Canine Senior Citizens: Helping Them Live Longer and More Comfortably
By Tiffany J. Rule, DVM, Veterinary News Network
If I could have one wish in the world, it would be that dogs could live as long as people. Unfortunately, the ways of nature differ and we are only blessed with our canines for 7 -15 years depending upon the breed. The most generous action that we can take as dog owners is to make sure that we give our canine companions the best, most comfortable life possible. This of course includes regular veterinary care, frequent grooming and bathing, monthly heartworm, flea and tick prevention, providing a safe environment, feeding the best quality diet that we can afford, and offering limitless affection in return for their unconditional love. Perhaps the most important thing that we can do for our dogs, after all of the time we have spent with them, is be there for them in their golden years by making sure that they are as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
Is your dog a canine senior citizen? Any dog over seven years of age is considered a canine senior citizen with the exception of giant breed dogs. The giant breeds are considered seniors at only 5 years of age. Senior wellness is an extremely important aspect of your dog’s veterinary care. The purpose of senior wellness is early detection of age related diseases so that simple means of intervention can be done early to help dogs live longer and more comfortably. The following is a list of common diseases of older dogs, how these diseases are detected, and the therapy or treatment for the disease.
Osteoarthritis:
Perhaps the most common complaint that owners of older dogs report is that their dog is having difficulty getting around. Usually this is described as difficulty rising from a lying position, difficulty traversing stairs, and stiffness after lying down for a long period of time. Many people will think that there dog is simply slowing down due to old age. However, Old age is not a disease and it alone is not the reason a dog seems slower to move around. This failure to get around well is usually osteoarthritis. This is a painful and easily treated condition that afflicts more than 20% of our dogs. Usually arthritis can be diagnosed with a complete orthopedic examination where the dog’s gait is observed and each joint checked by the veterinarian. Dogs can occasionally get immune mediated (rheumatoid) arthritis or bone/ cartilage/ connective tissue cancer so these should be ruled out in any lame older dog. X-rays are also helpful in assessing the severity of degenerative joint disease and whether or not a bone tumor exists. Hips, knees, elbows, and backs are usually the places where osteoarthritis is the worst. Arthritis pain can be managed primarily by weight loss, as heavier dogs usually suffer more due to increased load on their joints. Weight loss is by far the most effective treatment for many dogs suffering from this condition!
Additionally, Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can be prescribed. Dogs being placed on prescription NSAID drugs should have their blood checked (liver values) initially and then the values should be regularly monitored. Not only should these drugs be used with extreme care in dogs with liver disease, but they can also in extremely rare circumstances cause liver problems in some dogs. To be used effectively, these medications need to be given as prescribed for at least 2 weeks. Never, ever give your dog acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), Aleve (Naproxen), or Orudis (Ketoprofen) as these can cause fatal kidney failure and profound GI ulceration.
Neutraceutical therapy is also recommended for arthritis management. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplementation (Cosequin) as well as omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements (Derm-Caps) may help your dog by acting as natural anti-inflammatory agents. J/D diet by Hills contains high concentrations of these anti-inflammatory fatty acids and is an excellent dietary intervention for some dogs.
Periodontal Disease:
Infection of the teeth and gums will not only decrease your dog’s lifespan by two to four years, but it is also painful! Serious gum disease can result in seeding of the vital organs with bacteria. This can lead to major organ failure if not corrected. Dental disease is not just about bad breath! Dental disease can be diagnosed on physical examination and is easily treatable with regular dental cleanings by your veterinarian. Regular dental home care can add years to your pet’s life. The best home care is regular, daily brushing with a pet toothpaste. If this is not possible for you to brush daily, consider Greenies brand dental treats, CET enzymatic chews, or Aquadent anti-plaque solution which is an odorless, tasteless solution that can be added to your dog’s water to prevent dental disease. There are even barrier sealants that can be applied by your veterinarian!
Obesity:
Carrying additional weight may increase your dog’s chances of diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis. Your veterinarian can calculate your dog’s ideal weight and formulate a nutritional and lifestyle plan to help your dog maintain ideal body condition. A specially formulated senior diet is appropriate for the older dog as these typically offer increased fiber, decreased fat, and easily digestible protein sources. The rationale being that better quality nutrients are easier for the aging kidney and liver to handle. Don’t buy the cheapest food you can find and don’t be fooled by spending a lot of money on a brand of food that has not been studied by feeding trials. Nutrition really matters in the senior years – now is the time to feed your dog the best quality food that you can afford.
Kidney Disease:
Kidney function can be assessed with a blood test and urinalysis. Annual serum chemistry profiles and urinalysis are recommended for any senior dog to assess their kidney function as well as other body parameters. A dog can have 75% loss of kidney function and appear normal on a physical examination. Senior blood and urine screening is really important! If detected early, your dog can be placed on a prescription kidney diet that is significantly protein and mineral reduced. Additional supplements, antacids, and medications can help support dogs diagnosed with kidney disease. Administering fluids under the skin at home can also help your dog if diagnosed with kidney disease. Most owners hesitate at first, however, most dogs and owners adapt well to this if they can be taught how to give the fluids at home.
Hypothyroidism:
The thyroid gland is responsible for making a hormone that regulates metabolic rate. Dogs get a condition of the thyroid that causes the gland to become under active. This can cause serious weight gain, which can exacerbate heart disease and/or orthopedic disease such as arthritis. Signs of the disease may include unexplained reduction in activity level, cold extremities, or dysfunction of normal hair growth (this could be seen as hair loss or a dry, dull, thick woolly hair coat). A simple blood test is all that is needed to confirm this disease if it is suspected. The disease is treated with oral medication and can return your dog to his or her normal activity level as well as help him lose extra body weight.
