Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat



examinations, and recommending more diagnostic testing of older animals, the veterinarian is providing higher quality veterinary medicine for the senior animal.
 A great deal of professional satisfaction for the veterinarian and hospital staff comes from helping those long-established senior animals live longer, healthier lives; in addition, managing most age-related diseases in their early phases is far more rewarding than in the end stage.

The availability of medical information on television and the Internet has made interested animal owners much more aware of the health needs of their senior animals and the various diagnostic and treatment options available.


Because owners of older dogs and cats have longstanding bonds with their animals, many of these owners are demanding and willing to pay for highquality health care.
 The continued advancement of medical knowledge—manifested in the availability ofmore sophisticated diagnostic testing, advances in specialized nutrition, and newer therapeutic options—has better positioned veterinarians to treat age-related problems and provide the high-quality health care these owners are demanding.
The more progressive veterinary practices are using senior care as a platform to address the growing demand for high-quality health care.
Further details in how to construct comprehensive health care programs for older dogs and cats are provided in Chapter 2.
PRACTICAL BENEFITS
Senior care can be a major profit center for the veterinary practice.
With more than 39% of the dog and cat population considered seniors, tremendous financial opportunities exist.

The veterinary profession has been very successful at providing comprehensive health care programs for puppies and kittens, but there are about 2.25 times as many senior dogs and cats as puppies and kittens, and dogs are puppies for 1 year but are seniors for 4 to 10 years.
By eliciting a more detailed history for the senior dog or cat, performing thorough physical examinations, and performing more diagnostic tests, not only does the veterinarian increase the standard of care provided to the senior animals, but in addition about 40% of those animals will require additional diagnostic testing or medications.
Ultimately, a properly implemented senior care program can represent 35% or more of the hospital’s gross annual income.
How will the local veterinary practice grow during the next 5 years, as veterinary competition increases, as the pet population stabilizes, as vaccine income decreases in response to changes in recommended vaccine protocols, as more flea and tick products become available over the counter, and as Internet prescription buying becomes routine?
 Better-managed senior care may be the answer.
The goal of senior care is to optimize the quality of life for the healthy and sick senior animal by using preventive health strategies combined with a comprehensive health assessment, state-of-the-art veterinary diagnostics, and the various treatment options available.


References
1. Mosier JE: Effect of aging on body systems of the dog. Vet
Clin North Am 19:1, 1989.
2. Morse DR, Rabinowitz H: A unified theory of aging. Int J
Psychosom 37:5, 1990.
3. Hoskins JD: Annual evaluation of senior and geriatric
dogs. Vet Forum 17:42, 2000.
4. Turnwald GH, Baskett JJ: Effective communication with
older owners. J Am Vet Med Assoc 209:725, 1996

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