Health and Your Older Pet

If your pet is over 8 years old, it is considered geriatric. After all, that’s 64 years to us and maybe older depending on the breed and size of the animal! It is recommended that geriatric animals have baseline blood work and a urinalysis to monitor the following: liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid function, and other endocrine diseases.

The rest of the geriatric exam will include: evaluation of the heart for murmurs or arrhythmias, ophthalmic exam to check for cataracts, skin exam to monitor for masses or small tumors, dental exam and discussion of proper at-home dental care, orthopedic exam to monitor for arthritis, and a discussion about age-specific nutrition.

Your pet should receive a thorough geriatric exam yearly after it is 8 years old, and possibly more often depending on the pets age, environmental risk factors, and past medical history.

We offer Canine Packages which can save you money, including a package for geriatric animals.