Senior Dog Care
Like humans, dogs grow older, and health issues often arise. As your dog ages, he/she is likely to experience similar problems that an older person might experience. At Animal General Hospital, we want to help your senior dog live as healthy and long of a life as possible.
What is a Senior Dog?
A senior dog is typically a dog that is seven years old or older. However, we are aware that aging can vary based on breed, lifestyle, and medical conditions. As your dog ages, health issues may go undetected and can reach advanced stages if not discovered early on. The most common diseases in senior dogs are kidney and liver diseases. These diseases often go unnoticed as their symptoms are mistaken as normal aging.
Animal General Hospital recommends annual blood work and semi-annual visits for your senior dog to help safeguard their quality of life. Annual bloodwork will assist us in detecting diseases in the early stages and wellness checks will help us keep your senior dog on the right track.
Senior Dog Wellness
Your dog requires more thorough medical care as they age. Our semi-annual senior care exams involve a comprehensive analysis of your dog’s overall health. During these exams, we will discuss any nutritional changes your dog may need, supplements they may need for joint health, and exercise recommendations for your senior dogs.
The wellness exam typically includes:
- An in-depth senior pet physical exam
- Blood work
- Urine and fecal analysis
- Consultation to discuss changes you’ve noticed in your dog’s behavior. Some changes might include:
- Difficulty getting up or moving
- Changes in their sleep cycles
- Problems with house training
- Lack of appetite
- Confusion or disorientation
- Increased anxiety
- Aggression
- Nutrition and weight management counseling
- Recommendations for regular exercise
Together, we can help your senior dog thrive. No one knows your dog better than you, and you are best suited to alert us of changes in your dog before they become serious. Call us today (706-568-4848) to schedule a visit for your senior dog.
Everyone was so wonderful from the moment we walked in. So kind and attentive. Dr. W and his staff made us feel as if we were their only patients that day. I never felt as though we were being rushed through to get to the next appointment. Everything was explained thoroughly and all questions were patiently answered. Would highly recommend!
We had a great experience bringing our kitten Sam to Animal General! The staff was kind and caring and was great at communicating with us through the whole process. We can’t wait to bring our other pets there for their vet needs.
Always a wonderful and positive experience!
Super friendly and helpful staff- The vet was compassionate and very knowledgeable. My puppy came in with a fractured femur and right away received lots of love and attention. I know I left him in good hands.
