(Part 1 of 2)
November is Senior Pet Month.
Thanks to the improved veterinary care and dietary habits, pets live longer now.
But there is a consequence. The pets, their owners and veterinarians have to deal with a new set of age-related conditions.
“In recent years there has been extensive research on the problems facing older pets and how their owners and veterinarians can best handle their special needs, “ AVMA said.
When is our pet considered old?
Cats and small dogs are usually considered a senior at the age of 7.
Larger breed dogs usually have a shorter life span and are considered old at about 6 years old.
“Owners tend to want to think of their pet’s age in human terms. While it is not as simple as ‘1 human year = X cat/dog years,’ there are calculations that can help put a pet’s age in human terms, “ AVMA said. (See table)
What are the health problems among older pets?
AVMA said senior dogs can develop almost the same illnesses that senior humans can suffer from. They are:
1. cancer
2. heart disease
3. kidney/urinary tract disease
4. liver disease
5. diabetes
6. joint or bone disease
7. senility
8. weakness
(To be continued next week)