MN Pets

By Katie Anderson

For many pets and their owners, meal time is an enjoyable experience. Your dog stands by his dish, eagerly wagging his tail in anticipation of food, and your cat begins to purr at the sound of the can opener. As your pet ages, you may notice a natural decline in his or her appetite. However, if your pet suddenly stops eating or begins to lose weight, a trip to the vet may be in order. Loss of appetite (or anorexia) and weight loss can be caused by most diseases, including infections, glandular diseases, cancer, or organ failure. Most pets attempt to hide pain, and anorexia may be the only sign they show of discomfort. In addition, anorexia and weight loss may be caused by stress from changes in routine, environment, or diet. If your pet is losing weight or has stopped eating for more than 24 hours, it’s important to have him or her examined by a veterinarian, who will perform a physical exam and some routine tests to diagnose the cause of these symptoms.

Treating anorexia and weight loss first and foremost requires treating any underlying illnesses. Depending on your pet’s condition, your veterinarian may prescribe a number of drugs, including pain medications. There are also several strategies you can implement to help increase your pet’s appetite while their condition is being treated or while they are in hospice care. These include:

–Change diets: to help prevent weight loss, your veterinarian may recommend a diet high in protein or fat. If you normally feed a dry diet, switching to canned food may also help improve your pet’s appetite. Always consult your veterinarian before switching diets.

–Improve palatability: Add flavored toppings or low-sodium broth to your pet’s food. Warming food to body temperature (being careful not to overheat the food to the point it burns your pet’s mouth) may also help stimulate appetite.

–Appetite stimulating drugs: Your veterinarian may choose to prescribe medications such as cyproheptadine or mirtazapine to stimulate appetite.

–Liquid diets: For pets that cannot eat solid food, feeding a liquid diet through a syringe or feeding tube may be an option.

Many chronically ill pets will continue to eat food and drink water until they simply can no longer do so. For these pets, anorexia may indicate severe pain or distress as the end of their life approaches. Euthanasia may be the most humane choice in these situations, and it’s certainly okay to consider this option.

As your pet ages, you may notice that the easy, graceful movements that were so common have now become more difficult. The lope across the backyard has become a stiff walk, the jump to a favorite couch becomes impossible, and the eagerness to chase a tennis ball or go for a walk vanishes. Like humans, many elderly pets develop arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease). There are many different forms of arthritis, but the most common is caused by simple wear and tear on the joints over time. As pets age, their bodies’ ability to repair itself become less effective, and the cartilage that lines the joints begins to thin and die. When cartilage cells die, they stimulate inflammation in the joint, causing the bone underlying the cartilage to deteriorate and the joint space to narrow. Often new bony outgrowths develop in the joint as well. All of these changes lead to pain and lameness in the affected joint.

Although arthritis is the most common cause of lameness and weakness in elderly pets, it is not the only condition that causes these symptoms. Your veterinarian can diagnose arthritis through a physical exam and sometimes with x-rays of the affected joint. Unfortunately, there is no way to cure or reverse arthritis, but there are many ways to slow down the progress of this disease and to relieve your pet’s pain. Here are some of the most successful strategies for managing arthritis:

• Weight loss or weight management:  If your pet is overweight, shedding pounds can help alleviate stress on arthritic joints. It’s important to remember that arthritic pets are moving around less and therefore burning fewer calories. Even if your pet is at the correct weight, it’s important to monitor his or her diet and watch for weight gain. Your veterinarian can help you develop an individualized nutrition plan to achieve weight loss or maintenance goals.

• Low-Impact Exercise: If your elderly pet is mobile, taking short, controlled walks, multiple times a day or swimming will help maintain and build muscle to support arthritic joints.

• Make your home user- friendly: There are a number of strategies you can use to make both your home and yard more navigable for arthritic pets. For pets with severe arthritis, our loss of mobility article can provide you with helpful tips on coping with mobility loss.

