Older dogs

Degradation of eyesight and chances to develop glaucoma and cataract is on higher side. Hearing capacity is also reduced. Nails and Hair coat becomes brittle. Skin gets thin, dull and is more prone to bacterial and fungal infections. There is hyperkeratosis (increased keratin) which leads to callus on elbow and foot pads which gets painful when rubbed with hard surfaces. Large breed dogs have tendency to develop arthritis due to changes in vertebral disc. Dashund and basset hound are more prone to this condition. This can cause difficulty in climbing the stairs or car.

Dental diseases are also common in senior dogs. Teeth can degenerate leading to bad breath and odor and in extreme cases it may break or fall off. There is gastrointestinal motility decreases leading to constipation. There is decreased ability to fight against diseases. Decreased heart function and ability to pump blood to other organs. Lungs lose their elasticity there by getting more prone to lung diseases. There is decreased kidney and liver function as well. In spayed senior females, urinary incontinence is very common. Body gets more prone to tumors and cancer. Mammary gland and prostrate are most common glands which are prone to tumors and cancers.

Hypothyroidism, Cushing and diabetes is also very common in aged dogs. Bone marrow is replaced by fat leading to decrease in RBC, WBC and platelets. Decreased activity level, confusion, decreased alertness and disorientation. Decreased immunity leading to more prone to infections and allergies.

Taking care of senior dogs

Lot of care and affection is required by dog that is getting older. They should be regularly groomed along with frequent nail trimming and ear cleaning. Application of petroleum jelly and oils can soften hard foot pads and calluses. Regular 30 minutes walk at least twice a day is most important part of daily routine. Keeping ad-lib fresh water bowls is necessary so they can have water as and when they want. Keep changing water to avoid contamination. Soft bedding should be provided to avoid any injury or pain to pressure points of body. Senior dogs should be well assisted while getting up and down from stairs, couch or cars to avoid further jerk or injury to joints.

Omega-3 fatty acids for older dogs

Omegas can be effective in reducing inflammation, stabiles immune response and thus can be effective to treat arthritis also. Omega 6 helps in optimizes water permeability and omega 3 regulates epidermal proliferation thus helps in maintaining good hair coat and skin. They are also helpful in promoting circulation in various organs. In elderly dogs omegas should be given with lot of care in co relation to existing disease conditions.

Other supplements include calcium, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E, b- complex, vitamin A and biotin which helps in maintaining good condition of eyesight, skin, nerve and joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate is also very helpful for treatment of arthritis and avoid further deterioration of joints. Various liver supplements can also be provided to improve appetite. Senior dogs undergoing kidney problems should be kept on low potassium diet

FNAC or biopsies can also provide us knowledge about various growths and swelling and what are their tendencies. Your vet can only advice if surgical removal of growth is possible or not or only chemotherapy is feasible.

We can help our companion by getting regular vet visits annual blood checkups, dental check ups,X-rays and ultrasound can help us know our pets body changes better and can give us idea about what should be the best line of treatment to make their life more comfortable and happy.

Insulin resistance

In both of these conditions there are increased fat deposits, adipocytes, in various parts of the body eg potbellied abdomen, abnormal fat accumulation on the base of tail, shoulders and neck, increased size of mammary glands in females and fat filled enlarged sheath in geldings.

Insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity, a condition where cells fail to respond in the normal way to insulin and are unable to utilize it effectively. This leads to the production of more and more insulin making it more resistant, to more calories in the system which are not getting utilized, which in turn leads to obesity.

Increased adipocytes give rise to increased production of adipokinins and inflammatory mediators called cytokinins leading to more and more insulin resistance and low grade inflammation which also leads to unmanageable reoccurring laminar deterioration and laminitis. Although horses are less likely to have diabetes, increased insulin resistance and obesity potentially increases the risk of type 2 diabetes .

Cushing syndrome

In the Cushing syndrome there is a dysfunction of Paras intermediate of the pituitary gland which is responsible for the secretion of numerous hormones. ACTH (adinocortico hormone) is one of the hormones which act on the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Cortisol, glucocorticoid is a steroid hormone which is synthesized from cholesterol. It regulates the metabolism of glucose and fats, suppresses protein synthesis and regulates inflammatory and immune responses in the body.

Dysfunction of the pituitary gland leads to an increase in cortisol which will in turn lead to decreased utilization of glucose causing insulin resistance. Various other clinical signs are wavy abnormal hair growth also called hirsutism, increased water intake, laminitis, increase in urination and decreased immunity leading to skin and respiratory tract infections

Equine metabolic syndrome

On the other hand, Metabolic syndrome is a result of reduced exercise and increase in calorie intake leading to an increase in cortisol levels and high levels of glucose, meaning extra calories. The condition is also referred to as poor metabolism.  This syndrome is mostly seen in middle age horses and has a genetic predisposition for ponies. Ponies genetic make up is to graze pastures for longer distances and they were majorly used for drought purpose as they could perform even with less amounts of pasture.  But now, easily available calories and less physical activity has made them obese resulting in insulin resistance and laminitis.

Diagnosing

The most common test to diagnose Cushing syndrome is the dexamethasone suppression test. In this test, dexamethasone, a steroid, is injected and then blood samples are drawn at regular intervals and compared with the baseline sample. If dexamethasone is utilized properly in the body, its levels will be reduced. Elevated dexamethasone, cortisol levels will indicate Cushing. Other tests are the ACTH stimulation test, determining cortisol levels and glucose levels in urine.

Diagnosing insulin resistance by analyzing resting blood insulin concentrations and resting blood glucose concentration after 6 hours of feed deprivation. Another test is combined glucose insulin test. This test is more sensitive than resting blood glucose. Blood samples are analyzed after frequent intervals after glucose and insulin is injected.

Treatment

Treatment may involve medication such as Metformin (glucophage), a successful medicine to lower glucose levels in blood stream¹ . Metformin is majorly used by diabetic patients, as it improves the insulin sensitivity at tissue level. Pergolide is a dopamine agonist. Trilostane will reduce the overproduction of Cortisol levels successfully. Studies have revealed pergolide helps in reducing cortisol levels in horses².

The most important part of the treatment is a proper management of diet and exercise. The feed should not exceed 1.5% of body weight.  Regularly monitor the body condition. A formula for body weight estimation is: weight in pounds is equal to girth in inches multiplied by body length in inches divided by 330. Exercise a horse for at least 20-30 minutes daily with gradual increase. Minimize non-fiber carbohydrates and whole grains, avoid flowering grasses high in sugar. Prefer native to improved pastures, grazing muzzles can also be used to avoid excessive grazing. Also increased calorie restriction can worsen insulin resistance and cause hyperlipemia.

Studies have shown that an increase in Omega 3 supplementation is proven most effective in insulin senstivity³. Omega 3 can be effective in reducing inflammation, it stabilizes the immune response and thus can be effective to treat laminitis also. Other supplements include of zinc, selenium, Vitamin E, vitamin A, proteins and antioxidants also helps in management of laminitis and immunosuppression.

Sources about horses and EMS

1) http://www.equinews.com/article/use-metformin-treatment-equine-metabolic-syndrome
2) http://www.vet.cornell.edu/labs/place/docs/2009Walshetal.pdf
3) http://www.j-evs.com/article/S0737-0806%2812%2900465-0/abstract