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At Log Cabin Animal Hospital we want to provide quality geriatric care for our aging patients. Our beloved friends are living longer because of the care and information that is available. It makes our day when we know that your pet is well cared for and you are satisfied too!
The Geriatric Patient
What makes a pet geriatric? There are many factors that we take into consideration when determining a geriatric dog or cat. For dogs, it depends on breed, size and age. For our patients and clients, we start thinking of our senior protocol around 7 years of age.
The Importance of History
One of the most important pieces of your examination is a thorough history. As our pets age, we can see differences in behavior, eating habits, energy level and weight. The veterinarian and technicians want you to get the most out of your visit, so it is very important that you bring up any concerns you may have with your senior pet. Here are some signs in dogs that you may want to look for at home.
Some aging signs in dogs include:
1. Has your dog's coat changed? Are there gray hair beginning to form around the muzzle and face?
2. Does it take longer for your dog to heal?
3. Does your dog take more naps? Is he less active? Does he have trouble getting up?
4. Has your dog's weight changed? Has she lost weight or is she gaining? Does she seem to drink more than normal?
5. Does she seem hungry all the time?
6 . Does he have bad breath? Does he spit his food out but seems hungry?
7. Does she not respond to you when you call her name? Does she seem disoriented?
Some aging signs in cats include:
1. Has your cat stopped playing? Does he jump on the counters or starting to sleep more?
2. Has her appetite changed? Is she becoming more picky with her food?
3. Has he lost weight or gained weight?
4. What does their coat look like? Is is dry?
5. Is your cat drinking and eating less or more?
All of these signs can be presented at the beginning of the appointment when the technician takes a history. This can begin the process of your pet's senior program.
Diagnostic Testing
As in any other annual wellness, we do a complete examination with heartworm test and intestinal parasite checkup. We will draw blood from your pet and run a blood panel that is designed for the age of your pet . our doctor the most complete to get a full geriatric panel. This will include liver and kidney function, a red blood cell count to check for anemia, and a white blood cell count to screen for any type of infection or cancer. Blood glucose is also included. The doctor may also check your pet's thyroid level.
Signs of Illness
If any of these signs begin to show in your pet, please call us for an appointment.
1. Increased water consumption
2. Increased urination
3. Loss of appetite
4. Vomiting and/or diarrhea
5. House soiling or going outside of litterbox for cats
6. Bad breath
7. Yelping out in pain, irritable
8. Difficulty getting up or down
9. Increase or decrease in weight
10. Lumps/Bumps anywhere on the body
11. Excessive scratching and/or redness or rash on skin
TLC for your Geriatric Pet
You can improve the quality of your older pet by being proactive. If you start seeing the signs of aging, let us know. We can start a program that will help extend the life of your pet and make the end months or years comfortable. A good start would be diet and exercise. You can introduce your animal to a senior diet that is lower in calories but contains high-quality protein. If your animal is older and overweight, that speeds up the aging process. Low impact exercise can help maintain muscle tone and flexibility. By changing these two things, it can help in major ways.
Keeping your dog or cat groomed properly for their age can also keep them comfortable. Your long haired cat or dog may begin having trouble keeping themselves clean. Mats can form as well as infections because of urinary or fecal soiling.
Older patients can also begin having problems regulating their temperatures. In the heat or extreme cold weather, you need to give them proper environmental protection. Always have water available at all times. Bring them indoors in these extreme conditions too.
The Geriatric Patient
What makes a pet geriatric? There are many factors that we take into consideration when determining a geriatric dog or cat. For dogs, it depends on breed, size and age. For our patients and clients, we start thinking of our senior protocol around 7 years of age.
The Importance of History
One of the most important pieces of your examination is a thorough history. As our pets age, we can see differences in behavior, eating habits, energy level and weight. The veterinarian and technicians want you to get the most out of your visit, so it is very important that you bring up any concerns you may have with your senior pet. Here are some signs in dogs that you may want to look for at home.
Some aging signs in dogs include:
1. Has your dog's coat changed? Are there gray hair beginning to form around the muzzle and face?
2. Does it take longer for your dog to heal?
3. Does your dog take more naps? Is he less active? Does he have trouble getting up?
4. Has your dog's weight changed? Has she lost weight or is she gaining? Does she seem to drink more than normal?
5. Does she seem hungry all the time?
6 . Does he have bad breath? Does he spit his food out but seems hungry?
7. Does she not respond to you when you call her name? Does she seem disoriented?
Some aging signs in cats include:
1. Has your cat stopped playing? Does he jump on the counters or starting to sleep more?
2. Has her appetite changed? Is she becoming more picky with her food?
3. Has he lost weight or gained weight?
4. What does their coat look like? Is is dry?
5. Is your cat drinking and eating less or more?
All of these signs can be presented at the beginning of the appointment when the technician takes a history. This can begin the process of your pet's senior program.
Diagnostic Testing
As in any other annual wellness, we do a complete examination with heartworm test and intestinal parasite checkup. We will draw blood from your pet and run a blood panel that is designed for the age of your pet . our doctor the most complete to get a full geriatric panel. This will include liver and kidney function, a red blood cell count to check for anemia, and a white blood cell count to screen for any type of infection or cancer. Blood glucose is also included. The doctor may also check your pet's thyroid level.
Signs of Illness
If any of these signs begin to show in your pet, please call us for an appointment.
1. Increased water consumption
2. Increased urination
3. Loss of appetite
4. Vomiting and/or diarrhea
5. House soiling or going outside of litterbox for cats
6. Bad breath
7. Yelping out in pain, irritable
8. Difficulty getting up or down
9. Increase or decrease in weight
10. Lumps/Bumps anywhere on the body
11. Excessive scratching and/or redness or rash on skin
TLC for your Geriatric Pet
You can improve the quality of your older pet by being proactive. If you start seeing the signs of aging, let us know. We can start a program that will help extend the life of your pet and make the end months or years comfortable. A good start would be diet and exercise. You can introduce your animal to a senior diet that is lower in calories but contains high-quality protein. If your animal is older and overweight, that speeds up the aging process. Low impact exercise can help maintain muscle tone and flexibility. By changing these two things, it can help in major ways.
Keeping your dog or cat groomed properly for their age can also keep them comfortable. Your long haired cat or dog may begin having trouble keeping themselves clean. Mats can form as well as infections because of urinary or fecal soiling.
Older patients can also begin having problems regulating their temperatures. In the heat or extreme cold weather, you need to give them proper environmental protection. Always have water available at all times. Bring them indoors in these extreme conditions too.
Older animals can have numerous health issues. As the body ages, the organ functions can deteriorate, obesity becomes more of a risk factor and poor dental health can speed up the aging process. Kidney insufficiency can be present as well as heart disease, hearing loss, vision loss, joint disease and cancer. All of these problems can be identified by performing specific diagnostic tests designed specifically for our senior patients.
