Customized Care for Your Adult and Senior Pets
Adult pet care focuses on maintaining long-term health. The team at Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates works with you to establish a workable plan that keeps your pet well and your relationship rewarding.
By the time your pet is a year old, they have probably received a series of vaccinations to protect against diseases. To maintain that protection, annual boosters are desirable. The first-year wellness visit is the time to discuss your pet’s unique lifestyle issues and risks. The veterinarian will then customize a plan to meet their needs.
Pet Wellness During the Adult Stage
Annual visits after the first year will include reviewing the established plan to assess effectiveness and make necessary changes. A healthy pet requires basic care, including vaccinations, dental exams, and cleanings.
Regular wellness exams allow us to evaluate your pet’s general health and detect any health issues before they become serious illnesses. We may perform diagnostic tests during this exam, including blood tests, urinalysis, or X-rays as needed.
Nutritional needs vary during the adult stage of life, and a regular review of diet and exercise is required. This becomes even more important as your adult pet nears the senior years. At any stage, weight gain or loss is a strong indicator of compromised health, and should be addressed with your veterinarian.
Behavioral issues may arise in adulthood, which could be a concern for every pet owner. We offer behavioral counseling to determine the source of the problem—usually a medical or training issue. Then, we assist in developing a plan of action to address the behavior and result in a positive outcome.
Senior Pets:
Optimal Wellness During Their Golden Years
Pets age faster than humans and can be considered “seniors” at around age seven. Like humans, our pets’ healthcare needs change with age. Nutritional requirements, exercise habits, and daily routine may all be affected over time.
Normal Aging vs. Veterinary Problems
Health issues affecting older pets can begin with subtle changes that may go unnoticed until the problem has become serious.
Changes often seen in seniors include:
- Slower sensory response due to deteriorating vision, hearing, or sense of smell
- Cognitive impairment that causes confusion or behavioral changes
- Diminished desire for physical activity or play
Alert your veterinarian to these or any other changes you have observed in your pet since your last wellness visit.
Signs of a problem in your aging pet include:
- Changes in activity, sleep, or elimination
- Noticeable decrease in vision
- Sudden weight loss or gain, increase or decrease in appetite
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty in passing stool or urine
- Hair loss, scratching, or open sores or scabs on the skin
- Foul mouth odor or drooling
- Increasing size of the abdomen
- Breathing heavily or rapidly at rest
Other apparent signs of a potential problem include persistent coughing, gagging, seizures, weakness, collapse, and blood in stools or urine. Contact us immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
Senior Wellness Care
Your senior pet’s wellness visit allows us to conduct a thorough exam with diagnostic testing and address any of your questions or concerns. Senior wellness visits include a CBC, chemistry profile, urinalysis, and a T4 thyroid test. We may also perform X-rays or ultrasound tests to view the internal organs, heart, and possible growths or tumors.
Even if your older pet is currently receiving treatment for a chronic or age-related condition, treatment plans can evolve as the condition advances. Occasionally, adjustments to medication dosages may be necessary, or the introduction of complementary treatments could prove beneficial.
We recommend a wellness exam every six months for all senior pets to support overall health, track and treat chronic conditions, and identify developing problems. We aim to keep your companion comfortable and healthy throughout the golden years, providing a longer life and a more rewarding experience for pets and their families.
Give your pet the healthy, happy golden years they deserve. To schedule a wellness visit, please call (248) 646-5655.