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DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF YOUR PET
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Contact us: 900 E. McCart St. Suite 300 Krum, TX 76249 Phone: 940.482.7151
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Keeping Your Pet Healthy
Knowledge is power when it comes to keeping your pets healthy and happy.
Krum Veterinary Hospital spotlights a new topic every month with timely
information for our patients. Caring for Senior PetsIt has been quoted before that “old age is not a disease but a stage of life which is accompanied by a slowing of all physiologic processes and a gradual loss of body functions and adaptability." Dogs and cats are considered to be a senior after the age of seven years of age. Cats and small dogs generally live longer and age later than large dogs. Some of the giant breeds, such as great danes and mastiffs, are considered to be a senior at the age of five years! As an owner, you may notice a decline in activity level and mental alertness, hearing and/or sight loss, and a loss of fastidiousness in excretory habits as your pet ages. As your pet ages, their metabolic rate decreases and caloric needs decrease by 30 to 40 percent in the last one third of the life span. Body fat increases and lean body tissues decrease. Respiratory capacity and oxygen availability also decrease. All of these things limit the physical activity level of older pets. The body's ability to regulate its own temperature is decreased, and older animals will often seek warm places to rest. They are also more subject to intermittent sleep. Older pets may have increased blood pressure and increased cholesterol levels. Their immune system also becomes less responsive, and they are less able to ward off infection. The incidence and malignancy of tumors increases with age. The signs of age are more evident when the pet is in a poor nutritional state or when the level of stress is increased. There are several things you as an owner can do to keep your older pet in good condition. Providing a high-quality diet formulated for older pets will ensure balanced nutrition without extra calories (senior-labeled, high quality diet, such as Science Diet). Moderate exercise helps maintain healthy heart and lungs and muscle tone. Proper diet and moderate exercise will also help keep off extra pounds that could contribute to other health problems. Older pets have become creatures of habit and enjoy predictable days. Stress can be prevented by not making changes in your pet's environment or daily schedule. If changes are necessary, make them gradually and maintain as much of the usual routine as possible. Aging is a gradual process. Sudden changes in an animal's condition, behavior, stamina, or appetite indicate a health problem and not simply aging. Daily grooming will help locate bumps, changes in the color or texture of the skin, and hair loss, which can indicate a problem. Owners should note the character of any changes, when it first appeared, and how it has changed over time since it was first noticed. Regular checkups are recommended for older pets. A complete physical examination can detect many problems, such as with the heart or liver or lungs, in the early stages when treatment is most successful. Yearly examinations are recommended on all pets, but twice yearly exams are recommended once a pet reaches its tenth birthday. At the age of seven years, yearly senior health blood work is recommended to check for any systemic illnesses that an exam might not uncover. The blood work will evaluate a complete blood count to check for anemia or infection, a chemistry panel to evaluate internal organ function and a thyroid test to evaluate if the thyroid gland is still functioning properly. At the same time, a urinalysis is recommended to evaluate the function of the kidneys and a urine protein to creatinine test to screen for early renal disease. Then, we will evaluate the blood pressure to make sure it is within the normal range. These laboratory tests combined with a physical examination will give us the best over all picture of your pet’s health. If your senior pet is showing signs of any of the following conditions, please notify our office immediately for an evaluation:
By performing laboratory tests and physicals each year, we are often able to treat medical conditions before the pet is even showing clinical signs to you! Senior pets are a joy to the entire household, so we want to help you keep them as happy and healthy as possible. Please call our office with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your senior patient.
Keeping Your Pet's Smile Healthy The Facts of Life: Spaying and Neutering Your Pets |
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