Johnson: November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

Going jacket-free most days, the bright sunshine and warm temperatures lingering long past their time make it hard to conceive of, but the calendar confirms it nonetheless — fall is in full swing.

Not only is it fall, the month of November means there are lots of changes and busy, busy days ahead.

In search of ponies

For starters, there’s the responsibility of choosing a new president, and of course we are getting an extra hour of sleep (reminder: change clocks Sunday), granted, nothing is free and the bonus sleep time does come at the expense of an hour of daylight.

On top of all that, the holidays are officially bearing down on us — which means meal planning, decorations, travels, coordinating with friends and family members and last but certainly not least, gifts — including all the brainstorming, shopping, wrapping and sometimes shipping that goes along with them.

As if that weren’t enough, eventually the weather will turn, adding cold, wind and snow to everything else.

If it were any other season, the combination of things that require attention and time in the late fall weeks might be too much, but as luck would have it, this time of year is centered on a theme of considering others and guided by sentiments of thanks, charity, generosity and thoughtfulness.

Perhaps that is part of the reason November is designated as Adopt a Senior Pet Month, that one month in which the ASPCA reminds the public that older pets make good companions and need homes just as bad if not more so than their younger counterparts.

Some of the perks to adopting a mature animal can include not having to go through the terrible toddler stages — chewing, potty training, excitement and high energy to name a few — and, to put it bluntly, the satisfaction of knowing an aging critter has somewhere safe and comfy to spend the time they have left.

November is also Pet Cancer Awareness month, a time dedicated to educating pet owners about the potential risks pets face and the value of preventative care and watching for signs of trouble.

A disease that doesn’t discriminate, veterinary medicine practitioners estimate around 12 million dogs and cats will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Just as with humans, some types of cancer are aggressive and difficult to treat, however others can be successfully treated with proactive care and proper medical attention.

Symptoms pet owners should be alert for include: weight loss, abnormal swelling, loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge from body openings, weakness, lameness, difficulty with breathing and other normal body functions and foul odors. Any time there is concern about a pets’ health, it is worth checking with a veterinarian, just to be on the safe side.

Sharing the spotlight with Adopt a Senior Pet and Pet Cancer Awareness Month, National Pet Diabetes Month is another November awareness campaign aimed at educating pet owners. Impacting pets and humans alike, diabetes is a condition in which the body either doesn’t make enough or is not able to process insulin, a hormone that helps the body process sugars correctly. However, as with humans, the correct diet and medical care means pets with diabetes can live full and happy lives. Signs to look for include: lethargy, excessive thirst and frequent urination.

As the holidays draw closer, the pace speeds up and attentions shift to the ones you love, it’s as good a time as any to consider the health of your critters or maybe think about opening your home to a senior pet — in the spirit of the season.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

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