Since pets age so much faster than humans, it sometimes seems like we blink and they’ve reached their golden years. Older animals require different care than puppies and kittens do, so if your pet is suddenly a senior (around age seven for dogs and cats), your friends at Berkeley Veterinary Center have some helpful care tips for you:
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Whether you’ve had your pet since they were young, or you adopted an older pet, living with a middle-aged or senior dog or cat has its perks. Older pets tend to grow out of the desire to wander from home and jump up on people, they understand our ways, and they offer a calm, reassuring presence whenever they’re nearby.
Having an older pet often means providing a little extra TLC when it comes to their daily care, especially if they have age-related conditions like arthritis. This painful ailment commonly affects older and middle-aged pets and can greatly reduce their quality of life. Getting a handle on arthritis in pets as early as possible is the key to keeping them comfortable and pain-free throughout their golden years.
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Thanks to improved owner involvement, top-notch nutrition, and advances in veterinary care, pets are living longer than ever before. While pets are considered “seniors” when they reach the age of 6 or 7 years old, they may not act or look “old” until much later in life.
Even when it’s obvious they’ve entered their golden years, many senior pets are still able to do the things they’ve always enjoyed, like hiking, playing with the kids, or jumping up into their cat tree. However, because pets age faster than we do, a proactive approach to senior pet care is essential.
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At Berkeley Veterinary Center, a Fear Free experience for you and your furry friends is of utmost priority to us. Did you know that our staff and doctors have undergone special training to ensure that your pet’s stress, anxiety, and fear is kept as minimal as possible during their visit?
Learn about all the extra things we do at our Fear Free Certified facility to make your pet’s experience a great one!
There are so many things that go into helping each pet who enters our practice feel at ease. Fear Free is about adapting to the needs of each individual patient. For example, a food-loving lab is going to require a much different approach than a terrified kitty!
Some of the things that we do to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress in our patients may include:
Treats, treats, and more treats — We utilize food as a reward and a distraction for many of our patients. This helps us to earn their trust and is often enough to keep a pet preoccupied during their exam. Special high value treats like spray cheese and peanut butter are always on hand, but you are encouraged to bring along your pet’s favorites. Be sure your pets arrive to their appointment hungry!
Pheromones everywhere — While you may not notice them, your dog or cat is sure to take note of the pheromone diffusers throughout our hospital. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs help to put our patients at ease.
Getting down — Getting down on your pet’s level helps to create a sense of calm in many of our patients. Don’t be surprised to see us down on the floor. We may also get creative about performing procedures where your pet is most comfortable, such as in someone’s arms or up on one of our chairs. It’s all about getting things done safely and without anxiety.
A smelly undertaking — We hope that you notice the absence of smells in our hospital when you walk in. Your pet is sure to notice as well. We take extra care to remove odors that may cause nose-blindness or feed fear in the animals who visit.
No dogs allowed — Almost nothing is scarier for our feline patients than being greeted face-to-face by an unfamiliar and most unwelcome dog. The barking, smells, and general commotion that comes with canines can increase stress and anxiety in our cat patients. Separate dog and cat entrances into the hospital, separate dog and cat waiting rooms, and a cat-only exam room help to minimize this.
A considerate approach — You may wonder why we don’t just jump in and get the job done. Moving slowly and using a pet’s body language to gauge how they are feeling can help us to get more accomplished during your pet’s visit with less stress and anxiety.
Calming sounds — Sometimes the sounds at a veterinary hospital can be disconcerting for already anxious animals. We do our best to minimize these, often using calming music to help.
Prioritizing wants vs needs — We may have a laundry list of things that we hope to accomplish during your pet’s visit, but your pet will likely have some different ideas. We do our best to prioritize the things that “need” to happen, saving the things that we “want” to happen for last. This allows us to provide the best medicine for your pet, while making good judgements about when to push on and when to maybe try under different circumstances another day.
A Fear Free experience is very important to us. It is a rewarding feeling to work with your pets in a stress-free environment. Creating this experience for our pet patients is rewarding because it helps to build a sense of trust in the dogs and cats we treat and makes them want to see us again. It also allows us to see their true personalities, and to get to know them better.
If you have questions or want to learn more about Fear Free, please give us a call. We would love to meet you and your pet. You can also find more information on Fear Free at FearFreePets.com.
Most of us place a lot of value on family traditions this time of year, like caroling, making gingerbread houses, or binging holiday movies together. In fact, we often strive to top our experience from the previous year! The point is, making holiday memories is fun and important.
Since it’s natural to want to get the whole family involved, holiday pet traditions are becoming more and more popular among pet owners. Looking for some ideas for your own two- and four-legged loved ones? You’re in luck!
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Millions of people around the world are living with, or know someone living with diabetes. Yet, in spite of how pervasive this disease has become in our society, many pet owners are surprised to learn that their four-legged friends are also susceptible to the disease. Moreover, just like its human counterpart, diagnosis of pet diabetes is also experiencing a steady rise.
While the rise of pet diabetes is indeed an alarming fact, the overall prognosis for those diagnosed with the disease is looking better than ever, thanks in part to an increased understanding of the disease as it pertains to pets and in the treatment options available to veterinarians and owners, alike. Your team at Berkeley Veterinary Center is not only committed to raising awareness of the risk of pet diabetes, but also providing diabetic pets with the best possible treatment for the disease.
It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They are very important when it comes to day to day function in humans and in most animals. While we can survive without them, it is necessary to do our best to care for them and preserve their function.
One of the more common eye problems we diagnose at Berkeley Veterinary Center is glaucoma in dogs. Learn what this painful and potentially devastating disease looks like, so you can help your pet, should you ever encounter it.
There are obvious benefits to buying a young pet directly from the breeder. You see the animal’s mother, for instance, and you can gain an understanding of genetics, disposition, and aesthetics. At the same time, young pets require a great deal of work in the training department, pure breeds can have their own health challenges, and they typically cost hundreds of dollars (or more).
Alternatively, when you adopt a shelter pet, you have the opportunity to save a life. As a bonus, freeing up space at your local shelter can potentially save another life, too!
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, marking a great opportunity to recognize and address pain in pets. While most pet owners are dialed into obvious changes, such as a pet’s inability to go up/down stairs or reluctance to jump onto the couch or bed, there are a bevy of other indicators of pain in pets. Even if your pet doesn’t have age-related problems yet, it’s a good idea to be prepared for the future.
Whether we like it or not, our pets grow older every minute. Even if a pet seems to be the same playful and energetic friend we’ve always known, the reality is that, after 6 or 7 years of age most dogs and cats are considered seniors.
Senior pets require extra care and attention to help them maintain a good quality of life. By understanding the changing health needs of your senior pet, you are better able to help your best pal to gracefully navigate his or her golden years.
