Dogs
    Neutered Male-- may not experience any significant problems.  The testicles, being removed, will not contribute to enlarged prostate or certain tumors that testosterone influences.  Any aged dog, however, can suffer from urinary stones and this can be life threatening in male dogs if the stone lodges in the urethra and doesn't allow urine to pass.  Urinary incontinence can occur in elderly, senile dogs and some medications may be effective.  Also, recognizing the older dog's need to go outside more frequently can help alleviate accidents in the house.

    Unneutered Male--may experience several problems.  The prostate is usually large in older dogs.  Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate and can be very serious, even leading to infection in the spinal column.  Testicular tumors are more common in elderly dogs than in young dogs.  Any change in a dog's urinary habits or testicle size should be examined by a veterinarian.  Tumors around the anal opening are more common in older, intact dogs and treatment often involves surgical removal of the tumor and the testes to prevent recurrence.  Any male dog that is not going to be used for breeding purposes should be castrated.

    Spayed females--may experience urinary incontinence from low estrogen levels that can have an effect on the muscles in the bladder.  Fortunately, medications like phenylpropanolamine or estrogen can reverse the problem.   As with elderly male dogs, females can become senile and lose housebreaking habits.

    Unspayed females---are at a greater risk for infection in the uterus ---pyometra---than young, actively bred female dogs.  A pyometra can be a life threatening occurrence for an elderly female dog who then must undergo an emergency ovariohysterectomy.  Common symptoms are seen mid heat cycle in a female and involve increased thirst, depression, decreased appetite, sometimes fever, sometimes a bloody or milky discharge from the vulva.  In fact, those dogs that have an infection in the uterus and do not have discharge are at greater risk for dying from the infection as they can become septic.  Any female dog that is not going to be used for breeding purposes should be spayed.

Bladder infections and kidney infections can all be more common in elderly pets as their immune systems get compromised, and other diseases contribute to kidney stress or susceptibility to infections.  Any changes in a dog's water consumption  or urination habits should be discussed with your veterinarian.
 
 

CATS

Male cats do not seem to be at greater risk for urinary crystals or stones as they age; these conditions can occur at any adult age.  Bladder and kidney infections can be more common with age especially as elderly cats are at risk for kidney insufficiency.  Male cats do not have prostate problems.  Unneutered male cats are always at greater risk for wounds from fighting and therefore, from acquiring feline immunodeficiency virus.  Any male cat not used for breeding should be castrated.

Female cats that are not spayed run risks of pyometra like female dogs, and any female cat that is not being used for breeding purposes should be spayed.

Bladder Tumors

Tumors of the bladder are more common in elderly animals.  Found early, they may be removed surgically and sometimes supplemental chemotherapy can be tried but many times the tumors are large by the time they are discovered, and the tumors tend to occur in a region in the bladder where the ureters connect so that surgical removal is nearly impossible.  For dogs, the use of Feldene, an anti-inflammatory pain medication used in people, can help reduce the size of the tumor and alleviate symptoms.  Signs of a bladder tumor resemble bladder infection---frequent, small amounts of urine, blood in the urine, and sometimes obvious discomfort.

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