• Massage:  Many arthritic pets benefit from a gentle massage to relax and loosen tight muscles.  To see an example of massage please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tghk42R0QHU. You can also schedule an in-home visit with our certified animal massage practitioner, Aimee Johnson. Warm compresses can also be placed over sore joints to relieve pain, but be careful to avoid burning your pet with excessive heat.

• Nutritional Supplements: There are countless supplements on the market which claim to support joint health. Supplements typically contain the building blocks of cartilage or contain molecules which decrease inflammation in the joint to slow cartilage degradation. A small number of these products have been tested in clinical research trials and shown to be effective in slowing arthritis progression. Most supplements, however, cannot reverse structural changes to the joint, so they are most useful when used early in the course of the disease. The most commonly used supplements include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Injections under the skin, containing polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG’s), can also be administered to assist in cartilage repair. Omega-3 fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory effects and are often included in veterinary arthritis diets or can be added to your pet’s normal diet in the form of fish oil. Choosing the right supplement can be overwhelming, but your veterinarian can help you select products that are most likely to benefit your pet.

• Pain medication: Your veterinarian may choose to prescribe a number of different medications to alleviate arthritis pain, including opioids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Although these drugs are very effective at relieving pain and inflammation, they can cause a number of side effects, and may be contraindicated in your pet.  No matter how uncomfortable your pet may seem, never give over the counter medications to animals without consulting your veterinarian.

• Alternative therapies: A number of other alternative therapies, such as laser treatments, underwater treadmill exercises and physical therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture, can be used to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation. Our certified veterinary acupuncturist, Dr. Catherine Hageman, can provide services to help relieve pain in elderly pets.

When it comes to relieving arthritis pain, reaching for pain medication alone is rarely the most effective approach. Instead, the best way to maximize your pet’s comfort and well-being is to work with your veterinarian to develop a personalized treatment plan encompassing multiple strategies.

By Katie Anderson

As our beloved pets grow older, it’s easy to notice the physical changes associated with aging, such as a graying muzzle or moving slower on walks. Mental and behavioral changes may begin more subtly and grow more noticeable over time. Pets, like elderly humans, may develop dementia (or cognitive dysfunction syndrome) due to age-related changes in their brains that affect how they think, learn, and remember. Dogs and cats with cognitive dysfunction syndrome may display one or more of these clinical signs:

• Disorientation or confusion: wandering, becoming “lost” in familiar surroundings, becoming “trapped” in corners or behind furniture
• Altered memory: changes in house training or learned behaviors
• Altered social relationships: withdrawal, irritation, or aggression
• Increased vocalization or wakefulness at night
• Anxiety or compulsive disorders (separation anxiety, panting, licking, barking)

Many owners attribute these symptoms to “old age” and don’t mention their pet’s changed behavior to their veterinarian. But while there is no cure for cognitive dysfunction syndrome, there are a number of options available to slow mental decline and help your pet cope with his or her symptoms. These include:

1. Environmental changes

• Ensure that your pet’s sleeping area and litter box are easily accessible
• Maintain normal routines to reduce anxiety
• Provide mental stimulation in the form of food puzzles, interactive toys, or by teaching simple, new tricks to your pet. Pets with hearing loss may benefit from learning new hand cues to accompany old tricks.
• Provide physical stimulation by exercising your pet each day (as they are able)
• Provide social interactions and encourage short play sessions

2. Medications

• Selegiline (Anipryl) has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the brain and improve mental function in dogs
• A tranquilizer or sedative may benefit pets suffering from wakefulness or anxiety

3. Diet

• Several diets, such as ProPlan’s Bright Mind and Hill’s B/D formula, are specially formulated with antioxidants, vitamin E, and fatty acids to support brain health

4. Dietary Supplements

• SAMe has also been shown to increase natural dopamine levels and improve mental function in dogs
• Melatonin may help regulate a normal sleep/wake cycle
• Fish oils, vitamin E, and selenium may all improve mental function and decrease inflammation

Before beginning to treat a pet for cognitive dysfunction syndrome, it’s important to visit a veterinarian to rule out any physical causes of behavioral changes.

