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As your pet approaches seniorhood, they may begin to face new challenges and health issues. Because of this, we must know how to provide for them with these senior pet care tips.
You want your pet to live a long, healthy life – that’s why you take such good care of them in the first place. With good food, exercise, your furry friend will live well into seniorhood and make an endless number of treasured memories with you along the way.
But reaching seniorhood is admittedly bittersweet; older dogs and cats are more likely to become sick or develop diseases that need prompt care. Knowing how to spot and respond to signs of illness is an absolute must to ensure they receive the best senior pet care available.
Is My Senior Pet Sick? 12 Signs to Look For
Early intervention is critical when senior pets are sick. While every breed, species, and individual pet is different, there are some general symptoms most sick pets experience that can help you identify whether your pet isn’t feeling well.
1. Sudden changes in sleep habits
Like humans, illness often changes our need for sleep. A pet who sleeps too much may be experiencing illness-related fatigue, while someone who sleeps too little could be in pain or restless due to discomfort.
2. Changes in activity levels
Pets do slow down as they become older, just like senior humans. Too much activity can be overwhelming to older joints and muscles. If activity levels seem to change suddenly, or your pet never seems to really bounce back, they may actually be struggling with cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, or certain thyroid conditions.
3. Gastrointestinal or urinary changes
In most cases, a one-off episode of diarrhea or urinating outside of the litter box isn’t a concern. If pets seem to consistently struggle with diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, blood in urine, nausea, or vomiting, however, there may be cause for concern.
Straining is of special concern, especially to male cats and dogs, as it may be a symptom of urinary tract blockage which can be fatal. Similarly, cats who suddenly start urinating everywhere but the litter box may be doing so because they associate the litter box with pain due to infection.
It should also be noted that, contrary to popular belief, it is not normal for cats to throw up extremely regularly.
4. Excessive vocalizations
Again, here, it’s the change that matters most. A quiet dog who suddenly starts whining or barking incessantly, without any outside stimulus, may be struggling with pain or dementia. High-pitched “whining” can also be a symptom of pain or disorientation due to illness
5. Hair loss, “barbering” and sudden shedding
Pets who suddenly start itching, scratching, losing their hair – or chewing it off in patches – may be suffering from stress, anxiety, skin conditions like mange, flea allergies, ringworm, or certain hormone conditions.
6. Changes in appetite
Some animals are very food-motivated, while others need to be coerced into mealtime because they’re too busy playing. Whatever your dog or cat’s “normal” is, a sudden change (ravenous hunger or refusing to eat at all) is a sign that something more is at play.
7. Upper respiratory symptoms
If your pet is sniffling, sneezing, coughing, congested, or wheezy, they may be suffering from the canine or feline version of a cold (rhinitis), allergies, or just upper respiratory irritation. Discharge from the nose, eyes, or mouth is also a big sign of a problem. Pets who seem to “gasp” are in respiratory distress; this is a veterinary emergency.
8. Sensitivity or malodor around the mouth
With seniorhood comes a heightened risk for dental issues, which can cause extreme malodor around the mouth and sensitivity, too. Pets who suddenly shy away, bite, or scratch when you handle their mouths may also be trying to hide bad teeth.
9. Behavioral changes
Both dogs and cats have a natural instinct to self-isolate when they become sick; in the “wild,” this helps them to avoid predators. Pets who suddenly become withdrawn or seem to hide for long periods of time may be inadvertently telling you “Hey, I don’t feel well.” Likewise for pets who suddenly become extroverted, aggressive, or snippy even though they’ve never been like that in the past.
10. Limping or favoring limbs
Senior pets often suffer from at least baseline levels of arthritis and joint degeneration. Suddenly refusing to play, favoring a limb, and limping may be a sign that your pet has an injury, or it may be a symptom of painful joints. Pets who struggle with senior joint problems will also often struggle to climb stairs, hop up on chairs, and make other high-activity moves.
11. Lumps, bumps, and uneven patches of skin
You can, and should, give your pet a good all-over feel now and again to check for lumps and bumps. Do this at least once a week to ensure you get to know how your pet’s body feels. If you do find a lump, tell your vet immediately so he or she can biopsy it and rule out problems like cancer.
12. Seizures or convulsions
Both of these symptoms can be a sign that your pet is having, or has had, a tumor, stroke, or heart attack. Heat stroke, poisoning, dehydration, and even Diabetes can also produce seizures, as can parvovirus, coccidiosis, and a few other communicable illnesses.
Senior Pet Care Tips for Taking Care of Sick Pets
What if you already know your pet is sick – how can you ensure your dog or cat gets the best senior pet care available? The first step is always to visit your vet for a full workup. Knowing what you’re up against is the best way to help your pet recover, but it’s really just the beginning.
At home, keep your pet quiet and comfortable. Follow your vet’s instruction for toilet routines, food, and water. It can be helpful to keep a diary of when they eat, toilet, and take medications if your pet is struggling with appetite.
You shouldn’t tolerate bad behavior, but do be aware that illness can make pets a little bit cranky. Like us humans, sometimes they just need a little bit of patience when they aren’t feeling well.
If pets refuse to (or can’t) groom themselves, they may need a little help with this, too. You can use a warm, just-barely-damp cloth or pet wipes to gently stroke them throughout the day. Being clean can make a big difference in how they feel!
What Types of Pet Medication is Available?
If your vet prescribes medication, ask questions to ensure you understand what it’s for, how to deliver it, and what to do if your pet refuses to take it.
The most common medications prescribed by vets for senior pet care include:
- Antibiotics – these treat bacterial infections, like coccidiosis, conjunctivitis, or abscessed teeth.
- Antiparasitic – these kill or prevent flea, tick, and ear mite infestations. Most are given as a spot-on on the back of the neck.
- Chemotherapeutic – these treat cancers by either boosting your pet’s immune system or by attacking tumors and cancer cells directly.
- Hormones – these help your pet’s body re-balance itself in the presence of a hormone or thyroid condition.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories – these reduce inflammation due to arthritis or certain auto-immune conditions. They also reduce pain.
- Opioid pain relievers – these are the strongest, most effective form of painkiller you can give a pet.
- Sedatives – these quell anxiety, help pets sleep, and address certain behavioral problems, such as aggression.
- Steroids – these are used in one of two ways: either to suppress an overactive immune system in the presence of autoimmune conditions, or to empower the body to more easily fight off infections. They may also be used to reduce severe inflammation in certain conditions.
Issues With Senior Pet Medicines
For a variety of reasons, some pets seem to struggle with taking medicine. Whether they’re allergic or just remarkably great at “cheeking” pills, only to spit them out later, your local pet compounding pharmacy can help in a few different ways.
- They can customize a medication to contain fewer or additional ingredients to better suit your pet. For example, a compounding pharmacy might recreate a pet’s prescription to eliminate an allergen or add something for nausea.
- They can re-formulate the medication into a different dosage format (e.g., pill to liquid, or liquid to ultra-thin oral film). This can be a great option if you have a pet who can’t, or won’t, swallow pills.
- They can help make medications cheaper. If you’re suffering from sticker shock from your vet’s prescription, know that you don’t have to buy from your vet. You can ask them to write out an RX, and then bring the RX to your local compounding pharmacy. This is often cheaper by a large margin.
The biggest takeaways here are that early intervention and adherence to treatment (including medication) are the key to restoring your pet’s health. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your local compounding pharmacy if you need advice – like your vet, they’re familiar with pet-based issues, too!
