Canine and feline geriatric profiling: how can it help?
Author: Sandra Wells
Pets are living longer, and the demographic shift in the pet population is striking. Recent data shows that the lifespan of dogs has increased by approximately 5%, while cats have made even greater gains, with mixed breeds living nearly 14% longer, and purebred cats achieving a 9% rise in longevity1.
Looking further back, the transformation is even more dramatic: dogs are now living twice as long as they did 40 years ago2.
As a result, older pets make up 30% to 40% of patients in general practice3, a proportion that is expected to grow as the pet population continues to age.
Understanding ageing
Ageing is marked by a progressive decline in cellular, tissue and organ function. At the tissue level, ageing manifests as pathological changes including atrophy, fibrosis and fatty infiltration, all of which contribute to the decline in organ function4.
What makes this particularly challenging is that many of these pathological changes occur silently.
Additionally, the interconnected nature of organ systems means that dysfunction in one area can trigger a cascade, leading to a domino effect of multiple organ dysfunction5.
Geriatric profiling
Pathological changes mean that as pets age, they are more prone to chronic illness and more likely to spend extended periods with age-related health issues3. However, many of the clinical signs of these age-related conditions are subtle or are dismissed by owners as “just old age”. This makes proactive geriatric care essential.
Routine clinicopathological testing plays an important role in identifying subclinical diseases before they progress to a stage where clinical signs become evident. Research highlights the value of this approach: in one study, 80% of apparently healthy dogs older than nine years were found to have at least one previously unrecognised health issue after routine screening, with an average of seven to eight health issues identified per dog6,7.
Detecting diseases in their early stages allows for timely interventions, better outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
Chronic kidney disease
A typical geriatric blood profile includes parameters to assess renal function, thyroid function, glucose metabolism and other key health indicators.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting senior pets – particularly cats. Its prevalence increases significantly with age, affecting approximately 1% of the general feline population8, but rising to as high as 80% in cats older than 15 years9.
CKD is also common in the canine population and can be very challenging to manage, with a shorter survival time compared to cats. The disease is typically advanced at diagnosis (International Renal Interest Society stage 3 or 4) and tends to progress rapidly with poor clinical outcomes10. Early diagnosis is key to improving the outlook for these patients.
Diagnostic challenges
Traditional markers such as serum creatinine are commonly used to assess renal function. Creatinine is produced at a steady rate due to muscle catabolism and is not reabsorbed by the kidneys after filtration. This means that measuring creatinine levels provides an indirect measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
However, the relationship between GFR and creatinine is not linear; creatinine levels may remain normal (less than 180µmol/L in the dog), until up to three-quarters of the nephrons are lost. Thereafter, further small losses of nephrons may result in substantial increases in creatinine levels.
Aligning with this, renal disease may remain subclinical until approximately 75% of renal function is lost11, making early detection challenging.
The significance of SDMA
Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has emerged as a more sensitive biomarker for CKD detection12. While creatinine levels start to increase when 75% of renal function is lost, SDMA levels rise when approximately 40% of function is lost, and sometimes as little as 25%. Additionally, SDMA is less impacted by extrarenal factors such as loss of lean body mass, a common issue in ageing pets, making it a more reliable marker in these patients.
Guidelines for diagnosis
The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines recommend assessing SDMA and creatinine levels together, with persistent elevation on repeat testing in a stable, hydrated patient, serving as an early indicator of CKD.
According to IRIS guidelines13, persistently elevated SDMA levels, even when serum creatinine is within normal limits, may indicate early-stage CKD (IRIS stage 1).
Early cancer diagnostic screening
Neoplasia is another leading cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients – particularly in dogs. In one study cancer accounted for nearly half of all deaths in older dogs14.
Early detection is critical, as identifying cancer in its early stages significantly improves the chances of effective treatment and better outcomes.
In human medicine, elevated levels of nucleosomes – small fragments of DNA released from cancer cells into the bloodstream – are strongly associated with tumour burden and malignant progression in several types of cancers15.
This same principle is applied in veterinary medicine with the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test, which measures circulating nucleosomes using antibodies that specifically target these proteins. The Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test is useful for detecting cancers such as lymphoma and haemangiosarcoma16,17, even in their early stages. Preliminary evidence also suggests it may identify some instances of mast cell tumours, malignant melanomas and histiocytic sarcoma.
However, because nucleosome release is common across multiple cancer types, the test cannot differentiate between cancer types or their locations. Further diagnostics, such as imaging or biopsy, are required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cancer’s origin.
Cancer screening of this type is a useful tool for senior wellness checks – particularly in senior dogs aged seven years or older. For breeds predisposed to developing cancer, such as the Labrador retriever, golden retriever and French bulldog, testing as early as four years old may be beneficial.
The article continues beyond this point.
Read the full article https://www.vettimes.com/clinical/small-animal/canine-and-feline-geriatric-profiling-how-can-it-help
Original publication: Vet Times (2025), Volume 55, Issue 4, Pages 8-10 and VN Times February 2025
About the author
Sandra Wells manages operations at NationWide Laboratories, drawing on extensive experience in biochemistry and quality management within the veterinary sector. She has a particular interest in senior pet care, including chronic kidney disease and biomarkers like SDMA. Sandra’s focus on diagnostic innovation supports the introduction of new tools such as Nu.Q®, aimed at improving early cancer detection in pets.
More information on Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is available here https://nwlabs.co.uk/nu-q-vet-cancer-screening-test
