There are several diseases and conditions that mature pets are likely to experience including:
- Dental disease: Tartar build-up on teeth and inflamed gums may lead to pain, infection, tooth loss, bad breath, kidney and heart disease. Dental cleanings are recommended when tartar build-up is observed.
- Loss of vision: Older pets are at risk for cataracts and glaucoma. Nuclear sclerosis is a natural aging process that "clouds" the eye but only has mild visual effects. An examination by your vet can differentiate these conditions.
- Arthritis: Arthritic joints are painful and inhibit your pet's mobility and activity level.
- Your vet may help with pain management.
- Obesity: Pets that are overweight are more likely to develop arthritis, diabetes, back pain, and breathing problems. Proper nutrition is essential for the older dog or cat and your vet may have a variety of diets available.
- Kidney/liver disease: Failure of these organs may be an underlying cause of several conditions. If your pet is drinking more, urinating more, lethargic, or just not acting right, make an appointment with your vet for blood chemistry monitoring.
- Heart disease: If your pet experiences difficulty breathing, fatigue, exercise intolerance, or lethargy your veterinarian may consider diagnostic testing for heart disease.
- Thyroid problems: Senior dogs can get hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and senior cats can get hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone). Both conditions are detected by blood tests and are treatable.
- Cancer: Early detection of cancer is key to a good prognosis. Lumps on older pets should be examined to determine if they are cancerous. There are surgeries and medications available to treat a wide variety of cancer.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss how careful monitoring and yearly examinations may be able to prolong your companion's life.
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