Tag Archives: senior

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Is my dog struggling with osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a common problem for dogs, particularly elderly pets. This disease happens due to progressive inflammatory destruction of the cartilage in the joints, leading to worsening mobility and pain.

Unfortunately, this condition does not have a cure in most cases, but there are many ways to slow down the progression of cartilage destruction and manage pain successfully.

If you’ve noticed that your furry friend has been slowing down on walks and is more reluctant to move around, this blog post is for you! Keep reading to know all about osteoarthritis and how to help your pet enjoy its twilight years without pain.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease (DJD), and, as we’ve mentioned, it is caused by persistent joint inflammation resulting from damaged cartilage, a protective tissue that is vital for proper joint movement.

As this is progressively destroyed, the bones lose their capacity to move correctly. This situation also causes significant and increasing pain, and you may start to notice your pet being more reluctant to get up from their bed, walk or play. This discomfort can also show up as increased aggressiveness, less patience and house-soiling.

Any dog can suffer from osteoarthritis at any point in his or her life, but some animals are more predisposed to DJD. The most important risk factors include:

  • Age as older dogs are more likely to have cartilage damage;
  • Larger breeds;
  • Injuries or repeated activities (such as sports) as these create a lot of repeated stress on the joints;
  • Overweight;
  • Joints with bad conformation (for instance, hip dysplasia).

While no definitive cure exists for this disease, your furry friend can still enjoy a long time of comfort and activity with the proper treatments. These aim to slow down the progression and manage pain, allowing him or her to have many more great days to share with you.

 

Can I help my dog feel better?

One of the most essential things any owner can do is keep an eye out for progressing signs of osteoarthritis, especially during this time of the year when cold and damp days can worsen joint function.

While every pet is different, medical management is vital in these cases, as pain and mobility loss will continue progressing. Often, these medications will have to be adjusted as time passes and other symptoms appear.

Your vet will also likely suggest physical therapy to help reduce discomfort and improve limb strength. This might include hydrotherapy, acupuncture, laser therapy or other complementary treatment modalities that help medication and lifestyle changes be more effective.

Modifying routines, for instance, with shorter walks, and changing how your dog can get around your home, for example, with more comfortable bedding and mobility aids, can also be extremely helpful.

If you spot any concerning changes, don’t hesitate to contact your vet! They will carry out a thorough investigation and suggest the best treatments to address any difficulties your pet is having.

 

Don’t forget:

  • Osteoarthritis most often cannot be cured, but it can usually be successfully managed;
  • If you spot any changes in behaviour such as less patience, reluctance to move or get up, increased vocalisations and house soiling, they might be due to pain or significant discomfort;
  • Medication and treatments like hydrotherapy or laser therapy can help manage symptoms when they come up;
  • In case you see any worrying concerns, speak to your vet, and they will be able to help you decide on the best course of action.

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Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Ringworm in dogs

How much do you know about ringworm in dogs? This infectious skin disease is also called dermatophytosis, and it isn’t actually caused by a worm but by a fungus that our pets can easily pick up and bring home!

While it is not often a life-threatening problem, in some circumstances, it can be challenging to get rid of due to high rates of environmental reinfection or if the treatment protocol isn’t correctly applied. It can also go on to infect humans, especially family members with reduced immunity, such as older people, those suffering from chronic illnesses or pregnant women.

Keep reading to find out more about dermatophytosis and how to avoid this nasty problem in your dogs!

Is it easy for my dog to get ringworm?

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi species that grow on the skin, nails and hair of pets and humans. They can resist in the environment for a long time in the form of spores, waiting for someone susceptible to pick them up.

Your dog can get infected by contacting these spores or the fungus directly, such as from another infected animal or by touching contaminated objects like bowls or bedding. The good news is that not every time he or she runs into ringworm will result in an infection, as these fungi often need broken skin (from a wound or after clipping hair, for instance), lowered immunity (like elderly, very young or sick pets) or a high contamination.

When infection occurs, you might spot the following signs:

  • Several circular areas of hair loss that might get bigger over time:
  • Rough or brittle nails;
  • You might also see scabs, reddened skin or other signs of infection in the hairless patches.

If you see any of these, contact your vet, as ringworm is readily transmissible to other pets and people! This is particularly relevant if you have young children, elderly family members or someone suffering from an illness that impacts their immunity in your house.

I think my dog might be at risk, what can I do?

