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SENIOR
PETS
At about 6 years of
age, many things inside your pet start to change, things that require
the care you give your pet to change too!
Liver,
kidneys, and other organs start to require specific levels of nutrients
to stay healthy. Hip joints especially start to become painful. Teeth
and gums that may have had tartar for a long time start to erode and become
painful. A little extra weight can balloon into obesity when those sore
hips reduce exercise levels.
If
your dog or cat is 6 years old or older, we recommend the following:
A thorough annual physical exam. Our physical exams find many issues while
they are still small and easy/less expensive to deal with. Remember that
6 months in your pet's life is about like 3-4 years of a person's life
- don't hesitate to have us examine your pet every 6 months if you feel
he or she is experiencing changes
Stay current on
all vaccinations - older pet's immune systems are not as strong so vaccinations
become very important.
A high quality
Senior diet.
An annual Senior
Profile - a blood test that checks liver and kidney function, and checks
for diabetes.
Pay special attention
to those hips:
1. Start Dr. Klein's at-home strength and flexibility exercises at 6 years
of age.
2. At the first sign of rear end stiffness start PST therapy annually.
3. At the first sign of rear end pain start pain relief medication like
Phycox or Metacam.
Watch
that weight - your pet's ribs right behind the shoulder blade should be
as easy to feel as the bones on the back of your hand.
1. Exercise regularly - trotting is best (ask our staff why!).
2. At the first sign of extra weight, switch to Prescription Diet W/D.
3. If your dog is overweight and limiting food has not worked, a diet
medication called Slentrol may be beneficial for us to prescribe. Sorry
cats, Slentrol is for dogs only!
The
senior years are some of the most satisfying times for a pet and owner.
Owners may be faced with higher health expenses during these years. Pet
insurance may be a tool for owners to consider to decrease the risk of
unexpected health related expenses.
Our
Hours
Monday
– Thursday 7:15-12:00 and 1:00-5:30
Friday
7:15-12:00 1:00-5:00
Every other Saturday 8:00-12:00
All
Pets Medicine, Surgery and Rehabilitation Clinic, PA
106 Hwy 22 South
P.O. Box 477
Mapleton, MN 56065
507-524-3748
After-Hours
Emergency
(507) 524-3748
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