Senior Wellness Plan
The 3
D’s to Better Health: Minimizing the Effects of Aging
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Dentistry
Periodontal
(gum) disease is one of the most common conditions
encountered in veterinary medicine. Plaque and bacteria
accumulate on your pet’s teeth providing a foothold for
bacteria to begin infecting gums and the roots of teeth.
This can result in tooth loss and pain. Furthermore,
bacteria may enter the blood stream through the large
network of blood vessels located near the teeth and
gums.
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Diet
Like
puppies and kittens, older dogs and cats have different
nutritional requirements specific to their life stage.
Proper nutrition is vital to maintain optimal organ
function and improve quality of life. High quality
senior diets provide protein, vitamins and minerals in
the correct proportions and digestibility to meet the
special needs of older dogs and cats. In general,
grocery store diets do not address the special
nutritional needs of senior pets and many
over-the-counter diets may contribute to obesity and
other diseases common in older patients. Just ask us and
we can recommend a few excellent senior diets!
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Diagnostics
Blood
testing is the best way to assess your friend’s health
status and make appropriate therapeutic and diet
recommendations, if any are needed. A blood screen
checks the health of red blood cells (carry oxygen),
white blood cells (fighting infection), and platelets
(blood clotting) and also evaluates the function of
major internal organs. We also use an ECG
(electrocardiogram) to evaluate the electrical activity
of the heart. Diagnostic testing is the most important
way to accurately assess the aging process.
Our
Senior Health Program has several important benefits:
1)
Evaluates function of your pet’s internal organs
including kidney, liver, and heart.
2) Tests
for common diseases in older pets including anemia,
infection, diabetes, hypothyroidism (dogs),
hyperthyroidism (cats), kidney failure, liver disease,
cardiac arrhythmias (heart), and certain types of
cancer.
3) Allows scientifically based nutritional
recommendations for your older pet.
Midway
Veterinary Hospital Senior Health Program
Components of the plan include: comprehensive blood
analysis including CBC (complete blood count), chemistry
profile (kidney, liver, pancreas, blood sugar,
cholesterol), electrolytes (sodium, potassium,
chloride), T4 (thyroid), urinalysis, and an ECG
(electrocardiogram of the heart), chest and abdominal
radiographs to look for any type of cancer.
Our mission at Midway Veterinary Hospital is to do
everything we can to maximize the health of your pet.
