What age can a pet be considered an adult? It’s been found that smaller breed dogs tend to live longer than their bigger counterparts, and the same holds for cats. Numerous health issues can impact senior pets, including changes in movement and weight, arthritis, renal, liver, and heart diseases, cancers and tumors, as well as hormonal issues like thyroid imbalance and diabetes.
When we reach different ages, our bodies have different requirements for how we should be treated medically; the same is true for our animals. The health plan for senior pets should be developed in close collaboration between the pet’s owner and veterinarian.
Evaluating Senior Pet Health
As your pet ages, regular vet visits are essential to ensure that your pet is in excellent health. Fortunately, several veterinary hospitals have established nationwide geriatric and senior care programs to offer preventive services for older animals. They typically require that your pet undergo several diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the issue.
1. Complete Blood Count
This test, which is standard in all tests, determines the total number of blood red and white blood cells and platelets present in each individual’s blood sample. The quantity and variety of these cells offer data needed for the veterinarian to aid in diagnosing anemia, infections, and leukemia.
A complete blood count is essential for a pet laboratory when determining how certain medications can benefit your pet.
2. Urine Analysis
It is common to test a pet’s urine and provide a report on its chemical and physical characteristics utilizing Urinalysis. Analyzing kidney function and detecting urinary tract inflammation and infection can be achieved through urine analysis. It is helpful in detecting cancer in the urinary system and is also used to determine the indications of diabetes.
Regular wellness tests and diagnosis & treatment of vet internal conditions should include a urinalysis as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the kidneys and urinary system. Due to the increased prevalence of kidney illness in older canines, this is particularly crucial for senior and geriatric canines.
3. Radiographs
Radiographs should be used to make a more precise diagnosis when your pet is suffering from a history of cardiac, respiratory, hepatic, renal, or digestive problems.
Your physician may recommend radiation graphs (x-rays) or other tests to help diagnose issues like arthritis. These signs could indicate arthritis or signal a more serious health issue. You can check this one and read blog posts and articles about it.
4. Fecal Analysis
Examining the dog’s feces can reveal details about various health issues related to digestion, such as issues with the digestive system, internal bleeding, and disorders of the pancreas.
However, the essential thing that this test reveals is that intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and giardia, are present inside the person’s body.
5. Blood Chemistry
A variety of tests such as those can help diagnose diseases such as diabetes, renal illness, liver disease, and others by providing details about the body’s organs and tissues. Your vet may recommend retaking the biochemistry profile within a few days, months, or weeks if it only shows minor deviations from normal.
The degree of the anomalies will determine the extent of the diagnostic workup, which may include other tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), a blood pressure test, and imaging studies like radiography (X-rays) or ultrasound.
