Silver Pets: How To Care For Our Geriatrics Part 1

With the improvement of medical technology and increasing affluence of pet owners, the average lifespan of pets has been increasing steadily. It is not uncommon for us to see cats and dogs who have been living with their owners for more than 15 years! However just like us, geriatric cats and dogs undergo changes as they age. Ageing is not a disease and graceful ageing is possible if you make slight gradual changes to the household.

Generally the issues can be grouped into two categories: the physical and the mental (or cognitive). In this article we talk about how adjust your lifestyle to adapt to the physical challenges of your elderly pet.

Reduced mobility due to pain

With old age inevitably comes the wear and tear of joints, also known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is unavoidable and your pets may walk less due to the pain they experience. Skeletal muscles may degenerate due to lack of use and mobility may be further reduced.

Once geriatric pets fall into this circle of muscle weakening and decreased physical activity, they will find it hard to gain back strength. Quality of life will be much reduced once pets are unable to move around as they wish to. Here are some tips to help your elderly pets stay active!

Maximise accessibility around the house

• Install steps to help your pets get up to higher grounds.
  Cats love to look out of the windows (remember to close those windows if they are not meshed!) and dogs may like to get up on the bed/couch
• Give paws more traction.
  Pets, especially heavier dogs, may find it hard to get up from slippery flooring. Non-slip mats, toe grips or clipping the fur around the paw pads may help to increase grip. Dogs with protruding hip bones often get pressure sores and padded non-slip mats or carpets are especially useful
• Accessibility of necessities.
  Keep food, water and toilet within reach. You may like to keep food and water bowls at face height. Litter boxes may be placed at several places around the house

Exercise

• Hydrotherapy.
  Hydrotherapy allows pets who find it difficult to hold their own weight to take longer walks partially submerged on an underwater treadmill, which may help to maintain muscle mass by encouraging movement

Pain management

• Acupuncture has been shown to aid in reduction of pain. In our experience, most pets surprisingly do not mind those tiny needles!
• Pain relief medications as required

As long as you’re able to keep your geriatric pet active and walking around happily, that’s a good sign of their physical condition. In the next part of this article we will address the congitive and mental aspect of ageing!

Check out Part 2 here.