by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Nutrition for your senior pet is something that should not be overlooked. The right diet plays an extremely important role when addressing some of the problems related to ageing.
A wide variety of illnesses related to old age can be addressed and significantly improved simply by adding the right nutrition to the mix. Yes, medicine is great, but to a great extent, a more holistic approach can be of greater benefit, combining both medicine and diet.
We offer a wide range of products that could be beneficial to the ageing process that will help manage certain signs of ageing and slow it down to a certain extent.
Weight control is of utmost importance. An overweight pet of ANY age is unacceptable. Obese pets age faster and a lot less gracefully. These animals are the first to suffer from joint ailments and organ problems.
Joint care is crucial for those pets suffering from any arthritic changes in the joint. In actual fact, most dogs in general will benefit from a little joint support, especially large breeds, whether joint supplements or nutrition.
Kidney specific diets are also great for senior dogs and cats. These critters will follow the natural path of degeneration that comes with old age, which most certainly includes internal organs.
Some great foods that will be of great benefit include:
Dogs:
- Ultra Dog – Joint Health
- Ultra Dog – Weight Control
- Eukanuba – 7+ Years Senior
- Eukanuba – Weight Control
- Eukanuba – Sensitive Joints
- Hill’s – Youthful Vitality
- Hill’s – Metabolic
- Hill’s – Metabolic + Mobility
- Hill’s – j/d
- Hill’s – k/d + Mobility
- Hills – Perfect Weight
Cats:
- Royal Canin – Senior Ageing
- Royal Canin – Light Weight
- Iams – Healthy Senior
- Hill’s – Youthful Vitality
- Hill’s – Mature Adult
- Hill’s – k/d
- Hill’s – k/d + Mobility
- Hill’s – Metabolic
Our staff is extremely clued up when it comes to the perfect nutrition for your pet. We will walk with you every step of the way.
An alternative to these premium diets, if they prove to be too expensive, a balanced senior diet accompanied by a joint supplement.
Some good supplements include:
- GCS Joint Care
- Mobi-Flex
- Nutradyl
Of course, keep in mind that a premium balanced diet is still the best option for your senior pet!
For more information on the ageing process of pets, check out out blog – https://kimvet.co.za/pets-and-ageing/
For more information in pet nutrition, please see the Hill’s Pet Nutrition website – https://www.hillspet.co.za/
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Pets and ageing. A sensitive topic for most of us. We as pet owners like to think that our pets will live forever.
The thing is, just like humans, age is the one thing that we simply cannot prevent. It creeps up on you, your pets even more so.
Pets age at an exceptionally quicker pace than we do, breed and weight playing a pretty big role as well. At some point you’ll start to notice the small behavioural changes that might have gone unnoticed a year or two ago. It’s at this point we start to panic.
Taking your pet for a yearly health check is a no-brainer, but as your pet grows older, it’s advised to go for health checks more often so that early signs of ageing can be isolated and treated accordingly, making the process of growing old more comfortable for your pet and A LOT less scary for you as an owner.
In the photo accompanying this post, is a short version of, what Hill’s Pet Nutrition refers to as, the Tell TAIL Signs of ageing. Apart from the clever wordplay, this is actually some pretty relevant information to help in identifying those very behavioural changes even the most conscientious pet parent may have missed. This most definitely applies to both dogs and cats.
The Tell Tail Signs are as follows:
T:
Teeth and Thinking
As your pet gets older, just like humans, they tend to start forgetting simple things, like where their bed is, or where the door is when they need to go outside.
There is a very good chance that they also may need a dental. Some of the clues include bad breath and brown/yellow tartar build-up on their teeth with red, inflamed gums.
It is important to address this as soon as possible, because leaving their teeth in that state could seriously affect your furry friend’s health, for example, bacteria from the mouth could localise in the heart valves and cause endocarditis.
Check in with your nearest vet so that they can assist you with these issues and better the quality of life of your senior pet.
A:
Activity and Arthritis
You may notice that your pet doesn’t chase the ball as vigorously anymore, is slower to get up, or isn’t as eager to get to his/her food bowl for supper. This decrease in day to day activity could be an indication that your pet suffers from arthritis.
This is a painful part of getting old and both geriatric cats and dogs suffer mostly in silence.
As with humans, this is a fairly normal occurrence and can be managed with the correct diet, a joint supplement and a visit to the vet to ensure that it is safe to start your pet on a pain management protocol for those really painful days.
