of the time, especially in inclement weather
-Weigh on the same scale and record results every 60 days

Signs of a Problem
*Sustained, significant increase in water consumption or urination
*Weight loss
*Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than two days
*Significant increase in appetite
*Repeated vomiting
*Diarrhea lasting over three days
*Difficulty in passing stool or urine
*Change in housebreaking
*Lameness lasting more than five days or lameness in more than one leg
*Noticeable decrease in vision
*Open sores or scabs on the skin that persist for more than one week
*Foul mouth odor or drooling that lasts more than two days
*Increasing size of the abdomen
*Increasing inactivity or amount of time spent sleeping
*Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching or if in specific areas (as opposed to generalized)
*Excessive panting
*Inability to chew dry food
*Sudden collapse or bout of weakness
*A seizure (convulsion)
*Persistent coughing or gagging (dog)
*Breathing heavily or rapidly at rest (cat)

Age Analogy Chart

       Dog Years        Human Years

8 months         13 years

1 year             16 years

2 years            24 years

3 years            28 years

5 years            36 years

7 years            44 years

9 years            52 years

11 years          60 years

13 years          68 years

15 years          76 year

Exercises for your older dog

Remember when he was busy and active?

Think back to your dog's younger days, when he would race after Frisbees and chase down a tossed ball. You just knew he was happy and healthy.

No matter how old he is, when a dog is active and stimulated it's good for his overall well-being: physically, mentally and emotionally. In fact, exercise is the very thing a dog needs to maintain his quality of life as he ages.

If your dog has been off the "training circuit" for a while, he isn't going to be ready to walk all the way downtown and back. Understandably, extreme exercise is not healthy (or desirable) for a dog that has been sedentary for a long time.

If he's overweight, it's especially hard on his aging body - that extra weight is tough on stiff joints and sore muscles. Or he may have developed arthritis, heart disease, diabetes or hip dysplasia. Regardless, check with your vet before introducing him back to regular exercise.

Commit to a daily exercise routine, but since he's older, start off slowly. Take him for two short walks each day, starting with one or two blocks and add on as he gets more comfortable with it. Warm him up for 5 minutes, walking at a leisurely pace, then walk briskly for 15-20 minutes and cool him down for another 5 minutes. This length of time does however depend on the type of dog. A short legged dog or toy dog can not handle the same amount of exercise as a larger more naturally athletic dog. Also, keep in mind to be cautious about the temperature for Brachio-cephalic breeds.

Don't push him too hard. He'll tire more easily now that he's older. Plus, he'll want to please you and keep up with your pace, even though he might start to feel pain or get overheated and dehydrated. So keep an eye on him and watch for signs of discomfort, like favoring a leg or paw, being excessively out of breath or slowing down or stopping. If so, give him a break, along with some water, love and encouragement.

Dog-friendly paddling
Swimming is probably the best exercise for most aging dogs. Canine swim therapy is a popular option for dogs with joint or heart conditions, because it provides a good aerobic workout with a full range of motion while supporting the body and putting little weight on the joints.

Games? Toys? Kibble?
Another good option is to get him moving in the comfort of his own home.  Play with  his at-home toys,  "Fetch-lite", "Treasure Hunt" or "Keep Away". Or fill one of his Kongs with kibble and let him work away on it so that he can stand, exercise his jaw muscles and have a tasty treat at the same time. Fun at home will keep him active and he won't resort to just lying around when he's bored.

  Ending Life With Compassion

Hospice;...caring for the physical needs of terminally ill patients.

There may come a point, when a pet is fighting advanced stages of diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, or neurological disorders, sometimes treatments cause pets pain or make them ill, without any hope of curing their disease. At this point, owners should make a decision about which is more important for their pet: quality of life or quantity of life. Pet owners have the option of stopping aggressive treatment and letting their pets end their life comfortably in the intimate, caring surroundings of their own home through hospice care.

Pet hospice care is a relatively new concept, modeled on the practice in human medicine that began in the 1960's. Hospice is not a specific place, but rather a philosophy that promotes an alternative to death in an impersonal, clinical hospital environment. It functions on the principle that death is a part of life and terminal illness and death can be experienced with dignity, as an animal rests at home with its loving family.

The goals of hospice
Hospice is focused on giving pets a safe, caring, intimate end-of-life experience in their familiar environment. As such, it is not geared toward curing a pet's disease, but rather toward keeping the disease from causing the pet any discomfort. Hospice care focuses primarily on providing pain control and physical and emotional comfort to the pet. To prevent the anxiety of hospital visits and to allow pets and owners the maximum amount of time together, pet owners provide as much care as possible at home. Owners are trained to attune themselves to their pet's physical and emotional needs, and often find that the increased attention and physical contact allows them to feel close to their pet at the end of its life. Owners are given one-on-one time to come to grips with their pet's progressive disease and can say good-bye in their own way. Hospice helps to make a pet's death a kinder, more intimate experience for both pets and owners.

