Senior Pet Care in Bogota & Tenafly, NJ

Caring For Senior Pets

If your pet is 7 years old or older, we consider them to be a senior. Your pet may seem healthy well into its senior years, however, many problems common to senior pets (like kidney or heart failure) may not present symptoms until your pet becomes seriously ill. At our hospitals, we offer a comprehensive senior care program that helps us identify problems early enough to institute preventive measures.

But we go way beyond just testing. The three main areas we focus on are:

1. Nutrition tailored to your pet needs base on weight, arthritis, and mental status .
   
2. Arthritis treatments - We have proven and safe treatment options from laser therapy to Adequan injections and judicial use of non steroidal anti inflammatories.
   
3. Oral health - Many senior pets have oral infections and pain from mobile teeth or abscesses. No senior pet should suffer from this in our book.

An aging pet’s organs gradually deteriorate and may lose their ability to function properly. We recommend senior testing for all senior pets as well as any pet who is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms: weight loss or gain, increased thirst or urination, lethargy, vomiting/diarrhea, poor hair coat, coughing, seizures, unusual behavior, or overall decline in condition.

Important facts about senior testing

An aging pet’s organs gradually deteriorate and may lose their ability to function properly. We use senior testing to promote early detection and treatment of disease, so we can maintain health and prevent illness during your pet’s senior years. Early detection of disease often gives us more effective and less costly treatment options. Senior testing also helps establish normal baseline values for your pet, creating a point of comparison for the future.

What pets should take part in senior testing?

We recommend senior testing for all senior pets as well as any pet who is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms: weight loss or gain, increased thirst or urination, lethargy, vomiting/diarrhea, poor hair coat, coughing, seizures, unusual behavior, or overall decline in condition.

Is my pet a senior?

If your pet is 7 years old or older, we consider him or her senior. Your pet may seem healthy well into its senior years. However, many problems common to senior pets (like kidney or heart failure) may not present symptoms until your pet becomes seriously ill. A comprehensive senior care program helps your veterinarian identify problems enough to institute preventive measures

What is senior testing?

Your pet’s complete senior testing program includes these elements:

• A physical exam is the most important part of the senior care program. Your veterinarian will assess all body systems to check for any abnormalities.
• Blood chemistry tests measure levels of various substances in the blood and diagnose diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney failure.
• A complete blood count (CBC) provides a detailed look at the blood itself and helps the doctor diagnose anemia or infection.
• A urinalysis gives information on kidney function and checks for urinary tract infections.
• A thyroid screen (T4) helps diagnose thyroid disease, which is an especially common ailment in older cats and dogs.
• Glaucoma testing measures the pressure in each eye quickly and painlessly using a tonometer. Undetected glaucoma leads to irreversible blindness.
• During a retinal exam, performed after the pupils are dilated, the veterinarian will look for evidence of bleeding, degeneration, inflammation, or detachment.
• Blood pressure measurement lets our team check for hypertension. Just as in humans, high blood pressure in pets can lead to kidney problems, heart disease, blindness, and other complications.
• Radiographs (X-rays) come as part of the longevity enhancement program for seniors. Generally, we perform chest radiographs to assess the heart and lungs. However, your veterinarian may decide a different set of radiographs would be more important for your pet. For example, he or she could recommend abdominal radiographs to assess the liver or kidneys.