Compassionate Care for Mature Pets, Birds, and Exotics
~ Pekin Family members Coulter, Kyla and Zeke
Senior Pet Care
Just like people, animals need more health maintenance as they age. A regular veterinary exam is the most important step you can take to keep your pet healthy and vigorous, and for early detection of problems such as organ failure and osteoarthritis.
AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommends that healthy senior dogs and cats visit the veterinarian every six months for a complete exam and laboratory testing. We consider pets as ‘senior’ when they reach 7 years old. Keep in mind that every year for a dog or cat is equivalent to 5–7 human years, so twice-a-year exams are a must.
Use the chart below to determine the human age equivalent of your dog and/or cat.
In addition to the basic Wellness Fundamentals, we include a few extras
for our mature pets.
- Establish a body condition score
- Screen for tumors
- Evaluate dental health
- Discuss nutritional needs and changes
- Advise on osteoarthritis management
- Discuss senior conditions and needs that develop with age
- Nutritional consultation
Our Senior Wellness Program consists of two levels of care designed to address the comfort and lifestyle needs of your pet.
Gold Level- includes a comprehensive physical exam, complete blood cell count, comprehensive organ function panel, thyroid screen, urinalysis, and internal parasite testing.
Platinum Level- includes a comprehensive physical exam, complete blood cell count, comprehensive organ function panel, thyroid screen, urinalysis, internal parasite testing, an electrocardiogram, and chest and abdominal radiographs.
We also have a Senior Wellness Program to address the needs of birds and exotics, including:
- Comprehensive physical exam
- Beak, wing, or nail maintenance
- Complete organ function testing
Visit Healthy Pet for more information on this subject from the American Animal Hospital Association.
Pain Management
We know that recognizing and alleviating pain in animals is the essence of good patient care. We offer you options for pain control to help keep your pet comfortable during the recovery process.
Acupuncture
This is the art of manipulating the body through the use of needles in specific points on the body to create therapeutic responses to disease conditions. We use acupuncture to treat a variety of muscular-skeletal conditions including:
- Arthritis pain
- Neurology
- Metabolic concerns
- Spinal difficulties
Acupuncture works by changing the signaling pathways of the body, promoting pain relief, healing, and immune system stimulation. In this way we ‘help the body to help itself’ rather than using high doses of drugs - often more harmful than helpful. To find out if your animal may benefit from acupuncture, call Dr. Jess today for a consultation.
In many cases, joint pain, arthritis, and other age-related deterioration may be aided by rehabilitation therapies offered in the Small Animal Rehabilitation Center. Discuss this possibility with the doctor and review the services we have to offer.
Hospice / Euthanasia Services
Saying goodbye to a long-time friend is painful. We work with clients to ensure their pet's comfort and dignity. Services include taking care of the remains as directed by the client.