Senior Pet Health

Thank you for considering PCAC for your senior pet’s care. It’s true what they say, a dog year really is about 7 years. This is the same for cats, though some large dogs age even quicker. This means that when your dog is 7, he is really about 50. Because pets age more quickly than we do, most pets seven years and older are considered mature, senior, or geriatrics. Pets need more care more often as they age. Since they age more quickly, their diseases also spread more quickly. We recommend wellness exams every six months for pets seven and older.

Senior Optimum Wellness Program

So you can know that you are giving your aging pet the best care possible, we have put together a Senior Optimum Wellness Program. This yearly package includes our recommendations for pets seven and older for one price. Included in the package are diagnostics to screen for diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, urinary tract, and more. Many symptoms that are considered “just part of aging” can be improved with age-optimized nutrition, medications, or other treatment options.

Canine Optimum Wellness Package

  • 2 Senior Dog Wellness Exams*
    • We recommend exams every 6 months for senior dogs. *Illness visits are not substituted as it is important to receive all wellness care
  • Core Canine Vaccinations
    • DA2PP
    • Leptospirosis
    • Bordetella
    • Rabies
  • Comprehensive Blood Panel to evaluate organ function, thyroid, and cell counts
  • Urinalysis to check kidney functions
  • Stool Analysis
  • 2 Nail Trims
  • Nutritional Consultation
  • $35 off an oral surgery procedure

Feline Optimum Wellness Package

  • 2 Senior Feline Wellness Exams*
    • We recommend exams every 6 months for senior cats. *Illness visits are not substituted as it is important to receive all wellness care
  • Core Feline Vaccinations
    • FVRCP
    • FeLV
    • Rabies
  • Comprehensive Blood Panel to evaluate organ function, thyroid, and cell counts
  • Urinalysis to check kidney functions
  • Stool Analysis
  • 2 Nail Trims
  • Nutritional Consultation
  • $35 off an oral surgery procedure

Senior Pet Arthritis

Is arthritis preventable? In many cases it is! Although some breeds and lifestyles can cause your pet to be predisposed to osteoarthritis (OA), preventative measures can help your pet avoid it or decrease the pain associated. Getting stiff and painful does not have to be just a part of getting older. There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many ways to improve mobility and relieve the pain it causes. We have a multi-modal approach to arthritis management for our pets.

Weight Management/Loss
The first step to managing arthritis is maintaining your senior pet at a healthy weight. The heavier your pet is, the more stress that will put on the joints causing extra wear and tear. If your senior pet is overweight, your veterinarian can recommend a weight loss regiment including diet changes and low impact exercise. When you bring your pet, be sure you know which food you are feeding, how much, how often, and what supplemental treats or scraps he is receiving. Our doctors can calculate the exact numbers of calories and cups of food (including treats) your pet should be getting each day to reach an optimal weight. +

NSAIDs and Nuetraceuticals
To prevent your knees from hurting, you take glucosamine and chondroiton. When your joints do hurt, you take ibuprofen. For dogs and cats we carry Dasuquin, a glucoasmine and chondroiton supplement formulated in easy to give capsules, chewables, and food additives for dogs and cats. We also carry and can prescribe (if recommended by you veterinarian) Rimadyl, Onsior, Galliprant, Metacam. These NSAIDs can help reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. If your pet is prescribed one of these, annual bloodwork to evaluate kidney and liver function, as well as all other organ functions and cell counts, will be recommended. These NSAIDs are also formulated specifically for dogs and cats. DO NOT give your pet ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetimenophen. These medications are for human use and can cause illness and even death in animals. +

Adequan
Adequan may also be recommended for the treatment and prevention of arthritis. This injection is given in a series of 7 initial injections 2-3 days apart, then once every 25 days. Adequan helps rebuild and maintain the joint cartilage destroyed by arthritis. +

Laser Therapy
Class IV Laser Light Therapy is proven effective for the treatment of arthritis in humans and animals. +