Senior Wellness - Pet First Animal Hospital - Bradenton, FL

Aging cats and dogs need more attention and special care than their younger days.  Regular veterinary exams can actually help your pet to live longer.   Dr. Taylor and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) suggests routine veterinary exams every six months for senior dogs and cats. Our veterinarian believes in preventative care and we have established wellness procedures and routine veterinary exams for every stage of your pet's life.

Discovering disease and illness early is always best, but it becomes even more crucial when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years.  The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age.  In addition, dogs and cats may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are quite advanced.  A good rule of thumb is to have your pet seen by a veterinarian on a regular basis to monitor and heal conditions before they become incurable or fatal.  Pets age much faster than humans, so routine veterinary exams are one of the ideal things that you can do to help your senior pet live a healthy life that is full of quality. 

Before your dogs or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and a diagnostic workup.  This will give us a record of what's normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes.  In most cases, we suggest this checkup for when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age.  Thereafter, your senior pet will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.

We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer's in humans).  We can also improve your pet's quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable.

We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet's individual needs.  If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our senior wellness program in more detail.  Call us today to schedule your pet's exam (941)753-2995.