Our pets encounter numerous health care issues as they begin to enter their senior years. Their health problems related to advancing years are similar to our own;
1.) Kidney disease
2.) Dental disease
3.) Heart disease
4.) Obesity
5.) Arthritis
Early detection and treatment of disease can enable us to extend your pet’s life and improve the quality of it as well.
The physical exam is the most important part of your senior pet’s care. Without examination, many problems can go unnoticed until they are very severe. A good physical exam will tell our doctors many important things about your pet, especially since they can’t tell us themselves. For this reason, we highly recommend your senior pet have a complete physical exam every six months.
Specific diagnostics tests are also an essential part of the Senior Wellness Program. We recommend a running a senior blood work panel annually once your pet enters their senior years. This senior panel includes a complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, urinanalysis and thyroid panel. These specific tests give our doctors important information needed to diagnose:
1.) Anemia
2.) Dehydration
3.) Inflammation
4.) Infection
These tests also provide information regarding how well the kidneys, liver, thyroid and pancreas are functioning. It is great to have blood work values come back within normal range. We can use your pet’s results as a baseline in which we can refer back to in the future. This allows us to track progression and catch problems much earlier in the course of disease.
Our pet’s cannot tell us in words how they are feeling. As veterinary care professionals, we rely upon an owner’s bond to know when something isn’t right. Owners can play a very important role in catching and preventing disease by monitoring their pets for any changes in:
1.) Increase or decrease in food or water intake.
2.) Urine and feces production. Watch for any changes in frequency, amount or consistency.
3.) Stiffness, limping or slowness when rising.
4.) Any bumps or masses. Note if they get smaller or larger over time.
We at Timbercrest Veterinary Service, PC. feel very strongly about taking care of your senior pets. They have been part of your family for many years and it is our goal for you and your pet to fully enjoy every day of your life together for as long as possible.
