Timberline Animal Hospital Fort Collins

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Senior Pet Care

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Senior pets hold a special place in our hearts. They have shared their lives with us and need some extra TLC as they age. Our goal for senior pets is to provide them with excellent, individualized medical care, pain management if necessary, and enhance their quality of life.  

We offer a wide range of senior health care services and we also offer a Senior Health Care Package to ensure that we are doing everything possible to maintain the health of your pet as he or she ages. 


Senior  Health Care Services: 
        Senior comprehensive wellness examinations 
        Pain assessment and management
        Dietary and weight management consultation
        Dental services and evaluating periodontal disease
        Vaccinations as needed
        Complete blood count
        Comprehensive chemistry panel
        Thyroid (T4) check
        Urinalysis
        Urine culture screening
        Fecal evaluation
        Blood pressure
        Consultation for home changes for loss of sight, hearing, or mobility
        Cognitive evaluations
        Senior Preventive Health Care Packages

Common Medical Conditions Seen in Senior Pets: 
         Diabetes (especially in cats)
        Osteoarthritis diagnosis and treatment
        Hormonal disorders (hypothyroidism & Cushings disease in dogs, hyperthyroidism in cats)
        Kidney and liver disease
        Pancreatitis
        Eye problems
        Cognitive disease
        Dental disease
        Obesity
        Cancer

Senior Pets

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Our pets age much faster than their human friends and can develop health conditions very quickly. We recommend that senior pets see their doctor more often so that we can diagnose and treat any developing health issues before they threaten your pet’s health. Early detection of illness and disease is critical to living a long and healthy life. Your Pet’s Family Doctor may recommend additional diagnostics, blood screenings, and pain relief medication depending on your pet’s needs. 
 
There are no hard and fast rules about when a pet is a senior pet because all pets age at different rates depending on their size, breed, and lifestyle. As the person who has shared their lives with them, it is important to recognize the subtle signs and gradual changes in your pet’s behavior that could indicate they need to visit their doctor. This is especially important for recognizing and treating pain.

Pain Management

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Nobody likes to be in pain. As humans, we have access to pain relief when we’re feeling sore or stiff or painful. Your pet relies on you to recognize the signs of pain and to take them to their doctor for treatment. Some of the subtle changes in your pet’s behavior that might indicate they are experiencing pain include: 

Decrease in mobility or  activity
Stiffness or limping
Difficulty getting up 
Resistance to being picked up or held
Decreased appetite
Excessive licking in one area
Inappropriate aggressive behavior or irritability
Personality changes
Increased panting or respiratory rate
Restlessness or unable to get comfortable
Whining or moaning
Hiding or sleeping in remote areas
Becoming withdrawn
Decreased muscle mass

For long-term pain management we can help assess your pet’s discomfort and create a tailored plan to your pet’s needs.  There are a variety of prescription medications in the form of pills, oral liquid, and transdermal forms that can give your pet relief from pain. We can also refer your pet for physical therapy and/or acupuncture.

Timberline Animal Hospital Fort Collins, Dr. Tim Rowe.
All rights reserved 2013
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Photos used under Creative Commons from fauxto_digit, celine nadeau