Old Age is Not A Disease

It doesn't matter if it be pet or human, we have the wrong end of the stick.  Elderly has become synonymous with one step from checking out.  Why put good money after bad.  They're old, they won't care.  In some cultures the elderly are revered.  Not in the disposable society that we have learned to become.  

I have a theory that you go out the same way you come into the world; naked, not exactly potty trained, maybe not too coherent, time consuming, a money pit, and you can't get anyone to take you seriously.  In television the key demographic is 18-34 year olds.  

So whose criteria should we use?  What is the criteria to not "bother" giving, let alone offering quality of care?  To me the criteria should be on the other side of what price will that pet pay and how will they come out?  A surgical procedure is going to be much more traumatic on a 10 year old Great Dane than an 11 year old toy poodle.  Does that mean that I pass?  Dr. Morris always weighs the risks verses the benefits.  What is the procedure?  How painful will it be?  Can we keep the pet relatively comfortable?  Can the family financially handle the burden of the procedure or medication?  Is the pet healthy enough that it will receive benefit?  Will the pet be healthier afterwords? 

In my practice you will never hear the phrase "Well, he is just to old to do X".  Unfortunately, there are certain diseases and conditions that affect older patients.  Certainly age and infirmity complicate matters, but they don't necessarily remove treatment options.  Performing dental procedures can improve cardiac, renal, and liver function and extend good quality of life.  Removing cancerous tumors can sometimes be curative.  Medications can drastically improve pain in our arthritic dogs.  Never should age on a piece of paper be the deciding factor when considering treatment options, medications, or diagnostics.  

We can't prevent death, nor should we try.  Not every procedure is right for every patient.  Not every family can afford to go to the ends of the earth in options.  There are many factors considered when deciding which patient and plan fit.  It is a personal decision made between owners and their vets.  But the least of these is a number decided by a calender.

chris