You know the signs: a few more gray hairs in the sink, eyes looking back in the mirror a bit less clear, more perfunctory naps. But who are the besieged? It’s not just the baby boomers but also their pets – America’s senior cats and dogs. With their expanded life span come medical and behavioral issues that can tax the bonds forged over years of joyous walks and shared private moments. What can pet owners do to ensure that these beloved elder “statespets” experience as long and as good a quality of life as possible? Lots!

Senior Facts and Fiction
What is the definition of a senior pet?
A senior pet is defined as any pet “over 50” in human years. I know many humans who would be affronted by being considered “senior” while they frolic in their fifth decade of life, but you have to start applying for AARP at some point. With all of the advances in human and veterinary medicine, this is a great time to be a senior – person or pet.

Is it an urban legend, or are pets living longer these days?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average life expectancy of a dog in 1960 was just seven years of age. Now a dog living past 15 years is quite common. With baby boomers, 60 is considered the new 45. With pets, 11 is the new 7. Remember that getting older is a process and not a disease. Though we can’t stop the clock that is ticking away the minutes of our pets’ lives, we can try to slow it down.

What can pet owners do to ensure that their pets live long lives?
The factors that most impact longevity are genetics, diet, lifestyle, and medical care. Getting older doesn’t mean one’s ability to get around has to been curtailed. Older is not a synonym for being overweight. A pet can still have clean teeth even if that means undergoing an anesthetic procedure to restore their choppers to pearly white. Using the same surgical techniques employed for pet owners, good vision can be restored even after a pet develops cataracts.

Establishing a team approach to health maintenance early in a pet’s life is critical. The team should be comprised of the pet owner, veterinarian, and any routine pet caregivers (e.g. boarding facility staff) involved in the animal’s life.

How old is “old”?
The oldest dog on record lived to be 29 years old, and the oldest cat survived to the ripe old age of 38. Those were rarities, of course.

Is it true that one human year is equal to seven pet years?
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 child. A year-old pup can have a litter. Puberty is many years off for the adolescent girl.

The “dog years” equation (folklore states that one year of age in a dog or cat is equivalent to seven years in a human) just isn’t true. What complicates things is that an animal’s expected life span can also vary by breed. Small dogs and cats are considered seniors at 11.5 years, according to the AVMA. In giant dog breeds, that marker moves to 7.5 years.

“Senior” only means that it’s time to take special precautions. When an animal actually begins to experience problems because of its advancing age, then it’s considered geriatric.

Why do some older pets still act like puppies and kittens while others are as active as throw pillows on a couch?
Just as in humans, age in animals is often relative. An animal may not act old just because it has reached the numeric marker that conventional wisdom considers “old.” After all, the pet doesn’t know how many birthdays it has had.

What are some of signs of aging that an owner of a senior pet may see?
Certain changes in our aged pets are to be expected: graying around the muzzle, decrease in activity, and general creakiness. A change in attitude, food or water intake, a persistent lameness, unexplained variation in elimination habits, and coat condition are but a few of the signals for which a trip to the veterinarian’s office is appropriate.

How often should a senior be brought to a veterinarian for examination?
Pets age at a much more rapid pace than people. A 19-year-old cat is approximately 90 years old. So much can change in as little as 12 months. Twice yearly examinations are best. If the pet is experiencing medical issues, it may need to be seen more frequently.

Yearly blood and urine testing can help to detect disease before it becomes life threatening. A problem discovered early has a greater chance of having a positive outcome and is usually less expensive to treat.

What are some of the medical issues faced by senior pets?
One of the major causes of death in older pets is cancer. Seniors also have to contend with kidney, heart, and liver disease. It is estimated that one in five dogs suffer with arthritis with less than half of them receiving relief for their pain. Cats and dogs are also plagued with dental disease that can act as a source of pain and infection for their entire bodies. A veterinarian may not be able to cure a health problem but can often slow down the rate of the disease progression and forestall the inevitable.

How would a pet owner know that their senior was suffering from any of these medical problems?
Pet owners should keep a pet health diary at home and record changes in weight, water intake, appetite, breath, elimination habits, lumps and bumps, and general changes in the pet’s behavior. When a pet is taken to the veterinarian for a twice yearly preventive health examination, the pet owner should bring the diary. Though a change may not seem like a big deal to the owner, subtle can be significant. Pets often mask signs when they become nervous at the veterinary clinic, just like the car that never makes the rattle while it is at the mechanic.

What is the single most important factor in aging successfully?
The key to aging successfully is proactive preventive health care. Pet owners should establish their pet’s health team as soon as they acquire their pet and keep the lines of communication open with all team members. When in doubt, don’t rely on Dr. Google; ask an expert. Ask a veterinarian. Pet health matters.

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