As your dog ages you will see signs of just that. It can be its eyesight or hearing becoming poor or it no longer has the spunk it once had before. He or she will begin to tire quicker and breathing may become more labored. These are things your vet can do nothing to help stop. It is all in Mother Nature’s way. But not all changes in your dog’s health that come about with age are necessarily age related but rather a illness. Several age-related illnesses can be treated, if caught in time. There are five age related illness vets suggest you keep an eye out for – Liver, Kidney, and Heart disease, Diabetes, and Cancer.
A yearly series of "geriatric screening" tests — including liver, kidney, protein and blood sugar checks — beginning when your dog is 6 years old, will help your vet catch any problems before they become unmanageable.
Although most types of heart disease can't be prevented, they can often be controlled with drugs, diet, nutritional supplement and exercise. Symptoms to watch for include excessive panting, coughing, and fainting.
Diabetes can also be controlled with drugs, diet and exercise. Symptoms of diabetes include diminished eyesight and a change in eye appearance and color.
Kidney Failure presents with loss of appetite, depression, and increased volume and frequency of urination and voiding. Results from blood and urine tests, sometimes X-rays or an ultrasound test, and possibly a biopsy or exploratory surgery can help your vet determine the treatment plan.
If your dog is suffering from liver disease, the whites of his eyes may be yellow, his urine may be darker, and he will be weak and lethargic. He may also eat less and drink more. To diagnose liver problems, your vet will need to do a complete medical work-up.
Unusual lumps can be cancer. Biopsies from lumps and tumors will determine whether they are malignant. Some lumps can naturally present just do to age. If it is cancer, your vet will most likely remove the lump and/or local lymph nodes, or may start a course of radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.
Arthritis and other joint inflammations may be a normal part of growing old, but the pain and soreness can be controlled with vet-prescribed medication. Do not self medicate your dog. Just because aspirins work for you, for a dog they can cause irritation in your dog's stomach and lead to ulcers in the intestines or kidney disease.
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