In their Golden Years, senior pets need special care, Aging is not a disease, it is a process that involves a progressive and irreversible loss of functional reserve capacity in the body’s major organ systems. Cats age uniformly, no matter what their breed, however, dogs age according to their size. Larger dogs have a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs. Pets, in general, are considered geriatric when they are in the last 25% of their predicted lifespan. For cats this means they are geriatric beginning at 9 years of age, a small dog is also considered geriatric at 9 years, but a giant breed dog is considered geriatric at 6 years of age. When your pet is geriatric in “dog years,” it is equivalent to be a human that is over 60 years of age. At Jog Lantana Animal Clinic, we believe senior wellness is a priority.
Senior/Geriatric pets have changes in their nutritional requirements and are also more susceptible to age related diseases. Muscle atrophy, dental disease, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, thyroid disease, and many others occur more often in older dogs than in young dogs. Regular veterinary care can help identify some of these concerns sooner, meaning they can be addressed and managed to improve the quality of life in your senior pet.
A routine geriatric screening includes a thorough physical exam and the following:
- BLOOD SCREEN:
This preventive care testing has added to our understanding of what is normal for your best friend, establishing a baseline that we will compare to in the future. When you bring your pet back for testing each year, we will track subtle changes more effectively. This improves our ability to detect disease in your pet even when values are normal, or before any outward signs of illness can be seen. By spotting problems at the earliest possible stage, we may prevent or treat disease with greater success. The more data we have, the better we can support you in providing your pet with a long, healthy and happy life!
- IDEXX SDMA Test
SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) is a renal biomarker specific to kidney function. It has proven to be a more reliable indicator of kidney function than creatinine, enabling veterinarians to
detect both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) earlier than ever before.
- Reticulocytes
Reticulocytes characterize the type and severity of anemia, defining whether or not it is regenerative or nonregenerative, and can help detect occult blood loss or hemolytic disease in nonanemic patients. Veterinary-specific free T4 and/or Total T4 (To check Tyrod function).
- Urinalysis
Used in combination with the IDEXX SDMA Test and creatinine, urinalysis will give you a better indication of kidney function. It also screens for evidence of lower urinary track disease or urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Fecal Dx Profile
We recommend including fecal antigen testing along with fecal ova and parasites testing to diagnose infections and treat patients earlier. Fecal antigen testing allows you to identify prepatent and single-sex infections.
Optional: You can customize the more convenience screen panel for your pet.
- Chest Radiographs:
Abdominal radiographs are often used as a first line screening test for possible intra-abdominal
disease, along with blood work and the physical exam, it is an invaluable asset in diagnosing a
variety of abdominal diseases ranging from mechanical obstruction from foreign bodies to
cystic calculi causing hematuria
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) (Dogs only):
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic test that records the electrical activity of the pet’s heart. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a noninvasive test. An. ECG is indicated whenever a heart rhythm problem is suspected, when a heart murmur is detected, when there is x-ray evidence of heart enlargement, or when cardiovascular symptoms such as fainting occur.
- CARDIO PET pro BNP Test:
The Cardiopet proBNP is a simple blood test that was adapted from human medicine and is used to predict the risk of developing congestive heart failure. This test measures the presence of a hormone (NTproBNP), which is released into the blood when the heart muscle is stretched or experiences stress.
- ALLER -g- detect Allergen Preliminary Panel:
Aller-g-detect Allergen Preliminary Panel provides a low-cost serum test that detects allergen-specific antibodies against four common allergen groups: mites/molds, grasses, weeds, and trees.
Additional tests or procedures could be added upon request.
We at Jog Lantana Animal Clinic understand the unique changes that can occur in senior pets and can discuss nutritional recommendations and how to address changes in bloodwork or behavior as well as how to manage chronic diseases your dog may have. If you do notice any changes at home, be sure to schedule an appointment with our doctor today.
For additional information about our GERIATRIC SPECIAL PACK, please click here.