Senior Care Tips
Here at Hilltop Pet Clinic, we love to see our patients grow up! It is exciting for us to see that little puppy that attended puppy kindergarten grow up into an adult dog. Then on into their golden years is great. But, we frequently get questions when these pets enter their senior years on how to make sure they remain healthy.
- Professional Dental Cleanings and tooth brushing at home.
We know that oral health can greatly affect the overall health of your pet, we recommend daily tooth brushing as well as professional dental cleanings as necessary to ensure they have great oral health.
- Yearly or Biannual wellness exams.
A great physical exam can find some life-threatening issues including:
- Lumps and bumps that may be cancerous
- Heart murmurs
- Weight loss or gain that may indicate a medical condition
- Joint discomfort and pain
- Abdominal tumors
- Vision changes from cataracts or glaucoma.
- Cognitive dysfunctions of aging.
- Yearly blood work to ensure that all organs are functioning properly
- Liver function
- Kidney function
- Kidney function can greatly decrease as your pet ages. With proper monitoring and treatment, kidney disease can be managed.
- This also tests for Diabetes – diabetes is manageable if caught early.
- CBC
- White blood cells
- Red Blood cells
- Platelets
- X-rays
- In some cases, x-rays may be recommended to check the size and shape of the heart, as well as the appearance of the lungs.
- Thyroid testing
- Thyroid functions can either be too low or too high.
- If the thyroid is too low, you may see weight gain, decreased energy, and decreased appetite.
- If the thyroid is too high, you will see weight loss, rapid heart rate, and increased appetite.
- Urinalysis
- To test for urinary crystals, specific gravity, and underlying urinary infections.
- Urinalysis can also help diagnose Diabetes and monitor its severity.
- Proper Parasite prevention
- Parasites can damage organs and decrease overall health.
- Ensuring your dog is on Heartworm Prevention, Intestinal Parasite Prevention and Flea and Tick Prevention is a huge part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
- Proper diet is a huge component of overall health. If your pet is suffering from a chronic health condition, providing proper nutrition can make a huge difference. This is especially true if your pet is overweight or suffering from a food allergy. We also have a variety of diets designed to help manage kidney disease, liver disease, crystals in the urine, and joint care.
We understand how important your pet is to you, our wonderful Veterinarians work closely with you to ensure your pet is as healthy as possible during their golden years!! If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask!!
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