Portsmouth Senior Pet Wellness
By the time a pet turns seven, he or she is already considered a senior pet. Here at Churchland Animal Clinic, your animal hospital in Portsmouth, we have special and comprehensive pet wellness services designed specifically for the needs of aging pets. We want to help families take active steps to help their pets live longer, happier, healthier lives. We can also catch developing health issues early, when we have a better chance of minimizing or eliminating them for the best outcome!
Our Veterinarian’s Emphasis on Senior Pet Wellness: Proactive Care for Prevention
There are several aging symptoms that owners may notice as pets reach and pass their seventh birthdays. Their behavior may change, and they may start eating more or less, causing them to either gain or lose weight. They may seem thirstier, drinking more water than usual. They may also start having accidents in the home. Many senior pets start having mobility issues, such as difficulty walking, running or playing like they used to. Others start having hearing or vision problems. Lumps, bumps and lesions may also appear where they never had before. Our veterinarian is experienced in catching and dealing with these senior pet wellness issues early so that your pet has the best chance of living longer and more comfortably.
Twice a year, each of our senior patients is given a complete health exam that includes a battery of important tests to catch any developing problems quickly. We continue the standard parasite checks, but to that we add even more in depth blood, urine and fecal tests to check for any issues with your pet’s kidneys, liver, thyroid or pancreas. We also check his or her cardiovascular health and blood pressure. The lab tests also check your pet’s levels of blood protein, phosphorus, cholesterol, electrolytes and calcium. Our veterinarian also closely examines your pet’s ears, eyes, coat, skin and teeth.
In fact, your pet’s teeth are a prime indicator of their health level, so this is an important aspect of Portsmouth senior pet wellness. Many senior pets start having very smelly breath, which can often indicate periodontal disease. We can examine, clean and extract teeth to prevent dangerous bacterial infections. We also give you pointers on taking care of your pet’s dental health at home.
One of the most important things our veterinarian will discuss with you during these senior wellness checkups is your pet’s diet and exercise routine. There are few more basic and effective ways of ensuring your pet’s long-term health as the years pass than making sure they get the right type of nutrition for their individual condition—and making sure they keep getting regular exercise. We will discuss all a Portsmouth senior pet wellness plan and give you ideas and suggestions for improvements during each checkup.
Your pet’s golden years can be some of his or her best years yet with the right care! Call us today at 757-484-2733 for an appointment!
