Senior Pet Wellness Exams | Caring For Your Older Pet

Do you have a pet between the ages of six and thirteen years of age or older? If so, you are the proud guardian of a senior pet! Senior pets, especially after the age of eight (or younger for giant breeds), require more regular attention than they did in their younger years. This typically around the topic of nutritional needs and broadens the scope to include a review of muscle tone, weight, activity level, range of motion, etc. The senior pet wellness exam is your most effective method to ensure your aging pet is still in great shape. Let’s take a closer look.

Why Are Senior Pet Wellness Exams Important?

The first question we need to address is why senior wellness exams are an essential part of your care plan. First, early detection of illness is the most effective way to get ahead of impending illness before it progresses into something truly concerning. When we can compare the results of our latest examination to the previous results of years past we can check for anything that has changed that requires further attention.

The best part of early detection of health problems is that the treatments are often much more effective, safe, and less costly than the alternative. This helps to make sure that there is a continuation of the quality of life your pet deserves. Every pet parent would rather keep their furry friend in good health than fight to get them back to health after a disease hits.

What Happens During A Senior Pet Wellness Screening?

A thorough senior pet wellness exam includes a few more factors than does a regular wellness screening for more youthful pets. The extra tests are performed to ensure that the most common issues known to affect senior pets are sniffed out before they can create health problems. These tests include, but are not limited to:

A nose-to-tail physical exam – A full body assessment checking for any abnormalities. Your pet’s muscle tone, weight, and joint health are measured against your pet’s past results as well as standards for their breed, gender, and age.
Complete blood count (CBC) – A CBC allows a detailed look at the blood. It provides critical information about immune response, hydration levels, anemic conditions, blood clotting, and infection.
Blood chemistry testing – These blood serum tests help to assess your pet’s hormone levels, organ function, electrolytes, and more. This helps to find problems with blood sugar (diabetes), as well as kidney or liver issues.
Urinalysis – This test assesses the overall health of your pet’s entire urinary tract and also evaluates the contents of the urine. It also checks for liver function markers and glucose regulation.
Blood pressure – This test is performed to detect signs of hypertension that lead to an increased chance of heart disease, blindness, kidney problems, and more.
Thyroid screening – A complete thyroid panel helps to diagnose signs of thyroid disease.
Glaucoma screening – this is a test to ensure your pet does not have signs of glaucoma that can lead to permanent blindness.
Retinal exam – an eye exam looking for any signs of retinal bleeding, detachment, inflammation, or degeneration.
X-rays – An x-ray can be used as part of further analysis if something unusual is found. It helps to see into the various areas of the body so abnormalities can be detected and treated.

As you can see, this is a very comprehensive set of diagnostic tools that can be used to ensure your senior pet is in top shape. And if not, treatment can be initiated to take care of an impending health issue.

Additional Considerations

Part of the exam may include further screening for pest-borne diseases, such as heartworm and Lyme disease. We also like to assess your pet’s diet, nutritional supplementation, and overall lifestyle. When we can get a clear picture of all the factors contributing to your pet’s overall wellness we can make appropriate recommendations moving forward.

Final Thoughts

Senior pet wellness exams are your first line of defense against the common health problems that can plague your furry friend. As your pet ages, the chances of a health problem developing at an accelerated rate is higher than when they were younger. Prevention is the best approach to any condition and is our primary intention for these wellness exams. If you have a senior pet and have not yet been in for a wellness exam, give Brekke Veterinary Clinic a quick call. We will be happy to schedule in a time that works best for you. We are always here to help.