We never want to admit that our pet is getting older, but with a cat considered senior at 11 years of age, and dogs considered senior from the age of seven onwards (depending on their size), most of us will have the privilege of having a senior pet at some point in our life.
Although an aging pet can take us all by surprise, they, just like us, feel the aches and pains of getting older, and whilst some of these changes are normal, certain things should not be ignored.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is typically described as pain that lasts for three or more months and persists beyond the resolution of the primary injury or tissue damage. This process results in ongoing physiological changes and self-perpetuation of the pain state.
Whilst chronic pain can be challenging to identify in our pets, our best indicators for chronic pain are mobility, postural changes and altered behaviours. Some pets become good at hiding their pain (particularly in a vet clinic), but some indications can help point to chronic pain including:
- Neuropathic pain – behaviours such as repeated chewing, biting or scratching at the same site.
- Your pet is responding poorly to medications and a multi-pronged approach is needed.
The signs of chronic pain can be subtle and many pet owners can easily miss the day-to-day changes. But if your pet is ‘slowing down’ it’s time for a check-up and it’s important to remember that early treatment of pain is key.
Dramatic Weight Change
If your pet’s diet hasn’t changed but their weight has, a visit to the vet should be your first stop. Weight fluctuations may indicate a change in metabolism or muscle tone, which can be normal for an aging pet and can be resolved by simple food intake alterations. But dramatic weight changes can also indicate serious issues such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and more.
Hydration/Appetite
Diabetes in pets is a serious condition that requires daily care and unfortunately, senior pets are at a higher risk of developing this. Some key indicators include increased thirst/urination, weight loss/gain and changes in appetite. Whilst a scary diagnosis, diabetes in pets can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes and early management is key. Ensure you are taking your pet to regular vet checkups as well as additional visits if you have concerns.
Demeanour
As pets age, they may lose some of their hearing or vision. Loss of the senses can lead to changes in demeanour including barking for no reason, confusion, disorientation and no longer responding to commands. However, demeanour changes can also indicate the more serious condition of dementia. Dementia in pets is similar to Alzheimer’s in humans and symptoms can include anxiety, anger, aimless staring or wandering, lack of self-grooming, lack of appetite and changes to demeanour. Although there is no cure for pet dementia, treatment is available in the form of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes and this should be guided by your vet.
Animal biology unfortunately means time moves faster than we realise, and the best thing an owner can do for their pet is seek advice early and be proactive about their care. Palliative care is an area of veterinary medicine that focuses on delivering comfort care rather than curative medicine. It helps pets maintain a good quality of life whilst helping families prepare well for the end stages of care. The Sunset Vets team of expert palliative care mobile vets can provide at-home palliative care in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
