We Love Our Senior Pets! Dogs and cats over the age of seven are considered seniors and need special attention. As seniors, they are at risk for the development of kidney and heart problems, cancer, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions. Often these conditions develop gradually, and owners cannot detect the ongoing discomfort they may cause. To keep your pet feeling his or her best, and to keep them with you as long as possible, we recommend two yearly check-ups and diagnostic testing to screen for common geriatric disorders. Our senior wellness program can help your pet remain fit and healthy as he or she ages and help us catch any potential problems earlier, when they are easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can help your pet live longer, too!
Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, dogs and cats may not show any signs of serious diseases until they are quite advanced in age.
Senior status varies depending on your pet’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats generally live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your pet is in.
Before your dog or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes. In most cases, we suggest this checkup for when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age. Thereafter, your senior pet will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.
We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (like Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable.
You are an important ally in keeping your senior pet healthy! If your pet is experiencing any changes in behavior, we urge you to bring him or her in for a check-up. We can make sure you and your faithful companion enjoy many more years together.
We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet’s individual needs which consists of an accurate evaluation on your pet’s complete blood count, thyroid panel, and organ values by collecting a blood sample; and we will also test their urine for a detailed report on their kidneys function, any bacteria’s, crystals, and calculated proteins. If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our senior wellness program in more detail. Call us today at (212) 280-3700 to schedule your pet’s exam!
