10 tips to keep your animal friend
feeling young at heart

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3. Keep him moving!

A mature animal may not be as active and energetic as he once was, but he still needs regular exercise to prevent obesity and keep his joints, heart and lungs in good working order. An older dog should still be walked every day, or every other day, depending on the individual, or engaged in some light play. Indoor cats are especially prone to becoming sedentary and overweight as they age, so they should also be encouraged to play a little each day. Just don’t overdo it – stop the activity when the animal shows signs of tiring or wants to rest. And who doesn’t love a massage after exercising? Massage soothes stiff joints and muscles, and alleviates the discomfort associated with arthritis and hip dysplasia. Because massage also improves circulation, it enhances immune function and helps the organs and body systems function better.

4. Long in the tooth?

Periodontal disease affects dogs and cats of all ages. If not dealt with early on, it worsens as the animal ages, causing pain and leading to gingivitis, tooth loss, and infections that can spread to the kidneys, heart or other organs. A healthy, natural diet helps maintain good dental health. The preservatives, sugars and other ingredients found in many commercial foods contribute to tartar buildup, while many kibbles break down into mushy particles that lodge between the teeth. Raw meaty bones (chopped raw chicken necks for cats) can serve as a natural “toothbrush." Not only do they give his teeth and jaws a good workout, but the natural enzymes and probiotics found in raw bones support healthy bacterial flora. Raw vegetables such as organic carrots are also good. You may need to clean your animal’s teeth occasionally, using a toothpaste and brush especially formulated for pets. With some animals, especially older ones, this may be easier said than done, so you may want to look at products that you can spray or wipe on the animal’s teeth and gums. Many contain anti-bacterial herbs such as myrrh, thyme, fennel seed, or goldenseal.

5. Limit vaccines

By now, most animal guardians are aware of the risks of over-vaccination. Even in young animals, too many vaccines can cause a wide number of side effects, ranging from fever and stiffness to injection site sarcomas, autoimmune problems, allergies, dermatitis, thyroid problems, and even kidney and liver disease. These risks increase as the animal gets older, especially if he is in any way immunocompromised by illness. The irony is that most vaccines protect against illness for three years, perhaps even longer, which makes annual boosters completely unnecessary. Rather than scheduling a full set of vaccinations every year, ask your vet if he/she can do a titer test instead. This simple, inexpensive, blood antibody test will tell you if your animal can get by without being re-vaccinated.

6. Keep his mind sharp

We’ve all heard how important it is to keep our minds active as we grow older. The same holds true for our companion animals. Your dog or cat can suffer memory loss and cognitive problems as he ages, so you need to keep his mind busy. Regular exercise and socialization are important, as are a wide variety of toys and even a raw bone once or twice a week. Some animals, especially cats, get bored with their toys quickly, so introduce new ones now and then to refresh their interest. This is especially important if your animal spends a lot of time indoors. The jury is still out on whether ginkgo biloba is useful for animals. In any case, it is a good circulatory tonic that improves the health of capillaries in the brain and other organs.

7. Off to the vet

Even with the best of care, an older animal is more prone to developing health problems than a younger one. Many of the disorders often found in senior animals, such as cancer, diabetes or kidney disease, may not show visible symptoms until they’ve become relatively advanced. It’s therefore important to get your mature companion checked over by a vet once or even twice a year. Because your dog or cat can’t say when he’s feeling under the weather, learn to pay attention to any subtle changes that might signal ill-health. Unusual behavior or lethargy, lumps anywhere on the body, changes in weight or appetite, increased urination and/or water consumption can all be signs of developing disease that warrant a jaunt to the vet.

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Published in the October/November 2004 issue of Animal Wellness