By Katie Anderson

As your beloved dog or cat ages, you may begin to notice changes in their mobility. Stairs become more difficult, and your pet may lose the ability to jump on to your bed or the car seat. Mobility loss may begin as lameness or a new sway in your pet’s stride, which can progress to trouble walking. Many large breed dogs experience weakness in their rear legs and struggle to stand up unaided. Decreased mobility can be caused by chronic diseases (such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or degenerative myelopathy), sudden injury, or simply the effects of age. Sometimes, all of these can be factors. Unfortunately, many chronic diseases are not curable. The good news is that there are a number of strategies and mobility assistance devices that can help your pet move around with more ease.

Ways you can help your pet cope with mobility loss:

• Weight Loss or Maintenance – If your pet is overweight, weight loss will be the number one way in which to improve mobility, and thus quality of life. It’s important to remember that pets who are experiencing mobility loss are moving around less and thus burning fewer calories. Even if your pet is at the correct weight, it’s important to monitor his or her diet and watch for weight gain. Your veterinarian can help you develop an individualized nutritional plan to achieve weight loss or maintenance goals.

• Low-Impact, Controlled Exercise – If your elderly pet is mobile, taking daily short walks or swims will help maintain or build muscle to support arthritic joints. Daily exercise will also help with your weight loss or weight maintenance goals.

• Traction – Provide runners, rugs, bath mats or yoga mats on hard surfaces to help minimize unsteadiness and slipping. Toe grips, small rubber or plastic pieces that slip on to your pet’s nails, can also be applied to reduce slipping on hard surfaces.

• Stairs – Multi-level dwellings can prove to be a big obstacle for dogs and cats alike. Blocking off the stairs and keeping the pet on one level, or providing traction and other assistance when going up or down the stairs may be necessary.

• Food and Water Bowls – Ensure that there is easy access to water and food and consider multiple water bowls around the home. For cats, place food and water bowls on lower surfaces or on the floor. Many older cats, and those with other disabilities, are unable to jump on high surfaces. If other pets are a concern, separate your cat for feedings behind a closed door or baby gate.

• Litter Box Placement – Uncover litter boxes and use boxes that have low entry points. Also, no more that 1-2 inches of litter depth is recommended as deeper litter can be difficult for you cat to walk through.

• Frequent Visits Outside to Urinate and Defecate – Pain can cause a dog to hold off urinating or defecating. The squatting necessary to eliminate can be painful, so a pet will avoid doing it until they can’t hold it any more. By allowing more time outside, making more frequent trips, and/or using a harness or towel to help hold them up, you can decrease accidents in the house and decrease the shame that many pets feel when they do go to the bathroom inappropriately.

• Harnesses – you can make your own harness, or sling, by placing a beach towel or other large piece of soft material under your pet’s abdomen (belly) to help in lifting up, moving forward or going up and down stairs. Harnesses that can also be purchased include:

○ Walkabout Rear Harness
○ Gingerlead Dog Support and Rehabilitation Harness
○ Help’Em Up Harness

• Comfort and Hygiene – With decreased or incomplete mobility, your pet may groom less (cats especially) and lie around more (dogs especially). Matting of the haircoat, urine scald (if lying in urine) and “bed sores” from pressure of joints on hard surfaces are just some of the problems that can occur. Frequent coat brushing, wet or dry shampoo bathing as needed, and a soft and washable orthopedic bed are ways to improve hygiene and comfort.

• Pain Medications – Medications can be used to decrease inflammation and pain associated with many chronic conditions. Your veterinarian can help determine which medications may be appropriate for your pet.

• Passive Range of Motion (PROM) Exercises – these are gentle movements of the joints through flexion and extension which should NEVER produce pain. Toes, wrists, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, neck and spine can benefit from these movements. Click here to see an example of PROM.

