Most of these changes cannot be detected during the veterinary visit, as they may be intermittent, subtle, and only noticeable to the primary caregivers. 4 In addition to physical examinations and laboratory tests, a critical component of the senior care guidelines is the questioning of pet owners to determine if any changes have occurred in their pet’s health or behavior. In the spring of 2005, the AAHA Senior Care Task Force published recommendations for annual wellness screening for middle-aged pets and biannual screening for senior pets (defined as the last 25% of predicted life span). Early detection provides the best opportunity for minimizing discomfort, slowing the progression, and possibly resolving the disease condition. Regular and thorough evaluation of any change in behavior is essential for the early detection of disease, sensory decline, pain, and cognitive dysfunction. In some cases, behavioral signs may precede other clinical signs and may be the first or only indication of pain or illness. Painful conditions can also lead to a wide range of behavioral signs, such as fear, irritability, aggression, decreased mobility, and altered responses to stimuli. Diseases of virtually all organ systems, tumors, immune-mediated diseases, infections, and endocrinopathies are increasingly common in older pets and can cause alterations in the way a pet behaves. Similarly, impairment of circulation to the central nervous system (e.g., anemia, hypertension) can also cause similar effects. 1 – 3 Any lesion or disease that affects the forebrain, including the limbus and hippocampus, can affect learning and memory circuits and, consequently, behavior. The aging process is associated with progressive and probably irreversible changes that affect behavior.
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