Senior Pet Care
Thanks to advances in veterinary health care, pets are living longer and healthier lives. Though ages vary when it comes to considering when a pet is a "senior citizen," a good rule of thumb is to consider large dogs as senior citizens at seven years of age and small dogs and cats at nine years.
While it may not seem that long ago that your faithful companion was a frisky kitten or playful puppy, your senior pet requires a different health and wellness plan than was necessary in his or her younger days. The veterinarians and staff at Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital understand the medical needs of senior pets - that's why we've developed a comprehensive senior pet wellness program.
Preventive health care is critical for senior pets. Like humans, older pets are at an increased risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, endocrine disease, cancer and others. Because not all pets exhibit visible symptoms, these diseases can often go undetected. Early detection of these diseases results in faster treatment and better overall health for your pet, and for this reason, we recommend that senior pets have twice yearly exams.
During an exam, we listen to your pet's heart and lungs to detect signs of heart murmurs, abnormal heart beat patterns, infection, tumors and other diseases. Your pet's vision is evaluated and a glaucoma screening is performed. Hearing and blood pressure are also tested. Senior pet exams also include special laboratory tests, which examine your pet's thyroid, blood and urine. For breeds that are at risk for developing heart disease, we also perform an electrocardiogram.
The staff at Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital encourages you to take an active role in the care of your senior pet. A decline in energy, a decrease in vision and hearing, weight gain, dental disease and skin conditions are all signs of old age. Other signs to look for include:
- Behavior changes
- Slow movements, including slow rising
- Limping
- Change in water intake or in urination behavior
- Trembling or shaking
As these signs begin to appear, inform your veterinarian and keep track of any changes in your pet's behavior or overall health. We want to work with you to keep your senior pet happy and pain free for as long as we can.