I:
Interaction and Interest
It may seem like your pet isn’t interested in spending time with you anymore, but in reality, this behaviour change could play a big part in ageing. Think of your pet as a grumpy old man or a grumpy old lady, they too like some peace and quiet, and that’s perfectly natural.
Yes, they don’t want to play with the kids as much, or don’t like all the attention and fuss, it’s just because they’re getting old. Keep in mind, this should not be confused with inactivity due to pain from other age related ailments like arthritis.
Be attentive to the needs of your geriatric pet to avoid any mishaps.
Take them to the vet to discuss all possible outcomes of ageing and every possible way to be there for your pet through this scary phase, like they have been there for you.
L:
Loss of control
Just like us, getting old means losing control over some of the most basic things that used to come naturally to your pet. Accidents in the house happen more regularly, and that’s okay. It may be inconvenient to have to clean up after them, but the best way to handle this situation is to go in for a health check. Discuss any changes in behaviour and the disruption of a daily routine to help your doctor understand what exactly is happening.
Medication can possibly be prescribed for incontinence and even Alzheimer’s in certain cases.
S:
Sleep-Wake Cycle
You may have noticed that your pet’s sleeping habits have changed. Now, they may be awake more often at night and take naps more often during the day.
This is a natural part of getting old, but could be indicative of certain health issues that may accompany the ageing process.
Unfortunately, there is rarely a quick fix to getting old. The best course of action is to visit your nearest veterinarian for a check-up and to discuss certain issues pertaining to your individual pet.
(PRNewsfoto/Hill’s Pet Nutrition)
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Unfortunately, a common consequence of our pets becoming older is the occurrence of various cancers.
One of the most common cancers seen in primarily old dogs and rarely in cats, is mammary cancer.
Surgical removal is recommended for most mammary tumours.
The prognosis is good following surgical resection for MOST mammary tumours in female dogs, but the prognosis is worse for certain types of tumours in dogs and ALL mammary tumours in cats.
Mammary tumours are more common in female dogs that are either not spayed or were spayed after 2 years of age.
The risk of a dog developing a mammary tumour is about 0.5% if spayed before their first heat (approximately 6 months of age), about 8% after their first heat and about 26% after their second heat.
Cats spayed before 6 months of age have a 7-times reduced risk of developing mammary cancer and spaying at any age reduces the risk of mammary tumours by 40% to 60% in cats.
More than a quarter of un-spayed female dogs will develop a mammary tumour during their lifetime.
A second cancer to mention is lymphoma.
Lymphoma is common in both geriatric dogs and geriatric cats.
Lymphoma is a common neoplasm affecting both dogs and cats and results from the malignant transformation of lymphocytes. It often arises from primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissues. However, because lymphocytes are capable of trafficking throughout the body, the development of lymphoma is not anatomically restricted. Common site for the spread of lymphoma include the skin, eye, central nervous system, testis and bone marrow.
Although lymphoma is considered a common neoplasm, a definitive cause for its development in dogs remains to be determined.
In cats, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has been identified as a biologic carcinogen resulting in malignant lymphocyte transformation.
Often, lymphoma can affect the intestinal wall of your cat, causing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.
The oral cavity is a common site for neoplasia in cats, accounting for about 10% of all feline tumours.
The most common malignant oral tumour in cats is squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis for this fast-growing, invasive tumour is grave once advanced, so it is vital to identify and treat it early.
Osteosarcoma accounts for only approximately 5% of all canine tumours, but is by far the most common bone tumour of the dog. It is a malignant tumour of the bone and can develop in any bone, but most often occurs in bones bordering the shoulder, wrist and knee.
This cancer develops deep within the bone and becomes progressively more painful as it grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out. Lameness may occur suddenly or start intermittently and progress over several weeks. Obvious swelling becomes evident as the tumour grows and normal bone is replaced by tumorous bone.
Osteosarcoma usually occurs in middle aged or elderly large and giant breed dogs but can occur in a dog of any age with larger breeds tending to develop tumours at younger ages.
Highly aggressive and metastatic in nature, over 90% of all clinically significant osteosarcomas have already metastasized by the time of diagnosis. Most metastasis occurs in the lungs and other bones, but lymph node metastasis has been reported.
Canine haemangiosarcoma is also known as malignant haemangioendothelioma or angiosarcoma.