Heart Disease:
Dogs are prone to several different types of heart problems. The most common include leaky heart valves (valvular insufficiency) and cardiomyopathy. Dogs do not normally develop athrleosclerotic plaques like humans with heart disease as their cholesterol / lipoprotein metabolism is very different. Occasionally, a dog will get a tumor on his or her heart. A dog with heart problems may have cough at night or tire more easily on walks. Eventually he or she may develop extreme difficulty breathing. If your veterinarian detects a heart murmur, she will recommend further diagnostics. X-rays can be taken to determine the size of your dog’s heart and assess the health of his or her lungs. Additionally, an ultrasound will allow your veterinarian to see inside of the heart and assess the thickness of the heart muscle, integrity of the heart valves, as well as measure the speed of the blood flowing into the main vessels from the heart chambers. Finally, dogs with heart disease can also have high blood pressure. Blood pressure measurements are an important part of a cardiac workup. Dogs who undergo these tests and for whom disease is revealed should be treated for their condition. Many of the heart medications used in human heart disease are used in dogs (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers). Heart disease is treatable with oral medication. Treating an affected dog would improve that animal’s quality of life and possibly help him or her live longer.
Cancer:
Dogs get many of the same types of cancer as people. One of the frontiers of veterinary medicine is canine cancer therapy. We have more effective cancer treatment for dogs than ever before. Modalities include combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. There are very few side effects to today’s cancer treatments. The object of cancer treatment is to give the canine patient a good quality of life for as long as possible. Unlike humans, the goal is not life at all costs, but to provide more time for dogs and their owners. The chemotherapy doses used are lower than in humans and the side effects as a result are minimal. Your dog would be very unlikely to lose his or her hair or have the prolonged nausea that people experience when undergoing cancer treatment. The key to success in cancer treatment is early detection of disease via frequent veterinary visits and diagnostic testing.
Behavior changes:
Older dogs can experience some of the same changes in their brain as humans suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. This is the deposition of beta-amyloid protein in the nervous system of the dog which can lead to Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Signs of this disease include dog’s not recognizing their owners, loss of housetraining, circling, and barking at seemingly nothing when previously this was not a usual habit. CDS is treatable with behavior modification, a diet with additional antioxidants, and a medication called Anipryl which works at the level of the brain to alleviate the signs of this degenerative disease. In some cases, your veterinarian may team up with a board certified veterinary behaviorist to help a dog affected with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
Lumps and Bumps:
Skin tumors are very common in older dogs. Anything from numerous, small warty type growths which are usually benign, to aggressive, malignant skin tumors can be observed. The only way to know for certain what lurks in the skin, is to collect cells from the mass. Usually this is done by fine needle aspiration, but sometimes a surgical biopsy is indicated. A fine needle aspirate is a procedure where some of the cells are sucked up into the hub of a needle using a syringe and squirted onto a glass slide. The cells are then inspected under the microscope by your veterinarian. For simple tumors the diagnostics may stop there; however, for more complex cases, your doctor may send the slide to a veterinary pathologist for review. Even fatty lumps (lipomas) can have a center of malignant (cancerous) cells -- It is always a good idea to have all lumps and bumps charted in your pet’s medical record and measured so that changes can be noted.
Being familiar with the above diseases is important as you can watch for the signs of their development in your older dog. Careful attention to your dog’s health also includes regular senior care for your dog after age five for the giant breeds and eight for other breeds. A good senior health program includes the following:
Semi-Annual Physical Examinations:
Visit your veterinarian twice per year for a physical examination. The physical examination is a very valuable test as heart murmurs, abdominal masses, skin lumps, and stiff joints can be picked up during the exam. A rectal examination should be performed on any older patient, as female dogs can get tumors of the anal glands (apocrine gland adenocarcinoma) and intact male dogs can get enlargement and/or infection of the prostate. Urinary stones can sometimes be felt in male dogs during the rectal exam as can enlarged lymph nodes! Did you know that when your veterinarian looks into your dog’s eyes that he or she can see signs of infectious disease or high blood pressure if they are present? Clearly, the physical exam is more than meets the eye!
Senior Blood Testing:
In addition to yearly heartworm and lyme disease testing, annual blood work including a CBC, Chemistry Panel, and a two part thyroid test is recommended for every senior dog. A complete blood count (CBC) is a test for infection, cancer, or shut down of the bone marrow. A Chemistry Panel is a test of total organ function including kidneys, liver, pancreas, and more. The two part thyroid test is the most sensitive way to screen your dog for an under active thyroid gland.
Urinalysis:
Testing the kidneys requires both blood and urine. The blood tests will tell your veterinarian if the kidneys are not able to eliminate nitrogenous waste products from the body. A urinalysis tells us just how good the kidneys are at functioning. Are they able to do some of their work, all of their work, or are they failing? A urinalysis can also help us understand if there is a urinary tract infection, urinary protein loss, or evidence of urinary stones.
Blood pressure measurement:
High blood pressure can cause kidney disease and it can be a “silent” entity. In some cases your veterinarian may see signs of this on the eye exam, but because it can be present without any signs at all, measuring blood pressure is recommended at least once a year in all senior dogs.
Senior care is additional preventative veterinary care for your dog. You may need to plan ahead for the cost, as these additional tests will add to the invoice. The value of early disease detection is priceless because it could lead to the intervention that makes the difference. This testing helps us provide your dog with a longer, happier and healthier life!
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