If there’s one good thing about old age, it’s that you’ve got a lifetime to get used to it. Thankfully, the signs creep up on you slowly, a few at a time. But with our pets, the opposite seems to be true. The memories of housebreaking may still be fresh in your mind, even though your canine friend’s muzzle is graying. You do a double take when your veterinarian suggests trying a senior food for your cat—it just doesn’t seem that long ago that you brought that tiny fluffball of a kitten home. About 40 percent of America’s dogs and cats are considered senior or geriatric, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. More than ever before, our pets are old. About 40 percent of America’s dogs and cats are considered senior or geriatric, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It’s a trend that mirrors what’s going on in our own world—humans are living longer than ever before, thanks to monumental strides in medicine and an ever-increasing knowledge of what’s good for us (like exercise and a healthy diet). The same discoveries spill over into the animal world. Just like their owners, animals now benefit from diagnostic machines like MRIs, treatments like chemotherapy, and advancements in diet and nutrition. Most importantly, perhaps, we’re all becoming better animal owners. Pets are occupying a position of increasing status in many of our lives—they’re not only friends and companions, they’re family. As such, we go to greater lengths to nurture and protect them. What all this means is that while an ancient, doddering dog that lives into its teens used to be an anomaly, it’s now becoming the norm. And as the ranks of aged pets swell, attention to their care and special needs is growing as well. How old is "old?" According to the AVMA, the oldest dog on record lived to be 29 years old, and the oldest cat survived to the ripe old age of 34. Those were rarities, of course. Age is a tricky thing in animals—we all know that a six-year-old dog is much "older" than a six-year-old human, hence the "dog years" equation (folklore states that one year of age in a dog or cat is equivalent to approximately seven years in a human). But what complicates things even further is that an animal’s expected life span also varies by breed. Small dogs and cats are considered seniors at 11.5 years, according to the AVMA. But in giant dog breeds, that marker moves to 7.5 years. Just as in humans, age in animals is often relative. An animal may not act old just because it has reached the age that it’s considered "old." After all, it certainly doesn’t know how many birthdays it has had. Most veterinarians tend to consider the age of 7 as the threshold of senior status, according to R.T. Goldston, DVM, author of Geriatrics & Gerontology of the Dog and Cat, a textbook on geriatric veterinary care. "Senior" only means that it’s time to take special consideration and precautions because of a pet’s age. When an animal actually begins to experience problems because of its old age, then it’s considered geriatric. Old age is something of a new phenomenon in the animal world—Dr. Goldston believes he was one of the first veterinarians to devote a practice exclusively to geriatric medicine when he changed his focus to senior pets in 1984. "All veterinarians are becoming a lot more knowledgeable in geriatric medicine," he explained. "Fifteen years ago, there was not a single one who had a geriatric program." Dr. Goldston attributes the burgeoning numbers of senior pets both to improved veterinary technology and increased knowledge. Advances in nutrition, thanks mostly to the research of high-end pet food companies, have contributed greatly to improved animal health, as has owner diligence to preventative care. "Over the years, the human-animal bond has increased tremendously. People care a lot more," he said. Time for a change When your pet reaches an age that your veterinarian considers "senior" (not all vets, nor all pets, consider seven years the demarcation line), you should be prepared to make some changes in the way you care for the animal. Dr. Goldston likes to see senior pets twice a year in his practice, rather than just a typical annual visit. More frequent visits mean the veterinarian has a better chance of catching any developing problems before they become serious. When a pet has hit senior status, most veterinarians will also recommend switching to a senior pet food, Dr. Goldston said. Animals’ metabolisms slow as they age, and they also tend to be less active, so senior foods are formulated to contain fewer calories. They’re also nutritionally balanced to help address other issues particular to aging pets. Dr. Goldston also recommends doing some basic lab work to establish a baseline profile of what’s normal for the pet. A blood chemistry profile, complete blood count, EKG, and x-rays will provide a complete picture of the pet’s current health status, and also a basis of comparison when such tests are administered again. "Senior" only means that it’s time to take special consideration and precautions because of a pet’s age. When an animal actually begins to experience problems because of its old age, then it’s considered geriatric. It’s also important for an owner to be informed about what potential problems his or her aging pet might face down the line, Dr. Goldston said. These often vary by breed—for instance, large dogs are predisposed to musculoskeletal problems and might be aided by a healthy diet and early addition of nutraceuticals. Toy