Senior Pet Care
Senior pets. As they age, our concerns about certain health care requirements change. It's hard to believe, but by 7 years old many pets are entering their senior years. Key points in monitoring an older pet are Annual Wellness Exams, Routine Lab work, feeding an Age Appropriate Diet, and keeping up with Dental Care. It is important to stay informed on these life stage shifts, including monitoring the liver, kidneys, and other internal organs for changes which may only be detectable in blood tests. Arthritic conditions may cause your pet to limp or just move slower. As pets age, they will also need a change in diet to something more appropriate for a senior. Our goal is to detect changes early on, when they are easier to deal with, keeping our aging pets healthy and happy. Often times there are relatively simple things pet owners can do to manage many health issues, if detected early. If you have questions on an older pet, please feel free to Contact our Staff a call at 651-452-5156. We are here to help!
Wellness Exams: a complete annual physical exam
During an annual wellness exam, the doctor will access your pet's general health. In addition to examining the body condition, haircoat, and looking for obvious abnormalities, the doctor will listen for heart conditions, listen to the lungs, palpate the abdomen, screen for arthritic changes, examine the eyes, and access many other points of potential concern.
Preventative Screening: Organ profile, Complete Blood Count, Thyroid Screen, and Urinalysis
Screening major organ function can help rule out common medical diseases like diabetes, renal failure, thyroid disease, and liver disease. Detecting a disease early can help your pet live a longer and healthier life. These tests are commonly performed with simple blood tests. Most lab results are available in Petly, our online patient portal.
Arthritic Changes
Just as with humans, as pets age, it is common for arthritic changes to develop. Using nutritional supplements or medications may help keep your pet comfortable. Many of the senior pet we treat enjoy greater mobility and quality of life. Never give any medication to a pet without consulting a veterinarian first.
Diet Changes
After the age of seven, pets should be fed a senior diet. Changes to the metabolism and functioning of the body affect the nutritional needs of an older pet. Foods too high in certain nutrients may place undue stress on internal organs. Always remember that any food change should be done gradually. We can assist you in selecting a food that is a good fit for your pet. If excess weight is an issue, we can help develop a reasonable weight loss plan to get the pounds off.
Oral Care for Seniors
Severe dental disease can occur in older pets. Keeping up on routine Dental Cleanings can help prevent more serious problem. Dental disease gone unchecked may affect not just the teeth, jaws, and bones, but also the internal organs. Keeping up with dental cleanings can help prevent infections or tooth loss. We are aware of the concerns with anesthetizing and older pet, and we have developed Surgical Standards of Care to minimize risk.
Life can always through us a curve ball, so if there is a topic not discussed here, or if you have additional questions or need to set up an appointment, please Contact Us today at 651-452-5156, we are happy to assist you. You can also browse the Pet Health Network Database for veterinarian written answers to questions. Working together, we can make sure our pets get the most out of their senior years!
Wellness Exams: a complete annual physical exam
During an annual wellness exam, the doctor will access your pet's general health. In addition to examining the body condition, haircoat, and looking for obvious abnormalities, the doctor will listen for heart conditions, listen to the lungs, palpate the abdomen, screen for arthritic changes, examine the eyes, and access many other points of potential concern.
Preventative Screening: Organ profile, Complete Blood Count, Thyroid Screen, and Urinalysis
Screening major organ function can help rule out common medical diseases like diabetes, renal failure, thyroid disease, and liver disease. Detecting a disease early can help your pet live a longer and healthier life. These tests are commonly performed with simple blood tests. Most lab results are available in Petly, our online patient portal.
Arthritic Changes
Just as with humans, as pets age, it is common for arthritic changes to develop. Using nutritional supplements or medications may help keep your pet comfortable. Many of the senior pet we treat enjoy greater mobility and quality of life. Never give any medication to a pet without consulting a veterinarian first.
Diet Changes
After the age of seven, pets should be fed a senior diet. Changes to the metabolism and functioning of the body affect the nutritional needs of an older pet. Foods too high in certain nutrients may place undue stress on internal organs. Always remember that any food change should be done gradually. We can assist you in selecting a food that is a good fit for your pet. If excess weight is an issue, we can help develop a reasonable weight loss plan to get the pounds off.
Oral Care for Seniors
Severe dental disease can occur in older pets. Keeping up on routine Dental Cleanings can help prevent more serious problem. Dental disease gone unchecked may affect not just the teeth, jaws, and bones, but also the internal organs. Keeping up with dental cleanings can help prevent infections or tooth loss. We are aware of the concerns with anesthetizing and older pet, and we have developed Surgical Standards of Care to minimize risk.
Life can always through us a curve ball, so if there is a topic not discussed here, or if you have additional questions or need to set up an appointment, please Contact Us today at 651-452-5156, we are happy to assist you. You can also browse the Pet Health Network Database for veterinarian written answers to questions. Working together, we can make sure our pets get the most out of their senior years!
