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  Jack and Pearl Abrams of Newport, Rhode Island, celebrated their 70th
wedding anniversary this year. Jack, 93, makes minyan every Shabbat at Touro
Synagogue, the oldest in the nation. Jack speaks lovingly to Pearl, 93, his
"kahllah" (Yiddish for bride), as he often calls her. They owned a butcher
shop and sold meat to iconic families including the Auchincloss and von
Bulows.
They still live in the
house they bought in 1944. Jack reminisces about serving his country during
WWII, as a cook aboard the submarine the USS Sunfish. Each year, the couple
looks forward to wintering in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida where they dance
the nights away enjoying their 28-year retirement and three
great-grandchildren.
Two years ago, Jack
started having pain in his hip. After months of terrible suffering, he had a
hip replacement at 92. It was a slow and frustrating recovery. Jack worried
they would never again be able to make their annual trip to Florida. With
the help of good doctors and physical therapists, and with family support,
he and Pearl are back to dancing the nights away.
Jack’s story of recovery
reminds me, as a veterinarian, that even my oldest patients deserve
treatment options; age is not a reason to ignore painful medical conditions.
Pet owners attribute
slowing down with old age. But old age is not a disease. There is a reason
the cat is not climbing the stairs as quickly or the dog is slow to jump in
the car. It could be arthritis, muscle weakness, or a variety of metabolic
diseases. If a diagnosis can be made, there may be treatment options. It
frustrates veterinarians to hear owners say things like "I don’t think he
needs medication, he’s moving around pretty good." The goal is to improve
the pet’s quality of life from “pretty good” to much better.
Even after pointing out
abscessed teeth I sometimes hear "I don’t want to have his teeth pulled,
he's too old for anesthesia, he seems to be eating fine." We should be
focused on helping the patient to feel better because that oral infection is
right now causing pain and suffering. Often only after rotten teeth are
pulled and infections cleared up do we realize how much happier and more
playful older pets become.
Behavior issues in older
pets can stem from disease. As an example, a dog with an ear infection or
arthritis may growl at a child who touches a sore area. As the condition
becomes chronic and the dog anticipates pain, he growls even as the child
approaches. Hearing loss can result in barking issues, high blood pressure
can cause cats to vocalize more, and decreased vision can lead to snapping
behavior when the animal is startled.
Ask yourself if your
older pet is acting the same he did a year ago. Is he underweight or
overweight? Does he have bad breath? Is he drinking more water? Medications
may be helpful. Physical therapy and chiropractic adjustments can help older
pets with musculoskeletal problems. Carefully chosen diets, supplements,
herbals medications, and acupuncture can help a variety of medical
conditions including diabetes and kidney disease, and can help with the
symptoms of cancer.
Jack and Pearl Abrams
are once again making their yearly migration South. "It's an extra special
trip now, because I never thought we would make it down to Florida," Jack
said. Any veterinarian will tell you that we feel extra special when we
hear, “I can’t believe how much you’ve helped him. He hasn’t felt this good
in years!”
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