SENIOR PETS
When a pet reaches approximately 8 years of age, they are equivalent to retirement age in humans. As your pet reaches this stage in their life, their every day requirements change.
With the ageing process, changes occur in the function of the body. Some of these changes can be seen from the outside: weight gain or loss, stiffness, dull hair/coat, loss of sight or hearing. Some changes, however, occur internally and can’t be discovered without laboratory testing. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms of illness can be seen (in liver or kidney disease for example) organ damage is already in the advanced stages.
Cats are notoriously good at hiding all signs of illness so, although your cat may seem healthy well into their senior years, many problems common in senior cats, such as kidney and heart disease may not show obvious signs until your cat becomes seriously ill.
Regular examinations and senior care testing can help identify problems early enough to prevent and/or slow down senior health ailments. Early detection of disease often means more effective and less costly treatment options. Senior testing can help establish normal baseline values for your pet, creating a point of comparison for the future.
KEY POINTS
KEY ILLNESSES TO BE AWARE OF
SYMPTOMS THAT SUGGEST SENIOR PROBLEMS
WHAT’S INVOLVED IN A SENIOR TESTING PROGRAM?
Tests may include some or all of the following elements based on the physical examination:
A Comprehensive Physical Examination
The most important element. This Involves assessing all body systems and identifying abnormalities
Blood pressure measurement
Helpful in heart, kidney and some metabolic diseases, eye diseases, obesity
Blood tests
Helps diagnose kidney and liver dis-ease, diabetes, anaemia or infection
(SDMA: test for early stages of kidney disease, before other biochemistry markers increase)
Urine tests
Gives information on kidney function and kidney/bladder infection
Thyroid screen
Helps diagnose thyroid disease
ARTHRITIS
Find out more about Arthritis here