(847) 966-3080
North Shore
Veterinary Clinic
Everyone gets older, no one likes to admit it, but eventually everyone becomes a senior citizen. When dogs reach the age of seven (age five for giant breeds) and cats reach eight, we consider them seniors. Just as with people, many of their health problems become more common with age. As such, the rules change slightly for senior dogs and cats.
Remember the old adage the one human year is seven dog years? While the ratio isn't exactly right, it clearly points out that dogs and cats age much more rapidly than people do. Bear that in mind for a moment with this example. You see your physician each year for a physical and you take your pet to the vet once a year as well. But as pets age much faster than people, that annual visit for your pet is like you seeing your doctor once every five to seven years. Because of this, we strongly recommend twice a year check-ups for older pets.
Some dogs and cats have been diagnosed with chronic health conditions. These might include hepatitis, heart disease, Cushing's disease, kidney failure, or diabetes. In these more complex cases, we will recommend more frequent visits simply because health issues can change so quickly.
It becomes more important to catch health problems in your older pet sooner. We watch for these issues in three ways.
- Discussing with you how your pet has been doing at home. (Your pet's "history.")
- A comprehensive physical exam of your pet.
- Blood screening and other diagnostic testing (i.e. radiographs, ultrasonography, urinalysis, etc.)
Blood testing is the easiest and quickest method to gain a wealth of knowledge about how your pet is doing internally. This blood screening includes a chemistry panel which tests the kidneys, liver, and blood electrolytes (calcium, sodium, etc.) among many other things, and a complete blood count. Depending upon your pet's history and the examination, we might recommend thyroid testing as well. (Don't worry, we use the same blood sample so your pet won't be subjected to any extra needles.) The point of all of this is to uncover any internal problems before they become significant enough to affect your pet's lifestyle at home. (And yours as well.) Blood screening is a vital tool in the diagnosis of canine and feline diseases.
Hopefully, everything will be fine with your pet, and if so, now we have an important baseline that will help us diagnose future problems. A baseline for your pet gives us specific information regarding what is normal for him or her beyond the general normal guidelines for cats and dogs. If we find a notable abnormality in the blood screen, we will address that issue immediately. If we uncover a mild problem, we can recommend various therapies to minimize the likelihood of this issue becoming a major health crisis.
Sometimes, older pets and people have a difficult time moving from place to place. Navigating the stairs or jumping on the couch or simply walking can become more difficult or even painful! Often, the cause of these symptoms is osteoarthritis. While no one can reverse its progression, we can recommend therapies including joint mobility medication and diets, pain relief medication, and lifestyle changes to potentially make your pet much happier and more comfortable. Then the two of you can enjoy more and better quality time together.
