|
Senior Care
Senior Plans
Is your pet growing old gracefully?
Just like people, as your pet ages its organs will slowly deteriorate
and lose their ability to function. With modern medical tools and
in-house blood analysis, veterinarians can take a more proactive
approach to maintain your pet’s good health. Senior animals are prone
to many of the same diseases older humans experience—diabetes, kidney
disease, heart disease, cancer, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism.
Senior testing helps establish healthy baseline values and identify
problems early rather than waiting for obvious signs of tragic
illness. The recommended health screenings for senior pets and humans
are identical except for two notable differences-- costs and
turnaround time. Health profiles also serve as a complete
pre-anesthetic screen for a dental procedure or surgery. In addition,
a senior health profile helps us avoid using medications that may be
unsafe for your pet’s condition or health status.
Is my pet “over 40”?
Your pet is considered a senior pet once it has reached the following
age:
Small Dogs- (Less than 20 pounds) 9 to 13 years
Medium Dogs- (21 to 50 pounds) 9 to 11.5 years
Large Dogs- (51 to 90 pounds) 7.5 to 10.5 years
Giant Dogs- (Over 90 pounds) 6 to 9 years
Most Cats 8 to 10 years
Is my pet a good candidate for senior health testing?
Senior health testing is recommended for all senior animals, as well
as any pet that may exhibit one or more of
these symptoms:
• Weight loss or gain
• Increased urination
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst
• Seizures
• Unusual Behavior
• Poor hair coat
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance
• Pets undergoing an anesthetic procedure (dental, surgery, or other
procedures)
For more information
on Senior Care, download the
complete article (PDF).
|
|
