APRIL 2010 NEWSLETTER: ARTHRITIS AND THE SENIOR PET

ARTHRITIS AND THE SENIOR PET

MANY OF US HAVE SENIOR DOG’S OR CAT’S THAT SHARE OUR LIVES. BUT, DO WE KNOW WHAT IS NORMAL AS THEY AGE? DO WE KNOW HOW TO ADAPT TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS?

BELOW ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO BE AWARE OF IN YOUR SENIOR PET’S, TO BETTER HELP YOU CARE FOR THEM IN THEIR “GOLDEN YEARS.”



WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN YOUR SENIOR PET:

DIFFICULTY RISING
RELUCTANCE/DIFFICULTY CLIMBING STAIRS
RELUCTANCE/DIFFICULTY CLIMBING INTO/OUT OF CAR’S
STIFF GAIT
RELUCTANCE OR DIFFICULTY EXERCISING
RELUCTANCE OR DIFFICULTY JUMPING, CLIMBING (ESP IN CAT’S)


TIPS TO HELP YOUR SENIOR PET:

· SLIP FREE FLOORS-USE AREA RUGS OVER HARDWOOD FLOOR/LAMINATE FOR A MORE SECURE FOOTING
· SOFT/WARM BEDDING-SENIOR JOINTS WILL GREATLY BENEFIT FROM A WARM, SOFTLY SUPPORTING BED. THIS IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICAL FOR THIN DOGS WITHOUT A LOT OF PADDING OVER BONEY JOINTS
· RAMPS- JUMPING INTO/OUT OF CAR’S, CLIMBING UP/DOWN STAIRS CAN BE DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL ON ARTHRITIC PET’S JOINTS. THINK OF ADDING RAMPS IN THE HOME OR ON BACK DECKS/PORCHES AND IN CAR’S FOR EASE AND LESS STRESS ON SENIOR BODIES.
· MEDICATIONS (NATURAL AND/OR CHEMICAL)-CONSIDER TALKING TO YOUR VETERINARIAN ABOUT AN ARTHRITIS SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUR PET. MANY NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS ARE ON THE MARKET NOW THAT SHOW REMARKABLE RESULTS WHEN DEALING WITH ARTHRITIS.
· CREATE A QUIET AND CALMING SPOT FOR YOUR PET-AS OUR PET’S AGE…THEY MAY BECOME MORE ANXIOUS, CRANKY OR LESS TOLERANT OF KID’S, OTHER PET’S. GIVE THEM A QUIET SPACE OF THEIR OWN WHERE THEY CAN “GET AWAY.”
· WEIGHT-KEEPING YOUR PET AT THEIR “IDEAL WEIGHT” IS CRITICAL..ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH ARTHRITIS. CONSULT WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN ON WHAT YOUR PET’S “IDEAL WEIGHT” SHOULD BE. ADDED WEIGHT PUTS MORE STRESS AND TRAUMA ON ALREADY SORE, TENDER BONES AND JOINTS.
· MASSAGE, ACUPUNCTURE, CHIROPRACTIC-CONSULT YOUR VETERIANIAN OR A LICENSED HOLISTIC VETERIANIAN ABOUT MASSAGE, ACUPUNCTURE AND/OR CHIROPRACTIC WORK FOR YOUR PET’S. SOMETIMES ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS SOME GENTLY HEALING MASSAGE WORK, CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT OR ACUPUNCTURE TO HEAL OR CONTROL MANY HEALTH OR AGE RELATED PROBLEMS IN OURSELVES AND OUR PET’S.
· EXERCISE-JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN OLDER PET WITH ARTHRITIS SHOULD NOT MEAN THEY DO NOT NEED EXERCISE. CONSULT WITH YOUR VETERIANIAN ON THE BEST EXERCISE REGIME FOR YOUR SENIOR DOG OR CAT…AND YES…CAT’S NEED EXERCISE ALSO.



Tammy Starkey
The Natural Pet Health Store
919-837-0020
goldenhalo72@aol.com
www.thenaturalpethealthstore.com