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 What To Expect During
Your Pet’s Senior Years
As your pet ages you’ll notice subtle changes. It’s
important to understand normal aging versus
abnormal changes in your pet’s health.
Some of the expected changes will include:
- Sleeping more
- Graying coat, especially around the mouth
- Dental & gum disease (veterinary care required)
- Deterioration of hearing & vision
- Joint inflammation & discomfort (arthritis)
- Muscle shrinkage and body weakness
- Decreased skin’s elasticity
Your pet will probably want more attention and need
an increasing amount of reassurance. Take time to
attend to your pet’s needs, particularly veterinary care
and changing nutritional requirements, and you’ll
have a positive infl uence on the quality and longevity
of his life.
When Should My Pet Have
His/Her First Senior Exam?
Pets of five years and
older are candidates.
The frequency will be
determined by your pet’s
age and health status. We
recommend a yearly exam,
but since pets age faster than
humans, a more frequent
schedule may be needed.
 The Importance Of
Regular Check-Ups
Annual screening helps prevent
serious medical problems. We
highly recommend that your "best
friend" have a complete physical
every year. By establishing a
baseline of normal values before the senior years,
we can detect any changes that might indicate
health problems.
Your pet may appear healthy, yet some diseases are
hard to detect, and often go unnoticed. Diagnosed
early, most conditions can be completely reversed, or
controlled.
How Can You Help Extend
The Life Of Your Pet?
Your pet’s
nutritional
needs change
as he grows older; intestines lose
the ability to absorb nutrients,
and liver and kidneys process
waste products less efficiently.
Regular dental care, vaccinations,
parasite control, and nutrition,
are all important for good health. Dental disease
is common as your pet ages. Bacteria can enter the
bloodstream and weaken the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Crescenta Cañada Pet Hospital Pet Wellness Packages
 How Does A Senior Exam
Differ From A Normal Exam?
A senior health screen exam involves
sophisticated laboratory analysis of
your pet’s bodily functions. Tests help diagnose blood disorders, kidney
and liver disease, diabetes, infection,
thyroid, and other hormonal problems before they become apparent. Radiographs can help diagnose heart
disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis.
IMPORTANT FACT! Data from senior health
screening exams shows that more than 22% of senior
dogs, and 17% of cats that appear healthy, have been
found to have signifi cant sub-clinical disease.
Your Best Friend Needs Extra Care in the Senior Years
 New Advances in
Pain Management!
Does Your Pet...
- Exhibit stiffness, or lameness?
- Seem reluctant to rise or walk?
- Licks repeatedly at a joint?
- Whine or whimpers?
- Find climbing steps, or jumping diffi cult?
- Exhibit pain when touched?
If your pet shows any of these symptoms, call us right away. He
or she may be suffering from osteoarthritis, a painful degenerative
joint disease. Pets can't tell you when they hurt. It's up to
you to recognize the signs of chronic pain. The next generation
drug for pain management has arrived. Ask Us!
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