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Senior
Healthcare
• Senior Healthcare • Boarding and Grooming • Friends in Need •
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Diagnostic tests can help detect many diseases before your pet displays
signs of a condition. Even if results are normal, the findings give your
veterinarian a good baseline to identify and monitor changes in your pet's
health as the years progress.
While changes in behavior or appearance may be the first indication of a
problem, these signs may not be apparent during your veterinary visit. That's
why it's important for you to watch for subtle changes in your pet and notify
your veterinarian.
Even if your pet is just reaching his or her senior years, preventive health
care can help detect problems early, when diseases can be treated more
effectively.
 | Periodontal Disease - Inflammation of the teeth and gums may lead
to pain, infection, tooth loss, bad breath, kidney and heart disease, and, as
a result, decrease your pet's life expectancy. |
| Obesity - As your pet's metabolism slows down, weight gain can
increase his or her risk of arthritis, disc disease and diabetes. |
| Endocrine disease - Aging pets often experience changes in thyroid,
pancreas and adrenal gland function that can negatively affect the heart, the
digestive system, as well as the liver and kidney. |
| Kidney and liver disease - Failure of these organs can lead to
chemical imbalances, anemia, comprised immune function and blood clotting
defects as well as altered mental capacity. Kidney disease is a leading cause
of death in cats. |
| Heart disease - Pets with heart disease can experience difficulty
breathing, fatigue, exercise intolerance and lethargy. Medications may help
make your pet more comfortable. |
| Arthritis - Arthritic joints are not only painful, they make it
difficult for your pet to climb stairs, run, or even jump into your lap. |
| Loss of vision - Older animals are at risk for cataracts and
nuclear sclerosis--a natural again process that clouds the eye. |
| Cancer - Early detection may improve the prognosis. Many treatments
are available and most have very few side effects. |
| Behavior changes - Pets suffering from canine Cognitive Dysfunction
Syndrome may appear disoriented, forget their housetraining, sleep more and
interact with family members less.
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