- Pet Health
Senior Pet Health
Special Care for Older Pets:
- A physical exam twice per year
- Screening blood tests once per year
- Special diets to control illness and obesity
- Nutritional support for arthritic joints
Pets can live long, productive lives and bring joy to their families. The doctors at the Progressive Pet Animal Hospitals are dedicated to ensuring that your older pets receive specialized care designed to meet their changing needs. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact age at which your pet becomes a ‘senior’, in that animals age at different rates. For example, a giant dog, such as a Saint Bernard, may be considered old at 5 years of age, while a miniature poodle may not be a senior until 10 years of age or older. As a rule of thumb, consider your 7 year old dog and 9 year old cat to be seniors. This way, you can make sure that they receive special attention and specialized care.
It is crucial to catch any changes in your older pet’s health as early as possible. Early detection allows for early treatment which can significantly improve the quality of your older pet’s life. For this reason, we recommend twice per year physical examinations for your senior pets. During these examinations, a complete history of your pet’s health will be taken so as to uncover any signs of illness in your pet. The doctors will ask questions regarding appetite, sleeping, vocalizing, behavior, elimination, and play to make sure that your older pet is still acting and feeling well at home.
Common problems seen in aging pets include dental disease, orthopedic problems, obesity, and changes in behavior. The doctors can provide dental care, offer advice regarding arthritis, and even recommend special diets for your older pets. Behavior issues may be helped with a combination of training, medication, and even diet.
In addition, the doctors may suggest annual blood tests and a urinalysis for your older pet. These screening tests check for illnesses that are common in older pets and can be treated with medications and diet. For example, older pets are more likely to suffer from cardiac abnormalities, kidney disease, thyroid problems, and diabetes. Screening tests can identify these problems early enough that mediations, foods, and life style changes can be recommended to limit the illnesses and help your pets feel better, longer.
Older pets need just a little bit of extra care to feel great. Remember: physical examinations twice yearly and blood work once per year!
