• The recent cold nights are a good reminder to consider the needs of your older pet. Once your dog or cat has reached the age of 7 years or 5 years for large dogs over 25kg, they are beginning to enter their senior years. Like us, the physical, mental and emotional needs of your pets change as they become older. The feeding and exercise routines you’ve been using may no longer be appropriate. As cats and dogs get older, they are at increased risk of developing health problems and should receive more frequent veterinary check-ups. Early detection of disease is the key to ensuring that your pet has a long and healthy life. Older pets can live happy and active lives when attention is paid to their health.

    The team at Vitality Vetcare, Bangalow can advise you on the health needs of older pets. We are passionate about optimal nutrition and the role of integrative medicine in preventative health. Therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine or homeopathy can be very useful in the early stages of illness, chronic disease and palliative care.

    Conditions that are more common in older dogs and cats include:

    arthritis

cancer

behavioural changes (dementia)

dental disease

diabetes

heart disease

obesity

kidney disease

    Sound familiar? These conditions are not that different to those seen in people.

    The good news is that a lot can be done to help prevent or slow down the progress of many of these conditions. The key points to maintaining optimal health and well-being in older pets are:

    a healthy good quality balanced diet that includes fresh food

maintaining a healthy weight

regular exercise that takes into account your pet's health needs

regular veterinary health check-up's 1-2 times a year

healthy teeth and gums

seeking veterinary advice as soon as you become concerned about your pet's health

    Nutrition

    Dogs and cats over 7 years or large dogs over 5 years of age have 20% less energy requirements than adult pets. Their lower calorie requirements can be met by feeding a fresh food diet that has less carbohydrates e.g. rice, potato or pasta or a premium senior formula if you feed your pet processed food. Obesity increases the risks for your pet with respect to chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. The team at Vitality Vetcare would love to answer your questions on diets for pets.

    Older pets can benefit from supplements to enhance their health and well-being. Joint supplements can help improve your pet’s mobility if he or she is at risk of developing arthritis e.g. Osteosupport, Osteocare, Joint Guard or Pernease. Omega 3 essential fatty acids play an important role in joint, skin and brain health. Dogs and cats gain more benefit from fish oil based supplements rather than plant based products. They usually prefer veterinary products e.g. Dermega, as they don’t contain lemon oil or other additives used in human products to disguise the taste or odour of the fish oil.

    Dental care

    Healthy teeth and gums are an essential part of preventing chronic disease in older pets. Many people don’t realise that dental disease is a preventable cause of heart and kidney disease. This is one of the reasons why it is important for animals to have a health check by your vet once a year. You can prevent dental disease by feeding a healthy balanced diet including raw meaty bones, if appropriate or a special dental formula pet food available from your vet.

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture can be of great benefit for older pets with arthritis, back problems and other types of pain. It is also useful for improving general health and well-being as well as internal organ disease such as kidney or heart disease. Acupuncture can do a lot more for your pet than just treat pain.

    Chinese herbal medicine

    Chinese herbal medicines may be prescribed with or without acupuncture to treat many of the conditions associated with ageing including general decline, joint problems, cancer, mental confusion and conditions affecting the heart, kidney and liver. It is usually dispensed as a concentrated powder that can be added to the food or dissolved in water.

    Western herbal medicine

    Herbs are foods as well as medicines. You can incorporate certain herbs into your pet’s diet as a rich source of nutrients according to their health needs. Examples include calendula (pot marigold), celery, chamomile, fennel, ginger, gotu cola, hawthorn, parsley, rosemary or turmeric. A vet trained as a veterinary herbalist can give you advice on the safe and effective use of herbal medicines. Herbal medicines can be helpful for pets with arthritis, cancer, dental disease, diabetes, heart or kidney disease. Herbal remedies are available as loose dried herbs, tisanes, liquid extracts, creams, ointments and poultices.

    Homeopathy

    Homeopathic medicines can be of benefit to older pets with complex and long term health problems. It is particularly helpful for animals that are fussy, hard to medicate or don’t tolerate pharmaceutical drugs that has been prescribed for them. Your pet will benefit most from homeopathic medicines that are prescribed after a consultation by a vet who is knowledgeable and experienced in veterinary homeopathy.

    The good news is that there is a lot that you can do for your older pets to ensure that they live happy and healthy lives. A balanced optimal diet, regular exercise and play, a healthy body weight, good dental health, keeping warm in winter and regular vet health checks are all part of your pet’s preventative health care.