Loving Care For Your Senior Companions
We love our bouncing puppies and kittens but senior pets make some of the sweetest companions out there.
As your pet grows older, it is important to remember that they require more frequent physical exams and extra diagnostic tests. Preventive healthcare is the best approach for senior pets!
As pet parents, our daily interactions with our furry friends put us in a vital position to spot signs of disease. While annual wellness veterinary visits are essential for pets of all ages, they become even more crucial during their senior years. Ideally, older pets should be examined semi-annually, or more frequently if they have any medical issues. Just like people, animals can develop a range of problems, including cancer, heart disease, kidney/urinary issues, liver problems, joint/bone conditions, senility, and weakness.
Our mission at Sacramento Animal Hospital is to promptly address any emerging health concerns to ensure those tails keep wagging. During this stage of care, preventive medicine may shift its focus away from vaccinations and toward baseline screening tests, including:
- Labwork: This may include a chemistry panel, complete blood cell count, thyroid level, and urinalysis.
- Radiographs: X-rays allow us to evaluate the chest and the abdomen.
- Echocardiogram: This is essentially an ultrasound of the heart, performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
- Abdominal Ultrasound: This allows us to evaluate for more advanced diseases.
- Dental exams: To address any “hidden” discomforts in the mouth.
If you notice any of the following changes, please call to schedule a senior pet consult with one of our veterinarians:
- Unexplained weight gain/loss
- Changes in appetite/water consumption
- Signs of joint pain/stiffness after exercise
- Behavior changes like confusion or anxiety
Our team is dedicated to working alongside you to evaluate your pet's comfort and overall quality of life. Our goal is to make these golden years as happy and comfortable as possible.
If your pet is 7 or older, call us to schedule a senior wellness visit today.