sweaters for cats: 2010

Canine Kidney Disease, Signs Your Dog Is Ill

Chronic kidney disease, which is also called chronic renal failure (CRF) is common in dogs, especially older dogs. How do you know if your dog has chronic kidney disease? Your dog will show you it is ill if you know what to look for.

Signs of kidney disease:

• increased water consumption or polydipsia
• increased urine production or polyuria
• loss of appetite
• lethargy and depression
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• very bad breath
• ulcers in the mouth

The signs of CRF are different from those of acute renal failure. Dogs with acute disease pass little or no urine and are severely ill. Dogs with CRF drink and pee excessively. Dogs with CRF develop increasingly worsening symptoms, but they may do so at such a subtle rate that we aren’t always aware of what’s happening until most of the kidney has been destroyed.

Confirm signs with blood and urine tests
When a pet has symptoms listed above, we want to confirm that it has CRF with blood and urine tests. Get these tests every 6 months if your pet is a senior because seniors are more at risk for kidney disease than are young dogs. For younger dogs, have blood and urine tests annually.

What's next?
In future Caring for Pet discussions, we'll cover what goes wrong with calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and the red blood cells in a pet with CRF, then we'll discuss which herbs, medications, and supplements will prolong life.

The more we understand CRF, the better care we can give our pets.

Canine Kidney Disease, Acute and Chronic

In previous Caring for Pets entries, we’ve covered what the kidneys do, what causes kidney disease, and how dogs with kidney disease feel. Now, let’s consider the two major classifications of kidney disease, acute and chronic, because they are vastly different and require different approaches.

The difference between acute and chronic kidney disease
When kidney disease hits a pet with sudden, severe illness, it’s called acute kidney disease or acute renal failure (ARF). When kidney disease sneaks up slowly, destroying kidney function bit by bit and causing a progressive illness, it’s called chronic kidney disease or chronic renal failure (CRF).

Major differences between ARF and CRF include
• Severity and affect on longevity
• Urine production
• Instigating factors

Difference in ARF and CRF Severity and Longevity
Dogs with acute kidney disease can die within a few hours. In contrast, a pet with chronic disease may live for months or years. A pet with acute disease requires hospitalization with intensive emergency care, and the best indication of how the pet will do is how well it responds to treatment. A pet with chronic disease is managed at home with clinic visits every 3-4 months.

Many dogs with chronic disease have such a gradual progression of symptoms that the family is unaware the pet is ill until the pet is brought in for its annual physical exam with blood and urine tests.

Dogs can have both ARF and CRF if slowly progressive disease destroys so much of the functioning cells that failure of the entire organ occurs.

Difference in ARF and CRF Urine Production
With acute renal failure, no urine is produced (anuria) and no wastes are cleared from the body so that urea builds up within the blood (uremia). In contrast, dogs with chronic renal failure produce an excessive amount of urine and clear some waste products. The more urine a dog with CRF produces, the more it needs to drink; this combination of increased drinking and urination is called polyuria (PU) and polydipsia (PD) or PUPD.

Although dogs with PUPD and are able to clear some waste products, over time this clearance decreases and uremia develops. The dog’s brain and other organs will tolerate slow increases in uremia much better than they will tolerate sudden increases. Thus, when blood tests show uremia, we are better able to predict how the pet will do if we know the rate at which the uremia developed.

Difference in ARF and CRF Instigating Factors
Acute renal failure can be brought on by medications (lasix, NSAIDs like Rimadyl, Meloxicam & Etogesic, cepholosporins, aminoglycosides), toxins, heat stroke, shock, transfusion reaction, infection such as leptospira bacteria, and blockage in the renal system by stones or tumors.

Chronic disease can be brought on by long-term infection or medication use, genetic malformation and malfunction, cancer, and aging.

Canine kidney disease is not the end of the world; many dogs can live months or years with minimal illness if we handle their illness wisely. The more we understand about kidney disease, the easier it is for us to manage it. In previous Caring for Pets entries, we’ve covered what the kidneys do, what causes kidney disease, and how dogs with kidney disease feel. In upcoming discussions, we’ll cover signs and symptoms that a dog has renal failure, tests and treatment.

Canine Kidney Disease, the Causes

What causes kidney disease?
Kidney disease can be caused by so many factors that it’s a marvel all dogs don’t have kidney failure.

