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AMBULATION<br />
VeterinarY Corner<br />
DR. BARBara ROYAL, D.V.M., C.V.A.<br />
GETTING WISER<br />
about<br />
GETTING OLDER<br />
Tips for geriatric pet care<br />
Our pets are living longer and are more like members of the family than just a pet in<br />
our lives. And that longer lifespan means the very real possibility of managing geriatric<br />
health issues. As they say, it is a good problem to have, considering the alternative.<br />
Here are my top health management tips for rejuvenating your older pet:<br />
on smooth surfaces. Adding area rugs,<br />
yoga mats, and other non-skid floor<br />
coverings can help them get up and<br />
move more confidently.<br />
Rubber toe-grips (like Dr. Buzby’s,<br />
toegrips.com), adhesive foot pads,<br />
waxes or non-slip booties (like<br />
pawzdogboots.com that aren’t too<br />
bulky), can also help. Try not to cover<br />
their feet all the time. Having direct<br />
contact with floors and the earth is<br />
important for circulation and nerve<br />
conduction to the feet.<br />
Seeing Is Believing<br />
Aging pets often have lenticular<br />
sclerosis, which is a normal aging<br />
change that makes depth perception<br />
difficult. It could be another reason for<br />
hesitance on stairs or in areas that have<br />
poor lighting. Make sure to provide<br />
good lighting to help them navigate in<br />
twilight or dark conditions. Ask your<br />
veterinarian about herbal supplements<br />
available that can help with vision.<br />
TIP<br />
Teaching Old Dogs<br />
(Or Cats) New Tricks<br />
Don’t forget mental health<br />
days. Work on a new tricks,<br />
games and offer new toys.<br />
You’d be surprised at how<br />
interested they still are.<br />
MIND STIMULATION<br />
Don’t Forget To Stop And<br />
Smell The Rose Bushes<br />
Remember that what’s interesting<br />
for pets often involves new smells and<br />
a little challenge. Provide interesting<br />
smells for your geriatric pet. Dogs and<br />
cats devote a large part of their brains<br />
to distinguishing and enjoying all<br />
kinds of scents. In our air-conditioned,<br />
scent-free homes and city lives, the<br />
smell-center part of their intellect<br />
may be languishing. If your pet is not<br />
getting around as much, bring the<br />
scents to them – an interesting tree<br />
branch or stone, a small bowl of dirt, a<br />
feather or even the soles of your muddy<br />
boots could give a little detective puzzle<br />
for a house-bound pet. Note: Be careful<br />
of plants that may be toxic to dogs or<br />
cats; check the species and toxicity of<br />
all plants before allowing any chewing.<br />
Take a Walk on the Wild Side<br />
Go places on your walks where<br />
your pet can experience something<br />
new. Change the terrain rather than<br />
staying on sidewalks in the same<br />
neighborhood. Look for areas that<br />
have different substrates to walk on –<br />
gravel, hills, grass, tree roots, irregular<br />
surfaces – whatever they can manage.<br />
Don’t try to make things too easy, even<br />
Use It Or Lose It<br />
Becoming sedentary with arthritis is a dangerous<br />
downward spiral. Arthritic animals that don’t exercise<br />
will deteriorate rapidly. Short, frequent, low impact<br />
exercise may be better than trying to do one really<br />
long walk a day. But movement is always better than<br />
inactivity. Take it slow if you have to, but take it.<br />
(continued on page 28)<br />
Don’t forget to play with your aging cats.<br />
People may play fetch with dogs in all life stages, but<br />
mature cats are often left to sleep all day. Don’t just put<br />
treats under their noses; make them do a little work for<br />
them. Place healthy meat treats up a flight of stairs or on<br />
top of some climbing toy. Your cat will have to exercise<br />
to get to it. Those wire-bouncing fobs and little catnip<br />
mouse toys are not just for kittens. They still may like a<br />
bit of chasing, jumping, hunting and playing. Even just a<br />
moving hand under a blanket can be an exciting rodent<br />
on the run. And your cat may shed some unwanted<br />
weight as well.<br />
Alternative supplements for joint health and<br />
inflammation, like combinations that include turmeric<br />
and boswelia, can improve mobility and decrease pain.<br />
Older animals can usually tolerate modalities like<br />
acupuncture better than they tolerate medications to<br />
soothe their aching joints. Ask your veterinarian about<br />
acupuncture and supplements.<br />
26<br />
Slip-Sliding Away<br />
Don’t let slippery surfaces exhaust or injure your<br />
pet. Pads of older canine and feline feet can slip more<br />
> Check out some ideas on supplements<br />
for your senior pet on page 28.
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