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No pet owner wants their beloved pets to suffer needlessly when there are medications, treatments and supplements that can greatly improve the quality of their lives. Some quality of life issues to consider include: Pain – does your dog hurt? Is his breathing affected by the pain? Hunger – is your pet getting enough to eat? Hydration – is your dog drinking enough fluids? Hygiene – how are your cat’s teeth and gums? How is your dog’s skin and fur? Mobility – how is your pet getting around? How are his joints? When taken to the extreme, these conditions can ruin the quality of your pet’s life. But when caught early and treated appropriately, you can help ensure your pet has a long and enjoyable life. Make sure your veterinarian is fully aware of your pet’s condition. You have to speak for him. Pain When your dog has surgery, the vet may prescribe Novox (carprofen) caplets to relieve his post-operative pain. Novox is indicated in surgeries such as spays, ear procedures or orthopedic repairs. It can only be prescribed for dogs. There are many reasons why your pet may be in pain. Your vet may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that helps control the pain in your dog. It also helps control the inflammation if your dog suffers from osteoarthritis. Just as your doctor may prescribe an NSAID for you when you have muscle pain and injury, NSAIDs can do the same for your dog. Hunger If your cat undergoes a distressing change, he may lose his appetite. Triggers for this kind of reaction include moving to a new house, visiting the vet’s office, overcrowded conditions or when someone new comes to live in the home. One of the symptoms of this stress is that your cat won’t eat. You can try to minimize your cat’s distress with Feliway pheromone for cats. Feliway is a synthetic analogue of the feline facial pheromone, which reproduces the familiarization properties produced when your cat deposits his own facial pheromones in his environment. This spray, which covers up to 650 feet, can help calm cats in stressful situations. If your dog or cat is undergoing chemotherapy and has lost his appetite, Mirtazapine tablets can be used to spark his appetite. Mirtazapine also acts as an anti-nausea medication. If the problem is the opposite – and your pet is experiencing an insatiable appetite – you need to find out what is going on. For example, dogs with Cushings typically present with an increased appetite and thirst for water. Cushing's disease is a condition where the adrenal glands produce too many of certain hormones, such as cortisone. Too much or too little cortisone can be a life-threatening condition. Medications like Lysodren (mitotane) can help correct the condition, but requires close monitoring. Lysodren destroys the abnormal adrenal gland tissue, which is the most common treatment for canine Cushing's disease. Hydration If your pet is demonstrating excessive thirst, another cause might be the metabolic disease called diabetes. A pet with diabetes has high blood sugar because his body is not producing enough insulin. The result can be frequent urination, increased hunger and increased thirst. The treatment is usually some form of insulin, such as that offered by Humulin N Insulin. Without insulin, the sugar cannot get to the body’s cells where it makes fat, sugar and protein. If your pet does not naturally produce enough insulin, injections of insulin will correct the problem. Hygiene Cats and dogs will occasionally develop skin conditions that require special shampoos. Dermazole shampoo is a medicated, but pleasant smelling shampoo for cats and dogs suffering from scaling due to dandruff (seborrhea). The active ingredients are 2 percent miconazole and 2 percent salicyclic acid. Your veterinarian will give you directions on the frequency of use. Pyoben shampoo is an antimicrobial, keratolytic and follicular flushing shampoo that can be used on dogs and cats being treated for deep cutaneous infection (skin infection). This hypoallergenic, high-lathering shampoo contains 3 percent benzoyl peroxide with Spherulites. Mobility Your pet’s ability to get around, his mobility, may be one of the most common quality of life issues. Just like humans, animals can develop osteoarthritis, which leaves them in pain during their golden years. Thankfully, there are medications and supplements that can reduce the pain and leave them better able to get out and about. Rimadyl (carprofen) caplets and chewable tablets have long been used to treat arthritis in dogs. You will know within days of the first dose if it will be effective. If you discontinue the treatment, your dog’s pain and inflammation may come back. As your pets age, their joints become less flexible. There are supplements on the market for both cats and dogs that can improve their quality of life. Cosequin is a flavored nutritional supplement for cats. Each capsule contains tasty chicken and tuna flavors, mixed in with 125 mg glucosamine HCl, 100 mg sodium chondroitin sulfate and other additives. For dogs, try Canine Joint Health Soft Chews and Granules. This dietary supplement contains essential nutrients for healthy joints and muscles. Your pets will give you years of joy. Be sure you return the favor by ensuring their quality of life. Pamela Wendt is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and pet meds.
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