Using the classification criteria of ≥10 years for cats and ≥7 years for dogs in the study population, it was determined that geriatric individuals constituted 11.95% of the total number of cats and dogs visiting the Veterinary Faculty Animal Hospital outpatient clinics between 2022 and 2024. The data obtained from Samsun province and its surroundings in the Black Sea region were found to be consistent with similar studies reported in Afyonkarahisar and Istanbul. The data from this study contribute to the understanding of the prevalence of geriatric patients in Türkiye
12,13.
Inter-species Distribution: The highest number of geriatric referrals in cats occurs in the 10–14 age range (76.09%), while in dogs it occurs in the 7–11 age range (66.63%), which is consistent with the life stage guidelines defined in the literature 2,3,5,6. The oldest recorded cat was 26 years old and the oldest dog was 22 years old, suggesting that individual differences in lifespan are related to environmental factors, care conditions, and genetic characteristics 3,4,11. The impact of individual differences highlights the importance of follow-up and routine check-ups in geriatric patients.
Assessment based on systemic diseases: The most common pathologies encountered in geriatric cats are urinary system diseases (12.58%). This is consistent with studies reporting that chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high prevalence (15-30%) and is a leading cause of morbidity in geriatric cats 14-18. Furthermore, numerous lower urinary tract diseases, such as urethral obstruction and cystitis, have been frequently observed in geriatric cats. However, as reported in other studies, bladder problems tend to emerge at a younger age, and geriatric data primarily pertain to repeat visit records for the primary complaint, exhibiting a lower prevalence compared to the younger population 19,20. In geriatric dogs, the prevalence of urinary tract diseases was determined to be 7.25%. This rate is lower than the prevalence observed in cats (12.58%). The most common problem in geriatric dogs in the literature is CKD, and it has been reported that its prevalence increases with age and is reported at a rate of 0.5–3% in the clinical population 17,21. In addition, recurrent urinary tract infections, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and urolithiasis are among the common diseases in geriatric dogs 22,23. The frequent occurrence of urinary tract diseases in this study suggests that these diseases have a chronic course in geriatric cats and dogs. The data obtained in the study are consistent with those found in the literature.
The second most common pathologies in cats are reported to be oncological diseases (10.42%). Among oncological cases seen in geriatric cats, lymphoma stands out as the most common oncological disease; intestinal lymphoma is frequently reported, especially in older cats that are FeLV negative. In addition, neoplasms originating from the mammary gland (mammary tumours) and soft tissue tumours (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma) are significant, particularly in unspayed females 24,26. In a study published by Seung et al. in 2024 27, the average age of cats diagnosed with malignant tumours was 9.33, while the average age of cats diagnosed with benign tumours was reported as 6.60. In the study, the prevalence of oncological diseases in geriatric dogs was recorded at 18.30% (n=994) and ranked first in the distribution of systemic diseases. This rate is consistent with findings reported in the literature. A large-scale epidemiological analysis reported that skin and subcutaneous neoplasms in dogs become more prevalent with advancing age, and that mast cell tumors, lipomas, and melanomas are among the most common tumors in geriatric individuals 28,29. This finding is explained by the weakening of immune mechanisms that accompany aging, a decline in DNA repair capacity, and chronic inflammation (inflammaging). It has been reported that oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory processes in elderly dogs and cats contribute to tumour development along with neurodegenerative changes 10. Studies conducted on dogs in the literature have demonstrated that oncological cases increase with age, with neoplasia observed in 14.70% of dogs aged 7 years and older 28-30. The high prevalence of oncological cases in this study underscores the importance of routine screening and early diagnosis strategies in geriatric dogs and cats. Our findings are consistent with the literature.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are also frequently observed in geriatric cats (9.08%). This condition is largely associated with decreased digestive system motility, neoplasms, and chronic enteropathies in geriatric animals 31. It has been reported that these symptoms in geriatric cats, unlike in young cats, are not primarily due to a gastrointestinal disease but are associated with systemic diseases (particularly chronic renal failure, chronic pancreatitis, cholangitis, or hyperthyroidism). Furthermore, triaditis is common in the geriatric population (17–39%), suggesting that gastrointestinal symptoms may indicate multi-organ dysfunction rather than a single system disorder 32. Gastrointestinal pathologies have been observed in 6.42% of geriatric dogs. As in cats, pathologies developing in the digestive system with age are frequently observed in geriatric dogs 31. Gastrointestinal pathologies in dogs have been reported at a rate of 2.70% in the literature 33. Our data reveal an increase in expected gastrointestinal pathologies in the geriatric patient population, which is largely consistent with the existing literature.
