Your pet may have reached an advanced age and developed a chronic disease or two, but now is not the time to become lax with their routine care. When you are dealing with illness and aging, you can easily forget that preventive care is the foundation of pet wellness, and you can help add years to your senior pet’s life by avoiding the diseases we can see coming, and catching others early. Here are ways you can help extend your senior pet’s healthy years.

Senior pet wellness visits 

As your senior pet grows older, the aging process accelerates, so more frequent examinations are recommended. Most senior pets require twice yearly wellness exams, or more often if your pet has a chronic health condition. These visits allow your veterinarian to track trends, detect new physical problems, and offer appropriate screening or monitoring tests to ensure no stone is left unturned. Some conditions that may go unnoticed at home, but are easily detected on examination include:

* Dental disease

* Arthritis and joint pain

* Concerning lumps and bumps

* Heart murmurs

* Enlarged abdominal organs

* Cataracts and vision changes

Senior pet early disease screenings

During wellness visits, your veterinarian may recommend a variety of tests to monitor your pet’s internal health, including: 

* Blood and urine testing — A complete blood count, serum chemistry, thyroid level, and urinalysis can provide important clues about organ function. When abnormalities are found, additional testing may be ordered.

* X-rays — If cancer or heart disease is suspected, your veterinarian may request chest and abdomen X-rays.

* Ultrasound — Ultrasound can help monitor heart murmurs, detect cancers, examine abdominal organs, and facilitate organ biopsy.

The sooner your veterinarian detects a problem, the more likely treatment will be successful, and the longer your pet will stay healthy.

Senior pet parasite control

External parasites like fleas and ticks can cause allergies and anemia, and carry life-threatening diseases. Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis can be more dangerous for your senior pet if they have underlying health concerns, so preventing these infections is always the best strategy. Intestinal parasites can also pose health risks such as diarrhea, anemia, and weight loss. To protect your senior pet from parasites and their associated diseases, implement the following:

* Monthly oral or topical flea and tick prevention

* Monthly oral or topical heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention

* Yearly fecal testing

* Yearly heartworm and tick testing

Senior pet weight control, exercise, and arthritis management

Arthritis and joint pain are common in senior pets and can put a damper on their mobility. Arthritic joints become stiff and sore after long rest periods but respond well to gentle activity to keep surrounding muscle tissue healthy. If your pet is overweight, exercise becomes more difficult and arthritis worsens, so keeping them slim and trim is most important. Make exercise part of the daily routine—but ensure you consult with your veterinarian, to determine the best type and length of exercise for your pet’s needs. If your senior pet is overweight, dietary management is crucial, because obesity can put a strain on internal organs as well as joints, so your pet will fare better overall at a healthier weight. 

Senior pet dental care

Dental health can be a significant factor in your senior pet’s quality of life. Untreated dental disease is painful and can result in loose, infected teeth that impact your pet’s ability to eat and interact normally. Dental infections can also spread through the bloodstream and cause kidney, liver, or heart damage that shortens your pet’s life. To prevent dental disease, brush your pet’s teeth daily, or use another oral care product recommended by your veterinarian. If your pet’s dental disease is advanced and your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia, a professional dental cleaning can provide relief by removing diseased teeth, and will slow the progression of future disease.

Many senior pet ailments are out of your control, but diligent preventive care can help you avoid known threats to your pet’s health, and these routine wellness strategies can help add years to your aging pet’s life. However, the time will come when routine care no longer meets your pet’s needs. If you feel that your senior pet’s healthy years are coming to a close, contact our telehospice service to evaluate your pet’s quality of life, and discuss end-of-life care options with a Lap of Love veterinarian in your area.