Senior Care for Pets at Hollywood Cat and Dog Hospital
Pets may not always show their age as readily as their human owners, but they still face numerous challenges to their health, function, and comfort as they get older. Your dog or cat needs even more careful veterinary attention and comprehensive care as he reaches the geriatric stage of his life. Fortunately, your beloved pet can get this degree of care from our West Hollywood veterinarian at Hollywood Cat and Dog Hospital.
Senior Pet Health Risks and Challenges
Your pet's advancing age can sneak up on you more quickly than you might think. Dogs and cats are usually considered senior citizens once they pass the age of seven. Some breeds and sizes age a bit more quickly or slowly than others. You might not see too many external changes apart from some graying hair or lower energy level. However, as pets age, they can develop health problems such as arthritis, circulatory problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, cataracts, cancer, and kidney disease.
Some age-related problems actually enhance each other's effects on your senior pet's quality of life. For instance, arthritis pain may discourage your dog or cat from an active lifestyle, which promotes obesity, which in turn adds stress to weight-bearing joints and makes the arthritis even worse. Obesity in senior pets can also raise the already-elevated risks for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Senior pets often experience chronic pain and stiffness that interferes with their quality of life. Your elderly friend may have trouble going to the bathroom in the right place, for example, due to weakening muscles and joint pain.
Wellness Exams and Treatment Strategies for Your Old Friend
The good news is that your dog or cat can age more gracefully with the aid of proper veterinary care. Our West Hollywood veterinarian recommends that senior pets receive two wellness exams per year, not just one, as is usually the case for younger adult animals. This extra scrutiny allows our veterinarian to check for cancer, organ failure, hearing or vision problems, dementia, and other common ailments that might need treatment.
If your pet suffers from chronic pain, we can prescribe medication, lifestyle modifications, and other helpful strategies to make him happier and more comfortable. We will also weigh your aging dog or cat to keep a close eye on potential obesity, prescribing dietary or exercise plans as needed to reverse or prevent this gateway to chronic illness.
Schedule Senior Care at Our West Hollywood Animal Clinic
Our West Hollywood animal clinic stands ready to give your senior dog or cat the highest standard of veterinary care. Call (323) 469-3000 to schedule a senior wellness exam!