Senior Pet Care
At Healthy Pets Veterinary Care, our goal is to allow you and your pet to share a long, healthy, and happy life. We start with guidance for your puppies and kittens and stand by your side with pet wellness plans for pets of all ages. This includes seniors, who may require extra care.
Senior Pet Care Recommendations
We take senior care seriously. We know puppies and kittens are fun and exciting, but we believe growing old together with your best friend is the most rewarding experience a pet parent can have.
As your pet ages, we will recommend additional examinations and diagnostic tests to make sure they’re healthy and happy for as long as possible.
Twice Yearly Physical Exams
We recommend semi-annual exams for our senior pets (age seven and older) instead of the traditional once-yearly visit. Unfortunately, pets age much more quickly than humans. As they get older, their health can change rapidly. Performing comprehensive physical exams twice a year is the first step to ensuring that nothing has changed regarding your pet’s health.
A thorough physical exam will allow our veterinarians to look for signs of the following:
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Dental disease
Yearly Blood Work
We can catch many age-related diseases and illnesses early with routine blood work. Early detection and treatment can save your pet’s life. Many diseases need chronic management, and the earlier we can implement treatment, the better (and usually cheaper) it is for you and your pet.
These are common age-related diseases we screen for through blood work:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Adrenal dysfunction (Cushing’s and Addison’s disease)
You’ll see a friendly and caring team when you come to Healthy Pets Veterinary Care. One of your best decisions could be starting a wellness plan for your brand-new addition to the family.
Pain Management for Arthritis in Dogs and Cats
One of the most common age-related diseases we see in older dogs is arthritis. It’s also likely one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in cats. This slowly progressing disease affects pets of all sizes, although we often associate it with larger dogs and hip dysplasia. The chronic pain associated with arthritis is often mistaken for simply the effects of age.
SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS IN DOGS
- Decreased appetite
- Limping
- Sleeping more often
- Interaction less with family
- Shaky legs
- Difficulty rising or lying down
- Difficulty jumping
- Difficulty going up and down stairs
SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS IN CATS
It can be tricky for owners to identify pain in cats because they are masters at hiding signs of weakness, but these are some common signs.
- Decreased appetite
- Decreased use of the litter box
- Decreased agility
- Interacting less with family
- Decreased grooming
- Negative reaction to touch, such as biting
Are You Looking for Senior Care in Boca Raton, FL?
Visit us in Boca Raton or Delray Beach, FL, to learn more about how we do everything we can to make the later years of your pet’s life the best they can be. If you want to know more about senior care for pets, contact us today!