[RWebb]

There is a good book on taking care of your friend with aging.

GOOD OLD DOG. Vet. Med. Faculty of Tufts Univ.

Get it and read it. Here are some notes to review while waiting for the book to arrive:



Arthritis – not usually wear & tear; instead often due to a condition that has progressed over time, such as hip dysplasia

Incontinence – often caused by loose sphincters (leaking unawares), esp. in females – easy to fix with PPA, DES or other drugs, even soy extract or canned pumpkin to tone up sphincters
- may mean kidney disease or diabetes, so check for that
- if above ruled out & has mystery incontinence, then often a sign of dementia

chocolate, grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs

GOOD OLD DOG. Vet. Med. Faculty of Tufts Univ.

normal thyroid level = 4.3 mg/dL for puppy; 2.6 mg/dL at age 12 (study in Beagles)

I. Emergency

vomiting 4x, 5x; same with diarrhea

loss of ability to move around

abdominal bloat – may mean stomach has filled with air & twisted over, blocking blood vessels

II. Vital Signs

gums pink?

temperature (rectal) between 100F to 102.5F

pulse on inside of thigh (press fingers into depression in the center of the groin) – above 140/min. = cause for concern

noise when breathing, struggling to breathe

III. Cancer
sores that do not heal
abnormal swellings that persist or grow
weight loss
loss of appetite
bleeding or discharge from any body opening
offensive odor
difficulty eating or swallowing
hesitation to exercise
loss of stamina
persistent lameness or stiffness
difficulty eating, urinating, or defecating

Mast Cell Tumors
commonly originate in lumps in or under the skin as lumps or bumps; if the lump moves with the skin then it is in the skin

most skin bumps in dogs are benign; ones that are subcutaneous are more likely to be cancerous

mast cell tumor may also feel gelatinous, rather than hard or fixed

any new lump or bump on the body should be evaluated by a Vet.

IV. Vet. Visits

complete Blood Cell count (CBC)

serum biochemical panel
- low albumin may indicate kidney disease, GI protein loss, or liver disease
- liver enzymes
- blood glucose
- electrolytes (kidney function)


Insurance:
petinsurance.com
gopetplan.com
purinacare.com

V. Nutrition

Senior diet dog food – no regs; some may not be adequate

some dog foods certified by Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)

acvn.org

aavn.org