There are three types of haemangiosarcoma. Dermal when found on the skin, sub-cutaneous when found under the skin and visceral, when found in the organs like the spleen or heart. The spleen is where haemangiosarcoma is most commonly diagnosed and the prognosis in this area without treatment is poor.
These tumours are mostly found in middle aged to older dogs.
Dermal haemangiosarcoma appears as a red or black growth on hairless portions of your dog’s coat. Dogs like Dalmatons and bull terriers are at higher risk of the disease. Subcutaneous and visceral tumours appear on internal organs and there is often very little warning before they cause severe clinical signs. The average time for survival once a visceral tumour has been discovered is six to eight weeks.
Symptoms of haemangiosarcoma can depend on the location of the tumour. Your dog may show signs including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss and swelling of the abdomen.
In cats, the spleen and liver are the most common places for a hemangiosarcoma tumour to develop and grow.
Many times, cats with visceral hemangiosarcoma look and act normal and then suffer an episode of collapse or sudden death. That’s because the tumour, which affects blood vessels, has ruptured and the animal is bleeding internally. If the problem is diagnosed quickly enough, emergency surgery usually needs to be performed to remove the tumour.
Most of the time, cancerous cells have spread throughout the body through the circulatory system by the time the condition is diagnosed, even if surgery is done to remove the primary, actively bleeding tumour, pets usually become sick from the development of tumours in other areas, like the heart and lungs, shortly after initial diagnosis.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- Weight loss
- Enlarged abdomen
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Panting
- Pale gums
- Weakness
This condition is far more common in dogs than cats.
For more information on these, and other, common cancers found in pets, please visit these websites –
https://www.caninecancer.com/osteosarcoma/
http://www.caninecancer.org.au/haemangiosarcoma.html
https://www.cathealth.com/cat-health/cancer/2513-hemangiosarcoma-in-cats
Is your pet having more bad says that good days? Read this insightful article on making those difficult decisions we’re often too afraid to consider – https://kimvet.co.za/the-quality-of-life-question-we-all-should-be-asking/
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
The quality of life question we all should be asking – by Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV
In 2016, I lost my dachshund, Muggle, to Cognitive Dysfunction. This brain disease of “doggy Alzheimer’s” is one that steals not only our pets, but our own peace of mind. Just like in human medicine, we tend not to give brain diseases credit for being diseases. Even as a trained hospice veterinarian, I kept thinking things like “I can’t euthanize a healthy dog because he’s acting weird.” I fought with myself, convinced that I was only considering euthanasia for my own convenience. After all, he was still eating and running around after a bath. How could I take that away from him?
Yet, this same dog who had once spent every possible moment glued to my side would snap if I tried to pick him up. He would try to run away. He would sleep all day and then pace relentlessly from 5 p.m. to bedtime. Sure, he had arthritis and the typical dachshund “bad back,” but really his body was in pretty good shape and was being treated for discomfort. I agonized over the best choice to make. I instituted every treatment in my toolbox to help his disease. I cried a lot. I felt alone.
A week before his euthanasia, I tried talking to myself the way I would to one of my clients. I was compassionate and gentle with myself (for once). As I let this conversation go on in my head without fighting it, the question popped up out of nowhere:
“What will he be missing if he’s not here tomorrow?”
The answer turned out to be food. Because at this point, he really did nothing but eat, sleep and pace. The only joy he showed me was when he gobbled up his breakfast and dinner – and any snacks in between. I was working so hard to keep him comfortable so he could have less than five minutes of true enjoyment a day. He was isolated and alone (by his choice), just like I felt. We were both suffering for no good reason. I made the choice to say goodbye later that week. My husband would comfort me each time I broke down, saying “We don’t have to do this, Honey. We can wait,” but I knew we couldn’t.
That Friday night, I phoned a veterinarian friend on my way home from work. “Please tell me I’m doing the right thing,” I said. “Please tell me he’s not a normal dog, and I’m not a selfish jerk for doing this.” She assured me I was doing the right thing, and that it had been coming for a long time.
We said goodbye on a fuzzy blanket in the living room. I fed him forbidden foods he’d never had, and I swear he gave me a grumpy “you’ve been holding out on me” look right before he started to snore from the sedative.
When it was over my husband looked at me and said, “Oh, God, we should have done this weeks ago.” And the hole in my heart started to heal.
Since that day, I’ve been asking clients to ask themselves this question – and include both good and bad things in the answer. My purpose is not to encourage or discourage them in their decision making, but to put the focus where it belongs – on their pet.
