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Canine nutrition for a healthy old age

02 October 2015
12 mins read
Volume 6 · Issue 8

Abstract

Ageing dogs are commonly seen in veterinary practices. Small breed dogs may be considered geriatric at 12–14 years whereas large and giant breed dog would be geriatric at 7–9 years. When dogs begin to transition from adult to senior or geriatric, it is important that their nutrition is monitored by a veterinary professional so that they maintain health and a high quality of life. The veterinary nurse plays an important role in monitoring patients from the time they are puppies through their senior years assuring that appropriate nutrition is maintained for a long, healthy life.

The veterinary nurse's role in helping the owner to achieve his or her goals of having a healthy older dog begins the minute the patient enters the clinic for the first time.

Mature dogs are more prone than younger dogs to certain disease processes such as obesity, degenerative joint disease, cognitive dysfunction, and cardiac, renal, liver, and metabolic diseases. A beneficial feeding plan should be based on risk factors and any disease process affecting the individual dog. The aim is to establish a long healthy old age for the canine.

As dogs become more like family members in many households, better quality of veterinary care and safer living environments have resulted in pets living longer. Veterinary professionals are responsible for ensuring that their clients receive the best care possible for their pets as they grow into mature, older dogs. Monitoring dogs' health status is an important part of being able to offer guidance and professional suggestions for owners as they maintain a long, healthy quality of life for their dogs.

For pets, much like for people, ageing brings with it physiologic changes. Some changes are obvious: whitening of hair, a general decline in body coat and condition, and failing senses such as sight or hearing. Changes that are less obvious may involve the digestive tract, immune system, kidneys, and other organs (Laflamme, 2005).

Ageing dogs are a common population seen in veterinary practices in developed countries. In 2012, it was estimated that more than 43 million US households owned a dog. Approximately 33% of dogs were 6 to 10 years of age and almost 15% were older than 11 years of age (Larsen and Farcas, 2014). In Australia and the UK, 33% and 23% of households, respectively, owned dogs in 2010 (Australian Companion Animal Council, 2010).

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