{"id":260,"date":"2018-11-12T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T16:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tenwestvet.com\/blog\/?p=260"},"modified":"2018-11-12T11:15:26","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T16:15:26","slug":"senior-pet-care-compassion-and-vigilance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tenwestvet.com\/blog\/senior-pet-care-compassion-and-vigilance\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Pet Care: Compassion and Vigilance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SeniorThanks to advancements in veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer and healthier lives. Sadly, however, our pets aren\u2019t likely to outlive us altogether. Fortunately, by working together, we can help our pets age as gracefully as possible while maintaining a high quality of life. Although the way forward isn\u2019t always easy or without complications, you can count on <\/span>our team<\/span><\/a> to provide you with complete and compassionate senior pet care. <\/span><\/p>\n

Senior Pet Care<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s easy to forget that by the age of 7, many pets are considered senior. Animals age much faster than humans, so depending on your pet\u2019s species, breed, and genetics, it\u2019s a good idea to increase the frequency of wellness exams once they enter the golden years. From age 1 to 6, we recommend annual appointments. Beginning at age 7, we\u2019d like to see your pet 2 to 3 times a year. <\/span><\/p>\n

Early Detection of Disease<\/span><\/h3>\n

In addition to maintaining a healthy weight through appropriate diet and <\/span>exercise<\/span><\/a>, preventive care exams allow us to find emerging diseases and conditions before they become advanced. This means we can treat problems more quickly, resulting in better outcomes and less pain and discomfort for your pet. Oftentimes, early treatment is also less expensive, less time consuming, and less stressful. <\/span><\/p>\n

Early detection methods include blood work, urinalysis, blood pressure testing, dental evaluation, and <\/span>parasite screening<\/span><\/a> tests. Even when nothing is wrong with your pet, having a baseline of normal values can be invaluable when comparing them to future results. Sometimes, though, pet owners are surprised by a diagnosis. Pets (especially <\/span>cats<\/span><\/a>!) are masters at hiding pain and disease, so it\u2019s important to perform these tests on a regular basis, even on seemingly healthy pets. <\/span><\/p>\n

Aging Pets<\/span><\/h3>\n

The old adage \u201cage is not a disease\u201d can be applied to both humans and our pets. With regular and thoughtful senior pet care, older animals can lead healthy lives. At the same time, it\u2019s important to be able to recognize signs of disease in an aging pet. Common conditions among senior pets include: <\/span><\/p>\n