In this study, the prevalence of dermatological diseases in geriatric cats was found to be 4.54% (n=61), and in dogs, 9.46% (n=514). In the literature, allergic and atopic dermatitis are among the primary dermatological issues affecting dogs during the geriatric period. Atopic dermatitis, in particular, is one of the most frequently encountered dermatological pathologies 34. In a study conducted by Villamil et al. in 2011 30, it was reported that neoplasms originating from the skin and subcutaneous tissues increased significantly with age in dogs, and that mast cell tumours were particularly common in older age groups. In cats, dermatological conditions are more commonly associated with parasitically induced allergic dermatitis, fungal infections, and skin diseases secondary to endocrine/metabolic disorders 35. The lower incidence in cats compared to dogs in this study may be attributed to the fact that skin diseases in cats typically present as systemic or secondary clinical signs.
The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases was found to be 1.86% (n=25) in cats and 4.51% (n=245) in dogs. The most common cardiac disease in geriatric cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the prevalence of which increases with age. Studies have reported that HCM in cats occurs at an average age of 7.54 years 36,37. In dogs, mitral valve degeneration is common in older animals 38. It is known that the prevalence of heart disease increases with age 36. A study published by da Costa et al. 39 found that the average age of dogs with heart disease was 11.6±3.2 years. Our findings support the rates reported in the literature.
When examined in terms of orthopedic diseases, 2.01% (n=27) of geriatric cats and 4.21% (n=229) of dogs in the study were found to have orthopedic problems. To the authors' knowledge, there is no data in the literature regarding the prevalence of orthopedic diseases in geriatric cats and dogs. However, specific prevalence rates for certain orthopedic diseases are available. While the prevalence of osteoarthritis in geriatric cats is reported as 61% in the literature, this rate was lower in the study 40. According to a study conducted by Roitner et al. 41, degenerative joint diseases and osteoarthritis are known to be common in geriatric dogs (40.3%). Our findings are inconsistent with the existing literature, suggesting that orthopedic diagnoses are often underreported in clinical records. This discrepancy is thought to stem from the lack of routine check-ups in geriatric cats and dogs, highlighting the importance of routine check-ups.
When evaluated in terms of ophthalmological diseases, the prevalence was found to be 1.94% (n=26) in cats and 4.82% (n=262) in dogs. While ocular lesions associated with hypertension are frequently reported in geriatric cats, cataracts and retinal degeneration are more prevalent in dogs 42-45. Studies conducted by O'Neill et al. 46 and Dan et al. 47 reported the incidence of ophthalmic diseases as 6.7% in cats and 11.5% in dogs. Our findings are not consistent with the data in the literature. The discrepancy between the data reported in the literature and the data obtained in this study is attributed to the underreporting of ophthalmic diseases in clinical records.
Hematological diseases were observed in 2.23% (n=30) of cats and 2.36% (n=128) of dogs. Anemia associated with chronic kidney disease is common in geriatric cats 15. In dogs, hematological conditions are typically associated with lymphoproliferative diseases or chronic inflammation 48-50. Our findings are consistent with the prevalence reported in the literature, which is 2.3% in cats and 0.7% in dogs.
The study found that dental and oral diseases were detected in 3.5% (n=47) of cats and 0.7% (n=38) of dogs. Although chronic gingivostomatitis is reported to be common in cats in the literature (26.6%), our records indicate a lower prevalence; this suggests limitations in clinical records 51,52. In dogs, the prevalence of oral diseases has been reported to range from 9.3% to 18.2% 53. This finding also differs from our clinical data, suggesting underreporting.
Reproductive system diseases were observed in 1.19% (n=16) of cats and 2.12% (n=115) of dogs. In dogs, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has a high prevalence in intact males during the geriatric period (16-50%) 22. In cats, mammary tumors have been reported to have a high prevalence in the literature (17.30%) 24,25. The findings of this study are not consistent with the data in the literature. It is thought that this situation may be due to reproductive diseases being classified as oncological diseases in the automation system software.
Neurological diseases were recorded in 0.52% (n=7) of cats and 2.91% (n=158) of dogs. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome and epileptic seizures are common in geriatric cats and dogs 54-56. Studies have reported the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction syndrome in geriatric cats and dogs to be between 28% and 50% in cats and between 28% and 68% in dogs 54,55,57. The literature differs from our clinical data, suggesting underreporting and underdiagnosis.
The prevalence of ear diseases was recorded as 0.07% (n=1) in cats and 1.01% (n=55) in dogs. In dogs, ear diseases have been most frequently observed in the 1-4 age range in the literature (39.78%), and it has been reported that this rate decreases with age, falling to 5.2% in dogs aged 12 years and older 58,59. The prevalence of otitis externa in geriatric cats has been reported as 1.4% in the literature 59,60. The literature differs from our clinical data, suggesting underreporting and underdiagnosis.