Causes of kidney disease include:

• Bacteria, such as leptospira and ehrlichia
• Cancer, such as lymphosarcoma
• Genetic malformations and malfunctions affecting dozens of breeds
• Blocked bladder, urethra, or ureters
• Stones caused by improper food or the pH of the food
• Chronic infections, such as dental disease, Lyme disease
• Toxins and poisons, such as radiator fluid (ethylene glycol), mercury & lead, arsenic & thallium
• Pain medications, such as Rimadyl, Meloxicam, aspirin, & ibuprofen
• Antibiotic medications, including aminglycosides, sulfas, & cephalosporins
• Shock and coagulation problems, including DIC
• Transfusion reactions
• Heat stroke
• Hypercalcemia

In an upcoming Caring for Pets blog, we'll continue our discussion of kidney disease in dogs by describing two different forms of this disease: acute and chronic. Then, we'll discuss what goes wrong and how herbs, medications, and supplements can help.

Canine Kidney Disease, How Dogs with Kidney Disease Feel

We're discussing a dozen aspects of kidney disease and have covered what the kidney does, now let's consider how dogs with kidney disease feel:

From the expression on the face and in the eyes of dogs with untreated kidney disease I believe they feel awful.

Dogs with kidney disease:
• are anemic and lethargic
• have stomach pain and vomit
• have painful mouth ulcers
• don’t want to eat and become emaciated
• feel thirsty and dehydrated
• can be too weak to walk outside to urinate and pee on themselves
• have itchy skin
• have edematous limbs
• have headaches as waste products reach high concentrations in the brain
• become blind because high blood pressure damages the retina
• have strokes and seizures

What can cause kidney disease, how can we test for it, and how can we treat it? In a future blog, we'll cover more aspects of kidney disease in dogs.

Canine Kidney Disease, What the Kidneys Do

We're discussing 12 aspects of kidney disease in dogs, and let's look first at kidney function:

What the kidneys do
Dogs’ kidneys perform so many important functions that each dog has two kidneys rather than just one. In fact, one entire kidney and a portion of the second kidney can be nonfunctioning and our dogs would still be ok. Only when a dog has lost 2/3 of its kidney function do we see signs of kidney failure.

Kidneys work with other organs and the endocrine system to control
• electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus.
• acid-base balance (the body’s pH) by regulating HCO3 (bicarbonate)
• how much fluid is in the body and in the blood
• blood pressure
• red blood cells and prevent anemia
• waste products, such as urea

In our next posting, let's consider how dogs with kidney disease feel.

Canine Kidney Disease

Kidney disease in dogs
Kidney disease heartbreakingly affects many dogs we see in veterinary practice, especially geriatric dogs. Fortunately, we can slow the progression of kidney disease using diet, herbs, supplements and medications. Many dogs can be kept happy and healthy for longer periods than ever before.

To understand kidney disease, over the next few Caring for Pet blog entries let’s look at:
1. What the kidneys do
2. How dogs with kidney disease feel
3. What causes kidney disease
4. The difference between acute and chronic kidney disease
5. Signs a dog has kidney disease
6. What goes wrong with calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in kidney disease
7. What goes wrong with red blood cells in kidney disease
8. Which blood and urine tests are necessary for dogs with kidney disease
9. Which herbs, supplements and medications help dogs with kidney disease
10. What to feed dogs with kidney disease
11. How to get dogs with kidney disease to eat
12. Giving fluids and preventing dehydration in dogs with kidney disease

Geriatric Cat Health Problems, What's Common?

What makes geriatric cats sick?

The most common senior cat problems requiring veterinary care:
• Dental disease
• Obesity
• Ear infections
• Bladder infection & inflammation
• Kidney disease
• Gum inflammation (gingivitis)
• Malaise
• Heart murmur
• Hyperthyroidism

Over the years writing this blog, I've discussed diagnosis and treatment for many of these common geriatric kitty health problems. Use the search function at the top of the blog to find information that will help you understand more about these conditions.

Kitten Health Problems, What's Common?

What makes kittens sick?
The most common kitten problems requiring veterinary care:
• Fleas
• Respiratory virus infections
• Ear mites
• Ear infections
• Eye infections (conjunctivitis)
• Tapeworms & roundworms
• Tooth decay
• Gum inflammation (gingivitis)
• Chronic gut problems

Over the years writing this blog, I've discussed diagnosis and treatment for many of these common kitty health problems. Use the search function at the top of the blog to find information that will help you understand more about these conditions.

Senior Dog Health Problems, What's Common?

What makes geriatric dogs sick?

We've discussed common puppy problems, now here's a list of the most common senior dog problems requiring veterinary care:
• Dental disease
• Ear infections
• Vision problems due to aging lens (nuclear sclerosis)
• Skin tumors
• Obesity
• Arthritis
• Heart murmur
• Skin infection & inflammation

Over the years writing this blog, I've discussed diagnosis and treatment for many of these common senior dog health problems. Use the search function at the top of the blog to find information that will help you understand more about these conditions.

Puppy Health Problems, What's Common?

Ever wonder what are the most common pet health problems? Ever wonder if your dog and cat have the same problems as others? Have you noticed that health problems change as pets age? For example, puppies and kittens have worms, but senior dogs and cats have tumors, obesity, heart and kidney disease.

