As dogs and cats get older, they need more attention and special care. We can help make sure your pet remains fit and healthy as they age and help us catch any potential problems earlier, when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can actually help your pet live longer, too!
Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, animals may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are quite advanced.
Senior status varies depending on your pet’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats generally live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your pet is in.
Before your dog or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring them in for yearly exams and laboratory work. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes. Your senior pet may benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.
We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age. We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, by medically managing any chronic conditions, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable.