Celebrate the seniors

Just like that, Fall is here, and with it comes many wonderful things; scarf and boot weather, beautiful walks among the changing leaves, Pumpkin Spiced everything, and our Annual Fall Blood Screening Promotion! During the months of November and December we will cover the cost of blood collection and shipping and handling fees on all full blood profiles. That is a savings of over $50.00!

As much as we wish they could, our furry friends can not tell us how they are feeling. These blood profiles are a great way to find out valuable information about our pets that we may not know otherwise. They can tell us about their kidney, liver and pancreatic function, red and white blood cell counts, thyroid levels, and much more.

“All diseases run into one…..old age”…. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ok, so first things first. When is my pet officially a senior? It varies, but cats and small dogs are generally considered senior at the age of 7. Larger breed dogs tend to have shorter life spans and are considered senior when they are approximately 6 years of age.

Just like people, there are a myriad of medical issues that can affect a pet in later life. Here are just a few:

Cancer

Heart disease

Kidney/urinary tract disease

Liver disease

Diabetes

Joint or bone disease

Senility

Weakness

Now we know what diseases a senior pet can develop, what should we watch out for in terms of symptoms? That depends. Some are easier than others. For example if you find your pet is limping, or has trouble rising or is generally stiffer than normal, your pet may be developing arthritis or other joint diseases. Others might not be as obvious. For example, if you are seeing decreased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting etc, your pet could be experiencing kidney issues. Coughing, difficulty breathing, decreased tolerance of exercise etc could be a sign of heart issues. The signs you might see will vary with the disease or problem affecting your pet, and some signs can be seen with more than one problem. As the pet's owner, you can provide us with valuable information that can help them determine what is going on with your pet.

Sometimes those of us with senior pets notice not only physical changes as they age, but behavioural ones as well. Before any medical signs become apparent, behavioral changes can serve as important indicators that something is changing in an older pet, which may be due to medical or other reasons. As your pet's owner, you serve a critical role in detecting early signs of disease because you interact and care for your pet on a daily basis and are familiar with your pet's behavior and routines.

Here are a few changes you may start seeing in your pet:

Increased reaction to sounds

Increased vocalization

Confusion

Disorientation

Decreased interaction w/humans

Increased irritability

Decreased response to commands

Increased aggressive/protective behavior

Increased anxiety

House soiling

Decreased self-hygiene/grooming

Repetitive activity

Increased wandering

Change in sleep cycles

Sometimes having an older pet is not for the timid. It can be disconcerting to see your pet age. But we can help by providing preventative care for your seniors.

If you would like to take advantage of our senior wellness promotions, or have any questions about your senior pet’s care, don’t hesitate to call us at 905-372-2721.