Our pets grow old just like us. Unfortunately, our pets are
aging much more quickly than we are. Dogs are considered seniors at 7 years of
age and cats at 11 years of age. Think of all the diagnostics your doctor has
done or will do for you as a senior citizen. We in the veterinary field
recommend the same care and attention for your pets.
Ideally, all senior pets will have a physical exam every 6
months. The more frequent exam schedule is due to the fact that our pets do age
so quickly and as they enter into senior-hood they are more likely to develop
ailments that slow them down or make them ill. It is important to recognize any
health concerns as early as possible because early diagnosis can make the
difference between life and death in some cases.
In addition to the physical exam, your veterinarian may
recommend certain diagnostics be done on your pet. A thorough blood panel with a
urinalysis should be performed annually. X-rays of your pet’s chest and
abdomen along with routine blood pressure readings may be recommended annually
as well. These diagnostics give us a peek as to what might be going on inside
your pet’s body. There may be borderline or underlying issues that we may not
be able to diagnose with a simple physical exam. In many cases, by the time you
notice your pet showing clinical signs of a disease process at home, the disease
is much more progressed and treatment may be more complicated and thus more
expensive than it would have been if the disease was detected earlier.
With old age comes a more fragile body and with a more fragile
body comes susceptibility to disease processes. In general, older pets don’t
slow down because of "age" but instead because of an underlying
ailment. A lot of these problems are treatable, if caught early enough, and your
pet could regain their vibrant adult lifestyle back! ◊
The Most Common Diseases of Senior Dogs:
· Nutritional Related Disease
(i.e.- obesity)
· Dental Disease
· Arthritis
· Metabolic Diseases (liver
disease, kidney disease, etc)
· Endocrine Disorders
(hypothyroidism, Cushing’s
disease, diabetes mellitus, etc)
· Heart Diseases
· Skin Tumors
· Urinary Problems or Incontinence
· Cancers
· Behavioral and/or Cognitive Dysfunction
The Most Common Diseases of Senior Cats:
· Nutritional Related Disease
(i.e.- obesity)
· Dental Disease
· Kidney Disease
· Hyperthyroidism
· Diabetes Mellitus
· Hypertension (High blood
pressure)
· Heart Diseases
· Inflammatory Bowel Disease
· Skin Tumors
· Cancers
For more information,
contact Shawn Seibel, DVM of Advanced Pet Care of Parker.
17002 E. Mainstreet Unit J.
303-840-6300.
www.apcofparker.com
