Acceptable Senior Pet Weight Loss

RE: Acceptable Senior Pet Weight Loss

David Rudman — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 08:51:43 GMT

If I get an animal of any age coming for an annual health check / vaccination and there is more than a 10% change in weight either way I would ask why. If the owners have a good understanding of why then fine. If not some investigations may be suggested. Muscle loss with age is a part of aging. Without a change of food intake that usually leads to weight gain.

RE: Acceptable Senior Pet Weight Loss

Chris Geddes — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:22:09 GMT

Well, that's another story isn't it. Grandmother-in-law was in hospital in the postcovid era with an aneurism. She then got a broken hip because she got out of bed when nobody came when she pulled the buzzer. Then when she was bed bound they decided to leave her three meals a day outside her room and then whisk them away half an hour later. Apparently because they were too busy to spare anyone to take them into her room, and also nobody noticed the weight falling off her. Thank god she had someone to advocate for her, and also for the fact that you can keep an eye on what's going on post-covid.

RE: Acceptable Senior Pet Weight Loss

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 19:39:51 GMT

[quote userid="5464" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-clinical-discussions/30580/acceptable-senior-pet-weight-loss/240800#240800"] when they have a hospital stay as they always get three square meals a day[/quote]

They do?

RE: Acceptable Senior Pet Weight Loss

Chris Geddes — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:50:14 GMT

So many variables..it's contextual isn't it? And no right or wrong answers? In addition to normal blood screen and urine tests, I presume the history and GCE are also both normal...also depends on MCS and BCS...then nutritional assessment. What are they feeding, how much, is animal satiated, has feeding/exercise changed recently? Cats energy requirements increase with age so in healthy cat it's not so surprising if they haven't changed to a senior diet. In dogs it is more surprising as energy requirements increase. Same as in people - is your gran eating enough? Older people tend to put weight on when they have a hospital stay as they always get three square meals a day...at home they forget / can't be bothered etc (but also, sadly, medical conditions get missed)