GERIATRICS: CAREFUL WITH OLDER DOGS

GERIATRICS: CAREFUL WITH OLDER DOGS

GERIATRIA: OLDER DOGS

 Fri, 15 October 2010 19:24 |  Written by Manoj Barlet Meridiana | | 

Prepare to face your old buddy
Some dogs even at 18 or 20 years. In these cases, there are two factors involved that justify such longevity:predisposition of the organism and the treatment he will receive when you get old.
The owner should be aware and learn about the diseases that can affect your pet from 7 or 8 years old. Thus, it can prevent them or diagnose them in time for the animal receives proper treatment. This will certainly prolong the life of many dogs.


Calcification in the vertebrae of the spine ("parrot's beak"), disc herniation and osteoarthritis

It is very common in older and obese dogs. The animal may start to limp and have difficulty jumping or climbing on higher ground, like a couch. When palpated in the region of the spine, it feels pain. The condition may progress and the animal is replaced incoordination in the limbs (crosses the hind legs when walking), can no longer get up, urinates and defecates anywhere (incontinence).

The wear of the joints (arthritis) is also common at this age. The dog feels pain when performing simple movements. The diagnosis of these diseases is done through the x-ray, CT and / or myelogram (X-ray of the spine using contrast).

How to deal: it may be occurring nerve compression and inflammation in the spine affected by a hernia or calcification. The dog must stand and be medicated by the veterinarian with anti-inflammatories and analgesics. The dog clearly showing serious signs such as paralysis, must be subjected to tests such as X-ray tomography and myelography to assess the degree of injury. The animal should not bathe or be subjected to cold temperatures during treatment or when you have headache attacks. In some cases, treatment is surgical.

In the case of osteoarthritis, treatment consists of analgesics, and anti-inflammatory drugs that stimulate the formation of cartilage. In all cases it is possible to associate the treatment alternative therapies such as physiotherapy and acupuncture.

Heart disease

A large percentage of older dogs have any cardiac abnormality, particularly the heart valves. Many animals compensate these problems and live well, without clinical symptoms. Others show clear signs of heart disease, but the owner does not know recognize.Tired than normal during the tours, cough that may be mistaken for a choking after exercise, panting and tongue purple after a state of excitement, are signs of a dog with cardiac problems. The animal should be examined by a veterinarian, indicating an electrocardiogram and / or an echocardiogram to evaluate it.

How to deal: it is important that the owner is aware, for the animal to be treated at the onset of disease. Even without clinical signs, the elderly animal should be examined by a veterinarian annually. Given the heart, the dog will be treated and signs should disappear. This greatly prolong the life of the dog. Dogs with heart disease should not be overweight (obesity) or be forcibly subjected to long walks.

Cataract

A cataract is a condition in which the animal will gradually losing his sight, since the lens (the internal structure of the eye) will become translucent. When viewed in the light, the eye of the animal has white spots.Over time, the cataract progresses and the animal shall not see, since the lens is fully opaque and the animal's eyes are quite whitish.

How to treat: diagnosed early, the cataract can be treated so that their development is slower. Not all cases respond well to treatment. In the case of blindness, cataract surgery exists in animals. Some breeds predisposed to cataracts and she may appear early in young animals.

Chronic renal failure

When the kidney loses its ability to select what is good or bad for the body and can no longer hold water, we have a picture of chronic renal failure. The signs are weight loss, excessive intake of water, large amounts of urine, loss of appetite, vomiting and anemia.

How to treat: chronic renal failure is a condition that causes an animal to death, because the kidney, which is the body's filter, no longer works. He misses important substances like vitamins, and retains that should eliminate toxins.However, diagnosed in time, the animal may have a survival with a dietary change and vitamin supplements. Hemodialysis can be performed. Kidney transplantation may be performed on animals.

Pyometra

Older dogs who show signs of loss of appetite, vomiting, sudden increase of the abdomen, vaginal discharge and intense apathy, should be sent to the vet immediately. Pyometra is a uterine infection that affects older dogs. The uterus fills with pus and the animal is intoxicated by absorption of pus in the body.

How to Treat: The effective treatment in most cases is surgery with removal of the uterus and ovaries and antibiotics. In some cases (disease detected early and breeding bitches) treatment may be tempted to preserve their uterus but do not always get results. It is advocated castration of young dogs such as prevention of pyometra in adulthood.

Tumors

Not every tumor is a cancer. In bitches, the most common tumor in the breast occurs.Breast tumors are frequent and can be easily perceived by the owners as one or more nodules in the mammary glands of bitches. Most breast tumors are benign, but the vet should monitor developments and require removal if deemed necessary. A biopsy is always indicated after the removal of any tumor. Every node that appears in a dog, elderly or not, should be evaluated by your veterinarian. Early diagnosis can save or prolong the life of an animal with cancer.

How to deal: you can resort to surgical removal and / or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is performed in dogs in some countries.

Diabetes

It can appear in any dog. Older dogs and / or obese can become diabetic. The diabetic dog has thin, but eat too much. Drinking water excessively and urine too. Cataract may present associated frame.

How to Treat: The insulin is made ​​in dogs to control the disease in most cases.

Loss of teeth

It's something the owner can and should prevent. The dog loses his teeth for tartar buildup. Animals must be assessed annually since youth, and prevention and / or removal of tartar (if necessary) should be made. When the owner realizes that your dog's mouth smells bad, it's time to visit the vet. The ideal is to do prevention. When are cleaned of tartar late, many teeth are already lost. Feeding the animals with dry food can help prevent tartar and other measures.

As for food, it is noteworthy that there are diets for older dogs (diets senior). Give them preference for animals over 7 years.

Silvia C. Parisi
Veterinary Medical - (SP CRMV 5532)