In addition to my geriatric cat, Sami, which I talked about in my last blog, I have another old girl named Bailey. Bailey is my 11-year-old Labrador-something that I acquired when I married her owner.
Along with being a lumpy bumpy arthritic girl, she is considered a geriatric large-breed dog and is at risk for dental tartar, ear infections, and nuclear sclerosis according to 2010 Banfield data. These were the top three diagnoses in 2010 for this age group, and as a practicing veterinarian, I find it fascinating because my experience with my own dog is similar to what I see in practice. But how does this information help veterinarians and why should we care?
It is important to continue oral health care in our geriatric patients. I’ve seen more than one case in my practice that the owner perceived the dog as “too old to undergo anesthesia”. And then once the dental procedure was done, often with multiple extractions, the owner called me later and told me how much better their pet was doing -eating, playing, and acting like a young dog again. Full oral examinations must accompany every physical exam. We, as veterinarians, need to look for broken teeth, worn teeth, oral masses, tooth abscesses, and general periodontal diseases.
Ear infections are another common health issue that can affect geriatric patients. Bailey has had many in her lifetime and they have been extremely painful for her. More than once I’ve seen her scratch her ear and then cry out in pain. You’d think as a vet, I’d catch them sooner. But as a busy mom, I miss things too. This is just one of many examples of the benefits of bi-annual thorough examinations.
In addition to periodontal disease and ear infections, lenticular sclerosis commonly affects dogs over 10 years of age. When educating clients of geriatric pets, it’s important to include discussions on ocular health. Along with detecting it during routine physical examinations, conversations can ensue on how to help their older dogs cope with declining vision. Although it may be out of reach for many owners, surgery can be discussed, but I also recommend non-surgical, practical interventions such as not rearranging furniture on a regular basis. My own Bailey can’t see the tennis ball sometimes and has tripped over things the kids have left on the floor, so my family has had to make adjustments to accommodate our aging dog
I was taught that age is not a disease and as veterinarians we can help our older pets maintain healthy lives during their “golden” years. We need to help our clients prevent diseases, such as periodontal disease, that are common among aging pets, and detect problems early. There will come a time when I have to say goodbye to Bailey, but I know that she has had the best life possible!
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