Senior Pet Care

Our goal is to maximize the lifespan and health of your pet. The potential lifespan of a dog or cat is 15 years. Comprehensive medical care and proper nutrition allow pets to live up to their potential and be happy, healthy long-term members of the family.

Senior Care Health Screenings

A pet's needs change as they age. The term "senior" describes the life stage during which dogs and cats become more susceptible to age-related health problems. This usually begins at age 6. Senior care screening is a proactive approach that promotes yearly health screening in senior pets before obvious symptoms occur, before anesthesia, and before prescribing long-term medications. This allows us to catch diseases early while we can prevent or slow disease progression, and while we have treatment options.

The screenings also give us valuable baseline information for future comparison. Senior care screenings include blood chemistry profiles which checks for kidney, pancreas, and liver disease, diabetes, anemia and other health problems. A urinalysis helps evaluate the bloodwork and also screens for infection, abnormal cell types and urinary protein and sugar content. A thyroid hormone level screening checks for abnormal thyroid levels, which is very common. Radiographs show any bone abnormalities, heart enlargement or tumor formation. An ECG allows us to consult with a veterinary heart specialist on the activity of the heart.

Behavioral Issues

Watch for changes in your pet's behavior. Some symptoms to watch for are:

• Interacting less with family
  
  
• Change in activity level
  
  
• Having difficulty climbing stairs or jumping
  
  
• Drinking more water
  
  
• Urinating more often
  
  
• Changing eating habits
  
  
• Weight gain or loss
  
  
• Changes in housetraining habits
  
  
• Seeming disoriented
  
  
• Changes in skin or hair
  
  
• Bad breath or swollen gums
  
  

Early detection can help to treat or slow disease progression. We can help you catch problems early and also set up a regular health monitoring plan and wellness checkups.

Nutrition for the Senior Pet

Nutritional needs change with age. Changes in sense and smell can affect your pet's appetite. Nutritional requirements also change with the different exercise and activity levels of the senior pet. The need for certain nutrients can change, such as fiber, calcium and sodium. The intestinal tract function and metabolism are different than a young pet. Conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and kidney disease require a prescription diet.

Feeding the proper diet in older animals can become critical. Never feed table scraps to pets, especially senior pets. This can lead to an upset in the nutritional balance, and cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems. High fat and salt content are detrimental to the senior pet.

A lifetime of good dental care will ensure as the pet ages that it will be comfortable for him to eat. Dental disease can make chewing very painful and the bacteria can lead to heart and kidney problems, and spread of infection throughout the body.

If your dog or cat is healthy but is aging, now is the time to gradually switch your pet to a diet specifically made for seniors. These foods have controlled amounts of protein, fat, and salt, which can be harmful to an older pet.

If your pet has a medical condition, such as kidney disease, your veterinarian will prescribe a prescription diet made for the specific condition your pet has.

What you feed your pet is a basic and important component of proper health care.

Pets are living longer and healthier lives. With the advances in veterinary medicine and good lifetime care, your pet can live a comfortable and happy life well into the senior years. Together we can help our patients spend many healthy years with their families.