Whether you recently adopted or rescued a senior pet or you have spent many happy years with your furry friend, their golden years come with unique needs and challenges. At Advanced Pet Care Clinic, we support your pet's well-being throughout life so they can fully enjoy this stage in comfort and health.
How Old is Your Senior Pet?
As pets age quicker than people, it may come as a surprise just how old your pet can be. Also, a pet's aging process depends on factors such as species, breed, and environment. Do you know a cat or small dog is a senior, around seven? Large breed dogs can senior around six due to shorter average life spans. Here is a chart from the AVMA:
Caring for Senior Pets: Being Prepared for Age-Related Health Changes
Caring for senior pets involves being prepared for the changes that come with aging, especially since pets are often skilled at hiding their pain. As pets age, they can experience changes similar to those in elderly humans, such as vision and hearing loss, decreased mobility, and an increased risk of various diseases. Dr. Stevenson is highly trained to recognize these subtle signs and look for potential health issues during examinations, ensuring we address emerging concerns early. Senior pets are particularly susceptible to developing:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Kidney and urinary tract issues
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Cognitive dysfunction
Senior Wellness Screenings at Advanced Pet Care Clinic
“Senior pets need to see a veterinarian twice a year or more so signs of illness or other problems can be found and treated early, before they become bigger problems.” AVMA
To provide your pet with the best quality of care, Dr. Stevenson believes in the importance of diagnostic testing to detect early changes in their organ function. Pets cannot talk, so test results give pets a voice. It helps us provide longer, healthier, happier lives for pets! Following are the tests we perform for senior pets:
Chemistry Profile and CBC (Complete Blood Count)
A blood chemistry profile checks your pet’s liver, kidneys, pancreas, blood sugar, and hydration levels. A CBC can find infections, inflammation, and anemia.
Fecal Test
This test checks for hidden intestinal parasites in your pet’s digestive tract. It is the only reliable way to detect and identify parasites like roundworms and hookworms.
Thyroid Function Test
This test measures if your pet’s thyroid gland is working correctly. Thyroid disease is common in older cats and dogs.
Cardiac Disease Screening
This screening looks for early signs of heart disease, allowing for timely treatment to slow its progress.
Annual Exam
During your pet's annual checkup, Dr. Stevenson examines the nose, throat, mouth, teeth, gums, eyes, ears, skin, coat, legs, paws, abdomen, heart, and lungs to ensure good health.
Caring for Your Senior Pet with Alternative Therapies
At Advanced Pet Care Clinic, we offer alternative therapies that can significantly improve senior pets' comfort and quality of life.
- Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation
Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM) is comparable to chiropractic treatment and is becoming popular among pet owners. VOM uses a device that delivers motion faster than the human hand, but with less total force, into a joint segment. We can treat an animal experiencing any level of discomfort (or lack of it) or in any position during treatment, making the therapy much easier for the patient. As the motion from the device moves the joint, it affects the nerve in the joint, reducing pain and restoring proper function. VOM is also capable of speeding the healing process
- Class IV Laser Therapy
A new branch of medicine, the Class IV laser delivers a large amount of light energy into your pet companion’s body. When it interacts with damaged cells, it accelerates healing and pain is virtually eliminated. Laser Therapy helps your best friend age, recover from trauma or surgery, or simply provides relief from everyday aches and pains. - Rehabilitation Services
URL:https://www.advancedpetcareclinic.com/services/rehabilitation
Click on the picture below to learn about the exciting addition of rehabilitation services to Advanced Pet Care Clinic.
Caring for Your Senior Pet at Home
1. Monitor Your Pet’s Weight
Weight plays a significant role in an older pet’s health. Obesity can worsen conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. On the other hand, sudden weight loss in a dog or cat can indicate serious health issues like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, gastrointestinal problems, cancer, or severe dental issues. It may also result from internal parasites, heart disease, chronic pain, or stress. If you notice or suspect a sudden change in your senior pet’s weight, contact us promptly.
2. Encourage Physical Activity
Even as pets age, regular exercise remains important. Tailor activities to their ability, opting for shorter walks or multiple brief play sessions. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity daily but adjust based on your pet’s comfort level. If walks have become difficult for your pet, taking them for a stroll around the neighborhood in a wagon or pet stroller helps stimulate the brain and keep them engaged in the world around them. Keeping up on the sights, scents, and sounds of the neighborhood keeps your pets brain stimulated.
3. Maintain Dental Health
Dental disease is a leading issue in senior pets and can cause pain and affect major organs. Regular dental checkups and cleanings at Advanced Pet Care Clinic are essential to maintaining your pet’s oral health. Additionally, we provide helpful tips on brushing techniques, dental chews, and choosing the right diet to keep your pet's teeth healthy and strong between visits. Please read our blog:Pawsitively Perfect Teeth: Why Pet Dental Health Should Remain a Priority.
4. Assist Your Senior Pet with Grooming
All pets benefit from regular grooming. Brushing your pet helps remove loose hairs and dead skin cells while distributing natural oils. Senior dogs and cats may need extra help maintaining a clean, healthy coat. Arthritis can make it difficult for them to reach all parts of their body, leading to matting, discomfort, and even skin infections. Regular grooming keeps their coat in good condition and helps you identify any issues early, such as lumps, bumps, or signs of irritation.
5. Adjust Their Environment to Their Needs
As pets age, their physical capabilities and comfort levels change, requiring adjustments to their environment to maintain their quality of life. By making simple modifications, you can help your senior pet navigate their surroundings more easily and enjoy a safe and comfortable space. Here are four adjustments to consider:
- Pet Stairs or Ramps: These aids are ideal for helping pets access their favorite spots or get in and out of the car.
- Comfortable Bedding: Consider orthopedic or heated beds to alleviate joint pain and improve rest.
- Safe Spaces: To prevent accidents, keep dogs on a leash outdoors and provide secure patios or enclosures for cats. The Purfect Fence has fence and patio options to make the outdoors safe for cats.
- Help Them Find Their Way
Vision or hearing loss in a pet can be more upsetting to the pet parent than the pet. Pets can learn to navigate around these disabilities. However, you can help them by making your home a safe haven for your pet by doing the following:
- Keep a consistent routine at home as much as possible. Minimize changes in the home and map out "routes" using textured runners, safety gates, and night lights.
- Incorporate sound cues for play and enrichment. For example, use an elevated, trickling fountain to help pets locate water. Provide them with squeak toys or other toys that make noise for playing. Vocalize your actions to keep your pet comfortable and connected to you.
- Incorporate scent for games of fetch and hide-and-seek or to help your pet identify key areas like feeding spots and rest areas.
Caring for Senior Pets: Ensuring Comfort and Quality in Their Golden Years
Caring for senior pets requires attention, understanding, and thoughtful adjustments to their changing needs. By modifying their environment, monitoring their health, and scheduling regular wellness exams and alternative therapies, you can help your pet age gracefully and maintain a high quality of life. Regular screening and preventative health care become critical in prolonging your companion’s life. Together, we can help your pets live longer, healthier lives.
If you have any questions or would like an estimate on your pet’s annual exam, or about any of these services, please call or text at 319-277-7675, or email us at [email protected]. We would be happy to assist you.
Advanced Pet Care Clinic