Special Veterinary Care for Your Senior Pet
“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.”
— Bern Williams
For years of good quality of life for your pets
Senior Pet Care
As pets reach the golden years, there are a variety of conditions and diseases they can face including kidney, heart, and liver disease; osteoarthritis; weight and mobility changes; tumors and cancers; diabetes and many others. We all want our pets to be healthy and fit but, unfortunately, like people, obesity can sneak up on them.
Please visit Pet Obesity Prevention for pet obesity facts and risks, ideal weight ranges, pet caloric needs, weight loss tools and more. Highland Road Animal Hospital cares about the health of your pet.
It is important for us to work together closely in order to develop a health care plan that is best suited to your senior pet. The early detection and treatment of medical problems, together with the recognition and prevention of disease risk factors, can result in many additional years of good quality life for your pet. Working together, we can help insure that our loyal friends enjoy the longest and healthiest life possible.
Our Senior program includes:
- Yearly or twice yearly physical exam
- Preventative vaccinations
- Parasite control programs
- Client education materials
- Appropriate diagnostic tests
The following is a description of the most commonly suggested diagnostic screening tests together with the most frequent abnormalities discovered:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - Blood test to evaluate the number and type of red, white, and clotting cells. Abnormal values can be associated with bacterial or viral infection, anemias, clotting diseases, and certain types of cancers.
- Chemistry Profile (Chem) - Blood test to evaluate the function of many internal organs. Abnormalities can indicate systemic disorders including diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and electrolyte abnormalities.
- Urinalysis (U/A) - Urine samples provide valuable information about kidney function as well as screening for infections, tumors, or bladder stones.
- Thyroid Level (T4) - Blood test to measure the amount of circulating thyroid hormone. Deficiency is common in dogs resulting in lethargy, weight gain, and dermatological problems. Increased levels are common in senior cats resulting in weight loss, increased appetite and thirst, and heart problems.
- Radiographs/Ultrasound - Imaging studies allow visualization of many internal organs including the bladder, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas and heart. These are especially useful in diagnosis of cardiac problems as well as abdominal growths and tumors.
Highland Road Animal Hospital offers a geriatric program that allows us to screen your pet for serious health problems rather than waiting for obvious signs of illness. Regular pet check-ups throughout the years will allow us to establish baseline values so we can track any health changes as your pet ages. Please call us today to schedule an appointment.
