Pet Tip Tuesday- Senior Cat Care
Dr. Megan Okes joines us live in the K2 studio with our Pet Tip Tuesday. This weeks topic is Senior Cat Care.Senior Care for Cats
What is a senior cat and why do they need special care?
Senior is any cat over the age of 7 years
Pets age more quickly than we do
Cats are more prone to particular diseases than dogs or other pets
What kind of care do senior cats need?
Yearly physical exam and blood work with blood pressure and urinalysis
Important parameters at yearly exam: Weight, heart/lungs, appetite and water intake
Determine basline “normals” for your cat to compare to every year
Yearly vaccines and intestinal deworming based on your cat’s risk
Diet modification for overweight cats
What diseases are senior cats likely to get?
Kidney disease
Diabetes - especially overweight cats
High blood pressure
Tooth and gum disease
Hyperthyroid
Heart disease
Irritable bowel disease
Are these common diseases manageable?
YES! That is why yearly screenings are important, the sooner we find a problem the sooner we can treat it and the easier it is to resolve or control
What would I see in my cat if they had a disease?
Sometimes nothing!
Increased thirst or hunger
Increased urination
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Diarrhea or vomiting
Change in activity level- increased or decreased
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