dogs, on the other hand, tend to have heart and dental problems, so owners need to be aware of the warning signs of trouble with those organs, and have their veterinarians monitor these dogs closely. At the Columbia Animal Hospital in Columbia, Md., David Tayman, DVM, also recommends that clients bring senior animals in every six months. Owners are counseled about the importance of nutrition, exercise, and maintaining dental health, and are cautioned to watch out for breed-specific problems their pets might encounter. Certain changes in our aged pets are to be expected—graying around the muzzle, decrease in activity, possibly some loss of vision or hearing, and general creakiness are to be expected. But a change in attitude, food or water intake, elimination habits, behavior, or coat condition is a signal that a veterinarian should see the animal, Dr. Tayman said. Often, owners make the mistake of assuming that such problems are just an inevitable consequence of old age, and that nothing can be done. Dr. Tayman recalled an 18-year-old cat that hadn’t been to the veterinarian for several years, but was brought in by the owner because he had lost half his body weight. The owner assumed that the cat was just old. In fact, it had a vitamin B12 deficiency that was easily remedied. Veterinarians can often rule out the vast majority of problems with simple, non-invasive methods like ultrasound, endoscopy, x-rays, and lab work, Dr. Tayman said. "We can rule out quite a bit without having to be aggressive surgically and put the animal at risk," he explained. And most of the problems pets experience in old age are extremely treatable, easily prolonging the animal’s healthy and active lifetime. Care doesn’t come cheap As you would expect, this extra care our senior pets require comes at a cost. Owners generally spend about 50 percent more on older dogs, and a full geriatric work-up usually costs about $200 to $250, said Dr. Goldston. "Most of the time, there is a strong enough bond that they will invest in it," he explained, although he noted that there are always a few clients who prove an exception to the rule. At Columbia Animal Hospital, veterinarians explain the services the hospital can provide and all of the client’s options, and allow them to decide for themselves how to proceed. Most, Dr. Tayman said, are the type of pet owner who proceed forward without question and take the extra steps their geriatric pets require. "We’re an aging population. People are more sensitive about their own senior status," and therefore more sympathetic toward the same in their pets, he said. But Dr. Tayman also added that the clientele attracted to a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic are generally the type willing to shoulder the expenses of caring for a beloved pet. Not all animals are quite so lucky, said Jude Fine, founder of the Senior Canine Rescue Society, based in Calgary, Alberta. The group is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of senior dogs. Owners generally spend about 50 percent more on older dogs, and a full geriatric work-up usually costs about $200 to $250. The surrender of older animals to shelters is a major problem, Ms. Fine said. "Most senior rescues that I am aware of are very busy," she said. "A lot of shelters do not even put senior animals up for adoption and they face certain euthanasia. Many shelters run on small budgets with very limited space, and when there are ten younger dogs who have a good chance of being adopted quickly, and two older dogs that will take much longer to adopt, it is the seniors who lose out." Sometimes animals are surrendered for legitimate reasons—an owner must enter a nursing home, is terminally ill, or has died and nobody in the family can care for the pets, Ms. Fine said. "Elderly people often own elderly animals," she said. "However, in the majority of the cases, the dog is being displaced by new children in the family, a lifestyle change—moving, traveling more—or by the very accessible puppy in the pet store window. Out with the old, in with the new," she explained. "Our society has, sadly, become very disposable, and the elderly are one of the first to be thrown away as they are perceived to have no value." Fortunately, many animal lovers find an older animal’s charm more alluring than a joyous puppy or kitten’s, and not only dedicate themselves to continuing to care for their own animals throughout the pet’s lifetime, but also adopt those others have cast aside. "Not all older dogs require a big financial outlay. Some older dogs stay healthy until the day they pass on. Some may require special diets or regular medication, but not all," Ms. Fine explained, noting that younger dogs can suffer expensive ailments too. "Health problems are not exclusive to older dogs," she said. A pet’s golden years certainly can be an inconvenience for an owner—after surviving the puppy/kitten stage and sailing smoothly for middle age, it can be disconcerting to once again have to deal with bathroom accidents or behavior issues. But just as those early fluffball days should be appreciated, so should your pet’s twilight years. Because for all the joy a puppy brings, there’s no love quite like a graying muzzle resting gently on your knee—your pet may not see quite as well with those clouding eyes, but the trust in them is still crystal clear.
Today, vets expect to treat a pet throughout the three stages of its life—puppy- or kitten-hood, middle age, and the senior years.