March is Senior Pet Month!

We love your senior pets every month, but we want to take March to remind you of those little extras that they need.

It is a simple fact of aging that our pets' bodies start to slowdown. But do you know how to tell the difference between normal ageing and the common diseases that occur more often in later life? For example, is that loss of weight in your senior cat due to age or Thyroid Disease? The answer to this question and others can be discussed in a Senior Wellness Checkup. Going hand in hand is a discussion of prevention, because it is better to not develop a disease at all!

Fact: Senior Pets can be more prone to health issues.

We can help with tailored Wellness Programs for your best friend.

We start with a comprehensive health assessment which routinely includes in-house blood-work to check the basic parameters of health. We then create tailored short or long term medical plans, and assist you with their implementation. We then provide follow-up consultations and ongoing staff support to determine the effectiveness of the treatment plan and to adjust as necessary.

Aging can be tough on senior pets, and they often need that extra TLC. Our aim is to provide quality to your Senior Pet's life by treating and/or managing the diseases of aging. Chances are if you senior pet is not themselves, there is something you can do to make life better for them.

Did you know?

• loss of hearing and decreased vision are often normal parts of aging and most pets compensate.
• most older pets have some degree of arthritis. This can be well managed in many of them with changes of weight, diet and with medication.
• sudden changes in weight, drinking, urination or behaviour are often associated with disease rather than aging.
• most older pets have dental issues
• older pets can have safe anesthetics - modern medicine has come a long way and the majority of anesthetics in older pets can be done with a high margin of safety.
• cats commonly develop diabetes, kidney disease or hyperthyroid disease in their early teens. All three of these conditions have treatments and management strategies that can often reverse the signs of the diseases.
• many older dogs develop a degree of arthritis. In many cases weight management, medication, and diet are sufficient to relieve the discomfort of arthritis.
• we offer lens replacement surgery of pets with cataracts by referral to a specialist.
• advanced conditions that are beyond our services can be referred to the Atlantic Veterinary College or elsewhere for specialist assessments and treatments.
• and of course early diagnosis and treatment is the best route to get a better outcome!