River Road Veterinary Clinic

River Road Veterinary Clinic
P O Box 309
Norwich, Vermont 05055
802-649-3877

"SENIOR"-PROOFING YOUR HOME
By JoAnne Giel
University of Georgia Behavior Clinic, College of Veterinary Medicine

As your dog enters his or her "golden years" he will undergo changes in his behavior and habits. Some of these changes will be part of normal aging while others may be the result of disease processes that have developed along the way. Your veterinarian will counsel you on how best to deal with disease dependent behaviors (such as increased urination and thirst associated with diabetes mellitus). This brochure is intended to help guide you through some common sense changes in your pet's environment that can make the golden years more enjoyable for him or her.

Instituting these suggested lifestyle changes now, while your pet is still healthy and active, may go a long way in preventing behavioral problems later on. Your dog's size helps determine when he or she is considered geriatric and your veterinarian can help you decide when to start this program. A good rule of thumb is to start considering a dog a "senior" when they are 7 years old.

Note that each suggested lifestyle change is paired with " problems to prevent" and it possible cause". The possible causes represent common physiologic changes associated with aging. The problems to prevent are direct results of these age associated changes. While we cannot eliminate the physiologic changes it is our belief that these lifestyle changes may allow your pet to cope with them and avoid the potential problems.

LIFESTYLE CHANGE	PROBLEMS TO PREVENT	POSSIBLE CAUSE
ROUTINE CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Transition your dog to a high quality "senior" diet with less fat and a good quality protein. Improve palatability by adding warm chicken broth if he becomes "finicky". Schedule regular dental exams.	Your pet is gaining fat but losing muscle! He may have become a finicky eater or a totally obsessive chow hound.	Increased body fat and decreased lean muscle mass. Impairment of taste, smell. Decreased metabolism. Changes within the brain resulting in minor cognitive dysfunction.
Brush your old dog daily, watch for dry foot pads, skin lesions, flaky skin. Talk to your vet about special moisturizing shampoos.	Your dog is itchy, irritable and uncomfortable. Skin lesions heal slowly.	Impaired immune system. Changes in skin thickness, flexibility and color.
Provide your dog with his own "sleeping quarters" on the main floor. Be sure they are warm, dry and soft.	Your dog is restless at night and appears uncomfortable.	Increase in musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. Changes in sleep patterns. Decreased ability to handle temperature extremes.
Be sure that sleeping area, food, water and toys are easily accessible to your older dog. Avoid changes in home layout, schedule and family dynamics if possible. Anticipate spending extra time acclimating your pet to these changes when they do occur.	Your dog is destructive and noisy when left alone and may inappropriately eliminate in the house. He or she may be suffering from separation anxiety.	Decreased ability to handle psychological stress. Changes within the brain resulting in minor memory loss or cognitive dysfunction. Impairment or loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell.

LIFESTYLE CHANGE	PROBLEMS TO PREVENT	POSSIBLE CAUSE
LOCOMOTION
Start a regular exercise program, including slow daily walks on leash.	Your dog is less active, less alert, and stiff. He is gaining weight.	Decreased metabolism. Increase in arthritis. Cognitive dysfunction. Increased body fat and decreased lean muscle mass. Impairment or loss of vision, hearing, smell.
Provide ramps or other alternatives to stairs.	Your dog is reluctant to go outside and may be eliminating in the house.	Arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorders.
ELIMINATION
Arrange to let him out to urinate and defecate more often, both during the day and at night. Provide newspapers if necessary.	Your pet is inappropriately eliminating in the house! He has forgotten his housetraining skills!	Decreased function of kidneys. Changes within the brain resulting in minor memory loss or cognitive dysfunction.
INTERACTION WITH FAMILY
Be sure your pet receives adequate attention and environmental stimulation despite not soliciting it as often.	Your pet is vocalizing excessively while you are home. May appear bored.	Decreased ability to handle psychological stress. Changes within the brain resulting in minor memory loss or cognitive dysfunction. Impairment or loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell.
Begin some basic obedience training or refesher courses at home. Consider any sensory decline when setting expectations and use positive reinforcement.	Your pet is less responsive to commands. He ignores you or forgets his training.	Changes within the brain resulting in minor memory loss or cognitive dysfunction. Impairment or loss of vision and hearing.
Be sure you announce your presence to a pet whose senses are failing, be alert to painful conditions that may cause irritability.	Your dog is showing signs of aggression towards people. He may act startled or seem grumpy.	Impairment or loss of vision, hearing, smell. Changes within the brain resulting in cognitive dysfunction. Arthritis, dry skin, dental disease or other painful conditions.
Support your younger dog in his new quest for dominance over the older dog. Ask your veterinarian for specific info on this topic.	Your older dog is fighting more frequently with other pets in the household.	Normal canine pack dynamics require that the older, less able animal step down from his previous leadership role.

Please remember that the keys to a long healthy life for your dog are:
1) a watchful owner such as yourself who will report any changes in behavior to your pet's veterinarian and
2) frequent monitoring by that health care professional so diseases are diagnosed early and don't go untreated.