Our companion pets get older at a faster pace than we do. In a blink of an eye, the puppy and kitten that was brought home, journey to middle and old age faster than you can believe. The rate of aging in large breeds of dogs are even faster. For example, a 5-6-year-old Great Dane is already in his/her senior years.
Many senior pets may be dealing with chronic conditions which should be addressed. Here is a list of the most common ones:
- Periodontitis and oral infection (needs a dental cleaning and in some cases extraction of some teeth with significant soft tissue and bone loss)
- Arthritis can be addressed with weight management, appropriate exercise, and using anti-inflammatory medicine
- Endocrine disease (Hypothyroidism in dogs, Hyperthyroidism in cats, Diabetes, Cushing’s disease…)
- Kidney disease especially in older cats which can be managed with lower protein, a lower phosphorus diet and a treatment plan to address this issue.
That is why senior pets need an examination at least once a year and routine laboratory tests.
Annual tests which include a complete blood test, urinalysis and fecal test to give us an opportunity to get valuable information about your pets’ health. It is better to be proactive and intercept these diseases in early stages.
In advance stages, they are harder to treat and can be a financial burden and time and labor intensive. We want to keep them healthy and happy, interactive and joyous for as long as we can.