Senior Wellness Care
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.
Senior Wellness Services
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Vaccinations as needed for current lifestyle
-
Senior Health Screening – Annual
- Bloodwork – CBC/Chemistry/Electrolytes
- Thyroid
- Urinalysis
- Heartwork Test
- Fecal Test
- Blood Pressure
- Dental health assessment & treatment plan
- Weight control assessment & discussion - both weight gain & weight loss should be addressed
- Nutrition discussion & food selection planning
- Pain assessment, discussion, and planning
- Recommendations for broad-spectrum parasite control & heartworm prevention
- Address behavior change concerns
- Assess any new lumps & bumps
Additional In-House Diagnostics Offered
- Tonometry (Glaucoma Testing)
- Digital Radiographs
- Ultrasound
- Blood Pressure
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Schirmer Tear Test
- Base Cortisol
Common Health Conditions in Senior Pets
- Dental Disease
- Arthritis
- Weight Loss
- Obesity
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Hypothyroidism (dogs)
- Hyperthyroidism (cats)
- Incontinence
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney Disease
- Cancer
- Seizures
- Deafness
- Cataracts & Retinal Disease
Senior Pets
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. We 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
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
- Restless, 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 that can give your pet relief from pain. We can also refer your pet for physical therapy and/or acupuncture.