Senior Pet Care

Senior Pet Care Recommendations

As your pet ages, we will recommend additional examinations and diagnostic tests to make sure they’re healthy and happy for as long as possible.

TWICE YEARLY PHYSICAL EXAMS

For our senior pets (age seven and older), we recommend semi-annual exams instead of the traditional once-yearly visit. Unfortunately, pets age much more quickly than humans. As they get older, their health can change rapidly. Performing comprehensive physical exams twice a year is the first step to ensuring that nothing has changed regarding your pet’s health.

A thorough physical exam will allow our veterinarians to look for signs of the following:

• • Heart disease
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Dental disease

YEARLY BLOOD WORK

There are many age-related diseases and illnesses that we can catch early with routine blood work. Early detection and treatment can save your pet’s life. Many diseases need chronic management, and the earlier we can implement treatment, the better (and usually cheaper) it is for you and your pet.

These are common age-related diseases we screen for through blood work:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Adrenal dysfunction (Cushing’s and Addison’s disease)

When you come to Healthy Pets Veterinary Care Boca North, you’ll see a friendly and caring team. One of your best decisions could be starting a wellness plan for your brand-new addition to the family.

Pain Management for Arthritis in Dogs and Cats

One of the most common age-related diseases we see in older dogs is arthritis. It’s also likely one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in cats. This slowly progressing disease affects pets of all sizes, although we often associate it with larger dogs and hip dysplasia. The chronic pain associated with arthritis is often mistaken for simply the effects of age.

SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS IN DOGS

• • Decreased appetite
  • Limping
  • Sleeping more often
  • Interaction less with family
  • Shaky legs
  • Difficulty rising or lying down
  • Difficulty jumping
  • Difficulty going up and down stairs

SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS IN CATS

It can be tricky for owners to identify pain in cats because they are masters at hiding signs of weakness, but these are some common signs.

• • Decreased appetite
  • Decreased use of the litter box
  • Decreased agility
  • Interacting less with family
  • Decreased grooming
  • Negative reaction to touch, such as biting

Treatments for Pet Arthritis

The best way for us to diagnose arthritis or the cause of pain for your senior pet is by performing comprehensive physical and orthopedic exams, as well as assessing their joints with an X-ray. If your pet has arthritis, we will recommend and implement a combination of traditional and cutting-edge therapies.

NON-PHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT

• • Fish oil supplements (Omega 3 fatty acid)
  • Glucosamine/Chondroitin (Dasuquin Advanced)
  • Environmental modifications (ramps, grip socks/boots, non-slip rugs or mats)
  • Laser therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Weight management
  • Special dietary management
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Daily exercise

PHARMACEUTICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

• • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Rimadyl, Galliprant)
  • Adjunctive analgesics (Tramadol, Gabapentin, Amantadine)
  • Adequan injections (help prevent cartilage breakdown and reduce joint damage)

Hospice Care and Saying Goodbye

Unfortunately, we, as pet parents, may have to eventually make the most difficult decision of our lives. When is it time to let our pets pass on peacefully?

We believe that the quality of your pet’s life is most important, and we will do everything we can to make them as comfortable as possible. We provide hospice services and will come to your home for end-of-life care or to perform at-home euthanasia.

Are You Looking for Senior Care in Boca Raton, FL?

Visit us in Boca Raton to learn more about how we do everything we can to make the later years of your pet’s life the best they can be. If you want to know more about senior care for pets, contact us today!