How to care for older pets

1. Fit for all
"Older pets need consistent, moderate exercise," says Dr. Michael Hamilton, owner of Courtice Pet Clinic in Courtice, Ont. Walk your dog at least once a day rather than take him for a 10-kilometre hike once a week. Senior pets, particularly dogs, are at risk of losing muscle mass (this mass helps maintain the joints and reduce arthritic pain). The only way to prevent this loss is through exercise. "If a dog is stiff, it bothers him a lot less if he has a lot of muscle mass," says Hamilton.

Since cats are smaller, their joints don't carry as much weight, so they don't get arthritis as often as dogs. However, cats are at risk of being obese, which makes them more prone to diabetes. If you can't feel your cat's ribs, there is reason to be concerned about her weight. "If you can get cats to move around, they'll lose weight," says Dr. Janique Arseneau, owner of Clinique Vétérinaire Arseneau in St-Lambert, Que., so it's important to encourage older cats to play. "Once they start losing weight, they become more mobile and start playing again."

2. Visit your vet
Regular checkups at home and an annual checkup at the vet's are critical for senior pets. Vets do a physical exam and geriatric blood work to try to find any problems before the pet gets really sick, says Hamilton. Increase visits to two to three times a year if there is any cause for concern, such as if your pet is drinking more water or losing interest in a favourite activity.

Any change in your pet's behaviour can be the first indication of a health issue, says Arseneau, who warns that you have to watch cats more closely. "Cats are better at hiding disease than dogs because they're more independent and their survival instinct is to not show pain," she says.

Telltale signs that indicate a health concern for cats and dogs include a sudden change in behaviour as well as a change in weight or eating habits, or excessive sleeping or drinking. Common degenerative diseases that affect both senior dogs and cats include: arthritis; organ failure, particularly the kidney for cats; and hypothyroid in dogs or hyperthyroid in cats. Age-related conditions include: hearing and sight difficulties; cognitive issues, such as relentless meowing or loss of house-training; benign or malignant tumours; valvular heart disease, which most often affects dogs; and dental problems, which you can prevent by brushing your cat's or dog's teeth once a day.

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