Senior Wellness Care
Our pets age seven times faster than their human caretakers. They can also suffer from the same ailments as humans, diabetes, kidney disease, dental disease, heart disease, hormonal imbalances and cancer. Some of these conditions can be detected early and treated, thus adding years of an active lifestyle for your pet. Routine, semi-annual physical exams and annual blood testing and other diagnostics can help with the detection of problems. Astute observation by the owners can also alert the veterinarian to possible problems.
Signs of possible problems:
- Increased thirst, drinking more water than normal, urinating more or breaks in house-training.
- Changes in hair coat, lumps, bumps or discolorations on the skin.
- Tires easily.
- Limps, reluctance to jump up or slow to get up.
- Bad breath, drops food or drools excessively.
- Coughing.
Diagnostic testing is recommended annually starting by age seven. A routine panel is done as a comparative for future panels. The following tests help detect diseases earlier.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - The CBC tests the blood cells for anemia, (low blood count), infections, inflammation and overall healthiness of the cells.
- Chemistry Tests: tests the main organ functions
- Liver- (AST, ALT, Alk.Phos., Bilirubin, GGT, Cholesterol, Protein)
- These tests help alert the veterinarian to problems with the liver. If there is an elevation of the enzymes, further diagnostics may be warranted to determine the cause of the problem.
- These tests help alert the veterinarian to problems with the liver. If there is an elevation of the enzymes, further diagnostics may be warranted to determine the cause of the problem.
- Kidney- (BUN, Creatinine, Phosphorus, Amylase, Albumin, Globulin)
- The kidney is the main filter for the body. When the kidneys start to deteriorate, toxins can build up in the body.
- The kidney is the main filter for the body. When the kidneys start to deteriorate, toxins can build up in the body.
- Pancreas- (Glucose, Amylase, Lipase, Triglyceride)
- The pancreas produces insulin and enzymes to digest fat. Dogs can get pancreatitis and diabetes.
- The pancreas produces insulin and enzymes to digest fat. Dogs can get pancreatitis and diabetes.
- Muscle and Bone-
- Calcium and Phosphorus are helpful in determining the health of the bones. Many dogs fed exclusively table scraps will often have an abnormal balance of calcium resulting in brittle or rubbery bones. The proper ration of Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium is essential for a healthy body.
- CPK and AST are elevated when there is muscle trauma, damage or inflammation.
- Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus) - These are important elements in monitoring the health of the body. Elevations of Potassium can occur with kidney disease or blockages and can result with cardiac arrhythmias and death.
- Calcium and Phosphorus are helpful in determining the health of the bones. Many dogs fed exclusively table scraps will often have an abnormal balance of calcium resulting in brittle or rubbery bones. The proper ration of Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium is essential for a healthy body.
- Liver- (AST, ALT, Alk.Phos., Bilirubin, GGT, Cholesterol, Protein)
- Hormonal imbalances-
- Thyroid hormone imbalances occur commonly in our pets. Too low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) can result in skin and coat problems, weight gain, and lethargy while too high of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) occurs commonly in older cats resulting in weight loss, heart, blood pressure and kidney diseases.
- Cushings disease- excessive cortisol production, results in thinning skin, excess urination or thirst, diabetes, whereas Addison’s disease is too little cortisol.
- Thyroid hormone imbalances occur commonly in our pets. Too low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) can result in skin and coat problems, weight gain, and lethargy while too high of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) occurs commonly in older cats resulting in weight loss, heart, blood pressure and kidney diseases.
- Urinalysis-
- Checking the urine helps detect kidney and bladder problems.
Crystals , stones or infection can develop in the bladder. Sometimes, radiographs and ultrasound is necessary to detect bladder stones.
- Checking the urine helps detect kidney and bladder problems.
- Parasite exams-
- Older dogs still need routine parasite exams and routine preventatives. I recommend flea control, heartworm preventative and internal parasite control on a monthly basis year round. A parasite check can also alert the veterinarian to other parasites such as giardia, coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms. Each intestinal parasite requires a specific product to effectively remove the parasite safely. Also, monthly de-worming helps reduce the environmental contamination of hookworms and roundworms that can expose children to these parasites.
