Caring for older pets. Published January 29, 2007 - Joliet Herald News.

I adopted Lucy, my pomerian/terrier mix, from TLC Animal Shelter in Lockport in 1999. Lucy just turned 11-years-old this past December. Until recently, I had never had one health problem with her. Shortly before her birthday, I noticed Lucy was having difficulty climbing stairs, jumping onto the couch, reluctance to going outside (because of the stairs on the porch) and sometimes she just didn’t want to get off her pillow. I figured, she’s getting old, it’s probably arthritis setting in, I should take her in to her vet.

I have been going to All Pets in Lockport for years. Dr. Navin is a wonderful veterinarian and I completely trust him when it comes to the care for my pets. When he examined Lucy, he noticed that she was tender in her back and suggested an x-ray. The x-ray revealed Intervertebral Disc Disease. “Vertebrae” are bones of the back bone that protect the spinal cord and in between each vertebrae are “discs”, acting as shock absorbers to protect the delicate nerves within the spinal column. Although this disease is more common in dogs with long backs such as dachshunds, poodles and basset hounds, any dog can fall victim to this disease. Lucy’s vertebrae was deteriorating and forming calcium build up. She has a large gap between two vertebrae, that if traumatized, could pinch her spinal cord and paralyze her. This came as quite a shock to me.

Lucy’s back was too far damaged for an operation to do any good. Dr. Navin prescribed Lucy Rimadyl, a new, semi-controversial drug, which works as an anti-inflammatory and pain relief. He also gave me some information, further explaining the disease and a list of signs of what I should look out for. At home I put up a baby gate, blocking Lucy from going upstairs, and if she wants up on the couch, I pick her up and put her on the couch. I can tell the Rimadyl is helping, h I see the difference in her behavior. Most of the time she acts like there is nothing wrong with her back, but I still set limits for her.

Eventually, either the medication will stop working or she will be paralyzed and I will be faced with the decision to euthanize her. I believe all animals should live a certain quality of life. Animals should be able to eat and go the bathroom on their own, be alert, and active to a certain extent (depending on what their disabilities or what the veterinarian deems appropriate). When animals are in visible pain, unwilling to move, and refuses to eat, and when medications are no longer effective, there is no more “quality” to life. Animals should not be forced to live by medication and forced to merely exist as nature takes it course. Being a responsible pet owner is knowing your pet, knowing when to see the vet, and following through with making tough decisions.

A few weeks ago, a woman brought her 11-year-old collie mix into a grooming salon for a bath and brush. The owner mentioned that the dog had been sick for a week - yet she did not take the dog to a vet. For four hours, the dog vomited, almost every twenty minutes. The dog was given a quick bath and brush, because the salon employees knew the dog was sick and was concerned about her staying longer than she had too. As soon as she was done, she began vomiting blood. The groomer called the owner and told her about the vomiting and the blood and that the dog needed to see a vet immediately, the owner replied, “maybe she’s just nervous.” Personally, I don’t know any person or animal that vomits blood because they are nervous, but hey, that’s just me. After cleaning up some more puddles of bloody vomit with white towels, we saved these towels to show the owner when she came in. The owner took the dog to a nearby animal hospital, where the dog died on the table. If only that poor dog had gotten to the vet a week ago, perhaps she could have had the medical attention she needed to prevent such a horrible death. I hope this woman does not get another dog.

As animals get older, you need to pay closer attention to their body and behavior. An animals health can change gradually or suddenly and it’s up to you, as the pet owner, to determine when you should see the vet. Here are some signs that your pet needs to see a vet immediately:

Reluctance to move

Appears to be in pain

Walks with a wobbly gait

Loss of appetite

Cannot pass stool or urinate

Blood in stool or urine

Vomiting for more than 24 hours

Blood in the vomit

Discolored gums (pale pink or blue)