Screening and Management Considerations for the Geriatric Dog ...

Table 1: Estimation of the human equivalent age of dogs and cats. *
Pet Age
(years)
Human Equivalent Age (years)
Feline
Canine
1-10 Kg 11-25 Kg 26-60Kg >60Kg
3 28 28 29 31 39
4 32 33 34 38 49
5 36 38 39 45 59
6 40 42 44 52 69
7 44 46 49 59 79
8 48 50 54 66 89
9 52 54 59 73 99
10 56 58 64 80
11 60 62 69 87
12 64 66 74 94
13 68 70 79
14 72 74 84
15 76 78 89
16 80 82 94
17 84 86
18 88 90 Adult
19 92 94 Senior
20 96 Geriatric
* table used with permission from Dr. Wiliam D. Fortney
Table 2: Example of a comprehensive screening panel for senior patients.
Diagnostic test
Thorough medical history Medical, surgical, vaccination, dietary,
behavioral and travel history.
Complete physical examination
Including fundic exam
Complete blood count
Include differential white blood cell count
Blood pressure
Complete chemistry profile
Including electrolytes
Thyroid evaluation
Complete urinalysis
Urine culture
Obtain sample by cystocentesis
Urine protein:creatinine
If any proteinuria detected on UA
Fecal examination (zinc sulfate flotation)
ECG/ Echocardiogram
Especially if arrhythmia/murmur auscultated
Thoracic and abdominal radiographs
Urine cortisol:creatinine ratio
Dogs: screening for Cushing’s disease.
If laboratory abnormalities are discovered on any patient, further testing may be warranted.
Remember that it is always important to consider any laboratory result in context with the history
and clinical status of the animal. The following are recommendations for follow-up testing in the