Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to care for older pets with multiple health issues?
By Carmack, Tyler·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2026·Hospice and Palliative Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Managing Comorbidity: Coordinating Care for Complex Geriatric Cases.
Plain-English summary
As pets get older, they often have multiple health issues at the same time, which means their care needs to focus more on their overall quality of life rather than just treating individual diseases. It's important for veterinarians to work closely with pet owners to understand how their pets are feeling and to create personalized treatment plans that consider how different medications might interact and how much care the owner can provide. This approach includes managing pain and other symptoms, providing proper nutrition, and regularly checking medications to keep the pet comfortable. Collaboration among veterinary professionals and clear communication with pet owners are key to making sure that the pet's health goals align with what the owner wants for their pet. Ultimately, this kind of thoughtful care helps ensure that pets are treated with dignity and compassion as they age.
Abstract
Geriatric companion animals often present with multimorbidity, requiring a shift from disease-centered to functional, quality-of-life-centered care. Effective management integrates thorough diagnostics, client-reported outcomes, and individualized treatment strategies that account for drug interactions, treatment burden, and caregiver capacity. Multimodal pain and symptom management, nutritional and environmental support, and regular medication review are central to sustaining comfort. Interdisciplinary collaboration, accurate record-keeping, and shared decision-making with owners help align medical goals with patient welfare. Ethical considerations, including transitions to hospice care, ensure compassionate, context-driven management that honors both the patient's dignity and the caregiver's values.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41188176/