PROVIDING SENIOR PET CARE
Muscle/Bone Systems
Digestive System
- Easily digestible food – low protein, low sodium and high fiber- weight loss diets as needed.
- May need to change texture or odor of food
- 2-3 meals per day – helps digestion
- We are here to prescribe the best diet for your pet- keeping pets at their ideal weight can add 2 ½ to 3 years to their life.
Oral Health
- Treat and control periodontal disease - this can also add 2 ½ to 3 years to their life. (see Periodontal Disease)
- Infections in the gums travel through the bloodstream to all internal organs causing life-shortening damages. Quality of life also suffers.
Hearing & Vision
- Pets adjust very well to these losses, but we need to keep them out of dangerous situations as these senses deteriorate.
- We need to rule out treatable causes of hearing and vision loss.
- Teach hand signals in case your pet’s hearing begins to fail.
- Teach verbal signals in case your pet’s vision begins to fail.
- Provide night lights for pets losing vision.
- Minimize any changes in their physical space if vision is deteriorating.
Haircoat & Skin
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Frequent brushing will remove dead hair, stimulate oil glands and alert you to the presence of lumps, bumps, sore areas, fleas and ticks.
- Supplementing your pet with Omega 3 and/or Omega 6 Fatty Acids (as conditions dictate) will improve skin and haircoat.
Nervous System
- Provide warmth, as their thermo-regulation center in their brains is less capable of maintaining normal body temperature.
- Regularly evaluate for cognitive disorder ("Pet Alzheimer’s" Disease).
- Consider new prescription Brain Food and/or Anipril as prescribed.
- Play interactive games with your pet to encourage mental alertness.
- Consider adding another family pet as a housemate.
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