September has been designated National Senior
Pet Month.
I am forwarding an article that I have written specifically on Feline
Senior Health Care
and will follow up with an article later in the week on Canine Senior
Health Care.
The aging process in Cats is accompanied by
many physical and behavioral
changes:
Compared to younger cats, the immune
system of older cats is
less able to fend off foreign invaders.
Chronic diseases often
associated with aging can impair immune
function even further.
Dehydration, a consequence of many
diseases common to older
cats, further diminishes blood
circulation and immunity.
The skin of an older cat is thinner and
less elastic, has reduced
blood circulation, and is more prone to
infection.
Older cats groom themselves less
effectively than do younger
cats, sometimes resulting in hair
matting, skin odor, and
inflammation. The claws of aging
felines are often overgrown,
thick, and brittle.
In humans, aging changes in the brain
contribute to a loss of
memory and alterations in personality
commonly referred to as
senility. Similar symptoms are seen in
elderly cats: wandering,
excessive meowing, apparent
disorientation, and avoidance of
social interaction.
For various reasons,
hearing loss is common in
cats of advanced age.
Aging is also accompanied by many changes
in the eyes. A slight
haziness of the lens and a lacy
appearance to the iris are both ,
common changes, but neither seems to
decrease a cat's vision to any
appreciable extent.
Dental disease is extremely common in
older cats and can hinder
eating and cause significant pain.
Although many different diseases can
cause a loss of appetite, in
healthy senior cats, a decreased sense of
smell may be partially
responsible for a loss of interest in
eating. However, the
discomfort associated with dental disease
is a more likely cause
of reluctance to eat.
Feline kidneys undergo a number of
age-related changes that
may ultimately lead to impaired function;
kidney failure is a
common disease in older cats, and its
symptoms are extremely
varied.
Degenerative joint disease, or arthritis,
is common in older cats.
Although most arthritic cats don't become
overtly lame, they
may have difficulty gaining access to
litter boxes and food and
water dishes, particularly if they have
to jump or climb stairs to
get to them.
Hyperthyroidism (often resulting in
overactivity); hypertension
(high blood pressure, usually a result of
either kidney failure or
hyperthyroidism), diabetes mellitus;
inflammatory bowel disease;
and cancer are all examples of conditions
that, though
sometimes seen in younger cats, become
more prevalent in cats
as they age.
Owners of older cats often notice changes in
their cat's behavior, but
consider these changes an inevitable and
untreatable result of aging,
and fail to report them to us. Failure to use
the litter box,
changes in activity levels, and alterations in
eating, drinking, or sleeping
habits are examples. While some people believe
that behavior
problems are due to the diminishing mental
abilities of aging cats, it is a
mistake to automatically attribute all such
changes to old age. In fact,
the possibility of some underlying medical
condition should always be
the first consideration.
Disease of virtually
any organ system, or any
condition that causes pain or impairs mobility
can contribute to changes
in behavior.
For example:
A fearful cat may not become aggressive
until it is in pain (e.g.,
from dental disease) or less mobile
(e.g., from arthritis).
The increased urine production that often
results from diseases
common to aging cats (e.g., kidney
failure, diabetes mellitus, or
hyperthyroidism) may cause the litter box
to become soiled
more quickly than expected. The increased
soil and odor may
cause cats to find a bathroom more to
their liking.
Many cats that do not mark their
territory with urine, even if
exposed to intruding cats, may begin to
do so if a condition like
hyperthyroidism develops.
Cats with painful arthritis may have
difficulty gaining access to a
litter box, especially if negotiating
stairs is required. Even
climbing into the box may be painful for
such cats; urinating or
defecating in an inappropriate location
is the natural result.
Older cats may be more sensitive to
changes in the household
since their ability to adapt to
unfamiliar situations diminishes with
age.
Never assume that changes you see in an older
cat are simply due to old
age and therefore untreatable
A HEALTHY CAT:
*seems active and are in good spirits
*does not tire easily with moderate exercise
*does not have seizures or fainting episodes
*has a normal appetite
*has had no significant change in weight
*has a normal level of thirst and drinks
the usual amount of water
(about an ounce per pound of body weight
per day, or less)
*does not vomit often
*does not regurgitate undigested food
*has no difficulty eating or swallowing
*has normal appearing bowel movements
(formed and firm with
no blood or mucus)
*defecates without difficulty
*urinates in normal amounts and with
normal frequency; urine
color is normal
*urinates without difficulty
*always uses a clean litter box
*has not developed any new offensive
behavioral tendencies
*has gums that are pink with no redness,
swelling, or bleeding
*does not sneeze and has no nasal discharge
*has eyes that are bright, clear, and free
of discharge
*has a coat that is full, glossy, and free
of bald spots and mats; no
excessive shedding is evident
doesn't scratch, lick, or chew excessively
has skin that is not greasy and has no
offensive odor
*is free of fleas, ticks, lice, and mites
*has no persistent abnormal swellings
*has no sores that do not heal
*has no bleeding or discharge from any
body opening
*has ears that are clean and odor free
*hears normally and reacts as usual to its
environment
*walks without stiffness, pain, or difficulty
*has feet that appear healthy, and has
claws of normal length
*breathes normally without straining or
coughing
Just as clients observations can help detect
disease in the early stages, so
too can regular veterinary examinations.
We
may suggest
evaluating healthy senior cats more frequently
than a younger
catfor example, every six months instead of
once a year..
At least once a year, certain testsincluding
blood tests, fecal
examination, and urine analysis will be
suggested. In, this way, disorders can
be found and treated early, and ongoing
medical conditions.