Below are common puppy and kitten health problems followed by common senior dog and cat health problems.

What makes puppies sick?
The most common puppy problems requiring veterinary care:
• Ear infections
• Retained baby teeth
• Fleas
• Dental disease
• Skin infections & inflammation
• Tapeworms & roundworms
• Hair loss
• Vomiting & diarrhea
• Chronic gut problems

Over the years writing this blog, I've discussed diagnosis and treatment for many of these common puppy health problems. Use the search function at the top of the blog to find information that will help you understand more about these conditions.

Dogs & Cats with Diarrhea, Caring for the Bottom

We’ve covered lots of information about diarrhea including a special diet and medications. We’ve also covered signs of dehydration, which is a common problem when pets lose water in the stool. Now, let’s consider how to treat the pet’s bottom.

Pets with diarrhea can have a painful bottom because liquid stool burns the skin. Help your pet by washing the anus and skin below the anus to remove any stool. A sprayer hose in the bathtub or sink works well for washing. A drop of shampoo applied to the skin & hair helps kill bacteria. When the bottom is clean, blot it dry. Moist skin, especially moist skin that is under a tail and “in the dark” is an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish.

If the skin appears red or irritated after it is dried, apply one of the following:
• dilute lavender oil in water (about 15 drops of oil in an ounce of water)
• Burt’s Bees cuticle cream
• aloe vera fresh from the plant.

Dogs & Cats with Diarrhea, What to Feed

In a previous Caring for Pets post we discussed diarrhea and using probiotics and medications to treat it. In addition dogs and cats with diarrhea need a special diet.

Special Diet for Dogs & Cats with Diarrhea
When pets have diarrhea, the gastrointestinal tract (gut) should be rested. That’s right, rested--the same as we would do for a sprained ankle. Just as we don’t take sore ankles on long hikes, or up and down stairs, or even for short jogs, we don’t ask a gut with diarrhea to work. Instead, we give it easily digested foods. For most pets, this 4-day diet allows the gut to heal:

Day 1: Broth only
Day 2: Broth with mashed vegetable or mashed potatoes
Day 3: Broth with mashed vegetable or mashed potatoes, and the meat used to make the broth
Day 4: Broth with mashed vegetable or mashed potatoes, the meat used to make the broth, and pet’s normal diet.

Broth
Broth is made by cooking any meat or fish in water, for example, chicken or pork. Homemade broth is superior to store-bought because the odor of cooking stimulates the pet’s appetite.

Meal frequency
Serve small frequent feedings rather than two large feedings. For example, offer broth every hour or half hour.

Meal amounts
If your pet weighs 5 to 10 pounds (2-5 kg), offer ¼ cup of broth every half hour. If your pet weighs 50 lb offer it ½ to ¾ cup of broth every half hour. Offering too much too quickly may cause vomiting.

Meal temperature
Serve broth and all meals at 100 F or 40 C. This is about prey temperature and is the temperature the pet’s enzymes and digestive system work best.

Diarrhea in Dogs & Cats

What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is soft-to-runny stool.

Why is diarrhea harmful?
Diarrhea is harmful because it causes dehydration and can cause infection throughout a pet’s body. Diarrhea is also harmful because often the organisms that are making the pet sick can infect humans, spreading the illness to the pet’s family.

How does diarrhea cause dehydration?
With diarrhea, water that is normally reabsorbed by the intestines is lost in runny stool. The pet becomes dehydrated and doesn’t have enough fluid in its body to clear out toxins and rid itself of the infection. As diarrhea progresses, the amount of fluid in the blood declines and the blood pressure falls. As the pet’s body senses changes in the blood and blood pressure, its heart beats faster to maintain circulation. The pet’s body attempts to bring in fluid from the cells to maintain blood flow, and the cells and spaces between cells become dry. We can see how dry and dehydrated the pet is by pinching its skin. When dehydrated, skin remains tented up, failing to fall back into place quickly as it does when normally hydrated.

Measuring dehydration caused by diarrhea
How can we tell if a pet is dehydrated? Check the mouth, skin, and eyes. First, put your finger in the mouth and feel the gums. In dehydrated pets, gums are dry or tacky rather than moist. Then, check the skin by pinching skin into a fold along the back. Watch how quickly the skin springs back against the body. In well hydrated pets, the skin springs back instantly. In dehydrated pets, a “tent” of skin forms; the tent slowly returns to its original position. When dehydration is severe, eyes appear sunken and dull.

