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.
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