Senior Pet Wellness Exams
As pets age, most will experience many of the same symptoms of aging that humans do. They tend to become less active, sleep more during the day, their eyesight may deteriorate, and sometimes they can’t hear well. You’ll probably notice your dog’s muzzle turning gray or watch as they struggle a bit more with stairs. As these signs emerge, it’s important to schedule more frequent veterinary visits because early detection of age-related diseases will give your pet the best chance for a longer, happier life.
What is a Veterinary Senior Wellness Exam?
While diseases can affect your pet at any age, there are some conditions that occur more frequently in older dogs and cats – chronic kidney disease, cancer, and arthritis among them. With a senior wellness exam we can identify the onset of these common age-related conditions through a variety of labs and a comprehensive examination tailored specifically for older animals. The primary “senior” appointments include:
Physical Examination:
This includes a thorough history from our companions companion. Examination from nose to tail, checking weight, body condition, range of motion, mapping and evaluation of lumps and bumps. Some question we may ask include:
- Has your pet’s appetite changed recently?
- Does your pet have more frequent urination or excessive water intake?
- Has there been a dramatic change in weight?
Eye Examination:
Our eye examinations include a thorough review of the complete eye, from lenses to retina, including necessary testing for glaucoma.
Comprehensive senior blood chemistry:
Bloodwork is necessary to help with the evaluation of various organ system functions. The labs are helpful in the diagnosis of kidney disease, liver and other hormonal diseases.
CBC Complete Blood Count:
These labs are used in the evaluation of anemia, immune system and inflammatory state.
T4 and Thyroid evaluation:
Hypothyroidism is a common disease of senior dogs and Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in senior cats. These tests help in the detection of both these treatable diseases.
Urinalysis:
The urinalysis helps in the evaluation of the renal tract. In combination with a study of blood chemistry, it can help in the early detection of kidney disease — a condition very common in senior cats.
IDEXX SDMA test:
We regularly perform the IDEXX SDMA test for early detection of kidney disease.
Radiographs:
Radiographs, commonly known as x-rays, help with the assessment of the chest, abdomen and limbs. Chest x-rays help in the heart and lungs where abdominal x-rays will assist in the evaluation of organs in the abdominal cavity, stomach, liver, kidneys, small and large intestine.
All pets should have an annual exam regardless of their age, but more frequent visits may be recommended for older animals depending on their age, breed, or health history. If your pet is ready for a senior wellness checkup, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
