– kidneys, prostate gland, constipation
Over the last few weeks, we have been zeroing on behavioural, physical and sensory changes in elderly dogs.
I wanted to commence a discussion on the most important factors associated with aging, namely nutrition/diet. The nutritional protocols relative to feeding the elderly dog (cat) are extremely important, and must be comprehensively addressed.
However, since there are other important ailments of the elderly dogs, in addition to the ones already addressed over the past few weeks, I will defer the discourse on feeding of the geriatric dogs by a further few weeks.
Let us now add to the list of ailments that tend to be concomitant with aging.
KIDNEY AND URINARY MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELDERLY DOG
I always refer to observations that my guru, author and professor, under whose wing I was nurtured for many years at my Alma Mater, the University of Leipzig’s Companion Animal Clinic and Polyclinic. He maintained that, mostly, if one organ will begin to malfunction in a dog, it will be its kidneys. Over the many decades that have followed, I have no reason to dispute his evidential statement.
There is no doubt that Urinary Tract difficulties are common in older dogs (cats, less so). The excretion of increased amounts of urine occurs because the kidneys have lost the ability to concentrate the waste fluids. The caregiver will notice that the animal is drinking a lot of water – much more so than usual.
Furthermore, one will observe that the dog gives the impression, not lastly via facial expression, is almost shameful that it is wetting its bed and surrounding areas in the house (if it is a house dog). Well, obviously, the animal, instead of being berated or even beaten, must be given the opportunity to go outside several times a day, the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, and perhaps during the night.
I must mention that experience has taught me that caregivers succumb to the temptation to reduce the animal’s water/fluid intake. My advice is that water must always be made available. If the caregiver lapses, in this regard, the pet might experience kidney failure.
N.B.
Spayed females have been observed displaying this condition of frequently discharging urine – as a dribble or more copiously during the day, especially as they get older.
The constant discharge of urine leaves a strong ammonia–like odour on the dog and its sleeping area.
The caregiver is advised to check the area around the tip of the penis (in males) or around the vulva (lips that form the entrance to the vagina) for redness/swelling/chemical burn marks.
Special commercial diets are available which purport to be helpful in the elderly dog with reduced kidney functions. Your vet may be of assistance in procuring such products.
If bladder stones/ infection/inflammation are the cause of increased urination and incontinence, your vet can relatively easily solve this problem, after a correct diagnosis is made.
ENLARGEMENT OF THE PROSTATE GLAND
Discomfort as the dog walks around, and even when positioning itself to sleep is the main symptom of prostate gland issues as the dog gets older. Of course, the problem lies in the fact that, as the prostate gland enlarges, it presses against the rectal aspect of the intestines, causing pain and the unwillingness of the animal to defecate, which leads to constipation/fecal impaction.
CONSTIPATION
Notwithstanding the points made in the paragraph above, constipation in the older dog is often as a result of improper diet – aggravated by reduced bowel activity and weakness of the muscles of the elderly animal’s abdominal wall. As stated in the introductory paragraphs, the entire nutritional regime for the elderly dog will be discussed in future columns.
