Senior Care For Your Senior Pet

As your pet enters his/her senior years, he/she may start to develop diseases common to senior human counterparts, such as diabetes, cataracts, arthritis, hypothyroidism and cancer. These diseases can go unnoticed in their early stages and many develop rapidly, making regular monitoring and blood testing very important.

In fact—
• Pets become seniors much faster than people. Your pet ages roughly seven years for each human year.
• By age seven, many pets are feeling the aches and pains of aging, and they can’t tell us what’s wrong.
• Older pets’ joints and organs don't function as efficiently, and health and comfort can be compromised.

You play a key role in maintaining your pet’s health because you know your pet better than anyone else. With your watchful eye and our medical care, we can establish baseline information, identify illnesses early and provide effective treatment to help your pet avoid serious or life-threatening conditions.

Pets age differently depending upon their breed and weight. A 20 pound cat who is eight in cat years has a true age of 48 in human years, a 40 pound dog at the age of eight has a true age of 51 in human years, and a 60 pound dog at the age of eight has a true age of 55 in human years. Depending upon the true age of your pet they may be considered "senior citizens." A few signs to be watchful for include difficulty climbing stairs or difficulty jumping, increased stiffness or limping, drinking and/or urinating more frequently, changes in eating patterns, changes in sleeping patterns, bad breath and/or swollen gums, becoming confused or disoriented, interacting less often with family members or noticeably gaining or losing weight. Should you notice any of these signs, please call us at 410-838-6960 to set up an appointment to have your pet examined. Early detection and treatment are our best resources for a happy and healthy senior pet. We would also like to begin seeing your pet every six months to identify problems early and to answer any questions you may have. Remember, we wouldn’t want you to wait 7 to 8 years between visits!