WHAT TYPE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN AFFECT SENIOR PETS

As your pet ages their ability to fight against diseases decreases. There will be a gradual change in their behaviour and mood. Pet parents usually tend to overlook the situation blaming it on aging. But prevention is always better than cure, so contact your vet if you find any changes in your pet’s appearance or behaviour.

Here are a few common health problems seen in older dogs:

• Arthritis: Damage of the cartilage leads to inflammation of one or more joints causing arthritis. It causes swelling, stiffness and pain. Your dog may start limping, find it difficult to move, may avoid stairs, find it difficult to stand or walk and cry out of pain when you pick him up. Your dog may lick or chew at the aching joint and show their irritability.
• Gum Disease: Gingivitis (gum inflammation) occurs before gum disease. Gums get inflamed when the bacteria in the mouth turns into plaque on the teeth. Then saliva hardens the plaque thereby forming tartar. The bacteria laden plaque and tartar on teeth spread under the gum line leading to swelling. If it is not treated immediately it can lead to periodontitis which is when the gums pull away from the teeth. The symptoms include bleeding, swollen or tender gums. If not treated soon, the infection can spread to the bloodstream causing damage to organs.      
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a result of insufficient production and functioning of insulin by the pancreas. Dogs aged 8 to 9 years have the tendency to develop diabetes. It is a hereditary disease. It is very commonly found in females. Certain breeds are more prone to this disease such as ; Samoyed, Cairn Terrier, Pug, Toy Poodle and Miniature Schnauzer. Symptoms of diabetes are; frequent thirst and urination, weight loss, fatigue, irritability, recurring infections, blurred vision, and slow-healing cuts or bruises.
• Blindness: Poor eyesight is a part of normal aging process for dogs. One of the early signs of deteriorating eyesight is cataract, which appears as white coating in the eye. Other signs of vision loss are; falling, bumping into objects, dilated pupils, red or irritated eyes. Although blindness is distressing, you can teach your dog to rely on its other senses like hearing, touch and smell.
• Kidney disease: When the kidneys fail to perform their duties, water and toxins slowly build up in the body causing poisoning of the system as a result of kidney failure. Many factors may lead to kidney failure such as; kidney stones, rupture of the bladder or the normal aging process of the kidneys. Signs to look out in your dog are; apathy, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, and brown discoloration on the tongue and he may develop an ammonia smell to his breath.
• Cancer: Dogs have the tendency to develop cancer as they grow older and it is a leading cause of death in senior dogs. The signs you need to look out for in your pet are; any lumps or bumps on his body, changes in weight, wounds that heal slowly, bleeding in the mouth, nose or ears, drooling, coughing, excessive panting, difficulty eating, and extreme tiredness. Other things to look out for are diarrhea, constipation, or blood and mucous in the stool.The treatment would be more effective if detected early.
• Dementia: Dementia is a condition that leads to memory loss, personality changes, confusion and disorientation in your pet. It is the same as Alzheimer’s disease seen in humans.Symptoms can include; your dog forgetting familiar toys, house training techniques and their owners. Older dogs with CDS may even forget tricks, their name, and spend a long time staring into space. Pacing is very common, as well as other repetitive and compulsive behavior like walking in circles.