Wellness for Senior Pets

Wellness testing helps detect disease earlier and can help us
be proactive in managing illness in your pet.

If you consider the 80-year average life span of a human in Canada, and compare that to an average of 10-12 years for dogs and 13-15 years for cats; it becomes evident that dogs and cats age much faster than people.

The signs of disease can appear very quickly, sometimes after the time for the most effective veterinary intervention. Wellness exams are key to the early detection of disease and successful management of your pet’s health.

Illnesses Common to Senior Pets

Diabetes –a disease that affects the body’s ability to use sugar.
Untreated, diabetes leads to kidney disease, cataracts, weight loss and may result in the death of your pet.

Hyperthyroidism - a disease primarily of older cats, hyperthyroidism is due to the overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland.
Excessive levels of thyroid hormone lead to weight loss, increased blood pressure, changes in appetite and can damage the heart and kidneys.

Hypothyroidism – older dogs can suffer from hypothyroidism. This is a lack of available thyroid hormone. This can cause weight gain, lethargy, poor hair coat, altered immune function and muscle weakness.

Renal Disease – renal disease or kidney disease can occur in both dogs and cats. Cats and dogs have 2 kidneys but actually only need part of one kidney to function normally in order to be healthy. As pets age, so do their kidneys and the amount of properly functioning kidney decreases. Beyond a certain point, pets will begin to feel

Cancer – pets get cancer just like people do. It is estimated that cancer is the cause of death for approximately 50% of pets over 10 years of age. While there is no perfect test to detect cancer, we can use Wellness Testing as well as other diagnostics to monitor your pet for suspicious indicators.

What's Involved in Wellness Testing for Seniors?

Bloodwork
A CBC (complete blood count) evaluates the blood to see if all the component cells, such as the red cells that carry oxygen and the white cells that fight infection, are present in appropriate numbers. The CBC may also look at the cells to make sure that they have a shape, colour and size that are normal for that cell type. A CHEM panel is a series of tests to evaluate blood chemistries; these are factors such as glucose, hormones and liver and kidney enzymes. The number, such as a CHEM7, refers to how many separate factors are evaluated.

Urinalysis
Evaluation of your pet’s urine can help identify problems in your pet’s bladder. It can also give information about kidney and liver function. Urinalysis can also be used to help identify diseases like Cushing’s disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

Physical Examination
This includes examining many of the body systems such as the cardiovascular (heart) and neurologic (brain) systems as well as evaluating weight, coat and body condition. Regular physical exams are vital to early disease detection.

Special Treatment for Senior Pets includes food, medications and special exercise that can contribute to halting further damage and alleviating discomfort. If caught early enough, these treatments may be able to correct some of the damage that has already occurred. We will discuss all of these options with you following your pet’s wellness evaluation.