Pets who are the most at risk include young dogs, pets who are sick or under significant stress or those who have come from overcrowded homes.

While ringworm can go away on its own, it might take a long time, and your dog or your family will be at serious risk of infection or reinfection as this fungus can remain active in the environment for up to 18 months.

The best way to avoid problems is to keep an eye on your dog’s hair, skin and nails and contact your vet if you see any of the above-mentioned signs. They will take all the appropriate samples make a diagnosis of fungal infection and prescribe the correct treatment.

Is ringworm treatable?

Most of the time, ringworm will not be complicated to treat, but it’s vital that you follow your vet’s exact recommendations and do not stop treatment halfway unless you’ve explicitly been told to do so!

There are several effective treatment options, including oral treatments that are often combined with topical anti-fungal formulations like shampoos or ointments. Depending on your dog’s case, your vet will prescribe the best medication to handle the infection as quickly as possible.

During this time, it’s also essential that you restrict your infected pets to the least number of rooms possible to avoid cross-contamination and make sure that you clean everything thoroughly.

In case you suspect you or a family member might have ringworm due to a recent infection in one of your pets, contact your GP without delay!

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Keeping your horses comfortable in the cold

Horses are hardy animals, being able to handle cold and dreary days that would make the rest of us miserable.

However, they still have their limits and sensibilities, so to avoid unnecessary problems during the bad weather season, give your yard and routines a check-up!

Read on to learn about the best ways to keep your horses comfortable this winter.

Keep an eye out on the weather

Not all bad days are created equal! Horses are very good at resisting low temperatures, but when you compound these with rain or wind, the chill factor increases exponentially.

Animals who are wet and exposed to cold winds will start suffering the ill effects of the cold temperature much sooner, and it’s vital to prevent this before it causes serious problems.

Don’t leave your horses outside during these days, and ensure that they always have a dry, windproof shelter to retreat to when the weather is unpleasant.

Also important is making sure that there is always fresh, non-frozen water for them to drink. When days and nights are consistently below freezing, this is a big concern as water supply lines might get damaged, and their drinking troughs might not thaw out.

Don’t stop your exercise routines

While dreary winter days are not particularly inviting for long rides in the beautiful countryside, horses still require regular exercise to avoid obesity, hoof issues, such as laminitis or even stress due to a lack of mental enrichment.

It’s essential to not cut exercise out during this time. Even though you need to be careful when riding out on difficult terrain and keep outings shorter, ensuring your horses get the proper exercise will help keep them healthy all year-round.

These regular interactions and exercise times are also an excellent way to observe hooves and limbs for bruises, abscesses, injuries or any other problems that might develop due to the snow and mud.

Look out for the most vulnerable members of your herd

Elderly horses, young foals and sick animals are especially vulnerable during this time of the year.

Because their capacity to handle cold is diminished, bad weather can cause serious problems much sooner than for adult, healthy horses. Please pay special attention to their needs during this time and act as soon as you see something might be wrong!

Winter and the punishing weather it brings can be challenging for you and your horses. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet about your concerns, and they can help you tackle this better with a well-formulated yard management and exercise plan!

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Cats, Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Improving mealtimes for older pets

As our pets grow older, they go through a significant number of changes. They may not enjoy moving as much, they may lose some sharpness to their senses, and they may suffer from chronic conditions such as kidney disease, osteoarthritis or diabetes.

Keeping an eye out for these changes is very important as our pets can have a dip in their quality of life as time goes on. However, there are some things we can do to enhance their comfort at home, one of which is improving their eating experience.

Eating is one of the most important daily activities, and senior animals often find themselves not enjoying their mealtimes as much. This can lead to a significant decrease in their calorie intake, causing them to lose weight.

Here are some tips on how to ensure your golden oldies have a five-star gourmet experience every day:

Switch to a diet appropriate for their age

Usually, cats are considered seniors at around ten years of age, while dogs vary between seven for larger breeds and nine for smaller breeds. At these ages, consider changing their food to a special senior formulation.

There are plenty of options made specifically for senior pets, and therapeutic diets that help with a number of health problems. These formulations contain all the nutrients that they need to support age-related conditions such as lowered immune systems, achy joints, and kidney disease. They also have the right texture and shape for pets who can no longer smell or chew so well.

Improve palatability

Improving palatability may take a little trial and error, but it can be very rewarding for you and your pets.

