Veterinary Care for Your Senior Companion
Maintaining optimal health, good quality of life, and comfortable mobility are three top priorities when it comes to caring for senior pets. This is why routine preventive care and early diagnosis of developing conditions are essential for pets as they age.
Diligent care can help extend your pet's life and good health throughout their senior years. This is why regularly scheduled wellness exams, even if your pet appears healthy, are critical.
Our veterinarians can help your senior companion achieve optimal health by identifying and treating emerging health issues in the earliest stages when medical conditions are most easily managed.
Routine senior exams also allow our veterinarian to provide and monitor proactive care for age-related health concerns such as osteoarthritis and kidney disease, helping your senior pet to maintain a good quality of life.
Health Problems in Senior Pets
As pets get older, they become more susceptible to illness and disease. As a result, there are a number of age-related health problems we commonly see in older pets, including:
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Joint or Bone Disorders
Senior Dogs
As your dog reaches their golden years, there are a number of joint or bone disorders that can result in pain and discomfort. Some of the most common joint and bone disorders in older dogs include arthritis, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, reduction in spinal flexibility, and growth plate disorders.
Addressing these issues early is essential for keeping your dog comfortable as they continue to age. Treatment for joint and bone issues in senior dogs ranges from simply reducing levels of exercise, to the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, to surgery to remove diseased tissue, stabilize joints, or reduce pain.
Senior Cats
While osteoarthritis is typically a condition we think of in older dogs, this painful condition can also affect your senior cat's joints.
The signs of osteoarthritis in cats are more subtle than those in dogs. While cats can experience a decrease in range of motion the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats include weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, change in general attitude, poor grooming habits, urination or defecation outside the litter pan, and inability to jump on and off objects. Cats can also experience a decrease in range of motion.
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Cancer
The unfortunate reality is that a large number of pets develop cancer in their lifetime, especially when they get older. Bringing your senior pet in for routine checkups even when they seem healthy allows your veterinarian to examine your dog or cat for early signs of cancer. Earlier diagnosis typically results in better treatment outcomes.
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Heart Disease
Senior pets can experience heart disease. Congestive heart failure is a common condition diagnosed in senior dogs.
Cats develop heart disease less often, but Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is still common enough that it should be tested for when cats get older.
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Blindness & Hearing Loss
Older pets, particularly dogs, can experience varying degrees of deafness and blindness due to degeneration in the eyes and ears.
These conditions often come on slowly, allowing pets to adjust their behaviour and making it difficult for pet owners to notice.
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Liver Disease
Liver disease is common in elderly cats and may be the result of high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of liver disease in cats include loss of appetite, jaundice, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased thirst.
In dogs, symptoms such as seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, jaundice, abdominal fluid buildup, and weight loss can be a sign of liver disease.
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Diabetes
Most dogs and cats develop diabetes when they are older, but it is important to note that this disease can occur at any age.
Symptoms of diabetes in dogs and cats include excessive thirst, increased appetite accompanied by weight loss, cloudy eyes, and chronic or recurring infections.
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Kidney Disease
Kidney function tends to decline as pets age. In some cases, medications used to treat other conditions in geriatric pets can also lead to kidney problems.
While chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, it can often be managed with a prescription diet and medications.
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Incontinence
Elderly pets can be prone to accidents as the muscles controlling the bladder begin to weaken. While it may be common, incontinence can be a sign of a bigger health issue such as a urinary tract infection or dementia, so it should never be dismissed as 'old age'.
Routine Exams & Care for Your Senior Dog or Cat
Regular examinations for senior pets provide our veterinarians with the opportunity to detect developing medical conditions early. Early detection allows treatment to begin when illness and disease are most easily managed. When medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, are treated early, the progression of the disease can often be slowed or stopped.
Our veterinarians will thoroughly examine your senior dog or cat and ask about their diet and lifestyle. Testing may be recommended to gain additional insight into your pet's overall health.
Next, your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan to address any existing health problems and help prevent potential age-related issues.
Recommendations may include changes to your dog or cat’s diet or exercise routine, as well as medications to help your senior pet stay happy and comfortable.