Pulmonary diseases were detected in 1.41% (n=19) of cats and 1.95% (n=106) of dogs. Chronic asthma (1-5%) is frequently reported in geriatric cats, while chronic bronchitis (24.3%) and tracheal collapse (30.7%) are more commonly reported in geriatric dogs with chronic cough 61-65. The low incidence of respiratory diseases, especially those of infectious origin, is related to reduced exposure in this age group, the coding of chronic cases under other system headings in our automation system, or the reduced frequency of typical clinical symptoms due to immunosenescence 10,62. Our findings are consistent with the data on respiratory diseases in geriatric cats reported in the literature; however, differences were observed in geriatric dogs. It is thought that this situation may be due to pulmonary diseases being classified as cardiac diseases in the automation system software.
Endocrine diseases were recorded with a prevalence of 0.45% (n=6) in cats and 0.28% (n=15) in dogs, while metabolic diseases were recorded with a low prevalence of 0.15% (n=2) in cats and 0.04% (n=2) in dogs. The most common endocrine disease in geriatric cats is hyperthyroidism (5.2%), while the most common metabolic disease is obesity (13.1%). In geriatric dogs, especially those aged 13 years and older, hypothyroidism (5.68%) is the predominant endocrine disease. Obesity (28.57%) is the predominant metabolic disorder in dogs aged 7-9 years 11,60,66-68. The low incidence of diseases affecting these two systems in our findings suggests inadequacies in disease diagnosis, deficiencies in record-keeping, and insufficient routine check-ups.
Evaluating Repeat Visits: Repeated visits for geriatric cats and dogs are concentrated in urinary (25.49%), oncological (22.44%), and gastrointestinal (17.59%) diseases in cats; while in dogs, they are predominantly oncological (34.74%), urinary (13.35%), and dermatological (12.17%) diseases, indicating that these groups mostly consist of chronic pathologies requiring long-term management. This table highlights that, beyond the diagnostic approach accompanying the initial consultation in geriatric patients, multidisciplinary follow-up protocols involving regular check-ups, optimized drug treatment, nutrition and hydration strategies, and comprehensive monitoring of comorbidities are crucial for clinical outcomes 2,3,5,6. In particular, the high oncological burden in dogs and the severity of chronic kidney cases in cats necessitate the prioritization of case discussion councils, palliative care, and the systematization of pain management plans 18,67.
Age distributions also support this need: the clustering of repeat visits in the 10–14 age range (76.30%) in cats and the 7–11 age range (65.57%) in dogs is consistent with age-related patterns of progressive chronic disease 1,5,6,10,63. This finding supports the identification of age-based thresholds for routine and regular follow-up in clinical practice (e.g., renal function tests, blood pressure measurement, urine analysis every 3–6 months; re-evaluations parallel to treatment cycles in oncology patients; care plans targeting flare-up periods in dermatology cases) and defining early intervention thresholds, owner education, and resource planning (laboratory, imaging, consultation) in clinical practice 2,3. Similarly, AAHA and AAFP guidelines also emphasize that early diagnosis and regular follow-up are fundamental strategies in clinical management for geriatric individuals 2,3,5,6.
Due to retrospective design, deficiencies in medical history and diagnosis records have led to the exclusion of some data, constituting a limiting factor of the study. Furthermore, because the automation software system used at the animal hospital did not record information such as breed, sex, and weight of the animals, these data could not be included in the study. The age limits used in the geriatric period definitions for cats and dogs should be considered a methodological limitation, as they do not fully reflect breed and individual differences. Due to an agreement between the animal hospital where the study was conducted and the municipal shelter, a large number of stray animals are brought to our hospital and transferred to the shelter after initial treatment. These patients generally represent the puppy and young population and do not revisit the hospital, which significantly affects the data in the study, particularly the rate of geriatric patients.
As a result of the study, the data obtained contribute to the epidemiological data on veterinary geriatrics in Türkiye. The findings reveal that urinary and gastrointestinal diseases in cats, as well as oncological and dermatological diseases in dogs, are the primary concerns during the geriatric period. The high rate of oncological diseases suggests that routine screening programs (abdominal ultrasonography, blood tests, radiography) should be added to protocols from certain ages onwards. The prevalence of cardiovascular, urinary, gastrointestinal, and dermatological diseases necessitates the development of geriatric animal nutrition products and supportive treatment options, as well as the establishment of specific follow-up protocols for these systems in veterinary clinics. The inadequacy in diagnosing endocrine and metabolic diseases highlights the importance of routine check-ups. Furthermore, this study and similar studies have reported an increasing geriatric cat and dog population in Türkiye. Population growth, new technological developments in veterinary medicine, the implementation of nutrition and care protocols that extend lifespan, the high frequency of repeat visits, and the chronic nature of geriatric diseases all support the need for regular follow-up. Early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach, and regular check-ups form the cornerstones of clinical success in the management of geriatric cats and dogs. The increase in data on the geriatric patient population in Türkiye will greatly contribute to the development of geriatric diseases in veterinary practice, both in clinical practice and in the academic field.
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