What is the most important thing to know about caring for a senior dog?
The most important thing to know about caring for your senior dog is that regular veterinary visits are essential to maintaining health and longevity.
What is the life expectancy of a dog?
Life expectancy of your dog depends on its breed. As a general rule, the smaller the dog, the longer they live. The bigger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. In general, we consider senior dogs to be anything over the age of seven.
How can wellness care extend the life and vitality of my dog?
Wellness care is critical for extending the life and vitality of your dog because it allows us to catch disease early so that we can have successful intervention and management.
Does my senior dog need vaccinations and preventive care?
Absolutely, it's important to make sure that we maintain core preventive care to help prevent those diseases that can be more easily transmittable as your pet ages.
What are the most common problems in senior dogs?
The most common problems in senior dogs include arthritis or joint pain, liver disease, kidney disease, and cognitive dysfunction.
Does my dog still need regular wellness exams as they get older?
Absolutely. Actually, your senior pet should visit the vet more often than they did when they were a healthy, thriving middle-aged adult.
What are some signs and symptoms that my dog may be slowing down?
Signs of slowing down in dogs can be anything from underlying liver disease, kidney disease, or chronic pain from arthritis.
Why is it important to avoid self-diagnosing if my dog is slowing down or whether they are actually sick?
It's important to avoid self-diagnosing or just chalking it up to them being older because many diseases can have symptoms that show as lethargy or slowing down or not wanting to go on walks, and sometimes those diseases can be easily treatable if we find them early.
What will my veterinarian be looking for when examining my senior dog?
On physical exam, we look for lots of things including joint mobility, joint pain, any signs of organ enlargement, or cognitive dysfunction during the exam.
What are some things I can do to help extend the length of my dog's life?
Routine wellness exams, including biannual baseline blood work and maintaining preventive care, will help ensure a long, happy, healthy life.
Should I encourage my senior dog to exercise?
Absolutely, your senior dog should keep moving every day. The type of exercise and the length and intensity of exercise will be determined based on your pet's ability. Please consult your veterinarian before starting any exercise regimen.
How can I make my home more senior dog friendly?
As pets age and arthritis pain continues, it's important to make sure we provide soft, cushy beds for your pet to sleep in and make sure that we are putting floor runners and rugs to avoid slippery surfaces where your pet is more likely to fall.
What is dog rehabilitation and physical therapy?
Dog rehabilitation and physical therapy is very much like physical therapy and rehabilitation in people. We use specified exercises in a controlled setting to help make sure that we maintain mobility, flexibility, and strength in your pet.
How can rehabilitation and physical therapy help improve the well-being of my senior dog?
Using specific physical therapy exercises and rehabilitation techniques, we can help maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and support joints to eliminate pain and improve quality of life as your senior pet ages.
Will I be able to help my senior dog rehabilitate with physical therapy at home?
Absolutely! Working with your veterinarian or a certified physical therapist, we can help make an at-home exercise regimen to keep your pet strong, happy, and healthy. If you have any questions about your senior pet and the next steps in your pet's life, please give us a call at the clinic.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (503) 968-2911, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram