Senior Pet Healthcare Month

KAREN K. FAUNT, DVM, MS, DIPL. ACVIM (SMALL ANIMAL), VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER (CMO), BANFIELD, THE PET HOSPITAL®, SHARES TIPS FOR CARING FOR OLDER PETS, IN HONOR OF SENIOR PET HEALTHCARE MONTH

September 17, 2008 – As you may know, September is senior Pet healthcare month and Banfield, The Pet Hospital® would like to share tips with your readers about caring for older Pets.

The most important aspect of providing the highest quality of preventive veterinary care for senior Pets, according to Karen K. Faunt, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM (Small Animal), Vice President/Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Banfield, The Pet Hospital®, is to form a personal, longstanding relationship with your veterinarian.

"Pet owners should provide as much background information as possible about their Pets, because each senior Pet has specific needs that are unique to their age, breed/mix, size and health," said Dr. Faunt.

Dr. Faunt recommends that your readers keep the following tips in mind as they care for their senior Pets:

· As Pets age, it is important to adjust their diet and exercise routine.

· In later years, the onset of arthritis can affect Pets’ quality of life. Symptoms of arthritis in Pets can include: Becoming less active, getting up slowly, walking stiffly or limping, joint swelling, yelping during exercise, hesitancy or refusal to climb stairs, and depressive behavior. Arthritis is seen in dogs and cats, but is often overlooked in cats. Be sure to tell your veterinarian if your dog or cat shows any of the above changes.

· If Pets seem easily startled or slow to respond to verbal cues, they may be suffering from hearing loss. This can be a part of the aging process.

· It’s important to ensure that Pets receive regular eye exams to monitor for the onset of cataracts (more common in dogs than cats). Cataracts are characterized by an increased cloudiness in the eyes that eventually disrupts eyesight. Cataracts are much more treatable if caught early. This can be easily confused with a normal aging process known as nuclear sclerosis, that does not affect the Pet’s vision. Your veterinarian can easily distinguish between the two.

· Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is especially prevalent among older cats. Also known as kidney failure or renal insufficiency, symptoms include depressed behavior, weight loss, decreased appetite, vomiting and increased thirst and urination. If Pet owners notice these symptoms, they should consult with their veterinarian immediately, since symptoms may not present themselves until advanced stages of kidney failure.

· Diabetes Mellitus, which is the inability of the Pet’s body to regulate blood sugar levels, can usually be managed by the use if insulin injections. Pet owners should watch for increased urination, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, depression, increased water intake or excessive appetite.

· To ensure that Pets remain healthy and are a part of the family for as long as possible, we recommend that Pets receive regular dental care and cleanings - both early and throughout a Pet’s life. Dental cleanings are a vital part of preventive care. We believe that many diseases in mature Pets are the partial result of diseased teeth and gums throughout the Pet’s life. Bacteria can travel through the blood stream to vital organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs and kidneys, and thus shorten a Pet's life.

We recommend that if Pet owners notice any of the above signs, they speak with their veterinarian. At Banfield, we believe preventive care is the best way to help Pets live longer, healthier lives. Please call the Media Hotline at the number above to schedule an interview with Dr. Faunt.