So, at what age can a pet be considered a senior? It’s been observed that smaller breeds of dogs tend to outlive their larger counterparts. The same applies to cats. Several health issues can affect senior pets, including changes in weight and movement and arthritis, renal liver and heart diseases, cancers and tumors, and hormonal disorders such as diabetes and thyroid imbalance.
When we reach different ages, the body has different requirements for how we should be taken care of on a medical basis. The same goes for our animals. A senior pet’s health program must be designed closely with the owner and the veterinarian.
Evaluating Senior Pet Health
Regular visits to your vet are vital for keeping it in great form as your pet ages. Fortunately, several veterinary hospitals have created nationwide senior or geriatric care programs to offer preventive care for older animals. They typically require that your animal undergo a variety of diagnostic tests to identify what the issue is.
1. Complete Blood Count
The commonly used test determines the total amount of blood red cells, white blood cells, and platelets found in each person’s blood sample. The numbers and kinds of these cells give the veterinarian data to help identify infections, anemia, and leukemia.
A complete blood count is beneficial for a vet internal medicine in Westfield, NJ in keeping track of how certain medicines work for your pet.
2. Urine Analysis
It is common to analyze a pet’s urine and report on the physical and chemical properties using a procedure known as Urinalysis. Evaluation of kidney function and detection of infections and inflammation in the urinary tract is possible through urinalysis. It is valuable for detecting cancer in the urinary tract and cancer in the urinary tract. It can also be utilized to identify signs of diabetes.
A routine wellness check should consist of a urinalysis to evaluate the kidneys and urinary system thoroughly. Because of the increasing prevalence of kidney diseases in older dogs, this is especially vital for elderly and senior canines. You can check websites like www.westfieldanimal.com and read blog posts and articles about it.
3. Radiographs
Radiographs should be used to make a more thorough diagnosis if your pet suffers from a history of cardiac, respiratory, hepatic, digestive, or renal disorders.
A facility like Westfield Animal Hospital may recommend using radiographs (x-rays) or another test to detect issues such as arthritis. These signs may be related to arthritis or suggest a more severe condition.
4. Fecal Analysis
Examining your pet’s excrement could reveal details about various health issues that can cause digestive issues, internal bleeding, and issues with the pancreas, among others.
However, the main result of this test is that intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and giardia can be found in the patient.
5. Blood Chemistry
An array of tests like these could aid in the identification of various conditions, including diabetes, renal illness, liver disease as well as other conditions, by providing data on the body’s organs and tissues. Your doctor may suggest conducting the biochemistry test again within a few days, weeks, or months even if there are only slight variations from the normal.
The severity of the anomalies will determine the scope of the diagnostic workup that may involve further tests such as a comprehensive blood count (CBC), a blood pressure measurement, and imaging tests like radiography (X-rays) or ultrasound.
