Veterinary medicine and procedures have increased the life span of our pets to quite an extent. However, it is up to us, as owners, to make the quality of life of our pets better.
Today, there is better awareness about the diet and health of older cats.
Older cat health is considered an important aspect of caring for them. In fact, today because of these advances in medical science and the growing awareness, cats may be able to live up to even seventeen years. Though to achieve this, you have to give special consideration to your pet health care.
When your cat is older, its needs change drastically. They need annual health examinations and the frequency of these examinations increases as the pet grows older. Once the cat is ten years old, a complete health check up every six months can help the vet diagnose any ailments in the cat that might have not manifested itself yet.
Weighing your cat regularly and keeping a log of the weight can help your vet determine the physical health of the cat. Frequent fluctuation in your cat’s weight can tell a lot about its health. For cats, significant changes in weight are almost always the first indication of a health problem.
At home too, older cats require more attention than their younger counterparts. If you notice any sudden changes like loss of appetite or diarrhea or any other changes in the frequency and consistency of excretion, they are indicators of pet health issues. Older cats that show visible effort in passing urine or stop consuming as much water as they once did, may not be well.
In older cats, renal failure, thyroid malfunctioning, dental deterioration, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes are the most frequently occurring health problems. Though there are many diseases that older cats may suffer from, renal failure continues to be the number one cause of death in old cats. Cats are genetically predisposed to developing problems in the kidneys and as the kidney functions slow down, there is a buildup of toxins in the cat’s body.
The risk of developing renal conditions in older age is also dependent on the cat diet, age and any external injuries that might have an effect on the functioning of the kidneys. The usual symptoms of renal failure are increased thirst and visible dehydration effects on the cat. By the time, these symptoms appear, the kidneys have already lost about 70% of their functioning. A regular checkup in the older cats can help prevent the neglect of such a serious disorder.
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