Managing Comorbidity: Coordinating Care for Complex Geriatric Cases

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Gerontology
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Geriatric companion animals frequently experience multimorbidity, necessitating a paradigm shift in veterinary care.
• Traditional disease-centered approaches are insufficient for addressing the complex needs of aging pets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a comprehensive approach to managing geriatric companion animals with multimorbidity.
• To emphasize the importance of functional status and quality of life in geriatric veterinary care.

Main Methods:

• Integrating thorough diagnostics and client-reported outcomes.
• Developing individualized treatment strategies considering drug interactions, treatment burden, and caregiver capacity.
• Implementing multimodal pain and symptom management, nutritional support, and environmental enrichment.

Main Results:

• Effective management requires a holistic approach focusing on the animal's overall well-being and quality of life.
• Client-reported outcomes are crucial for tailoring treatment plans and assessing success.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and shared decision-making enhance patient care and owner satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• A shift towards functional, quality-of-life-centered care is essential for geriatric companion animals.
• Compassionate, context-driven management, including ethical considerations like hospice care, honors patient dignity and caregiver values.