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.

Instructions

1. Keep your pet at a healthy weight. At least half of all senior dogs and about a third of all pets are considered overweight, a large jump from the 1970s when it was a much smaller percentage. Overweight pets, just like humans, are at a higher risk for cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to joint strain and reduced activity. Look for senior formula pet foods or those suited for all life stages. If feeding a homemade diet stick with lean meats and low carbs.
2. Take your pet for routine professional teeth cleanings/exams and practice at-home dental maintenance. Feed your pet tartar control treats and you may also consider brushing their teeth. The large majority of pets over age three have periodontal disease as a result of improper dental care. Aside from tooth loss, gum disease can lead to heart, kidney and liver infections.
3. Schedule a vet exam if you notice a dramatic change in your pet’s activity level. Although reduced energy is natural in aging pets, a dramatic change could be a sign of arthritis. There are various remedies for arthritis including prescription, over-the-counter and natural supplements such as glucosamine and chondrointon.
4. Groom your aging pet regularly, since seniors are more prone to skin conditions and often have a more difficult time grooming themselves. This can also be an opportunity to look for raised bumps or tumors, which may be signs of cancer.
5. Take your pet to the vet if you notice any changes in the eyes. Aging pets can develop the same eye problems as people, including cataracts and glaucoma. Cataracts are very common in dogs and glaucoma is one of the most frequent causes of blindness. Schedule regular medical exams, usually every six months, and make sure the eyes are checked as well.

Tips & Warnings

• As a general rule of thumb, the recommended amount on pet food packages is rarely the amount you should actually feed. Your pet’s age, activity level and health should all be factored in when deciding how much to feed. Use the package as a rough guideline.
• Various factors including breed and weight determine when an animal enters the senior years. For instance, larger dogs enter the senior years earlier than smaller dogs and certain cat breeds tend to live longer, thus become seniors later.
• You can't normally tell if a dog or cat is in pain; they tend to hide it. Instead, look for changes in behavior.
• Never give human pain medication to your pet unless your veterinarian specifically recommends it.

Learn more...

Ruby is Ellen DeGeneres!

The Comedienne

Ruby's quirky little act get laughs whenever she's out and about...

Turning on the charm wherever she may be, Ruby can ham it up with the best of the best. She's not afraid to stand up and be the center of attention, even if it means getting egg on her fur. Ruby will do her shtick in any size venue, from small clubs and coffee houses to large parks with huge audiences. A true lover of animalkind, Ruby generously shares what she has with her fellow furry friends. Ruby's highly recognizable vocal style is known throughout the ‘hood, and her many fans gather ‘round to hear her snuzzy tails, sure that every episode will be unlike the rest.

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.

4. Every time you or one of your family members walks in the door, your retriever bowls you over. You:
a) Let him jump. After all, he hasn’t seen you all day.
b) Try to dodge the furry attacks, but inevitably end up being pawed as you try and get in the door.
c) Push your pet away with a stern "No.”
d) Ignore the jumping to show him it won’t garner attention.

5. You walk into the kitchen to find your calico cat lounging on the counter, a habit you have tried to curb, to no avail. You:
a) Just work around him and wipe down the counter once he jumps off.
b) Gently tell him to please get off the counter, but when he ignores your request, give him a little scratch behind the ears. You just can’t help it.
c) Pick him up and place him on the floor, shooing him away from the kitchen.
d) Make a loud noise to scare him off the counter, accompanied by a loud "No!"

6. Your tabby isn’t feeling well and needs some extra TLC. Even though she’s under the weather, she’s still using the new couch as a scratching post. You:
a) Loudly tell her "No" and take her to another room.
b) Loudly tell her "No" and clap your hands to startle her.
c) Ignore the scratching. She’ll stop eventually.
d) Don’t have the heart to stop her when she’s sick, so leave her to claw the furniture.

7. Your spaniel has taken to jumping into bed with you and your honey. Although it’s cute, there really isn’t room for three. You:
a) Firmly tell him "No" as soon as he tries to get into the bed.
b) Invest in a third pillow. You don’t have the heart to kick him out of bed.
c) Try sleepily pushing him off but give up after a few half-hearted attempts.
d) Tell him "No" and keep the bedroom door firmly closed for a few nights until he learns your bed is not also his.

Tally up your score…

1.
a = 1
b = 3
c = 4
d = 2

2.
a = 2
b = 1
c = 3
d = 4

3.
a = 2
b = 3
c = 1
d = 4

4.
a = 1
b = 2
c = 3
d = 4

5.
a = 2
b = 1
c = 3
d = 4

6.
a = 4
b = 3
c = 2
d = 1

7.
a = 3
b = 1
c = 2
d = 4

You scored 0-7: Fido rules the roost
There’s no question of who gets final say over everything in your house. You love your pet and it shows, but there seem to be no boundaries when it comes to what your pet is allowed to do. You just can’t say no to that cute, furry face but the longer you allow your pet to do something it’s not supposed to be doing, the harder it will be to curb this behaviour.

You scored 8-14: Pushover pet owner
You know there are certain things your pet shouldn’t be doing, and you try to curb these behaviours, but find it difficult to enforce discipline when the time comes. You often find it easier to let things slide and can be inconsistent when it comes to the house rules. This inconsistency can make it hard to train your pet and enforce the behaviour you want. If one day chewing your shoes is allowed, while the next day it isn’t, your pet will be confused and be more apt to chew your new shoes than not.

You scored 15-21: Consistent and caring
For the most part, you are very consistent when it comes to disciplining your pet. You can say no when you need to, but also know when the priority should be play-time, or when your pet just wants attention. You know the importance of enforcing rules with regularity, but can also relax those rules to suit the situation.

You scored 22-28: Strict, but loving
Your pet knows who the boss is. There are no questions when it comes to what’s allowed – and what isn’t. You take pet obedience very seriously and made sure you were consistent with disciplining him right from the start. You love your pet, but run a tight ship. There’s no counter-hopping, shoe-chewing or furniture-scratching in your house and that’s that way you like it!