Archive for July, 2010
Is Your Pet in Pain?
Animals will often hide their pain, it is a natural’s way to help protect them from predators. As a pet owner, you need to be aware of some very subtle changes in your pet’s behavior – it may the only clues you have that your pet is suffering. Some symptoms and behaviors you need to look for are: Abnormal chewing, bad breath or face rubbing. Excessive head shaking. Sudden weight change. Lack of grooming. Changes in posture. Lagging on walks. Diffuculty getting up. Lethargy or restlessness. Excessive licking, especially in joints. Reluctance to be touched.
If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs, please call your Veterinarian immediately. Symptoms caught early and conditions treated properly can make a huge difference in the quality of life your pet and you enjoy together.
Personalized Dog Headstones and other pet headstones are beautiful memorials that will last for generations.
Aging Pets and Exercise
Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your aging pet. It is yet another aspect of preventive geriatric care for your furry friend. Exercise is a great way to keep your pet healthy and active. If they are cooped up and kept lying down, their bodies and health will deteriorate much faster than those pets who keep moving.
Keeping your pet active both mentally and physically will keep them sharp both in body and mind. Pets that have arthritis also need exercise, but don’t push them and take extra precautions to make sure they are not in pain. If you are just starting an exercise regimen, be very careful to start slow and let your pet ease into it. If your pet is not in good shape physically, it may take a few weeks for him/her to build up to long walks or long play sessions outside in the yard. If your pet is very stiff the next day, or even soon after exercise, you probably need to slow down and take it easier. Be extra vigilant in watching for warning signs that your pet is quickly fatigued or sore, even if he/she is having a good time at the moment.
Cat Cremation Urns and Dog Cremation Urns with a personal tribute are a beautiful way to say “Good-bye” to the 4-legged family member.
Nutrition & Aging Pets
Most older pets will benefit from pet food specially formulated and designed with older bodies in mind. If you have an aging pet, it may be time to check into changing your pet’s diet to include a high quality pet food for older pets. Older pets have a different nutritional requirement than younger ones, just like growing puppies or kittens have different nutritional needs as well.
Obesity is a very common ailment in older pets due to the reduced amount of exercise and also overfeeding. This can contribute to other problems such as heart disease, and should be monitored closely. Special diets formulated with the aging pet in mind can help keep your pet’s weight under control and reduce the consumption of nutrients that are risk factors for the development of diseases as well as organ or age-related changes. If you have any questions or need some suggestions on a good brand of high-quality pet food, contact your Veterinarian fo assistance.
Treasured Friend Memorials carries a large selection of Cat Urns and Dog Urns and Pet Urns of many sizes and styles. You’re sure to find the perfect one for your beloved pet.
Physical Changes in Aging Pets
The physical changes your pet will experience while aging are usually easier for humans to spot than the mental or sensory ones. Many signs that your pet is approaching his/her “Golden Years” are pretty much the same for dogs and cats – and other animals too. You many notice that your furry loved one is not a playful as he/she used to be, moves a bit slower, doesn’t love to go for walks like before, and has started to turn white or gray around the muzzle area.
A very common yet frustrating one for aging pets is inappropriate elimination. The kidneys are one of the most common organ systems to wear out, and as hormone imbalance affects the function of the kidneys, a once well house-trained pet may have trouble controlling his/her bladder. If you work full-time or away from the home for long periods of time, your pet simply may not be able to hold it as long. Also, you may notice that urine my dribble out while he/she sleeps at night. In addition, excessive urination or incontinence may also be a sign of diabetes or kidney failure – both which are treatable if caught early enough. It is crucial that you consult with your Veterinarian if you notice significant changes in the behavior or physical condition of your pet. Early detection and treatment are in the very best interest of both the pet and the pet owner.
Cremation is a dignified way to say good-bye to a beloved companion animal. Personalized Dog Urns and Cat Urns are available in many sizes, styles and can be personalized with photos, tributes and even pet poems.
