Animalcare has launched a campaign to “Make Senior Easier” in a bid to improve the quality of life of older pets. The company has developed a suite of resources to help practices enhance the level of care they provide to animals as they age and to educate owners as to steps they can take to maintain their companion’s wellbeing and welfare during their “golden years.”
Greater longevity for dogs and cats brings with it a corresponding increase in the incidence of conditions associated with older animals. Hyperthyroidism, for instance, is prevalent in more than 11 percent of cats aged over ten years (Caney et al., 2016). Yet the symptoms and signs of these conditions can go unnoticed or be dismissed by owners as a normal part of ageing. Animalcare hopes that its “Make Senior Easier” campaign will shine a spotlight on the importance of offering appropriate care to older animals. It will also provide an opportunity to remind owners that some problems they put down to ‘old age’ could be caused by manageable conditions.
The company is inviting vet practices to request their free resource pack by visiting the dedicated page on its website. The pack will support practices in building stronger client relationships by offering a proactive approach to the care of older animals. It will also support owners in caring for their animals as they get older. It includes:
- A video offering top tricks and tips to help practices get the best out of the “Making Senior Easier” campaign
- Health check materials, including a “senior triage form” to be completed by owners and a “senior pet assessment form,” which can act as a checklist for practice staff
- Condition handouts for owners, detailing common age-related problems
- Engaging social media posts
- Generic short articles on age-related issues for use in e-newsletters and on websites.
Kirsty Cavill RVN commented: “In my role as a RVN and canine rehabilitation therapist, I often come across senior pets with underlying conditions which are adversely affecting their health but could be managed successfully through a multimodal approach and structured treatment plan. By adopting a proactive approach to senior pet care and by helping owners to understand how to best support their pets through this life stage, we will strengthen the bonds with our clients, to ensure the highest standard of care is afforded to all senior patients.”
James Beaumont, Brand Manager at Animalcare, added: “Unfortunately, some signs of a gradual decline in the health of senior patients can go unnoticed. Other changes, perhaps behaviour-related or toileting accidents, can have a significantly adverse effect, not just on the animals but on their owners too. This is why proactively addressing some of the signs of an animal ‘just getting old’ is an important tool for building existing client relationships, as well as making a difference both to animals and their owners.
“As life expectancy increases and numbers of senior pets continue to grow, veterinary care tailored to the needs of these animals has never been more relevant and it is also a huge business opportunity for practices. To help them capitalise on this opportunity, we have created our Make Senior Easier campaign and hope that the resources we have created will improve owner awareness and give practices the tools they need to achieve the best clinical outcomes for older pets and their owners.”
Practices are asked to contact their Animalcare Territory Manager or contact Animalcare’s head office on 01904 487687 for further information.