Geriatric patients must be treated with extra care as they are less able to adapt to change and they recover more slowly from medical or surgical interference. A good way of thinking is that for every 5 years of a pet’s age, allow 24 more hours for recovery). The key to nursing a geriatric patient is good knowledge of history and medication, security, comfort and the correct type of food with an adequate source of water.
Physical Changes in Geriatric Animals: greying, thickening of the muzzle, coarse coat, loss of stamina and strength, weakening of bones, loss of muscle, loss of sight or hearing, lowered physical tolerance to change, arthritis and joint stiffness, higher susceptibility to infection, poor tolerance to lack of fluids and impaired temperature regulation.
Mental Changes in Geriatric Animals: lowered responses to stimuli, less adaptable, increased fussiness with food and development of food preferences, less interest in activity, less obedient and disorientation.
Most of the mental changes are related to the physical changes, for example, disorientation will become worse if the animal is blind of deaf.
The animal’s history needs to be known, including any known medical conditions, current treatment and preferred food. It should always be remembered that the patient may be suffering from diseases other than what they are being seen for.
If hospitalised, the patient should be weighed daily and any weight changes recorded. Geriatric patients generally need fewer calories, but simply reducing the amount of food may result in a lowered intake of protein, vitamins and minerals. In the absence of any disease specific requirements, dietary considerations include a highly digestible and well balanced food. Some companies produce diets specifically designed for the older dog. Any changes in the diet should be introduced gradually to prevent stomach upsets. Lack of interest in food in a previous appetent is often due to a change in food, the amount offered is too great, dental disease resulting in pain when eating, or the patient has difficulty standing to eat.
Water intake should not be restricted in a geriatric patient unless it is vomiting, as dehydration can happen very quickly, and in this case intravenous fluids should be administered. Urine should be observed for normal colour and passage.
Little and often exercise is recommended for geriatric patients. Older dogs usually enjoy “pottering”. Special care should be taken if the animal is blind or deaf.
Soft bedding should be provided, ideally along with foam mattresses for animals with arthritis. Geriatrics should be kept out of draughts and if possible, somewhere not too noisy. Temperature should be monitored (in the dog normal ranges being 38.3 – 38.7) and heat used if needed (as above with the recumbent cat).
Elderly patients should be groomed regularly as they are less likely to keep themselves clean. This helps to give them a feeling of well being and provides an opportunity to check the coat and skin.
If the patient has lost it’s sight or hearing, movement should be slow and the carer should talk reassuringly at all times.
Enema
This is a liquid substance placed into the rectum and colon of an animal. Enemas are intended to distend the rectum and colon gently to initiate normal expulsive reflexes.
The basic equipment for an enema includes the enema solution, gloves, lubricant (eg K.Y Jelly) and depending on the solution used, can and tubing, prepared barium bag, syringe and catheter. Giving an enema requires two people.
After the enema has been given, dogs should be allowed free exercise to evacuate bowels.
Not sure if you needed all of that or not
you may need to change that around quite a lot as most of it was copied as I’m being lazy