Helping Fido and Fluffy live long, healthy lives

Thirteen years ago, a certain boyishly handsome college student adopted a fuzzy, blue-eyed puppy from the Blacksburg animal shelter. The next day, my dog barked at his dog and before we knew it, all four of us had fallen head over heels (and hocks) in love.

One wedding and many a destroyed treasured possession later, we still have our blue-eyed girl, Spokes. She’s showing her age, however, and it’s difficult to watch. The sad fact is that our feline and canine friends don’t live as long as we’d like. The good news is that we can take steps to retard aging as well as to improve their quality of life.

Diet
Serve the highest-quality food you can afford. Quality varies widely, and you get what you pay for. Smaller, more frequent meals tend to be better tolerated. Nutritional supplements for problems such as itchy skin and joint pain can also be beneficial. Watch for weight gain and weight loss; either can indicate, or cause, serious health problems.

Exercise
To maintain physical fitness, try two to three short walks rather than one long one. Swimming is another ideal activity because it builds muscle strength and flexibility in a no-impact environment. Cats should be offered new and different toys, and engage in short daily doses of interactive play. They can even be leash-trained for outdoor strolls.

Mental stimulation
Take those walks in unfamiliar territory where your pet can experience new sights, sounds and smells. If your dog enjoys car rides, take him through the bank’s drive-through or on a drive in the country. There are also toys available in which treats can be hidden to create challenging and rewarding puzzles.

For cats, accessible window seats with wildlife feeders placed nearby can provide hours of entertainment. The less agile may prefer “bat and swat” toys to those they have to chase.

Grooming
Senior pets may have more difficulty grooming themselves. Daily brushing stimulates circulation and distributes oils that keep the coat shiny. Use this time to check for abnormalities such as new lumps, wounds and hair loss. Don’t forget claws and teeth while you’re at it.

Environment
An animal’s senses grow increasingly duller with age. Maintaining a reasonably unchanging environment and routine will bolster your pet’s confidence and sense of well-being. This is not the time to rearrange the living room or double your work hours! Provide ramps, orthopedic beds, non-slip carpet, and raised food and water dishes as needed.

Give your older pet the benefit of human companionship. Just because he appears to be sleeping does not mean he is unaware of your presence; your voice, footsteps and smell are comforting to him. Your faithful friend deserves to continue to feel like an integral part of the family.

Twice-yearly checkups
Most of us need more frequent medical exams as we age, and pets are no exception. Maintain a close relationship with your veterinarian, and most importantly, never assume that a change in behavior or habits is simply due to old age; it may be caused by a treatable condition.

Letting go
Sadly, there will come a point when you must say goodbye to your beloved pet. When this time comes, the most humane but difficult step may be euthanasia. Your veterinarian can help you decide if and when it is time to make this heart-wrenching decision.

Happily, pets are living longer than ever, thanks to advances in medicine as well as society’s growing compassion for all animals. While I know that Spokes won’t live forever, it’s comforting knowing I am doing everything I can to keep my girl happy and healthy in her twilight years.

Ann Holland serves on the Lynchburg Humane Society’s Board of Directors and is a volunteer for various animal welfare causes.