Our veterinarians in Wake Forest provide us with complete care for geriatric and senior dogs and cats in order to help them feel comfortable and healthy in their old age.
Geriatric Care for Senior Dogs & Cats
Caring for senior pets focuses on three main priorities: ensuring optimal health, enhancing quality of life, and promoting comfort. Therefore, regular preventative care and early identification of medical issues are crucial as pets get older.
Diligent care can help extend your pet's life and maintain their health throughout their senior years, so it's important that they attend regularly scheduled wellness exams, even if they seem healthy.
Our experienced veterinary team is here to help. We can identify emerging health issues and provide proactive treatment early, allowing us to manage problems effectively and easily.
Is My Pet Considered 'Old'?
While your pet may be young and spry to you, you might be surprised to learn that they are already considered a senior. Cats and small or medium dogs are generally considered to be seniors around age seven.
Larger breed dogs usually have shorter life spans, so they are considered to be seniors when they reach 6 years of age.
Typical Health Problems
Because of improved dietary options and better veterinary care, our companion pets are living longer now than they ever have been before.
This is something which is worth celebrating, however, pet owners and veterinarians are having to face far more age-related conditions as a result.
Senior pets are typically prone to the following conditions:
- Urinary tract disease
- Senility
- Weakness
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Joint or bone disorders
- Blindness and hearing loss
- Diabetes
Veterinary Care for Seniors
Our veterinary team will thoroughly examine your senior pet, checking them for health issues and inquiring about their home life and nutrition. We will perform tests on your pet as it is required to provide us with further insight into their physical condition.
Based on the findings, we'll recommend a treatment plan that can potentially include medications, activities and dietary changes that may help improve your senior pet's health, well-being and comfort.
Routine Wellness Exams
Preventative care is key to helping your senior or geriatric pet to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. It also gives our team an opportunity to detect and identify early signs of diseases or conditions when they are at their most treatable.
Early detection of disease will help preserve your pet's physical health and catch emerging health issues before they develop into long-term problems.
With regular physical examinations, your pet will have the best chance of quality long-term health.