How does diarrhea cause widespread, or systemic, infection?
Diarrhea can cause widespread infection if the infection erodes through the gut wall and into capillaries. Capillaries are located just outside the gut; as the gut wall erodes, blood flows into the intestine, and infectious organisms flow into the blood. In the gut, blood combines with feces and produces a dark, foul-smelling stool. In the blood, infectious organisms are transported throughout the body. Pets with boss of the gut-blood barrier can develop fevers, headaches, and widespread skin and organ infection. For example, the kidneys can become infected and lose the ability to clear the body of wastes.

How to treat diarrhea
We treat diarrhea with

1. Probiotics
2. Prescription medications

1. Probiotics
Probiotics are living organisms that nourish gut cells and keep them healthy. The normal gut has hundreds of different types of bacteria & yeast organisms that surround and nourish the cells. For this reason, probiotics that supplement only a single type of organism are not as beneficial as probiotics that provide a variety of organisms. Fast Balance GI is an example of an excellent probiotic because it has a variety of probiotic organisms, and it does not contain corn (maltodextran) or animal byproducts that aggravate allergic pets.

2. Prescription Medications
Some pets with diarrhea need prescription medications to rid the gut of invading germs. Commonly used medications include antibiotics that kill giardia (Metronidazole and Fenbendazole), and coccidian (Sulfa). In addition, clay-based products (Diarsanyl) are prescribed to absorb toxins in the gut. In order to prescribe the best medication, your vet needs a fresh stool sample that can be sent to the lab. The lab identifies bacteria, yeast, microorganisms, and worms present in the sample.

Save Money on Vet Bills

Everyone wants to save money on vet bills. Here are 21 suggestions that will help you take care of your pet so that it needs less veteriniary care:

1. Preventive maintenance with acupuncture and herbs helps prevent or delay onset of chronic diseases like arthritis and dry eye.

2. Choose a mixed-bred dog or cat. Mixed breed dogs and cats don’t inherit the same number of genetic diseases that purebreds inherit.

3. Get a genetic consult if choosing a purebred pet. Learn which diseases your purebred is most likely to inherit, whether screening tests are available, and what to ask the breeder.

4. Meet the pet’s parents. Don’t select pets whose parents are shy, anxious, or aggressive as these behaviors are, in part, inherited.

5. If you’re interested in a puppy, ensure the pup’s dam eats bones. The pup will learn from its mom to gnaw bones safely. Pups that don’t learn this often attack bones with such enthusiasm they can break teeth or chew off such large hunks that bone hunks block the intestine. Gnawing bones benefits the teeth, decreases the need for dental surgery, and keeps pets playfully occupied.

6. Spay and neuter your pet before it becomes sexually mature. Spaying when a female is in heat is a more expensive procedure because uterine blood vessels are engorged and the procedure is more delicate. Spayed and neutered dogs are easier to adopt if you cannot care for your pet. Neutered males are less likely to spray or mark—behaviors that cause pets to be relinquished.

7. Feed foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent DNA damage that leads to cancer.

8. Roll up the bag if feeding dry foods. Open bags and food left out allows sunlight & air to combine with antioxidants. Your pet receives a lower concentration of antioxidants, which are the most expensive ingredients in food.

9. Get an annual exam to recognize problems in their initial stages.

10. Be aware of your pet’s habits and let your veterinarian know when there are changes: stools, urine, water consumption, coughing, odor, lumps, and ability to settle down at night.

11. Come in early when you find something rather than waiting to see if it is significant. For example, surgery times are shorter if masses are smaller.

12. Get to know the staff and befriend the technicians. If the techs & receptionists remember your pet, it is easier for them to give you proper advice when you call with questions. For example, if your pet is easy to handle and has never minded when the techs cut its nails and suddenly won’t let you touch the feet, the technician will recognize that your pet may have an infection or grass awn in its foot and suggest that you should be seen quickly.

13. Teach your pet to be handled when it’s young. Pets that are easily handled don’t need sedation for x-rays and simple procedures. Your pet will have a better time when it’s at the clinic.

14. Don’t let your pet get fat as obesity predisposes to the development of arthritis and metabolic syndrome, which can lead to cancer & diabetes.

15. Care for your pet’s teeth from the first day it’s in your home. Some pets can actually go an entire lifetime without needing anesthesia for dental care if teeth are well taken care of.

16. Trim the nails yourself. If worried, ask the techs for time when you can sit down with them and learn how professionals trim nails.

17. Have anal sac problems handled by your vet and not the groomer. If your pet is scooting or is not emptying its anal sacs on its own, it needs vet care, not grooming. Together you’ll work out a diet and therapy routine that will increase the likelihood your pet will express its glands in a normal manner.

18. Treat diarrhea immediately by having probiotics on hand and by knowing what diet your pet should have if diarrhea develops.

19. Treat bruising and bleeding immediately by using first aid herbal formula Yunnan Paiyao and the homeopathic Traumeel.

