Just like their human counterparts, pets show various signs of aging when they enter the senior years. The only problem is their owners are not always aware of what to look for and may miss those signs—which is very crucial—since detection and prevention are the keys to both longevity and a quality life for your pet. The following are five common health conditions in aging pets as outlined in The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health.
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Take this quiz to get the real truth about cat and dog people.

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Are you a paws-on, or paws-off pet owner? Determine your pet-parenting style with this quiz. By Jessica Padykula.

To get started, choose the answer that best represents what you would do in these situations.

1. You come home from work to notice your pug is mid-chew of yet another pair of new shoes. You:
a) Melt on sight of that cute, furry face and forget all about the shoes.
b) Take the shoe away briskly and tell your pet “No” in a clear, authoritative voice.
c) Grab the shoe and, along with telling him “No,” place your pet outside or in his cage for a further reminder of wrongdoing.
d) Take the shoe away and then can’t help but give him a little scratch behind the ears.

2. Guests arrive for a dinner party and your cat gives them an overenthusiastic greeting and won’t leave them alone. You:
a) Don’t even notice the intrusion and continue putting out the canapés.
b) Laugh out loud, saying, “Isn’t that cute!” and leave her to jump all over your guests.
c) Remove her from the guests lap with a stern “No.”
d) Keep your pet in another room for the duration of the evening.

3. You sit down to dinner and your terrier sidles up beside your chair, whining for a share in the grilled chicken and potatoes. You:
a) Ignore your pet’s pleading glances for the duration of the meal, but then give him what’s left on your plate afterward.
b) Ignore the requests for scraps and enjoy your meal.
c) Can’t say no to that adorable face and share a piece of your evening meal.
d) Take Fido outside or into another room while you eat in peace.

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