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'Geriatric stage in pets can mean more care is needed,' says March vets




In the monthly Pet Subject column, Laura Dickens of Amical Vets in March, talks about pets ageing...

Ageing is a normal part of life and this life stage is called geriatric.

It starts a lot earlier in our pets than a lot of owners realise.

Older dogs can need more care (61971204)
Older dogs can need more care (61971204)

In cats and small dogs this is approximately eight to 10 years old, in medium dogs eight years and in giant breeds such as Great Dane, this can be as early as six years of age.

When an animal becomes geriatric, they often need more day-to-day care in order to help give them the best quality of life.

Arthritis and stiff joints are a really common older age problem in all our pets – dogs, cats and rabbits.

For dogs, regular, gentle exercise is very important to help maintain flexibility and suppleness. However, sharp, intense movements need to be avoided.

Joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin can be a huge help as these help to look after the cartilage in the joints which becomes harder and more brittle in geriatrics.

Weight control is essential to help keep our oldies as mobile as possible; carrying too much weight on sore joints really exacerbates underlying arthritic problems.

When the weather is very cold or windy, using a warm fleecy waterproof coat on your dog can really help keep their back, hips and thighs warm and comfortable during their walks.

Cats can also suffer with arthritis but it can sometimes be harder to detect than in dogs.

Behavioural changes like reduced jumping, toileting outside the litter tray and matting of the rump can all be signs of this.

Grooming your cat daily with a soft rubber mitt can be really helpful at removing the dead hair they can no longer reach and having a low sided litter tray/placing a ramp to the tray entrance can also really help with eliminations.

Geriatric rabbits may find it comfortable to have a microwavable heat pad under the hay of their bedding area.

Grooming may become more difficult so checking for matting; soiling and flystrike should be carried out daily. Keep food and water bowls easily accessible.

If you are worried that your elderly pet is starting to struggle, especially with the colder weather, please do not hesitate to call your local veterinary team for advice.



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