Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Health screening finds hidden problems in older dogs over 9 years
By Davies, M·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2012·School of Veterinary Medicine and Science·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Geriatric screening in first opinion practice - results from 45 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 45 dogs over nine years old was screened for health issues, and 80% had at least one problem that their owners hadn't noticed. Common signs owners reported included increased sleeping, loss of hearing or sight, and stiffness. During the screening, vets found serious issues like dental disease, increased thirst, and signs of arthritis. As a result, many dogs received further tests, treatments, or even surgery, which helped improve their quality of life.
People also search for: senior dog health check · signs of aging in dogs · dog dental disease treatment · why is my dog sleeping more · dog arthritis symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and report the results of screening geriatric dogs in a first opinion practice. METHODS: A prospective health screen of dogs over nine-years-old involving history taking, physical examination and urinalysis. RESULTS: At least one previously unrecognised problem was identified in 80% of 45 dogs and 353 findings (mean 7·8 per dog) were recorded. Owners often failed to recognise and report serious signs of age-related disease. However, they most often reported increased sleeping (31%), loss of hearing (29%) or sight (20%), stiffness or lameness (22%) and "slowing down" (20%). Increased lens opacity (64%), increased thirst (58%), pain (24%), increased frequency of urination (24%), signs of osteoarthritis (24%) and dental disease (22%) were most frequently identified at the time of consultation. Potentially, life-threatening findings included respiratory distress, palpable abdominal masses and metastatic lung disease. Screening resulted in 29 further diagnostic procedures, including 10 dental procedures, seven medical treatments, two surgical procedures and euthanasia of two dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Screening elderly dogs identified unrecognised and unreported health risk factors resulting in lifestyle modification and ongoing monitoring, as well as signs of age-related diseases resulting in diagnostic investigations, early diagnoses and surgical and medical interventions to improve quality of life.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22835038/