Too often we get so tied up in how we are feeling and our reasons that we forget our agony comes from a place of love. We are trying to do the right thing and afraid we are making selfish decisions. I also tell them that we don’t have to wait to say goodbye until there are no good things left on the list. It’s OK for a pet to pass on a good day.
If you are facing the loss of a pet, please don’t feel like you have to do it alone. There are resources out there to help. This is never an easy decision for anyone – even a veterinarian who does this for a living. Give yourself a break and allow yourself to lean. And remember, some of the worst grieving happens before you say goodbye. Having support before, during, and after you lose a pet makes a huge difference.
Written by Cherie T. Buisson, DVM, CHPV
December 16, 2018
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Rina Van Eeden | May 12, 2020 | Cats, Vaccinations
It is very important to realise that by simply vaccinating your dog or your cat, you can lessen and, more importantly, to a great extent prevent incredible hardships your pet will endure when they acquire any one of these diseases.
The majority of these diseases are fatal in one way or another.
In South African, we vaccinate against the following diseases.
Feline Panleukopenia:
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, often FATAL, viral disease of cats that is seen worldwide. Kittens are affected most severely. The causative parvovirus is very resistant.
Virus particles are abundant in all secretions and excretions during the acute phase of illness and can be shed in the faeces of survivors for as long as 6 weeks after recovery. Being highly resistant to inactivation, parvoviruses can be transported long distances via fomites (eg. shoes, clothing).
FPV infects and destroys actively dividing cells in bone marrow, lymphoid tissues, intestinal epithelium and, in very young animals, cerebellum and retina.
Feline Calicivirus:
Along with the rhinotracheitis virus, feline calicivirus (FCV) is responsible for most feline upper respiratory infections. Cats that go outside or spend time around other cats are at increased risk for exposure to FCV infection.
Feline upper airway infections are very common. They resemble the common cold in people and are characterized by clinical signs such as sneezing, wheezing and discharge from the eyes and nose. Along with the rhinotracheitis virus, feline calicivirus (FCV) is responsible for most feline upper respiratory infections.
Calicivirus is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS among cats.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis:
The onset of feline viral rhinotracheitis is marked by fever, frequent sneezing, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis) and often salivation.
Excitement or movement may cause sneezing.
The fever may reach 40.5°C, but subsides and then may come and go.
Initially, the disease causes a clear discharge from the nose and eyes; it soon increases in amount and contains mucous. At this point, depression and loss of appetite become evident. Severely affected cats may develop mouth inflammation with sores, and inflammation of the cornea occurs in some cats.
The outlook is generally good except for young kittens and older cats. When the illness is prolonged, weight loss may be too severe.
Feline Chlamydophila:
Feline Chlamydophila (formerly known as Chlamydia) mainly causes conjunctivitis in the cat. Conjunctivitis may be defined as the inflammation of the delicate membranes or conjunctiva that cover the inner surface of the eyelids and over the white part of the eye (the sclera).
Infection is relatively common in cats, with up to 30% of cases of chronic conjunctivitis caused by this organism.
Although cats of all ages can be infected, disease is seen most commonly seen in young kittens (5 – 12 weeks old) with persistent or recurrent infection.
Infection therefore typically occurs through direct contact and disease is more commonly seen where large groups of cats are kept together, such as multi-cat households, breeding catteries and shelters.
Rabies:
Rabies is an acute, progressive viral encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) that principally affects carnivores and bats, although any mammal can be affected. The disease is FATAL once clinical signs appear.
Rabies is found throughout the world. Globally, the DOG IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESERVOIR, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
Wildlife plays an important role in the transmission of rabies in certain areas.
This virus is highly neurotropic, so it infects nerve cells.
Transmission almost always occurs via introduction of virus-laden saliva into tissues, usually by the bite of a rabid animal. Usually, saliva is infectious at the time clinical signs occur, but domestic dogs, cats and ferrets may shed virus for several days before onset of clinical signs.
This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS virus that can also infect HUMANS!
Kittens need to be vaccinated from 8 weeks of age. We follow a standard vaccination protocol.
8 Weeks – 4-in-1 Vaccine
12 Weeks – 4-in-1 Vaccine as well as first Rabies Vaccine
16 Weeks – Final kitten Rabies booster
There after they need yearly boosters for the rest of their lives.