Try to offer novel food textures such as soft wet food, which can help if your pet has pain chewing, or change the brand and flavour of their meals.

Offering smaller portions throughout the day and introducing exciting food puzzles are also quick changes you can implement to great effect.

Pouring a little water or salt-free broth on dry kibble and gently heating it in the microwave improves aroma, which can compensate for any loss of smell.

Be mindful of their limitations

Osteoarthritis, muscular weakness or painful chronic conditions all make bending down harder. If you spot your pets struggling to reach their food, place the bowl a little higher so that eating is more comfortable for them.

Golden oldies who no longer hear or see very well may also feel disoriented in busy spaces and may struggle to find their food. Keeping their bowls in an easily accessible, comfortable and quiet room can do wonders for them!

Ask your vet for help

Every pet is different, and sometimes it can be pretty challenging to get an older pet, especially one with concurrent health conditions, to eat what they need to stay healthy.

If you find yourself struggling with this or have any questions on how to improve your furry friend’s quality of life, do not hesitate to contact your vet.

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Healthy ageing in cats

The advancements made in veterinary medicine as well as owners being more actively invested in making sure their cats’ needs are met have made it possible for cats to live longer lives. As a result, a growing number of cats are reaching their golden years, and it is up to us to make sure they spend them happy and healthy.

Ageing is associated with changes that lead to decreased vitality and make our cats more vulnerable to illness. Unless they are due to disease and affect our cats’ health and wellbeing, these alterations shouldn’t be seen as negative or positive, they just represent a normal transition to a different life stage that requires some adjustments.

You may notice changes in your cats’ behaviour, such as sleeping for longer periods, changes in their appearance (like finding little ‘freckles’ in the coloured part of their eyes) and changes in the way they move about and react, such as being less mobile and seemingly less aware of their environment.

As you start noticing your cats displaying these changes, there are some things you can do to make their lives a little easier and promote healthy ageing.

 

 

  1. Acknowledge that your senior cats have different needs

Recognising that your cats will have different needs as they age and that these will change over time is the first step towards you helping them. By identifying what and how things are changing, you can provide adjustments in your cats’ daily lives that are suited to their life stage. After 7 years of age, cats are usually considered mature and at 11 years old, senior. However, keep in mind that not all cats age at the same pace, so it is important to keep a close eye on them as they grow older to look for age-related physical changes but also changes in their habits.

 

  1. Visit your vet regularly

Regular check-ups will help diagnose any problems at an early stage which will usually make treatment more effective. A number of diseases are frequently diagnosed in older cats, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and kidney disease, for example. Unfortunately, we all know cats are great at hiding that there’s something wrong with them and these visits will help make sure everything is ok.

 

  1. Provide good nutrition and hydration

Again, a different life stage means different nutritional requirements and proper nutrition is one of the most important factors in keeping your cats healthy. There are diets specifically formulated for senior cats; however, you should consult with your vet to understand the best option for your them. If your cats have a medical condition, they might benefit more from therapeutic prescription diets than from a normal senior diet.

Encouraging drinking behaviour is also essential to keep them hydrated and promote kidney health as cats tend to neglect drinking even more as they age.

 

  1. Monitor your cats’ weight

As cats are great at hiding signs of disease, carefully monitoring their weight becomes vital as sometimes weight variations will be the first (or only) indicator that something might be wrong. Gradual weight changes are not easy to notice from just looking at them, so you should weigh your cats frequently, and a 500g loss might not seem like much but, for a 5kg cat, it represents a significant 10% body weight variation.  Keeping a register of your cats’ weight is the easiest way to keep track of these variations and to see if something is wrong.

 

  1. Provide environmental enrichment

Physical and mental stimulation should always be an integral part of your cats’ lives, just make sure you provide toys and activities appropriate to your older cats’ different abilities.

 

  1. Make adjustments to their home environment

Given enough time, most older cats will develop arthritis which will decrease their mobility. If you have stairs at home, one thing you can do is make sure your cats’ essentials are all on the ground floor – feeding area, sleeping area, resting area and toileting area. You can also use ramps to facilitate access to higher spots and lower the entrance to the litter box for easier access. Grooming might also not be an effortless task for an older cat, so that is something where you can definitely help. Providing warmer, padded beds will also be highly appreciated as senior cats don’t have the same capacity to keep their temperature stable as they did when they were younger.

 

We hope you find our tips helpful and that your cats enjoy their golden years 🙂

 

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