Senior wellness testing: Early detection means earlier treatment

Pets are good at hiding pain and signs of disease. Because our pets age much faster than we do, if a health issue arises, it can progress rather quickly—and if your pet has been hiding signs, the disease may have progressed quite far before you realize there’s a problem. 

 

One of the best ways to catch problems early is by establishing regular visits to your veterinarian for a wellness exam and early detection testing. Wellness testing is particularly important in senior (and geriatric) pets, since there’s a greater chance that our older pets will develop disease. Finding problems early means earlier treatment, which can help your senior pet enjoy many more years to come!

What is wellness testing and what are the tests?

Wellness testing for senior pets allows your veterinarian to detect diseases before your pet shows signs of illness. When diseases are detected early, your veterinarian can recommend dietary changes, prescribe medications and suggest lifestyle changes, allowing management or even correction of the problem, before any permanent damage occurs. 

What are the tests?

There are a few categories of tests that your veterinarian will perform:

• Blood tests. Routinely used in all stages of health and illness, blood tests can provide information about the organs and tissues of your pet’s body, which helps detect diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease, as well as other disorders.
• Urine tests. These provide information on the physical and chemical properties of your pet’s urine, as well as information on kidney function, the health of the urinary tract and the presence of crystals or stones.
• Thyroid testing. From a blood sample, your veterinarian can test how your pet’s thyroid is functioning. In cats, the most common thyroid disease is hyperthyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, leading to an increase in the metabolic rate and causing strain on the heart, liver and kidneys. Conversely, in dogs the most common thyroid disease is hypothyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone, leading to weight gain, haircoat changes and a slowed heart rate.
  

Early detection and correction of medical problems will help ensure that your pet will be healthy and active for as long as possible. 

Book an appointment today through myVCA^TM today! >>