We acknowledge that every pet is unique, therefore we do personalise vaccination protocols should it be deemed necessary for a certain pet.
Be sure to ask our staff more about vaccination protocols.
Did you know, dogs also need vaccinations! Find out more about that from our blog – https://kimvet.co.za/puppy-vaccinations/
For more information regarding important vaccinations for pets, please check out this website – https://www.petmd.com/cat/wellness/essential-cat-vaccinations
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Rina Van Eeden | May 12, 2020 | Cats, Dogs
Pet poisonings from household/human food is quite prevalent. People often make the mistake of thinking that people food is okay for pets. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t.
Harmful Food:
Milk is not easily digested by most adult animals and can cause them to develop diarrhoea, not to mention the negative impact the excessive calcium can have on growing animals.
Though not a poison, bones are VERY DANGEROUS. They can lodge in a dog’s passageways or cut it’s intestines causing extreme pain and discomfort, possibly leading to death.
Chocolate is responsible for countless pet poisonings. Theobromine and caffeine are concentrated in dark and baking chocolate.
Onions and garlic can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia.
Rich, fatty foods such as chicken skin or gravy can cause pancreatitis and inflammation of the digestive system and can be very painful and serious.
Grapes and raisins can lead to loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and acute renal failure in dogs, possibly resulting in death.
Coffee is also dangerous to animals.
Nicotine is a stimulant that can increase the heart rate, leading to collapse and, in the worst case, death.
Avocado is dangerous to the heart.
Alcoholic beverages should be kept away from animals at all times.
Be as vigilant at poison-proofing your house for a pet as you would be for a child!
Common Symptoms:
Some of the most common signs of poisoning include gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and diarrhoea), neurological signs (tremors, incoordination, seizures, excitability, depression), respiratory signs (coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing), skin signs (inflammation, swelling), liver failure (jaundice, vomiting) and kidney failure (increased drinking, loss of appetite and weight loss).
Some poisons act on more than one body system, and so can produce any combination of the above signs.
The most common malicious poisoning one tends to see in veterinary practice is with use of Temik, also known as “Two Step”. This was previously used as an insecticide on farms. It looks very similar to “poppy seeds” and can quite easily be bought illegally. Burglars place it in meat which is then thrown into your yard. Signs of poisoning are usually seen within 5-20 minutes.
Common Symptoms:
The most common signs are: Excessive salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, not wanting to eat, runny eyes/nose, difficulty breathing/blue gums, muscle twitching, restlessness and in many cases paralysis which inevitably leads to death.
Harmful Plants:
There are many household items and plants that can be harmful to your pet.
Although plants are great, many are also poisonous to pets. Many plants that are not toxic to people may cause serious medical problems in pets, such as renal failure, irregular heartbeats, cardiac shock and even death.
Some poisonous plants include the following:
Lilies
Members of the Lilium family are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the responsible component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestion of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Marijuana
Ingestion of Cannabis by companion animals can result in depression of the central nervous system and incoordination, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, increased heart rate and even seizures and can even result in a coma.
Chincherinchee
This plant is very dangerous. It contains toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities. These signs are often so severe that it can lead to death.
Azalea/Rhododendron
Members of this plant species contain substances which can produce symptoms such as vomiting, drooling, diarrhoea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to a coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander
All parts of the oleander plant are considered to be toxic, as they have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Amaryllis
A common garden plant, Amaryllis species contain toxins that can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, anorexia and tremors.
Chrysanthemum
These popular blooms may cause gastrointestinal upsets, including drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea, if eaten. In certain cases depression and loss of coordination may also develop if enough of any part of the plant is consumed.
Ivy
Ivy contains toxins that, should pets ingest it, can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation and diarrhoea.
Cycads
Cycads cause liver failure, especially in puppies.
Basic First Aid:
If your pet does chew on a plant, immediately remove the plant from its mouth and rinse the mouth gently with water. Identify the plant your pet ate and call your veterinarian.
Watch for excessive or foamy salivation and changes in the skin around the mouth, eyes or paws.
This is by no means an inclusive list.
There are many other things that could be potentially poisonous to your pet.
The most important thing for you as a pet owner to remember is that you need to stay vigilant and act quickly and calmly when it comes to poisonings.
For more information on poisonings in pets, please check out our blog post – https://kimvet.co.za/pet-poisonings/
Resources:
Like this:
Like Loading...