20. Prevent anxiety by using Feliway for cats and DAP for dogs. Anxiety causes release of cortisol and cortisol prevents white blood cells from leaving the blood vessels and traveling out through the cells to kill bacteria. Since all pets have a small population of potentially infectious bacteria and viruses in their systems that are kept at bay by WBC, preventing WBC from entering tissues allows infections to blossom. This is one reason that pets stressed by kenneling, changes in family membership, or travel come down with infection. Often anxiety is the biggest factor in cats developing urinary tract problems.

21. Get pet insurance. Get quotes from all companies: Petcare,Petsecure & Trupanion. Call the companies and ask specific questions about coverage. Read the policy wording.

Helping Geriatric Dogs & Cats with Herbs

Ever wondered what Traditional Chinese Medicine could do for your aging dog or cat? Lots! Here are examples of TCM formulas we might use for senior pets:

Heart failure: Zhi Gan Cao Tang, Xue Fu Zhu Yu tang
Stroke or vestibular disorder: Tian Ma Gou,Teng Yin Wan, Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang, Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Arthritis: Duo Huo Ji Shen Tang, Di Gui Pi
Kidney Disease: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Incontinence: Suo Quan Wan, Jin SuoGu Jing Wan, San Piao Xiao San

Therapies & Medications for Senior Pets

The following help improve symptoms our senior dogs & cats experience due to aging:
• Acupuncture
• Chinese Herbs
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids
• Flower Essences
• Pheromones
• Homeopathics
• Medications to Strengthen Liver & Brain

Acupuncture
This simple therapy of inserting needles into specific points will tune up your pet’s system. Your pet will be more comfortable and will have optimum organ function—just as tuning up a car helps it to function as it should. Dogs and cats tolerate the tiny needles very well, and those that don’t can benefit from photon therapy or moxa.

Chinese Herbs
Over two thousand years have gone into the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulas for senior pets. TCM formulas can address all problems for which we typically use drugs, such as arthritis, kidney disease, liver disease, allergy, anxiety and confusion.

Omega 3 Fatty AcidsOmega 3 fatty acids benefit the brain because 60% of the brain is fat. The cell membranes of all nerve cells, and the myelin sheaths that wrap around and insulate the nerves, contain a high percentage of fat. Omega 3 fatty acids provide the materials that produce healthy nerve cells and have been proven to positively influence mood, behavior, and learning. The best sources of Omega 3 fatty acids are fresh ground flax seed, such as MegaFlax Digestive from Designing Health and fish oils, such as Nordic Naturals’ Omega 3 for Pets.

Flower Essences
Probems with psychological or spiritual aspects benefit from flower essences. Check out SpiritEssence (www.SpiritEssence.com) for a wide range of medications that can be dropped into your pet’s mouth, put into its water, misted into the room, or misted onto the pet.

Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical messages that alter behavior. Humans do not smell the pheromones in Comfort Zone D.A.P. for Dogs or in Comfort Zone Feliway for Cats but these pheromones have a calming effect on pets. D.A.P. can help make your dog feel as though it is back in the nest box with its mother; and Feliway can help make your cat feel as though the entire world is at its command.

Homeopathic
Homeopathic medications can be given safely without interfering with other medications. Among best meds for seniors are Zeel for arthritis and Traumeel for injury. If you’re creating a first aid kit, Traumeel is the single most important homeopathic med to put into your kit.

Medications to strengthen aging liver & brain
One of the liver’s jobs is to control the proteins circulating in the blood. As the liver ages, it allows proteins into circulation that are detrimental to the brain. Cholodin, Marin, S-Adenosyl (SAMe), and Denosyl help the brain, in part, because they promote liver health. As an additional benefit, S-Adenosyl (Zentonil) also increases mobility in pets with arthritis.

Physical Changes in Aging Pets

We’ve been discussing changes that occur in senior pets and have covered behavorial changes. Now, let’s look at physical changes

Brain & Senses
Size and weight of brain decreases with aging. The fluid-filled ventricles can increase in size. Neurotransmitters change. Senses diminish and pets don’t see, hear or smell well. The lenses of the eyes become cloudy. The eyes become red and dry (keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye) as tears lose their lubricating ability and thick discharge appears in the corners.

Bones & Muscles
Older pets lose muscle mass; the spine becomes more prominent. Seniors have weak and stiffened ligaments & tendons, and thin, ineffective joint fluid. Joint fluid cannot nourish the cartilage in their joints so that it dries and becomes brittle. Bones demineralize and soften. These bone & muscle changes make it difficult for seniors to take long walks, climb steps, jump into the car or onto the counter. Senior pets are stiff & wobbly; they fall over easily.

Mouth
Almost all aging pets have dental disease with inflammation of gums (gingivitis). Dental calculus (tartar) builds up. While some believe kibble and dry food causes less tarter than canned or soft food, this is not necessarily true. It is true that accumulated calculus leads to gum disease, pain, infection, and loss of teeth. The speed and severity of these problems is influenced by genetics, nutrition, infections such as Feline Leukemia, and feeding habits.

