Killing with kindness

When the PDSA carried out a survey of pet patients, they discovered that in the UK approximately one dog out of every three and one cat out of every five is overweight. Getting an animal back down to a healthy weight involves retraining the owner as well as the appetite of the pet, which isn’t always easy. It is difficult to resist the pleading eyes and wagging tail or pitiful miaowing by the empty bowl! But you could be shortening your pet’s life if you don’t. In the case of a dog, for instance, its optimum weight will put less strain on its joints and alleviate any arthritis that might be present. It will also help in the management or slowing down of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Finding out if your pet is overweight is relatively easy. For larger pets, you should be able to feel the ribs when you rub the palm of your hand over them and you should be able to detect a ‘waist’ when you look down at them from above. With a smaller pet such as a cat or rabbit, be honest when you look at it: is it a normal shape for its breed or frankly too rounded? If you really can’t tell, most vets offer free weighing and feeding consultations – a good idea anyway if you intend to put your pet on a diet.

Not only are sugary treats piling on the calories but they can cause dental decay and gum disease in animals just as they can in humans. Don’t feed a dog chocolate intended for humans because it contains theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs. A ‘no-calorie’ pat and cuddle are often treat enough.

A balanced diet with a constant supply of fresh water is essential for good health, as is daily exercise. The latter keeps weight in check and joints and muscles active. As your pet gets older and gets less exercise, make sure its diet is altered to take this into consideration. Specially formulated foods cater well for ‘seniors’. You may need to provide two smaller meals a day to aid an elderly dog’s digestion instead of one big one.

Never feed your pets from your plate – quite apart from the bad habit you are encouraging, it won’t do their waistline any good.

Ripe old age

Humphrey the No 10 cat was 18 years old when he died last spring, but he wasn’t unusual. Cats are living much longer than they used to, which is largely down to better nutrition and veterinary care. Owners can make beneficial changes in their care of a cat of advancing years. For example, some cats develop a decreased ability to digest their food, so it has to be composed of very high-quality ingredients. These may be more expensive, but as older cats generally tend to eat less, the overall cost of their food is not very different to when they were younger.

A senior cat should see the vet for a check-up at least twice a year to catch early the common problems that affect older cats, ranging from dental problems to kidney disease. The latter is fairly common and the first sign is a change in drinking habits. For instance, the cat may start to drink water from puddles instead of the normal water bowl. In this case, make an appointment to see the vet as soon as you can, as early treatment can help considerably.

Older cats also tend to lose weight. It may be that this is simply due to an inappropriate diet, but it can also be a sign of an overactive thyroid gland.

Most cats tolerate arthritis quite well, but they may be less supple and therefore less able to groom themselves. You as owner may have to take more of an active role in grooming.

Bladder and bowel control can become unpredictable as a cat becomes older. This might be due to a specific problem, or may be related to conditions such as a change in diet, poor eyesight or an infection. Many of these can be helped or treated, so don’t accept it as an inevitable decline.

Dogs enter middle age at around seven, depending on size and breed, and owners might then be on the lookout for signs of ‘slowing down’. Don’t dismiss all of these as mere signs of growing older, however: some need and will respond to treatment (see “When to pay the vet a visit”).

TLC required

As in humans, a pet’s brain degenerates over time. One of the many possible problems that old age can bring is Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS or senility). Taking care of a cat or dog affected with CDS requires commitment and lots of tender loving care from owners.

There are many symptoms associated with CDS in cats and dogs such as: reduced mental alertness, short-term memory loss, loss of house training, increased sleeping time, failure to recognise familiar surroundings or companions, personality and behavioural changes, reduced learning ability, poor concentration with reduced attention span, poor motor co-ordination, delayed response to stimuli and slowed reflexes.

Age is obviously the biggest single factor in the onset of this condition, but this is very much dependent on breed, species and a pet’s genes. A dog or cat with CDS may become frequently disorientated and agitated. Any owner concerned that their pet is displaying signs of CDS should consult their vet as there are treatments available to help contain or even minimise symptoms.

When to pay the vet a visit

Confused about what is just a symptom of advancing years and something your vet should take a look at? Here are some indicators, taken from The Blue Cross leaflet “Caring for the Older Dog”, of when to take your pet to the vet.

Your dog:

• Is eating less;
• Is drinking more than normal;
• Has smelly breath;
• Has lost weight;
• Has stiffness, a limp or difficulty in jumping up on to things;
• Has any lumps or bumps, especially if they are rapidly getting bigger;
• Is getting tired when out for a walk;
• Has a cough;
• Is having trouble passing urine or faeces, or is passing water indoors;
• Has become dull, disorientated or is having trouble with balance;
• Develops discharges from the vagina.