Pet Wellness Care
It seems hard to believe, but pets enter their golden years around age 7. At this stage, we want to maintain good health and vitality for as long as possible. Our Hunt Valley Animal Hospital senior animal wellness exams can catch problems early so they are easier to treat while making sure your pet has many great years ahead.
Senior pet care differs from puppy/kitten care or regular adult pet care. As pets age, families may notice their pet gaining or losing weight, drinking more water than usual, having accidents in the house, and having difficulty moving around and walking. They may also notice vision problems, lumps and bumps, a change in eating habits and bad breath that could signal serious dental problems.
Talk with Our Veterinarians About Senior Pet Care
Our senior pet wellness exams focus on preventative care as your pet ages. Once your pet reaches seven years of age, we should run bloodwork, urine, and fecal lab tests that evaluate your pet’s thyroid, liver, kidney, and pancreas functions once a year. We also check levels of calcium, cholesterol, electrolytes, blood proteins and phosphorous. These extensive tests can help us diagnose problems like diabetes, Addison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome early so intervention can start right away. We also recommend continuing standard tests for parasites (Heartworm/Lyme/Ehrlichia/Anaplasma for dogs and Heartworm/feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus for cats) every year.
Each senior pet care checkup lasts for about 45 minutes and is also a chance for you to ask about any health concerns you have with our veterinarian. We always address your pet’s dental health (this is a critical area of concern for senior pets) and encourage you to schedule a cleaning. We advise you on nutritional and exercise strategies that can help your pet stay healthy and active for many years to come. We can also discuss ways in which you can manage your pet’s health conditions while preventing others from developing, if at all possible.
As pets age, their health needs change, and our team is ready to help. Call us today at (410) 527-0800 to learn more about our senior animal wellness plan and to schedule an appointment.