Stomach, Intestines & Digestion
Older dogs and cats may lose weight and become cachectic or gain weight and become obese. If they lose weight, it is because they don’t digest their food as well as a younger pet or have disease process such as cancer that demands more nutrient than they consume. Seniors are inclined to problems with constipation and diarrhea. They have fickle appetites and like a food one day, but not the next so that variety becomes important. Enzymes, probiotics, and B Vitamin injections are helpful.

Kidneys
Aging kidneys lose their ability to hold water so that pets drink more and urinate more (polyuria polydipsia or PUPD). In addition, several diseases (diabetes, Cushing’s disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism) cause pets to have PUPD. The large volume of urine in the bladder can cause house-trained pets to urinate in the house. With the loss of large volumes of water into the urine, the body dehydrates, stools become dry and are more difficult to pass so pets develop chronic constipation secondary to kidney disease.

Bladder
Aging kidney cells produce urine so dilute that it cannot prevent bacteria from growing within the bladder. Bladder infections (cystitis) cause frequent, painful voiding of small amounts. Pets with cystitis often urinate in the house or outside the litter box.

Skin
Pets have thinner drier skin and coats as they age. The skin loses its elasticity because vitamin C-dependent collagen doesn’t form. Cysts, warts, and tumors form. There’s an increase in chronic Staph and yeast infections. The coat becomes unkempt. Dogs will grey; cats maintain their coat color, although usually it is less vibrant than when young. Nails grow thicker and longer as the result of liver disease.

Weight
Aging pets increase total fat and decrease total muscle. To prevent obesity, they need joint medications and frequent, mild exercise. For most aging pets, senior diets are not as helpful as a good regular diet with herbs.

We've covered lots of material on senior pets. These are wonderful years that you can look forward to enjoying. If you prepare to spend a little more in veterinary care & supplements than you've spent for your young robust cats & dogs, then the days ahead will still be good.

Behavior Changes in Aging Pets

Aging pets have physical and behavioral changes. Let’s consider the behavior changes and what we can do to remedy them.

What behavior changes occur with aging?
Behavior changes with aging include problems with orientation, social interaction, activities & exercise, grooming, housetraining, sleeping, and eating. Here are some examples of these problems:

Orientation
Pets that aren’t orientated become confused and get lost in familiar locations. They may get stuck on the wrong side of the door, or sit at the hinged side of the door.

Social Interaction
Pets having trouble with social interaction no longer enjoy being petted and don’t come to greet you like they used to. In families with multiple pets, the pets may squabble and the stable inter-pet hierarchy may crumble. Pets experiencing arthritis may become so irritable that they snap at you rather than play with you.

Activities & Exercise
Your senior pet may have joint pain so that it cannot go for walks, climb on the bed, or jump into the car.

Grooming
Their coats appear bedraggled, and they don’t clean themselves after eliminating. There is an increase in scruffy or poor coats with diseases, such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease.

Housetraining
Pets may have trouble with housetraining because they cannot jump into the litter box, cannot walk to the door to go outside. Many senior pets lose bladder sphincter control and dribble urine. Many senior pets become chronically constipated and have difficulty passing stool. Straining to defecate causes pain and these pets associate pain with the litter box and learn to avoid it. Instead, they defecate around the house.

Sleeping
Aging pets often sleep poorly. They’re restless because of pain, anxiety, changes in their brain sleep center, and because they don’t get aerobic activity during the day to help them sleep. Pets may cry and pace. They may prevent you from sleeping, too.

Eating
Your senior pet may have a poor appetite (anorexia) because senses of taste and smell aren’t strong, and food loses its appeal. To compound the problem, senior pets may have dental disease and stomach ulcers.

Who gets behavior changes with aging?
Any pet can develop behavior changes with aging. If your pet has a disease that decreases blood flow to the brain, such as heart disease, behavior changes may be more severe. If your pet has liver disease, it may also have behavior changes because the liver controls the molecules that circulate in the blood. When the liver cannot rid the body of toxic materials, the toxins enter the brain and alter behavior. This is most apparent 1-2 hours after eating.

Pets fed diets low in antioxidants, phytonutrients (phyto=plant), and Omega 3 fatty acids may experience the greatest deterioration in brain function.

Signs & Symptoms of Aging
Pets with behavior changes secondary to aging often wander about confused. Pets that were independent may become clingy. Some pets snap when you try to pet them. Pets appear uninterested in food, their environments, and in themselves. They’re restless at night. They lose their housebreaking training.