What hospice care requires from pet owners
Though it can be extremely rewarding, hospice care requires preparation and work from pet owners.  Veterinarians and technicians teach owners how to administer medication, feed their pet, keep it clean and comfortable, and monitor and document the pet's pain and general health. Working as a team, the pet's family and their veterinarian and veterinary staff can make a plan for the pet's treatment, to be adapted as the owner and pet's needs change.

After instruction and training from their veterinarian, the family takes over the day-to-day care of their pet. One of their most important responsibilities is medication. It is much easier to prevent pain than to relieve pain when it is already present. In hospice care, medication is given preemptively, before pain actually starts. Medication is generally given on a regular schedule, rather than in response to symptoms of pain, in order to keep the pet comfortable. It therefore becomes the caretaker's responsibility to monitor their pet closely for signs of pain, such as agitation or vocalization. These are signs that pain management is not working and that a new plan needs to be discussed with the veterinarian. Caretakers also need to observe and monitor their pet's behavior and physical state. They become the eyes and ears of the veterinary team, recording any changes in their pet's weight, temperature, eating habits, mobility, and other characteristics.

With the goal of visiting the hospital only as needed, caretakers may also have to take over medical tasks that make them uncomfortable. Sometimes pet owners are nervous about handling injections, blood, or feces.  Owners should work with their veterinarian to develop a treatment plan within their comfort level. Sometimes medications can be given orally or rectally instead of intravenously, for example, or the sight of blood can be minimized using careful bandaging.   Often, as pet owners adjust to their role as caretaker, they find that they can handle more than they thought and may even come to enjoy the physical intimacy of caring for their pet. If the pet's illness ever becomes more than a caretaker can handle, our veterinary staff is available to help and support the needs of both pet and owner.

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Euthanasia: when hospice comes to an end
Though it provides a valuable alternative to end-of-life hospital care, hospice is not a substitute for euthanasia. Though pets are sometimes able to die comfortably at home, often hospice works as an intermediate stage between treatment and death. It can be a hard decision for caretakers to make. After months or more of caring for a progressively worsening pet, it becomes difficult for owners to choose a final ending point.  Pet owners should establish a bottom line for their pet's quality of life before the time comes to make the decision about euthanasia. At what point is their pet's quality of life no longer acceptable: when the pet can't control its elimination, when it can no longer stand or walk, when it becomes disoriented and no longer knows where it is, or when its pain is out of control? With this bottom line established ahead of time, owners can know they will make the right decision when it comes to the sad and stressful final days of the their pet's life. The act of euthanasia can become a final gift of comfort to an animal in a great deal of pain.

Hospice can be a wonderful, caring option for terminally ill pets. However, pet owners should keep in mind that pet hospice care may not be for everyone. Some owners may not be ready or able to take on the often painful, emotional, and time-consuming work of the day-to-day care for a sick pet. Hospice may not be the right decision for owners who live alone, have a heavy work schedule, or are not in good health. Owners should carefully consider whether they have the resources necessary to care for their pet at home and talk to their veterinarian about what is right for them.

Whatever decision pet owners make, it is good to know that hospice exists as an option. Hospice allows pets to pass away feeling safe and loved and gives pet owners a chance to say good-bye at their own pace. It can transform the frightening circumstances of terminal illness and the loss of a beloved friend into a life-affirming opportunity.

"Death isn't losing the game. Death is unavoidable; it's a part of life. If you make death a safe, loving, comfortable experience, then you've won the game".                                                                Dr. Clough

 Seizures in older dogs

While seizures are indicative of canine epilepsy, the fact that an older dog can have seizures doesn't mean they are epileptic. In fact, it's uncommon for epilepsy to appear in senior dogs if they didn't already have the condition as a younger dog.

Seizures in older dogs are often symptoms or a result of other conditions:

Brain tumor. Some older dogs develop brain tumors which can put pressure on the brain as it grows, resulting in a seizure. Other symptoms to be on the lookout for include a loss of vision and motor coordination. If your vet suspects your dog has a brain tumor, he will most likely recommend diagnostic tests like an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CAT (computed axial topography). Anti-convulsant medications will not control seizures caused by a tumor.

Kidney disease. Dogs that have a buildup of toxins in the blood or high levels of acidity due to kidney disease can also experience seizures.

Diabetes
If a dog with diabetes has a seizure, it's usually due to an insulin overdose not because the condition has been left untreated. Diabetes that is left untreated will cause stupor or coma, not seizures.

Cushing's Disease. While Cushing's Disease (also known as hyperadrenocorticism) is not typically a direct cause of seizures, some of the circumstances surrounding the condition can lead to seizures. In most cases, Cushing's Disease is caused by a lesion in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. The majority of these tumors are microscopic in size, however there are cases where larger tumors (known as macroadenoma) can sometimes get big enough to put pressure on the brain and cause seizures.

Dogs can either experience a single convulsion (usually lasting for a minute or two, and doesn't happen again for at least 24 hours) or multiple, continuous convulsions. The latter is most serious and requires immediate veterinary attention.