Why are we interested?
Your pet cannot say, “Hey, I’ve been feeling really thirsty lately,” or “Wow, I just feel so weak, maybe I need a checkup,” or “It hurts when I chew.”
A pet can be feeling the effects of aging or disease long before they exhibit it to us. And often if their first clinical sign is sleeping more, we still may not be alarmed because, after all, “they’re getting older.”
They can tell us very little, so we must observe.
You may ask, “Isn’t it okay to just bring them in when we see something?” In many cases, yes, we can still make significant therapeutic advances even when they come to us ill. But many geriatric conditions are slowly progressive losses of function of the organs that many have been happening for years before our pets exhibit a symptom garnering our attention. Therefore, had we known earlier, we may have been able to evoke a cure, or at least slow a condition down. As with any disease, it is preferable to catch it in the early stages.
An example of this is chronic kidney failure. The kidneys can be failing in 75% of their function before the pet may show even subtle changes such as sleeping more, less appetite, and increased thirst. The pet may be in the final stages of kidney disease before larger signs such as vomiting, lethargy, and increased urination are seen. This is obviously not the point at which we would choose to be seeing the pet for the first time. Even with all of our technology, we are often helpless at this point.
If an organ is aging and failing, what really can be done?
- Dietary changes Prescription diets have advanced quickly and are a significant aid in many conditions. Examples would include:
- A high-fiber, low-calorie diet for diabetes.
- A high-fiber, easily digestible diet for constipation
- A sodium-restricted diet for heart conditions
- Nutritional aid through geriatric vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, etc.
- Medications. Our shelf includes animal as well as human
medications. - Regular checkups.
So when do we begin?
Right now.
Where do we begin?
A yearly geriatric blood and urine screen to identify problems before they become “clinical” is optimal. These tests are often performed in-house, requiring approximately 45 minutes.
Based on these screening tests, additional procedures such as x-rays,
ultrasounds, etc. may also be recommended. Additional blood tests may also be forwarded to a commercial laboratory.