Solutions for Aging Problems
For pets with disorientation:
Maintain a regular schedule.
Leave the furniture in the same position.
Speak calmly, but in a voice that’s loud enough for them to hear.
Teach hand signals to deaf pets.

For pets with problems with social interaction:
Engage in petting and interaction when your pet has the most energy during the day.
Allow your pet to come to you when it’s ready rather than expecting interaction when you’re ready.
Create a quiet place for your pet to retreat to if it feels stressed by hubbub in the house.

For pets with problems with activities & exercise:
Provide medication for joint pain.
Choose gentle activities, such as swimming, rather than jogging.
Go for shorter, more frequent walks.
Provide ramps for access to the car, sofa, and bed.

For pets with problems with grooming:
Use a gentle brush and remove old hair at least weekly.
Prevent hairballs in cats by providing fiber.
Wash your pet if it soils itself.

For pets with problems with housetraining:
Maintain a regular feeding and potty schedule.
Use an indoor litter pan for pets than cannot walk outside.
Provide fiber to promote normal bowel movements.

For pets with problems with sleeping:
Provide a soft, supportive bed.
Use a bed your pet can walk onto without making a step up that can hurt arthritic joints.
Consider supplementing with melatonin.

For pets with problems with eating
Heat the food to increase its aroma.
Use canned or fresh foods rather hard kibble.
Use foods with increased caloric density if your pet is losing weight.

In future Caring for Pet entries, we'll look at physical changes associated with aging and what we can do about them.

Aging Pets

One-quarter of our cats & dogs are considered seniors—they’ve reached 75% of their life expectancy. We understand so much more about aging and it makes it possible to keep our cats & dogs healthy & happy.

Let’s think of aging as a natural process associated with gradual deterioration of body & mind. How rapidly a pet ages is governed by many factors including its genetics, toxin exposures, diseases, nutrition, immunity, and psychological state.

If we examine an aging pet’s body microscopically, we’d see fibrosis of the heart valves, liver and other organs, decreased enzymes for digestion, decreased lung and kidney function, loss of brain and bone, loss of muscle and cartilage. These microscopic cell changes lead to low metabolic rate, poor digestion, lethargy, pain, and behavior changes. Over the next few Caring for Pets blog entries, let’s discuss the physical changes with aging, then the behavioral changes.

If you’re in the Vancouver area, come to Vancouver Animal Wellness Hospital May 15 at 1 PM and we’ll have an open discussion about aging that will cover all the ways we can help senior pets. We’re located at 105 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC. The session is free and open to all. Call if you’d like more information: 604 738 4664. See you there.

SERVICE DOGS

Aren’t service dogs as good an indication of social evolution as symphonies, libraries, and hospitals? Aren’t we just as joyful watching a dog lick a child’s face, round up sheep, or walk alongside a wheelchair as when hearing a concert pianist? Sure we are. Service dogs are proof we’re civilized. We’re as evolved as wolves, whales and elephants, with the inclination to take care of each other. We even pass laws so that those needing assistance can take dogs into stores & offices.

My friend Hazel has a service dog. She has the best husband in the world, Sam; the best old service dog, Hams; and now she’s receiving a new service dog, Virgil. Hams is about to take arthritic retirement, which after working with Hazel for eight years is about the same as retiring from 56 years at a factory. Hazel eased Hams toward retirement with Omega 3 fatty acids, joint supplements, stem cell therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy, so that as his arthritis is controlled, but it’s time for his old bones to spend the day on the sofa and let athletic young Virgil to take over.

Getting a new service dog like Virgil is not as simple as picking up a new pup at the Humane Society. Hazel has waited for two years for her pup to be conceived, trained, and educated at Bergin University in Santa Rosa. There’s a celebration on May 1st at BerginU as Virgil and Hazel, along with several others, acknowledge new lifetime relationships. Bring Kleenex and a camera; this celebration is just like a wedding considering the promises the dog and human make to take care of each other and to work together in harmony. Virgil will never replace Hazel’s husband, Sam, or her first service dog, Hams, but Vergil will soon be her constant work companion, and will sleep in her room.

It you’d like to take part in the celebration, check out BerginU on the web and show up at Finley Community Center 2060 W College Ave in Santa Rosa, CA. The celebration is from 3:00-4:30 on Saturday, May 1.

This is one of the most emotional, civilized events you’ll ever witness.

Fat Cats, Helping Chubby Cats Lose Weight

Unlike chubby babies, chubby cats are in trouble. Chubby cats are at risk for developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, etc.
Sometimes our cats plump up because they don’t have anything more fun in life than to eat. Other times, our cats are eating but not getting any exercise; or they have metabolic problems that predispose them to obesity. What can we do to help our chubby cats? Lots! Try at least one idea from each of the following to make significant change in your chubby cat’s life:
diet, play, herbs, acupuncture, moxa, and arthritis medications.

