GERIATRIC CARE
With the recent developments and improvements in veterinary profession, the lives of our pet friends are concordantly prolonged. This prolongation, however, causes brand new problems in our pets. For example: Obesity, Osteoarthritis, Kidney-Heart-Liver diseases, tumors, cancer, Diabetes and hormonal problems such as Thyroid failure are some of the diseases that our pet friend may experience as it grows older.
Just as the nursing of elderly people is different, the nursing of our older friends is different too. Being in touch with veterinaries and planning the health care program together will be an appropriate step to create the ideal nursing type for the older pets.
When does the “old age” start?
Generally, the life-span of small breeds is longer than the life-span of larger breeds and cats live longer than dogs. The “old age period” may start at ages 10-12 in small breeds, however, this period may start at age 6 in large breeds.
The most important step for the old pet owners is to create a regular veterinary control program to keep their pets healthy. This is especially important at this stage of their lives. The main purpose of the health controls at this period is the early diagnosis of the diseases such as Kidney and Liver failures, heart failure, pancreas and thyroid gland problems, Osteoarthritis and Tumors and consequently the chance for early treatment.
American Pet Hospitals Association suggests that a healthy cat or dog should go through medical screening and laboratory analysis in every 6 months.
Remember that one year in a pet’s life is equal to 5-7 years of our lives and our pets cannot express their complaints and ailments and we can only realize the disease at late stages. During the examination, our doctors will ask you some questions about the activities, behaviors and habits of your pet. And then a detailed physical examination and laboratory tests will be done.
The content of the health package of Bogazici Veterinary Hospital:
- General examination
- Laboratory analysis
blood count
biochemical blood values
blood gas Analysis
blood electrolyte values
biochemical and microscopic urine examination
stool analysis
abdomen x-ray
thoracic x-ray
And includes the additional Analysis that the doctor considers necessary
The Efects of Age on Our Pet
As our pet grows older, we observe a general deceleration in its movements. Main senses, such as to see, hear, taste, touch and smell, begin to decline and the response time begins to decelerate. This deceleration in perceptions will be slow at the beginning so you may not notice it, but, if we pay more attention we can easily find out the differences in the habits and behaviors of our pet. As time passes by, you will realize that your pet sleeps more, his-her morphology has changed and sometimes you realize that he-she unable to hold urine, and does not bark as it used to do. The best thing to do is to keep him-her active by playing games and repeating some of the trainings.
The Symptomes of Aging Problems
- Sudden weight loss
- Polydipsia and polyuria
- Over eating or loss of appetite
- Long lasting digestive system problems
- Food theft
- Visual and auditory impairments
- Bad breath and drooling
- Less activity, more sleep
- Abnormal respirations, gasping
- Blood in feces or urine
- Seizures
- Frequent vomiting
- Faintness in mucosa
- Stress in urinating and defecation
- Long lasting or repeating lameness
- Thinning or thickening of the skin
- Partial or systematic hair lose
- Abdominal enlargement
- Difficulty in eating dry foods
- Caved-in eye ball
- Continuous coughing
