Loving Care for Cherished Senior Pets
We consider most cats and dogs to be “seniors” by the age of seven. As pets age, changes in health are common, but there are many ways we can help pets age comfortably so that their quality of life doesn’t diminish. Common health issues for senior pets include:
- Arthritis
- Dental disease
- Kidney or urinary tract disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
We recommend all seniors visit us every six months so that we can detect any health concerns early, before they become serious. Early detection of illness and disease is essential to living a long and healthy life. For that reason, we may sometimes recommend special diagnostics, such as blood tests and imaging to make sure your pet is healthy.
Senior Pet Lab Work
Some of the tests we may recommend include:
- Complete blood count—Measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a given sample of blood
- Urinalysis—Detects the presence of one or more specific substances that normally do not appear in urine, such as protein, sugar, white blood cells, or blood
- Blood chemistry panel—Measures electrolytes, enzymes, and chemical elements and helps determine how organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, and liver are functioning
- Parasite evaluation—Microscopic examination of feces detects the presence of intestinal parasites such as roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, and Giardia
It is particularly important for you, the pet owner, to share any observations you notice in your pet, including changes in behavior, habits, or appearance, as this may indicate developing problems. Working together, we can make sure your pet is healthy and comfortable well into his or her senior years.