Diet
Transition your cat from dry kibble to a home-cooked or raw diet. Offer high amounts of protein (sardines, pork, beef, tofu); veggies cooked and run through a blender (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, etc): some fruits (blueberries, cantaloupe). Use doll dishes so you’re not tempted to feed too much. Avoid buying canned foods with fancy labels & preposterous claims; instead, feed your cat the inner organs from chickens (heart, liver, kidneys). Find chicken gizzards and offer your cat a whole gizzard or slices of gizzard for something fun to chew. Pour boiling water over the gizzards to remove bacteria before feeding. In addition to giving cats something to eat that won’t put on calories, chewing rubbery ole gizzards is good for your cat’s teeth and gums.

Play
Make everything, especially eating, an adventure: rather than leave the food in the same place all the time, move it around so your pet has the pleasure of the hunt with her supper. Provide new toys and see how many you can make yourself. Give your cat a fish bowl with a goldfish to watch. Position a window seat so she can see birds. Carve 15 minutes from your morning and evening schedule to play chase & other cat games. Tie toys to doorknobs with bungee cords. Leave Animal Planet on the tele when you’re out of the house.

Herbs
Many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas can be used for cats. For example, chubby cats that cannot metabolize and utilize food properly (Spleen Chi-deficient) benefit from the TCM formula, Wei Ling Tang. Wei Ling Tang also helps with diabetes, hepatitis, urinary crystals, anal sac inflammation, and diarrhea. It’s is safe to use long term, has a bland taste, and is readily accepted by most cats.

If a cat is plumping up because it has arthritis, we use Wei Di Huang Wan. Liu Wei also helps with cystitis, restless behavior, chronic kidney disease, and constipation. If a cat is chubby and has a greasy coat, occasional eye & ear discharge, asthma and a moist cough, constipation, or chronic vomiting, then use San Ren Tang. Like Wei Ling Tang, San Ren Tang has a bland taste and is easily accepted.

Acupuncture
For a chubby cat, massage the acupuncture points St 40, SP 3, ST 36. Stomach 40 is on the outside of the hind legs, half way between the knee and ankle. It helps with mobilizing fat. Spleen 3 is on the inside of the back foot just where the first toe joins the long bones (metatarsals) of the foot. This point helps with metabolism. Stomach 36 is about two finger widths below the knees of the back legs. This is the single most useful point for all things digestive, including constipation.

Moxa
Moxa is a rolled up herbal cigar that we light and use to warm acupuncture points. Moxa is held close to the skin, taking care not to touch the skin or hair. Use moxa to warm acupuncture points such as those described above, areas of arthritis (hips, shoulders, elbows, knees), and the muscles along the spine.

Treat for Arthritis
If your cat is cubby because its joints hurt so that it cannot jump, spring, scoot, or race, request medication for arthritis. Two of the fastest, most effective arthritis meds are given by injection: Adequan & Cartrophen. Adequan (used in the US) and Cartrophen (used in Canada) are injected once a week for four weeks, then once a month. The injections can be given with a tiny needle and are not painful. And, we don’t need to struggle with trying to pill our cats.

So many ways to help our chubby cats return to their svelte selves.

Dog Training

More dogs are euthanized for bad behavior than are euthanized for illness. This means when a little puppy comes to the vet clinic for vaccines, it is as important to discuss biting, potty training, and barking as it is to discuss parvo, distemper, and rabies. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time to do justice to all this material in one regular vet visit.

To ensure that pet families have help with training, I recommend books, videos, and local behaviorists to help. Among those I’ve traditionally recommend are the Monks of New Skete, Ian Dunbar, & Patricia McConnell. Now, there’s another behaviorist to add to this list: Cindy Scott. Cindy provides training classes and in-home consultations in Southern California, and she’s put the basics of her approach in a delightful e-book: The Zen Chien.

Cindy wasn’t just born knowing how to shape behavior, she’s had formal education, and lifetime of experience with an in-house circus. These days, she & her husband are down to three rings: 4 dogs, 2 kids, and 1 cat. Good things will happen when you read The Zen Chien—you’ll enjoy yourself and you’ll find the intelligent, calm, effective tactics you need to train your dog.

Cat Activity, Cat Sleep, Cat Play

What we think cats do every day is not what they are doing. Surprise! They aren’t sleeping. Video records of 50 cats show that they spend most of their time looking out the window and hanging out with other pets. Cats are watching TV, looking at DVDs and playing with toys and climbing and hiding as much as they are sleeping or eating.

Here is a breakdown of how cats spend their time while we’re away:

22% looking out windows
12% being with other animals
7% climbing
6% looking at TV, computer or DVDs
6% hiding under tables
6% sleeping
5% playing with toys
4% eating
2% relaxing in sink or tub
30% other—leave that to your imagination.