Senior Pet Care
Animals are relatively similar to humans in that, as they age, they may need more and different types of care. At Animal Care Clinic, we understand that animals age at a much faster and more dramatic rate than humans because their projected life span is quite a bit shorter. This means that we have to catch diseases, such as heart disease or a kidney problem, as soon as possible.
Did you know that the majority of debilitating problems associated with age in most animals can be remedied or eased with early detection? When detected early, problems can be treated before they cause too much pain. Our lab is set up to help us detect the signs of these problems.
We are not just looking to extend the life of your animal with our comprehensive care, but we believe that the quality of life is just as important as the quantity and we work with you to plan the appropriate care to ensure that your pet has a long and happy life. We offer senior wellness programs that can aid in the early detection of healthcare issues in your pet.
Sammy's Story
Mrs Johnson brought her 8 year old cat, Sammy into the veterinarian for his yearly examination and vaccines. Sam was an indoor only cat and had never been sick a day in his life. Though he was now in his senior years, he still acted like a kitten and she had no complaints to report to her veterinarian. During the visit, she and her veterinarian discussed the importance of an annual senior wellness screening on Sam. She had owned cats her entire life and had never done a screening like this, but she understood its importance and decided to go ahead with it. The next day, she got a call from her vet, saying that most of Sammy's lab work looked great for his age, but his thyroid was a bit elevated. After more discussion, Mrs. Johnson realized that recently, Sammy had been eating and drinking a bit more-she had attributed it to the change in the weather. Mrs. Johnson and her vet were able to easily and effectively treat his disease very early, allowing Sammy to avoid the more severe disease symptoms like heart murmurs, infections, and extreme thinness.
Sammy and Mrs. Johnson are just one example of the many reasons to perform an annual senior screening of your cat. Cats and dogs are considered seniors after the age of 7 years, and the national recommendation is to check bloodwork, urine, and blood pressure annually on all senior patients, in addition to exams every 6 months. On average, we consider a pet to age 7 years to every 1 human year; thereby making your 7 year-old cat 49 pet-years old! Since our pets age more quickly than we do, you can understand why checking lab work once every 7 (pet) years is important. Senior Wellness Screening accomplishes 3 big things:
- Screen Early For Diseases--Often by catching diseases in lab work before you see signs of them at home allows for a more effective, cheaper, and less involved treatment is possible which can add years to your pets life.
- Look For Trends--When looking at lab work, your cat's veterinarian, just like your doctor, looks for trends in lab work. Even though a lab value may be within the "normal" range, it may be 2 or 3 times over what is "normal" for your pet. These trends can be essential to establishing a preventative care plan for you loved one.
- Establish Normal Values--If your pet ever becomes sick, your veterinarian has a history of normal values to look back and compare. This may help find a reason and a treatment for the problem your pet is experiencing more quickly and cheaply than if this history was not established.
In an effort to stay true to their motto, "Caring for Pets and Their People," your vets at Animal Care Clinic have put together a package covering the recommended senior testing as well as recommended annual vaccinations. A Senior Wellness Screening includes a blood pressure, urinalysis, complete blood count, and comprehensive blood chemistry in addition to a full examination, rabies vaccine and distemper vaccination. The normal cost for all of the above is about $ 275 however, by grouping them together in a senior wellness package, it is discounted to $210 for canines and only $149 for felines!!! Please call to schedule an appointment today!!