Mercersburg Veterinary Clinic Inc.
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Preventive Health Care
Companion animals are very important to us. Around age 7, your pet enters his senior years. It is common for pets to start developing diseases that we would associate with humans such as diabetes, heart disease, endocrine disease and cancer. Typically these diseases can go unnoticed in the early stages: therefore preventive health care is very important. Early detection can help in disease prevention and can minimize suffering. Senior wellness exam may include blood testing to establish a baseline, parasitic evaluation and possible x-rays. You will see a checklist below of signs to watch for, keep track and let us know immediately before they become serious.
Signs to watch for:
Companion animals are very important to us. Around age 7, your pet enters his senior years. It is common for pets to start developing diseases that we would associate with humans such as diabetes, heart disease, endocrine disease and cancer. Typically these diseases can go unnoticed in the early stages: therefore preventive health care is very important. Early detection can help in disease prevention and can minimize suffering. Senior wellness exam may include blood testing to establish a baseline, parasitic evaluation and possible x-rays. You will see a checklist below of signs to watch for, keep track and let us know immediately before they become serious.
Signs to watch for:
- Just not acting like himself
- Interacting less often with the family
- Responding less often or less enthusiastically
- Changing behavior/activity level
- Having difficulty climbing stairs
- Having difficulty jumping
- Exhibiting increased stiffness or limping
- Drinking more often
- Urinating more often
- Change in eating pattern
- Noticeably gaining weight or losing weight
- Losing housetraining habits
- Change in sleeping pattern
- Becoming confused or disoriented
- Change in hair coat, skin, lumps or bumps
- Scratching more often
- Exhibiting bad breath/red or swollen gums
- Showing tremors or shaking