Compared to us, dogs and cats age at a very different rate. After their 7th birthday, cats and dogs enter their senior years, which is equivalent in human terms of entering their 50’s. Large and giant breeds however enter their senior years after only 5 years of age. (Large and giant breeds are considered to be dogs over 25kg’s.)
Therefore it is important to realize that the nutritional and physical needs of your pet changes. They are also much more likely to develop an age-related disorder so regular health checks should become a priority. There are many products available to help your pet as they age including diet foods and joint formula
Diseases that become more common as dogs age are:
- dental disease
- heart disease
- diabetes
- dementia
- cancer
- skin disease
- obesity
- osteoarthritis
- kidney disease
Some signs to look out for:
- hearing loss, poor vision, reduced sense of smell
- digestion issues
- loss of muscle mass
- lower exercise tolerance
- poor coat
- difficulty eating/chewing
- weight gain/weight loss
- increased drinking and/or urinating
- decreased agility and playfulness
- behavioural changes, e.g. loss of previous toilet training, confusion and disorientation
Diseases that become more common as cats age are:
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- urinary disease
- dental disease
- heart disease
- cancer
- urinary disease
- behavioural and neurological diseases
Signs to look out for:
- poor grooming
- digestion issues
- weight gain/loss
- decreased appetite
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- decreased agility
- reduced activity and exercise
- behavioural changes including irritability, confusion, less human interaction
The great news is that the earlier these age-related diseases are detected, the better the chances of managing them successfully.signs