Wellness care is important at every age, but as your pet gets older they become more vulnerable to illness and disease. This makes wellness appointments even more important, so that our team can stay up to date on your senior pet’s health and address any changes as they arise. We recommend bringing your senior pet to Little Silver Animal Hospital at least once a year to enable your veterinarian to monitor their health and provide peace of mind for you.
Schedule your senior pet’s annual wellness exam at Little Silver Animal Hospital today!
Why Is Senior Pet Wellness Important?
We offer geriatric blood work, X-rays, EKGs, and cardiac or abdominal ultrasounds, as well as treatment for a variety of age-related diseases such as cat or dog diabetes and arthritis as part of our senior wellness care. Annual appointments become more important because as your pet gets older, they become more vulnerable to developing health issues. Early detection is a crucial part of effective treatment for conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Heart or liver disease
- Certain kinds of cancer
Dog Years vs. Human Years
7 dog years = 44-56 human years
10 dog years = 56-78 human years
15 dog years = 76-115 human years
20 dog years = 96-120 human years
Cat Years vs. Human Years
7 cat years = 54 human years
10 cat years = 63 human years
15 cat years = 78 human years
20 cat years = 97 human years
Tips to Maintaining Your Senior Pet’s Quality of Life
While frequent wellness appointments are the best way to ensure your pet’s health, you can help maintain your senior pet’s quality life by doing the following in between visits to our animal hospital:
- PROVIDE MOBILITY AIDS – As your pet ages, it may be more difficult for them to move and get around the house. If your pet suffers from dog or cat arthritis, you can help by placing rugs on slippery floors to improve traction or provide ramps to make climbing onto raised furniture such as couches or beds easier.
- CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXERCISE – Taking your dog on walks or playing with them in your backyard can create great opportunities for exercise. Pets of all ages can benefit from exercise, and for senior pets, regular exercise can help maintain their mobility, improve temperament, and prevent weight gain.
- SUPPLY COZY BEDDING – Pets need a comfortable place to rest and relax just like we do! A soft, comfy bed can provide a great spot for your senior pet to sleep or nap comfortably.
- FEED A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET – All pets require a healthy diet to ensure lifelong health, and senior pets can benefit from food specifically formulated for their age range.
- CLOSE SUPERVISION – Make sure to let your veterinarian know if you notice any changes in your pet’s typical behavior. If you notice a difference in your pet’s eating, drinking, sleeping or bathroom habits, this may be a sign of a change in their health.
