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BOARDING FOR PETS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Boarding OLDER
Pets
Being away from home can be more stressful for older pets than for younger
ones. They are more set in their ways, and their patterns more deeply
ingrained. Dogs and cats love patterns such as knowing what is going to happen,
and when it will happen. Changing those patterns can upset them.
Additionally, geriatric pets are more likely
to have underlying health problems. Deafness and blindness are not uncommon in
senior pets. Kidney, heart, and liver disease are often associated with age.
Arthritis and other degenerative conditions can make it difficult for them to
get around. Boarding, especially if your pet has never been boarded or boarded
infrequently, may cause these conditions to become apparent or worsen.
Caring
for Older or Stressed Pets
Avondale Pet Resort in Des Moines, provides extra attention,
soft music, special TV programs designed for pets, as well as a watchful eye.
Special diets can be prepared to meet the nutritional needs of the senior pet,
or you may choose to provide the food of your choice. We want your senior pet
to go home happy and healthy. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a dog or
cat to become stressed while being boarded, which can sometimes result in
illness. Avondale Pet Resort has veterinarians on site that are prepared to
handle these situations. Discuss your pet's individual needs and health
conditions in advance, along with what to do if something changes. Remember,
Avondale Pet Resort is in the business of boarding because we love animals.
We want your pet's boarding experience to be a pleasant experience for them and
for you.
"How could my senior pet have become ill .
. .
he was fine when I left him?"
Many older pets have underlying conditions or undiagnosed illnesses that are not
readily apparent. Stress plays an important role regarding your pet's health.
Stress can be caused by a variety of factors such as being away from home and
loved ones, a new environment, other dogs or cats, new noises, different smells,
different people, a change in food or water, and the list goes on. Whatever
triggers a stress reaction also triggers physical changes in your pet.
The pituitary gland releases a hormone called ACTH into the bloodstream, which
in turn signals the adrenal glands to release epinephrine and other natural
steroids. Each of these products serves to get the body ready to react (the old
"flight or fight" pattern). So the hormones have effects on various body
systems. For example, blood pressure increases and the heart has to work
harder; the kidney and urinary systems slow down; the immune system, which
fights off disease and infections, shuts down temporarily. We may see physical
signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, or increased
respiration.
Stress helps animals (and people) cope with a
situation. However, when stress is not relieved or reduced sufficiently, the body does not have a chance to rest and
cleanse itself of the excessive hormones. The possibility of shut down or
failure of one or more body systems becomes greater as the stress continues,
especially if there is any underling disease or previous illness. Since the
immune system stops working, even bacteria or viruses that might not normally
affect your pet can now cause illness. This is why your pet can become ill away
from home even when he or she appeared normal when you dropped them off.
"But the boarding facility must have made
him sick!"
In reality, no one person can make your pet ill. At Avondale Pet Resort, we
pride ourselves in providing a safe, clean environment that allows us to monitor
the health of the pets left in our care. Unfortunately, no boarding facility
has any way of preventing a pet from becoming ill from the effects of stress.
At Avondale Pet Resort in Des Moines, we want the pet boarding experience to be a pleasant
experience for you and your senior pet.
For more information, visit
www.petcareservices.org (Pet Care Services Association's website) or visit with your
individual veterinarian or one of the veterinarians at Avondale Veterinary
Healthcare Complex to learn about ideas to make your senior pet's boarding stay
as medically safe as possible.
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