Health issues that may affect older dogs and cats include:
- Dental disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Diseases of the kidney, liver, and heart
- Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
To optimize your senior pet’s wellbeing, we recommend a number of preventive steps to ensure early detection and treatment of emerging diseases. Many medical conditions and diseases can be treated or managed, enhancing longevity and quality of life. Preventive steps include:
- Schedule bi-annual veterinary wellness exams for pets 7–10 years of age.
- Our recommendations will vary, but more medical tests may be run to check for organ function and other diseases.
- Assess your pet’s nutrition; if he or she is overweight or has chronic conditions, a special diet may be in order.
- For pets with joint problem or arthritis, we will work with you to develop a pain management program, which may include acupuncture or therapeutic laser therapy.
When to Be Concerned
Many changes that occur to our aging pets are natural. Older pets may slow down, grey, and have less pep. If you see marked changes in behavior and activity level, please schedule an appointment for an evaluation. Red flags for a more serious problem include:
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty passing urine
- Breathing heavily at rest
- Hair loss
- Decreased appetite
- Increased water consumption and urination
- Deteriorating vision, hearing, or sense of smell
- Increased size of the abdomen
The Grey Muzzle, a non-profit organization devoted to senior dogs, is a great resource that focuses on caring for senior dogs.
If we have not seen your senior pet in the last six months, we urge you to call today to schedule a senior pet wellness exam.