Dear Dr. John,
My cat is just seven years outdated, however I simply learn concerning the oldest dwelling canine on this planet. Apparently, this canine is 30 and lives in Portugal. I believed that cats can usually reside longer than canine and marvel how outdated my cat would possibly reside to be. What are the commonest issues that outdated cats die from and what I’d do to maintain my cat alive so long as potential? I presume that longevity is said to a variety of issues and marvel what permits some to reside longer than others. D.M.
Dear D.M.,
I, too, learn with curiosity concerning the 30-year-old canine in Portugal. The canine is of a breed not usually seen right here within the US, a Rafeiro do Alentejo, which is a farming canine used to protect livestock. One by no means is aware of what permits a canine, cat, or human to reside for lengthy intervals of time, however most would acknowledge that it’s a mixture of genetics, weight-reduction plan, train, way of life, and preventative care.
By comparability, the oldest individual to ever reside was 122 and the oldest cat was 38! The oldest cat alive in the present day in accordance with the online is 27, and cats usually do reside longer than canine. The oldest cat I’ve ever seen was 23 and the oldest canine 19. Smaller canine reside longer than massive breed canine and blended breeds in each canine and cats usually reside longer resulting from heterogeneity. Even although the canine in Portugal is male, females usually reside longer than males in all species as was the case of the oldest cat and human.
As for the commonest causes of dying in outdated cats, I’d say that they’re coronary heart illness, renal failure, and cancers with lymphoma being the commonest, adopted by varied hormonally based mostly issues like hyperthyroidism and diabetes. In order to advertise higher well being and longevity, keep your cat at a wholesome weight, be aware of fine weight-reduction plan, preserve your cat energetic at residence, cut back potential stress within the cat’s life, and have the cat seen by your veterinarian at the least yearly and probably each six months when the cat is a geriatric affected person. Good luck!
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He will be reached at 781-899-9994.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”