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PLEASE READ THIS.
IT MAY HELP SAVE YOUR SENIOR PETS LIFE. GIVE YOUR PETS A CHANCE TO LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
FOR PETS SAKE.

When Is Our Pet A Senior

Information Pet Planet USA The Planets Information Station On Pet Care.

SENIOR PETS How do we know when our pet is reaching its "Senior" years and how should we take precautions to help maintain his/her health.
Well first, our pets senior age is determined primarily by the animals size. At 20 pounds or less a dog at age 8 would be considered senior.At 21-89 pounds 7 years is senior and 90 and over 6 years is senior. For a cat around 7 years is considered senior.It is important for older pets to be taken to the vet and examined and tested more frequently than most younger pets.As an animal ages, many normal functions start to deteriorate and function less optimally. The ears, eyes, liver, kidneys and lungs may start to fail. It is harder for older animals to fight infections. Arthritis sets in and it make life difficult for them.It is important to watch for signs and treat problems as early as possible. Early diagnosis gives a much better chance to successfully control the animals medical condition. Keep in mind that nutrition plays a big role in your pets health and longevity.
Is your pet eating the best type of food for its age and condition? There are puppy foods, adult and senior foods on the market. There are even prescription diets and special foods your pet may need to be eating for its condition. At times we may need to feed a bland diet just to get our pet feeling better. The bland diet should not be fed for a long period of time. It is not nutritious enough to maintain what our pets need in their diets.

Here is a comparative age chart for dogs and humans:

After 2 years, 1 year = 4 human years. The average age of puberty is 1 year old.

Click here for a complete explanation and graph of dog years to human years.

What Should You Watch For And Discuss With Your Veterinarian.
There are many signs to distinguish the condition of your pets health. This is a list of "some" signs to help you in the monitoring of your pets health. Any of these signs can be a warning of a problem that needs your attention. Any increase in water intake or urination. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling. Stiffness and or decreased activity. Is the pet still mentally sharp? Are there any signs of dullness, decreased recognition of family members, aggressiveness, etc? Dehydration, yellowness (jaundice) of the gums, eyes or ears. Coughing, heavy breathing or difficult breathing.

Testing
Talk to your veterinarian if your pet shows any signs that are not normal. This is good advice not only for senior pets but pets of any age. There are various test that can be preformed to help diagnose the problem. They consist of laboratory blood work and or x-rays. Some clinics or hospitals may be equipped with EKG to help in the diagnosis.
Your vet will preform a thorough physical examination. The exam should consist of the following.

Eyes: The degree of ability to see. Clouding, redness, increased discharge or decreased in tear production. Squinting, growths on the eyelids and swelling around the eyes.

Ears: Yellow coloration or redness. Discharge, pain, abnormal odor, growths.

Mouth: Any evidence of dental or gum disease. Broken or painful teeth. Growths on the gums or around the tong. Color or the mucous membranes.

Nose: Any presence of abnormal discharge or swelling.

Teeth: Signs of gingivitis, broken teeth, abscess, a foreign object perhaps logged in the teeth or gums.

Heart: The presence of a murmur. Heart rate and rhythm.

Breathing pattern: Is breathing normal, rapid or labored?

Abdomen: Palpation (feeling the size, shape or firmness) for enlarged organs such as liver or kidneys. Internal growths, pain, sensitivity around urinary bladderor for the presence of bladder stones. Any presence of fluid buildup.

Skin and Hair coat: Any dryness and flaking, evidence of shin infection (pyoderma), abnormal odor, loss of hair, skin lumps.

Bones and joints: Pain, difficulty in bending, presence of limping.

Body weight: Is the weight normal, below normal or overweight?

Attitude: Is the animal depressed? Is it alert and how much energy is evident.

When is it time to take my pet to the vet?
It is NOT recommended to wait on any health issues your pet may have. Youngster or senior. The longer the illness or problem goes on the more difficult it may be to treat successfully. Early detection is always the best way to help longevity. Sometimes our pets show only minor symptoms therefor a visit to the veterinary office could mean early detection of perhaps a life threatening illness or disease.
Even if your pet "seems" well it is best for seniors to be checked twice a year. Remember that pets age faster than humans so visits twice a year would be like a checkup every 2 years for us. Gee, I wish I only had to go to the doctor once every 2 years. If the vet finds any thing wrong with your pet they will explain to you what needs to be done. Sometimes just a change in diet can do the trick. Other times it could mean more visits to monitor the problem. Often times drugs will be dispensed. Follow the directions and let your vet know how things are going.