title: Evaluation of geriatric changes in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study has been envisaged to ascertain the old age for critical management of geriatric dogs considering the parameters of externally visible changes, haemato-biochemical alterations and urine analysis in geriatric dogs approaching senility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was undertaken in the Department of Veterinary Pathology in collaboration with Teaching Veterinary Clinic complex spanning a period of 1 year. For screening of geriatric dogs, standard geriatric age chart of different breeds was followed. The external characteristics such as hair coat texture, dental wear and tear, skin texture and glaucoma were taken as a marker of old age. Haematology, serum biochemistry and urine analysis were also included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  External visible changes like greying of hair, dull appearance of hair coat, glaucoma, osteoarthritis, dental wear and tear were commonly encountered in the aged dogs. The haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume showed a decreasing trend in the geriatric groups. Biochemical values like total protein, albumin, calcium level showed a decreasing trend while urea level with an increasing trend in geriatric dogs without any much alteration in serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminse, serum glutamic-pyruvate transaminase, cholesterol and creatinine. Physical examination of urine revealed yellow, amber, red, deep red color with turbidity and higher specific gravity. Chemical examination revealed presence of protein, glucose, ketone bodies, blood and bilirubin on some cases. The culture and sensitivity test of the urine samples revealed presence of bacteria with sensitive and resistance to some antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External visible changes are still the golden standard of determining the old age in dogs. Haemato-biochemical evaluation can be useful for correlating with the pathophysiological status of the animal. Biochemical analysis of urine can be employed rightly as kidney dysfunction is being major geriatric problem. Anaemia, jaundice, nephritis, hepatitis are the most common findings considered during old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Soumyaranjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research, Institute of Life Science, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senapati
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Behera
keywords: canine; geriatric; haematology; serum biochemistry; urine analysis