| Fırat University Journal of Health Sciences (Veterinary) |
| 2026, Cilt 40, Sayı 2, Sayfa(lar) 142-151 |
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| Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Diagnoses, Distribution of System Disorders, and Frequency of Visits in Geriatric Cats and Dogs Brought to an Animal Hospital |
| Ümit ÖZCAN1, Zeynep Nurselin KOT1, Yahya Tunahan KURT1, Duygu DALĞIN1 |
| 1Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsun, TÜRKİYE |
| Keywords: Cat, dog, geriatric diseases, prevalence |
This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the clinical diagnoses, distributions, and visit frequencies of geriatric cats and dogs brought to the Animal Hospital for examination between 2022 and 2024. A total of 56,702 patient records were reviewed, and 6,776 (11.95%) were classified as geriatric. According to the AAHA–AAFP guidelines, cats≥10 years of age (n=1343) and dogs in the last 25% of their lifespan (usually ≥7 years; n=5433) are considered geriatric. The findings revealed that geriatric visits were concentrated in the 10–13 age range in cats and the 7–11 age range in dogs. When clinical visits were examined by year, it was observed that the geriatric cat and dog population was gradually increasing. In the analysis by systemic disease, the most common diseases in cats were lower urinary tract diseases, oncological diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases, while oncological, dermatological, and urinary tract diseases were predominant in dogs. The reasons for repeat visits were found to be particularly related to urinary, oncological, and dermatological diseases, supporting the need for regular follow-up of chronic geriatric pathologies. In conclusion, the findings of this study emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach, and regular monitoring programs in geriatric patients. The data presented on the veterinary geriatric patient population in Türkiye will serve as a reference in both clinical practice and academia.
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