Just like humans, elderly pets have special needs with regards to nutrition, exercise, and susceptibility to disease. Below are a few of the common ailments your older companion may develop
| Condition | Symptoms |
| Kidney disease | Increased thirst and water intake; increased urination and accidents; weight, muscle, and appetite loss; lethargy and anemia; rough coat; bad breath |
| Diabetes | Increased food and water intake; increased urination |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Vomiting; flatulence; diarrhea; vigorous straining to produce little or no stool |
| Arthritis | Stiffness; reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play; limping; difficulty rising from a resting position; lagging behind on walks; behavior changes; irritability |
| Hearing loss | Sleeping more soundly; apparent lack of awareness to noise; no response to calls, commands; increased vocalization |
| Cataracts & vision loss | Bumping into furniture, doors, walls, etc; easily disoriented; cloudy eyes; irritability |
| Cushing’s Disease | Pot-belied appearance; increased food or water intake; frequent urination; hair loss; muscle weakness; changes in activity level; decreased responsiveness to attention |
| Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland) | Reduced activity; weight gain; hair loss; shivering and reduced tolerance to cold; possible irritability |
| Hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid gland) | Weight Loss; increased appetite; diarrhea; vocalization |
| Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome | Disorientation / confusion; aimless wondering; staring into space; decreased or altered response to family members; abnormal sleep patterns; loss of house training; vocalization |
| Heart disease | Labored breathing; coughing; sluggishness; fatigue or lethargy; shortness of breath; poor exercise tolerance; fainting; abdominal fluid |
| Peridontal (dental) disease | Bad breath; buildup of plaque on teeth; red, inflamed, sensitive, or bleeding gums; excessive drooling; reluctance to be touched around face / mouth; decreased appetite |
| Cancer | unusual growths of abnormal lumps; sores that don’t heal; unexplained weight loss; loss of appetite; bleeding or discharge from a body opening; offensive odor; difficulty eating or swallowing; loss of stamina; persistent lameness / stiffness; difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating |
| Obesity | Pet weighs more than 15% over ideal weight; joint problems; breathing difficulties |
Phone: (510) 841 - 4412 Fax: (510) 841 - 3019 email: staff AT uvhberkeley DOT com
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