They say that age is just a number, and it is how young we feel that counts.  That young feeling can mask certain disease processes in our pets that occure as they get older.  Even if your senior dog is behaving like a puppy, and your senior cat is as spry as  a kitten, they will hide their suffering so as not to appear weak, which is a behavioral hold-over from their wild animal origins.  By the time they show symptoms through "acting old," diseases such as arthritis, kidney failure, thyroid impairment, or heart failure have taken their toll, and may already be causing your pet severe discomfort and pain.

"I may be grey around the muzzle, but I've got lots of love still to give," Teddy says.  Teddy is 11 years old.

In human years, Teddy, the dog pictured above, is 72!  By that age, many of us are seeing our own doctors at least twice a year, and having bloodwork and other diagnostics done to detect diseases of our organs before they become life threatening.  At Suffolk Veterinary Group Animal Wellness and Laser Surgery Center, our PetCare Team also likes to take this pro-active approach to evaluating the health of our mature companion animals.  Dogs are considered Senior when they reach the age of 6 years old, and cats at the age of 5 years old.

Senior Wellness Visits are recommended to be done twice a year, as a pet ages at a rate of approximately 4 years physically for every one year on the calendar.  A typical Senior Wellness Visit for your senior pet will include the following, and usually takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes:

A complete medical history of your senior pet's recent activities will be written down in your  senior pet's medical record by one of our PetCare Team's Licensed Veterinary Technicians.  They will also preform an inital exam of your senior pet's physical vitals, such as weight, temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate.  They may ask you questions pertaining to your senior pet's diet, exercise levels, and travels.  Please answer all questions as completely as possible, as the answers will assist our PetCare Team in forming your senior pet's wellness profile.

A Comprehensive Physical Examination done by the Veterinarian will palpate every part of your senior pet's body.  During this hands-on examination, the Veterinarian will feel over your senior pet from their nose to the tip of their tail, and make notations regarding the apperance of any abnormalities they find.  Once this exam is complete, they will discuss with you their findings, review with you your senior pet's medical history, and consult with you as to the wellness profile necessary.

Diagnostic testing for early detection of disease for senior pets include echocardiograms to monitor heart health, blood pressure moitoring, complete blood counts and blood chemistry to evaluate organ function, a urinalysis to check kidney function, and a parasite analysis.  Radiographs may be recommended if any lumps or bumps have developed since your senior pet's last physical exam, as these may be supsect for cancer.

The veterinarian will evaluate your senior pet's range of motion in their joints, as well as question you as to their activity levels, to determine if arthritis is causing your senior pet any discomfort.  If so, we can provide for your senior pet pain management prescriptions.

Based upon the above evaluations, the Veterinarian will consult with you the necessary vaccinations your senior pet will need to ensure that they are protected against many diseases, some of which are extreamly debilitating.  If you do not wish to vaccinate your senior pet, we highly recommend doing blood work called vaccine titers, which will measure the immunity level your senior pet has against some of these diseases to determine whether a booster vaccination is necessary.

By using twice a year physical examinations and early detection diagnostics, you and our PetCare Team can help extend your senior pet's life, making them feel as young as they act.  All your questions regarding your senior pet's health will be answered, and the Suffolk Veterinary Group Animal Wellness and Laser Surgery Center PetCare Team will discuss with you nutritional, behavioral, dental, and any surgical recommendations the Veterinarian has made.