As
pets age they often require additional care as the health problems
they acquire negatively impact their quality of life. Our aim is to
keep your animal comfortable and healthy with consideration to their
well-being.
It is
important to remember that age is not a disease, in and of
itself. Advanced age should not be a reason to ignore a pet's health
problems or allow them to suffer through pain or discomfort.
Common
age-related diseases where we can do a lot to ease suffering include:
- Poor
dental health, advanced periodontitis:
How is your dog or cat's breath lately? Dental disease
can be very painful and leads to organ diseases such as bacterial
endocarditis (heart valve disease) and kidney disease.
- Arthritic
and painful joints: If your dog limps or moves
slowly, we can help with the pain!
- Organ
dysfunction and metabolic changes: Many older
animals suffer from decreased organ function such as kidney disease
or liver disease. Often there are supplements or special diets that
are simple changes that can help them feel much better as they age.
Yearly blood chemistries can help us diagnose these health problems
before they take a toll on the body and spirit of your pet.
- Cancer:
When properly diagnosed early in the process, cancer
can be managed in a way that is extremely rewarding to the animal
and family. Cancer is an unfortunate and challenging disease, but
there's a lot we can do to help your pet weather or survive the
storm.
With
age-related health problems addressed, your animal will feel much
younger and have a much improve outlook on their life and role in
the family.