• Physical Therapy – rehabilitation services are available in the Twin Cities for a fee and require taking your pet to the facility. The specialized training and equipment/facilities can provide more intensive muscle and joint work than you can provide at home. Two locations include:

–Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic in Burnsville – Please let us know if you would like a referral.
–University of MN Veterinary Medical Center Rehab Services in St. Paul – Please let us know if you would like a referral.

• Massage and Acupuncture– You can provide massage to increase contact and bonding, improve your pet’s well-being, and provide comfort and relief. Massage should not cause pain but allow for relaxation and loosening of muscles. Click here to see an example of massage. You can also schedule an in-home visit with our recommended certified animal massage practitioner, Aimee Johnson. Our certified veterinary acupuncturist, Dr. Catherine Hageman, can also provide services to help relieve pain in elderly pets.

Many elderly pets experiencing mobility loss remain happy and healthy otherwise. For these pets, making a few simple accommodations such as the ones listed above can help them maintain a good quality of life in their old age. Management of decreased or absent mobility in your pet affects not only the pet, but you as the caregiver, and it’s important to consider your lifestyle in deciding which of these accommodations will work for you.

By Katie Anderson

Hearing a diagnosis of “cancer” can be overwhelming and can remind us of the relatively short time we have with our four-legged companions. Over half of senior pets will be diagnosed with some form of cancer and this means that many families face challenges and difficult decisions surrounding their care. Cancer is not one disease with one treatment. For some cancers, treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery may provide a cure. For others, treatments may only improve the pet’s quality of life and prolong survival. Regardless of whether or not you choose to treat your pet, there are several things you can do at home to provide compassionate care.

Managing pain: Recognizing and assessing pain in animals can be difficult as many animals instinctively hide weakness and pain. Monitor your pet’s behavior for subtle changes such as decreased activity levels, loss of appetite, hiding or decreased social activity, and poor grooming. More sudden and sharp pain may cause increased vocalization, loss of function or sensitivity in certain areas of the body. If you notice signs of pain, your veterinarian can prescribe a number of different medications to provide pain relief. Giving these medications on a predetermined schedule is often more effective than giving them “as needed.” In addition, complimentary pain management such as acupuncture, massage, or passive exercises at home can also be utilized. Your veterinarian can help you determine which medications and and/or strategies are right for your pet.

Nutritional support: Ensuring that your pet receives proper nutrition is always important, but it becomes even more important when he or she is battling a disease. Cancer can change your pet’s metabolism, and their usual diet may no longer provide adequate nutrition. Many cancer patients develop a condition called “cachexia”, which is characterized by loss of appetite, weight loss, and muscle wasting. Some research shows that diets high in protein and fat may prevent or reverse these changes. If your pet is not interested in eating, warming their canned food or pouring a bit of warm broth over their dry food may help increase their appetite. Your veterinarian may choose to prescribe anti-nausea medication or appetite stimulants to help as well. Finally, to ensure that your pet is staying hydrated, provide plenty of clean drinking water or ask your veterinarian if it’s necessary to give fluids under the skin (subcutaneous) at home.

Creating a comfortable environment: Many cancer patients exhibit decreased activity levels or difficulty moving throughout the home. You can increase your pet’s comfort by ensuring that food and water dishes and the litter box are located close to his or her favorite sleeping spot. For cats, lower food and water bowls if they are placed too high for your pet to jump. If your elderly pet tends to slip on hard floors, you can help by laying down yoga mats or placing toe grips on your dog’s claws to improve traction. As your pet spends more time sleeping, you can utilize pads, waterbeds, or egg crate mattresses to prevent ulcers and bedsores from forming.

Proper hygiene: Elderly pets with and without cancer often struggle with hygiene. Cats may no longer be able to properly groom themselves, and both dogs and cats may lose voluntary control of urination or defecation. If your pet spends long periods of time lying in bed, it’s important to check his or her skin regularly and if redness, ulcers or sores are noted, contact your veterinarian immediately. Thoroughly clean and dry both your pet (if able) and the bedding regularly to maximize good hygiene.

Caring for a pet with cancer can be a daunting task, but you don’t have to go through it alone.