The Effects of Aging in Pets
With the senior years (and sometimes well before) there comes sensory changes and a general “slowing down” in pets as well as in humans. As your pet’s major senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell begin to dull, you may find that your pet has slower reponses to external stimili. The loss of these sensory perception is often slow and often undetected. It may even escape you notice. It is a progressive process and the changes can be very subtle.
The best remedy for this gradual sensory reduction is to keep your pet active. Just like in humans, keeping your pet’s mind and body fit and active will help keep their senses sharp. Age may also affect your pet mentally, and he/she may begin to forget things, and may be more susceptible to mental conditions. Your aging loved one may also begin to confront age-related cognitive and behavior changes too. These changes can be addressed in a proactive manner by regular senior health exams by your veterinarian. These symptoms can be caught and treated before they control your pet’s life.
A personalized, laser-etched Pet Headstone with a loving tribute is a beautiful way to memorialize your furry family member.
When Pet Hospice Ends
As a pet owner, when do you know when it is time to end Pet Hospice? This decision should actually be made long before the time comes to make a decision about euthanasia. You need to establish a “bottom line” for at what point is your pet’s quality of life no longer acceptable, and when it is time to let go. Some factors to consider when making this plan are: When your pet can no longer control its elimination; When it can no longer stand or walk; When it is disoriented and no longer knows where it is; or When its pain is out of control.
With this decision made before the time of need, pet owners can rest assured that they will make the right decision when it comes to the final day’s of their pet’s life. The act of euthanasia will become a final gift of comfort to an animal who is suffering from a great deal of pain.
Most Pet Hospice educated Vets will agree to euthanize your pet a home, in its familiar surroundings with you there for comfort and support.
Pet Memorial Stones are a fitting memorial and a fine way to pay tribute to your lost loved one.
Is Hospice for Me?
Pet Hospice can be a wonderful, caring option for terminally ill pets. However, pet owners should keep in mind that it is not for everyone. Some owners may not be ready or be able to take on the often painful, emotional and time-consuming day-to-day care for their sick pet. Hospice may not be a good choice for people who live alone, have a heavy work schedule, or are not in good health themselves. Pet owners need to carefully consider whether they have the right resources necessary to care for their pets at home.
Pet Hospice is a intermediate stage between treatment and death and can be a very hard decision for caretakers to make. After months or more of caring for a progressively worsening pet, it becomes difficult for owners to choose a final ending point. Don’t hesitate to talk to your Veterinarian about what is right for you and your situation and what is best for your pet. Create a one-of-a-kind personalized pet memorial on a Pet Headstone to bid your loved one “Good-bye”.
Pet Owners and Hospice
Pet Hospice is a relatively new concept and not widely known or understood. It (in short) is allowing your terminally ill pet to stay at home during his/her illnes and die with dignity, close to the pet owner in a familiar environment, not in an animal hospital. So what does pet hospice require of you as a pet owner?
First it requires preparation and work. You will need to actively search out and find a Veterinarian that understands and is comfortable with the pet hospice philosophy. It will require a team effort of both pet owner and Vet to work together and make a plan for your pet’s treatment. You will need to be taught how to administer medications, feed your pet, keep it clean and comfortable, and monitor and document your pet’s pain and general health. Your Vet can help you adapt the treatment as your pet’s needs change. After proper instructions and training, you as the pet owner will take over the day-to-day care of your pet. You will become the eyes and ears of the veterinary team, recording any changes in your pet’s weight, temperature, eating habits, mobility and other characteristics. One of the most important responsibilities is administering pain medication. In hospice care, medication is given preemptively, before the pain actually starts. It is much easier to prevent pain than to relieve it once it is already present. Medication is generally given on a regular schedule, rather than in a response to symptoms of pain, in order to keep your pet comfortable.
Most important is pet owners need to stay flexible. Hospice is a trial and error process, and if feedings and medications and other treatments are not working, they need to be adjusted. Often as pet owners take on the role as caretakers, they find they can handle more than they ever thought possible. And, actually enjoy the special bond they build with caring for their pet. If your pet’s illness becomes too much for you to handle, the veterinary staff is there to assist you. When it comes time to say good-bye, you can create a personal tribute to your pet on a Pet Memorial Headstone.