How to nurse the ageing, small animal inpatient part 1 – general nursing considerations
Abstract
Geriatrics is the branch of medicine and surgery that treats problems peculiar to old age. Ageing is defined as the accumulation of progressive body changes associated with or responsible for disease, decreased physiologic function, and ultimately death. Lifespan and life expectancy differ among species and among individual members of a species, therefore there is no one specific age that can define the term ‘geriatric’ The term is therefore generally used to define those animals that have reached 75–80% of their expected lifespan. Ageing patients do not adapt well to a change in environment or alterations to their daily routine. This first of this two-part article will focus on general nursing considerations for the ageing inpatient.
Historically, veterinary personnel reacted to existing problems in older animals by waiting until owners elected to seek professional help for their pets, often only once the disease signs were overt or the condition no longer tolerable (Fortney, 2004). Even with overt signs of clinical disease, some owners were still reluctant to bring their pets into the veterinary practice as it was assumed that this was just old age and hence could not be treated or that euthanasia would be the only option available. However the availability of medical information on the internet and television has made interested animal owners much more aware of the health needs of their senior companions. Clients usually form very strong bonds with their ageing pets, not surprisingly as they are likely to have owned them for many years. Such investment in the bond means many owners are demanding and willing to pay for high quality senior health care. The continued advancement of medical knowledge manifested in the availability of more sophisticated diagnostic testing, advances in specialised nutrition, and newer therapeutic options, along with education regarding early warning signs of disease and routine screening for age-related disease has better positioned veterinary professionals to treat age-related problems and provide the high quality health care these owners are demanding (Fortney, 2004).
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