Diet, exercise and medical advances are not only benefiting humans, but are working to add years and enhance the quality of their pet's lives, too. Many older animals have health concerns. We offer preventative programs that are similar to human programs-weight
control, exercise, regular examinations and tests for early detection to help your aging pets live longer and more comfortably.
As dogs and cats age, owners may notice physical signs including weight gain, arthritis, hearing or vision loss, and inappropriate
urination. Problems that are not noticeable are potentially fatal if left untreated. Cancer is the number one non-accidental cause of death in cats and dogs. Other common diseases in aging pets include problems with the kidneys, liver or heart; dental problems or hormonal imbalances. The key to controlling these problems is to detect the diseases early through annual visits to your veterinarian.
Care at home and lifestyle are also essential to increasing the quality and length of a pet's life. Weight control is probably the most important factor to help your aging pet's quality of life. Excessive quantities of dog food, human food, and treats lead to obesity. Obesity can lead to arthritis problems, diabetes, liver disease and early mortality. Recent studies have shown that pets need less calories as they age and it can be as much as 30 percent fewer calories.
Exercise is also important to help keep pets trim. It is better to exercise your pet moderately and consistently rather then sporadically and strenuously.
Sleeping arrangements may need to be changed for your pet as well. Arthritic dogs
and cats need soft surfaces to sleep on. The thick soft beds for
pets really help arthritic pets get up easily after laying down for
a long period of time. Pets who spend most of their time outdoors may need to sleep inside or in a warmer part of the house.
Dental care with regular dental cleaning becomes more important as pets age. Bacteria
and tartar lead to gingivitis, which breaks down the gum barrier so bacteria can
enter the bloodstream and travel to the kidneys, liver and heart. Regular dental
cleaning and polishing as well as brushing your pet's teeth is very important to
keeping your pet healthy.
Many problems in older pets cannot be avoided since they are a part of
the normal aging process, but if you
practice preventative health care and a sensible diet and exercise routine you are providing your pet with the best chance to live a longer, healthier life.
As part of preventative health care for early detection of diseases that can be corrected or managed successfully, we recommend that you have the following testing done as well as an annual physical exam.
- We recommend testing your dog annually
for:
- Chemistry profile
looking at liver, kidney, electrolyte, calcium and phosphorus imbalances and diabetes and thyroid problems
CBC
looks for anemia, infection, inflammation
Urinalysis
looks for early kidney disease, bladder infection, bladder stones, bladder tumors, or liver problems
Dental care
- regular dental
exams, cleaning and brushing.
