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Planning for Senior Care
 Our
pets are living longer than ever
thanks to high quality pet foods and
preventative veterinary care. Just
as people, pets develop problems as
they age. Common problems that we
see with older animals include
dental disease, arthritis, and
kidney or liver disease.
Symptoms of age-related diseases are
often subtle or vague. Changes in
pets’ activity level, appetite, and
weight can indicate that there is a
problem. Twice yearly exams and
regular bloodwork of older pets can
be a very effective way to detect
geriatric disease early. Early
detection frequently means more
effective treatment and a better
quality of life.
One of the most common problems seen
in our older patients is arthritis.
Often owners note that their dog
doesn’t like to go on long walks
anymore, has difficulty getting up
in the morning, or difficulty going
up the stairs. Please share this
information with your veterinarian
as there are a number of options
available to treat pain and
arthritis. These include diet,
nutritional supplements, and
anti-inflammatory medications.
By some reports 80% of senior pets
have dental disease. This often
causes pain and discomfort to the
pet but all the owners notice is bad
breath. In most cases it is safe to
perform dental cleanings on
geriatric pets. We take precautions
such as blood work, chest x-rays
(when necessary), IV fluids and
intensive monitoring during the
procedure. After dental cleanings
many owners report that their pet
acts years younger and they wish
they had the teeth cleaned sooner.
Geriatric examinations usually
include a standard physical; eye,
ear, mouth, chest, abdomen, and
orthopedic; blood chemistry profile;
complete blood count; urinalysis and
possibly endocrine (glandular)
tests, and in some cases X-rays.
These exams may add $200–$400 to
your annual veterinary costs, but
the expense is much less than what
you will ultimately pay if diseases
progress untreated. Still, planning
for preventive care makes sense.
When will your pet require
geriatric care?
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Dog Size: |
And weigh: |
Generally require geriatric attention when they are: |
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Small |
Less than 20 pounds |
9–13 years old |
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Medium |
21–50 pounds |
9–11.5 years old |
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Large |
51–90 pounds |
7.5–10.5 years old |
|
Giant |
More than 90 pounds |
6–9 years old |
Cats usually require geriatric
care when they are 8–10 years
old.
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Helpful Information
