Geriatric Care
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Aging
actually begins at birth, but its signs are not noticeable to us or our pets for several years.
The aging process varies with body size for dogs and cats. Small breed dogs are
considered seniors when they are 10 years old, medium breed dogs at 9 and giant
breed dogs, sadly at 7 years. Thin, fit cats are considered seniors at 10 but overweight
cats at 7-8 years. The first sign of aging is a general decrease in activity
level, including a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly, a waning of
enthusiasm for play time, and a general loss of interest in the activities around
them. As aging advances, the heart, liver, and kidneys
lose their functional efficiency, and
the immune system is less able to fight off attacks by bacteria, viruses,
and cancer cells. Bladder control may be affected, and all of the muscles decrease in size and
strength although this aspect is reversible at any age with the addition
of exercise. In general our pets experience the same issues with age that we do,
including hearing loss, decreased night vision, arthritic pain, and even
dementia. |
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To help keep your pet as healthy and comfortable as possible during his or her senior
years, we provide a comprehensive geriatric wellness program that includes complete physical exams,
periodic blood tests, nutritional counseling, monitoring and discussion of behavioral changes and
evaluation of cognitive functions. Early detection and diagnosis of abnormal
changes are critical in maintaining and optimizing your pet's overall
health as she/he ages