Senior pets, just like their human counterparts, can experience both physical and cognitive decline as they age. A disorder similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is a degenerative disease diagnosed in some dogs and cats. CDS causes a decline in brain function in aging pets, resulting in behavioral changes. This decline is not the result of normal aging – instead, pets with CDS have been shown to accumulate beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which block normal communication between neurons (brain cells). This leads to various changes in behavior such as disorientation, changes in sleep patterns, memory loss, personality changes, and loss of housetraining. While there is no cure for CDS, early intervention can slow the progress of this disease and improve your pet’s quality of life throughout their senior years.
When the temperature drops, our pets rely on us more than ever to help them navigate the challenges of winter. Here are some tips to ensure your pets stay warm, healthy, and happy during the cold months:
Tumors that occur inside the nose are uncommon in cats. These tumors are more commonly seen in older males or females. Radiation therapy is the most common cancer treatment for nasal tumors.
Nasal tumors can metastasize (spread) to the nearby lymph nodes and the lungs. A thorough evaluation is necessary to include a physical examination, blood work, chest x-rays, a biopsy or aspiration of the tumor, lymph node assessment, abdominal ultrasound, and a CT scan.
Radiation therapy is one type of treatment for cancer. It is often best used for localized tumors, or cancer that is only in one spot in the body. At times, it is very useful after surgery if there are cancer cells that surgery could not remove or if a mass is too big or in too risky of an area for surgery to be performed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams (ionizing radiation) aimed at specific points on the body in an attempt to kill tumor cells. As it is important that these beams target the cancer cells and damage as few healthy cells as possible, pets need to be anesthetized and precisely positioned to deliver radiation treatment most effectively.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 60% of cats are overweight or obese. In animals, fat starts to accumulate around internal organs before it’s visible from the outside. That means by the time you notice your cat is gaining weight, her health may already be negatively affected. A 10-pound cat only needs about 200 calories a day.
Being overweight or obese doesn’t just affect how your cat looks, it also increases her risk for many health problems including:
Cancer
Decreased lifespan
Heart disease
Bladder stones
Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance
Osteoarthritis
If your cat does become overweight or obese, talk with your veterinarian about ways to get your cat back to a healthy weight. This could include a change in diet or starting an exercise program. Your veterinarian can help you to find a solution that works for you and your cat.