- Older dogs still need routine parasite exams and routine preventatives. I recommend flea control, heartworm preventative and internal parasite control on a monthly basis year round. A parasite check can also alert the veterinarian to other parasites such as giardia, coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms. Each intestinal parasite requires a specific product to effectively remove the parasite safely. Also, monthly de-worming helps reduce the environmental contamination of hookworms and roundworms that can expose children to these parasites.
- Heart Exam-
- Auscultation with a stethoscope can detect heart murmurs from faulty heart valves. If a murmur is detected, further diagnostics with radiographs, ECG, and ultrasound can determine the extent of the heart problem and what type of medication can be used to help with cardiac function.
- Auscultation with a stethoscope can detect heart murmurs from faulty heart valves. If a murmur is detected, further diagnostics with radiographs, ECG, and ultrasound can determine the extent of the heart problem and what type of medication can be used to help with cardiac function.
- Dental Exam-
- Nearly 80% of our pets have significant dental disease by the time they are seven. Start your pet early with daily tooth brushing, dental chews, dental diets, and oral rinses to prevent the plaque build-up that leads to infection. Dental infections or periodontal disease can trim three years off your pet’s life span by infecting other organs. Have your pet’s mouth examined prior to starting a dental program. Tartar that is already present, fractured teeth, or exposed nerves will have to be treated before you start a dental regime.
- Nearly 80% of our pets have significant dental disease by the time they are seven. Start your pet early with daily tooth brushing, dental chews, dental diets, and oral rinses to prevent the plaque build-up that leads to infection. Dental infections or periodontal disease can trim three years off your pet’s life span by infecting other organs. Have your pet’s mouth examined prior to starting a dental program. Tartar that is already present, fractured teeth, or exposed nerves will have to be treated before you start a dental regime.
- Skin exam-
- Lumps, bumps or changes in skin color can be an early indicator of skin cancers. Cancer can also occur in the mouth, too and is frequently detected during an oral exam or dentistry.
- Lumps, bumps or changes in skin color can be an early indicator of skin cancers. Cancer can also occur in the mouth, too and is frequently detected during an oral exam or dentistry.
- Abdominal Palpation-
- Your veterinarian can sometimes be able to detect masses in the belly of your pet. The spleen, liver, kidneys and lymph nodes can develop cancer. If there is a suspicious mass in the abdomen, further diagnostics, radiographs and ultra sound can be performed.
- Your veterinarian can sometimes be able to detect masses in the belly of your pet. The spleen, liver, kidneys and lymph nodes can develop cancer. If there is a suspicious mass in the abdomen, further diagnostics, radiographs and ultra sound can be performed.
- Eye exam-
- Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), cataracts and other diseases can be detected with an eye exam.
- Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), cataracts and other diseases can be detected with an eye exam.
- Blood Pressure-
- High blood pressure can be caused by kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, heart disease or hyperthyroidism.
- High blood pressure can be caused by kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, heart disease or hyperthyroidism.
- Radiographs-
- Can help detect arthritis, bone cancers, disc disease, and masses in the abdomen, chest and elsewhere. Newer pain medications have fewer side effects and can help your pet if he develops arthritis.
- Can help detect arthritis, bone cancers, disc disease, and masses in the abdomen, chest and elsewhere. Newer pain medications have fewer side effects and can help your pet if he develops arthritis.
Steps you can take to help your pet live longer and happier:
- A Wellness plan with your veterinarian. Semi-annual exams are highly recommended.
- Parasite control.
- Good nutrition, limit snacks and keep a healthy weight.
- Regular exercise, good for both humans and pets.
- Home dental care.
- Grooming-reduce mats, check for parasites and lumps.
- Vaccinations, older dogs can still get distemper, and other diseases. Work with your veterinarian to develop a plan based on your dog’s exposure and diseases in your area.
- Observe for changes in your pet’s behavior, diet or elimination.
- Pet Insurance- insurance can help with the expenses of diagnostic testing, surgery, chemo-therapy and treatments. Dogs that are covered by insurance are less likely to be euthanized due to a cost of a treatment.
- Plenty of Love
Our pets are a part of our family. They count on us to provide them with everything that they need. We can help them live longer and with a higher quality of life. I think that they deserve it,
Filed under: pet health on May 28th, 2008
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