The increasing popularity of anti-aging medicine has reached pets as well. Yet these are not desperate attempts to halt aging using a range of treatments, some of them esoteric. Nor are these treatments especially expensive. With respect to our four-legged friends, the goal of anti-aging treatments is to prevent physical degeneration, with a focus on good old-fashioned, preventative medicine - for the time being this does not include plastic surgery.

"A dog is considered geriatric from age seven or eight, and a cat from age nine or 10. Starting at this age, the diseases characteristic of the golden years begin," says veterinarian Dr. Smadar Tal, director of the Ramat Gan medical center for pets. "Sometimes the animal still looks young, but the biological aging processes are already occuring, and we want to minimize their effects."

One of the signs of aging is the weakening of the immune system. Therefore, immunization should be observed with strict adherence. "A senior dog that comes down with parvovirus, for example, because it was not vaccinated, will find it very difficult to deal with the disease," Tal says. Even older cats that do not leave the house must be vaccinated, since "their owners are excellent carriers of diseases." Animals may carry intestinal and skin parasites for years, yet, for some, it is only during old age that they suffer from them and require treatment. Spaying and neutering surgery can also add years to the lives of pets, because they help prevent the development of certain cancers.

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The pet should be taken for a routine physical examination once a year. A blood test will help identify infections and anemia and will provide data on the functioning of the liver, kidney, pancreas and other organs. A stool sample can detect parasites. Tests like electrocardiograms, X-rays and ultra-sounds are performed on the basis of need. "The veterinarian will also look for growths on the skin. It is recommended that they be removed, as they are liable to be malignant," Tal says. Cats are intrinsically sensitive when it comes to their kidneys and urinary tract, with the critical ages for kidney problems ranging from 10-13. Large dogs, whose average life expectancy is lower, also tend to suffer from skeletal and muscular problems, such as hip dysplasia, a developmental condition of the hip joint. These problems should be addressed to prevent disabling conditions.

Changes in nutrition can also help treat medical problems, in particular through the use of medicinal food as well as certain dietary supplements, including coenzyme Q10 for cardiac health or glucosamine and chondroitin for joints. These are generally veterinary supplements, which have different sources than the preparations for human use.

Some medicinal pet foods are sold only by veterinarians. Others can be purchased at pet stores, including, for example, special food for older dogs or cats, food to counteract problems of the urinary tract, or diet food for overweight pets - a common problem in senior animals, due primarily to overeating.

Switching to medicinal foods may cause difficulties. "If the animal has been eating low-quality commercial food, which contains lots of salt and is generally especially tasty, from a young age, it is very difficult to get it used to eating quality food at an advanced age," says Tal. In these cases, the switch to medicinal food is carried out slowly, adding a small amount to the previous food and increasing the amount of medicinal food each time. If there are other cats in the home, "all of them will eat the eldest's food," assuming that there are no kittens that need special food.

At every age, and especially with old age, the health of the animal's teeth should be safeguarded, through brushing, special food for dental health and veterinary teeth-cleaning. "This could be every half year for certain dogs, and every 10 years for certain cats," Tal says.

Since the human mouth is acidic and the animal mouth basic, human toothpaste should not be used - it will act opposite to the desired effect. Animals who suffer from toothaches tend to eat less, and treatment will afford them great relief. In addition, attention to dental hygiene prevents the spread of bacteria, viruses and parasites to such organs as kidneys, liver and heart.

If an aging animal has difficulty moving, appropriate exercise and physiotherapy can help, and this kind of activity also aids weight loss. The veterinarian can advise the dog - or, more precisely, the dog's owner - to climb stairs or sand dunes every day, or to swim in the sea. In severe cases, the veterinarian will refer the animal to a colleague specializing in orthopedics or rehabilitation, or to the Israeli Physiotherapy Center for animals in Kibbutz Ein Dor, a facility headed by Dr. Lisi Sharon. The center specializes in hydrotherapy, electrotherapy to reduce pain and swelling, exercises on treadmills, massage and other treatments.

Hydrotherapy treatment using an underwater gym is also available from Adi Lissak, a rehabilitation therapist and canine fitness coach, located at Moshav Kfar Ahim near Kastina junction in the south (www.dembin.com/hydro.html). The facility also rehabilitates aged dogs, among them Dr. Tal's female. "She has lost muscle mass and has a bit of neurological problems, so she goes there to swim twice a week," Tal says.