Better care, nutrition adding years for dogs

Vickie Merritt has begun to notice Sport, the family's mixed breed "dog pound mutt," is exhibiting some of the same symptoms of old age as humans.

Sport's eyesight is failing and her hearing is not so good either.

"She takes two pills every day, one for joint pain and one for her allergies," Merritt said.

She used to be able to keep up with Merritt's husband on his bicycle rides, but no more.

"She sleeps a lot, Merritt said. "We've seen some drastic changes in the last two years."

After all, Sport is 15 years old.

Veterinarians nationwide say there are more pets - dogs and cats - that are living longer than they did years ago.

"It's definitely something that's a national trend," said Dr. Chris Zeagler, a veterinarian at Smith Animal Hospital in Florence.

Kimberly McIntyre, a receptionist at Smith Animal Hospital, said one of their patients was a 21-year-old cat that recently died. McIntyre said she had a cat that lived to be 18 1/2 years old.

Zeagler said there are four reasons pets are enjoying longer lives and the first is improvements in preventive care.

"More people are getting their pets vaccinated compared to several decades ago," Zeagler said. Better care includes treatment of diseases, such as Parvo virus, which once had a 100 percent mortality rate.

"There have been some major advances in veterinary medicine," Zeagler said. Veterinarians utilize diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and radiography to treat illnesses in animals.

Another reason is nutrition, Zeagler said.

"Dog and cat food companies are putting a lot of money into what our animals need," Zeagler said.

Pet food producers have found a market for foods based on different breeds, sizes and ages of dogs. There also are special prescription-only foods produced for animals with liver or joint problems, allergies or diabetes.

The last reason Zeagler gave is more intangible.

"The biggest thing in my mind is the growth of the human-animal bond," he said. "People see cats and dogs as part of their family. They're willing to spend all this money to have all this preventive care, food and treatment for them."

Merritt said her family got Sport from the Florence Animal Shelter, originally for their middle child.

She said her son, Chris, wanted a male dog, but Sport is female.

"He named her Sportster, which is a Harley-Davidson motorcycle," she said. "He added a little boy touch. She has always been a very fun family pet."

But in the past couple of years, Sport has begun to show her age.

Merritt said her vet told her Sport might be showing signs of "doggie Alzheimer's" and told her they could put her on medication to see if it would help.

Because of her failing vision and hearing, Merritt has to keep an eye on Sport outside and during walks.

"She wanders into the middle of the road and can't hear you calling her," Merritt said. "She still will like to play when I come home."

Surveys conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association support Zeagler's theory about the human-animal bond.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2007 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, 49.7 percent of respondents consider pets to be family while another 48.2 percent consider pets to be companions. The remaining 2.1 percent considered pets to be property.

The survey found that the human-animal bond had a close association with the number of veterinary visits and the amount of money spent on medical care for pets.

As a result, spending on veterinary care has increased, mostly from care for dogs. Much of the rise in spending is because of pet owners' willingness to spend for major medical services for their pets.

While spending is up, American Veterinary Medical Association research has shown that on average, dogs and cats are visiting their vets less frequently.

The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that pets visit their vet twice a year to promote wellness.

Dr. Chris Bishop, a veterinarian employed by the Alabama Department of Agriculture, said most all species of animals are living longer because of better nutrition, advances in genetics and general health care.

"Animal dentistry has come a long way toward extending the lifespan of animals," Bishop said. "It keeps the animal healthy longer and increases longevity."

He said a large percentage of veterinary practices are based on dentistry.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.