Veterinary World

     Open access and peer reviewed journal  

ISSN (Online): 2231-0916

ISSN (Print): 0972-8988

 

Home l Editorial board l Instructions for authors l Reviewer guideline l Open access policy l Archives l FAQ


Open Access

Copyright: The authors. This article is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.


Research (Published online: 05-03-2015)

4. Evaluation of geriatric changes in dogs - Soumyaranjan Pati, S. K. Panda, A. P. Acharya, S. Senapati, M. Behera and S. S. Behera

Veterinary World, 8(3): 273-278

 

 

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.273-278

 

Soumyaranjan Pati: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; soumya.pati08@gmail.com

S. K. Panda: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; drsusen_panda@yahoo.com

A. P. Acharya: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; dradityaaditya@gmail.com

S. Senapati: Department of Translational Research, Institute of Life Science, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; drsantibhusan@yahoo.com

M. Behera: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; drmonalisabehera@gmail.com

S. S. Behera: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; drsidharthavety2006@gmail.com

 

Received: 01-12-2014, Revised: 17-01-2015, Accepted: 22-01-2015, Published online: 05-03-2015

 

Corresponding author: Soumyaranjan Pati, e-mail: soumya.pati08@gmail.com


Citation: Pati S, Panda SK, Acharya AP, Senapati S, Behera M, Behera SS (2015) Evaluation of geriatric changes in dogs, Veterinary World 8 (3): 273-278.



Aim: The present study has been envisaged to ascertain the old age for critical management of geriatric dogs considering the parameters of externally visible changes, haemato-biochemical alterations and urine analysis in geriatric dogs approaching senility.

Materials and Methods: The study was undertaken in the Department of Veterinary Pathology in collaboration with Teaching Veterinary Clinic complex spanning a period of 1 year. For screening of geriatric dogs, standard geriatric age chart of different breeds was followed. The external characteristics such as hair coat texture, dental wear and tear, skin texture and glaucoma were taken as a marker of old age. Haematology, serum biochemistry and urine analysis were also included in the study.

Results: External visible changes like greying of hair, dull appearance of hair coat, glaucoma, osteoarthritis, dental wear and tear were commonly encountered in the aged dogs. The haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume showed a decreasing trend in the geriatric groups. Biochemical values like total protein, albumin, calcium level showed a decreasing trend while urea level with an increasing trend in geriatric dogs without any much alteration in serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminse, serum glutamic-pyruvate transaminase, cholesterol and creatinine. Physical examination of urine revealed yellow, amber, red, deep red color with turbidity and higher specific gravity. Chemical examination revealed presence of protein, glucose, ketone bodies, blood and bilirubin on some cases. The culture and sensitivity test of the urine samples revealed presence of bacteria with sensitive and resistance to some antibiotics.

Conclusion: External visible changes are still the golden standard of determining the old age in dogs. Haemato-biochemical evaluation can be useful for correlating with the pathophysiological status of the animal. Biochemical analysis of urine can be employed rightly as kidney dysfunction is being major geriatric problem. Anaemia, jaundice, nephritis, hepatitis are the most common findings considered during old age.

Keywords: canine, geriatric, haematology, serum biochemistry, urine analysis



1. Davies, M. (2012) Geriatrics screening in first opinion practice-results from 45 dogs. J. Small Anim. Pract., 53(9): 507-513.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2012.01247.x
PMid:22835038 PMCid:PMC3494986
 
2. Davies, M. (2011) Internet users' perception of signs commonly seen in old animals with age-related diseases. Vet. Rec., 169: 584.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.d5512
PMid:21949055
 
3. Davies, M. (1996) Canine and feline geriatrics. Wiley-Blackwell, Osney Mead, Oxford.
 
4. Hoskins, J.D. (2004) Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat. 2nd ed. Saunders, Missouri.
 
5. American Animal Hospital Association. (2005) AAHA senior care guidelines for dogs and cats. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc., 41: 81-91.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5326/0410081
PMid:15767650
 
6. Goldston, R.T. (1989) Geriatrics and gerontology. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract., 19: ix-x.
 
7. Nabi, S.U., Dey, S., Gupta, G., Kumar, A., Vala, J. and Jan, M.H. (2010) A study of neuromuscular dysfunctions in geriatric dogs. Haryana Vet., 49: 73-74.
 
8. Shearer, P. (2010) Canine and feline geriatric health. Bark. p1-11.
 
9. Foster and Smith (2008) Common diseases of older (senior, geriatric) dogs. Veterinary and aquatic services department. www.peteducation.com. Last accessed on 06-01-2015.
 
10. Ranjan, R., Zahid, U.N., Gupta, D.K., Bansal and Dua, K. (2010) An epidemiological study of periodontal diseases in dogs-a clinical study on 103 canine patients. Intas Polivet, 11(II): 274-277.
 
11. Beale, B.S. (2005) Orthopedic problems in geriatric dogs and cats. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim Pract., 35(3): 655-674.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2005.01.001
PMid:15833564
 
12. Marcus, R., Madvig, P. and Young, G. (1984) Age-related changes in parathyroid hormone action in normal humans. J. Clin. Endocrin. Metab., 58: 223-230.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jcem-58-2-223
PMid:6319444
 
13. Bhar, A., Ghosh, C.K., Bandyopadhya, S., Das, S., Sarkar, S., Chakrabarti, A. and Debnath, K. (2011) Haematobiochemical and antioxidative changes in Geriatric canines. Indian Vet. J., 88(3): 70-71.
 
14. Lowseth, L.A., Gerlach, R.F., Gillett, N.A. and Muggenburg, B.A. (1990) Age-related changes in the prostrate and testes of the beagle dog. Vet. Pathol., 27(5): 347-353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030098589002700507
PMid:1700534
 
15. Sirinarumitr, K., Johnston, S.D., Root Kustritz, M.V., Johnston, G.R., Sarkar, D.K. and Memon, M.A. (2001) Effect of finasteride on size of the prostrate gland and semen quality in dogs with benign prostate hypertrophy. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 218(8): 1275-1280.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.218.1275
PMid:11330612
 
16. Polzin, D.J. and Osborne, C.A. (1986) Update-conservative medical management of chronic renal therapy IX. In: Kirk, R.W., editor. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. p1167-1173.
 
17. Hurley, K.J. and Vaden, S.L. (1995) Proteinuria in dogs and cats: a diagnostic approach. Curr. Vet. Ther., XII: 937-940.
 
18. Hornbuckle, W.E., Mac Coy, D.M., Allan, G.S. and Gunther, R. (1978) Prostratic diseases in the dog. Cornell Vet., 68(7): 284-305.
PMid:75782
 
19. Grauer, G.F. (2009) Acute renal failure and chronic kidney diseases. In: Nelson, R.W., and Couto, C.G., editors. Small Animal Internal Medicine. 4th ed. Mosby, Missouri. p645-659.
 
20. Das, M.R. (2013) Study on geriatric dog in relation to chronic kidney disease and benign prostrate hyperplasia. PhD Thesis Submitted to OUAT, Bhubaneswar.
 
21. Kumar, V., Kumar, A. and Varshney, A.C. (2011) Ultrasonographic imaging for structural characterization of renal affections and diagnosis of associated chronic renal faliure in 10 dogs. ISRN Vet. Sci., 2011: 1-11.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2011/901713
PMid:23738110 PMCid:PMC3658835