Senior Wellness Programs Bolster CareApril 17, 2009 You've probably had a scenario similar to this in your practice: A senior cat is presented for routine examination for the first time in 2 1/2 years. The owners report he has trouble eating, excess salivation, and sure enough, a monster tumor is identified, well seated in and under the tongue. Though these can carry a poor prognosis at any stage, we can't help thinking that it might have been salvageable if picked up at a very early stage. Other times the story has a happy ending for seniors, such as when a routine visit identifies a renal condition that stabilizes with therapy. The human population is undergoing a tremendous shift as baby boomers age; average lifespan tops 78 years. Our pet population has benefited from modern veterinary care and changes in lifestyle and nutrition, and is now also living a much longer average lifespan. Clients expect high quality care for their senior pet once they understand opportunities for preventive intervention, and because of the progressively greater proportion of our patients (~25%) in the senior life phase, it behooves us to develop a sensible senior wellness program. Many practices do not currently offer a …
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How To Treat The Rare And Deadly Nasal Cancer In Dogs And CatsNovember 1, 2004Nasal passage cancer generally develops very insidiously in older pets. It is rare in cats and not common in dogs. It composes about 1 percent of feline tumors and up to 2.5 percent of canine tumors. Long-nosed breeds (dolichocephalic) and senior dogs are at higher risk. Clinical Signs Of Nasal Passage The early signs of nasal cancer in dogs or cats are: Unilateral nasal and/or ocular discharge Epistaxis Stridor Loss of smell Loose teeth Sometimes pawing at the face Late-stage signs may include a facial deformity along the dorsal aspect of the maxillary bones or over the paranasal and frontal sinuses. Some cases develop a raised or pitting facial bone deformity. Some cases may exhibit a firm or soft focal, raised mass protruding around or between the eyes. Some cases may have a palatine deformity from the softening and bowing out of the hard palate due to demineralization of the palatine bone and growth of the mass. In every case of facial deformity, there is bone lysis and tumor invasion at that site. If the lesions extend into the brain, seizures and behavior changes are often exhibited. A complication of nasal cancer is the over production of mucus. It …
