Hillview Veterinary Clinic  -   Bed & Biscuit
14277 National Road SW  -  Reynoldsburg OH 43068   -   Phone: (614) 866-2290
 © 2006 Hillview Veterinary Clinic

Veterinary Clinic / Bed & Biscuit

 

Chronic pain

Difficulty with steps or jumping

Cries when picked up

Uncontrolled bowel movements

Urination in the house

Excessive water intake

Blood in urine

Increased frequency of urination or

   straining with urination (in litter box)

Cries with urination or bowel movements

Poor eating habits or change in eating patterns

Loss of appetite

Overweight or obesity

Coughing/sneezing

Exercise intolerance

Vomiting/diarrhea

Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

Arthritis

Loss or impairment of vision

Acute swelling or redness of the eyes

 

Any unexplained lumps, swelling or mass anywhere on the body

Odor from mouth

Bad, bleeding or abscessed teeth

Crusty debris or irritation of eyes

Hearing loss

Pattern baldness

Lethargy and/or weakness

Inability or difficulty with urination or bowel movements

Pale mucus membrane or color

Dribbling urine in house or wetting with sleep

Distention of abdomen (belly)

Sense or being lost/bewilderment

Hiding/aggression

Any acute mental, physical or behavioral changes without good reason

Abnormal skin changes, hair loss, scratching and/or chewing

Tires easily with exercise

Confusion or disorientation

Changes in sleep patterns

Poor hair coat, dry, flaking or crusty skin, Itching and scratching

Early detection is the first step in preventing and alleviating potential serious health problems. We encourage you to make your own list of questions and concerns regarding your senior pet and bring it with you to the examination so we can discuss and answer your questions professionally and in detail.

 

Remember, age itself is not a disease. Many of our pets will live well into their golden years with proper nutritional, medical and, most importantly, tender loving care from you and your family.

 

You can find more information on Senior Pet Care at the following Internet sites:

ILLNESS WARNING SIGNS

Following is a list of common potential signs and/or symptoms (behavior patterns) that you may observe at home that may indicate a health problem or serious illness:

The doctors and staff at Hillview are experienced professionals and specialize in senior pet care.  Please call (614) 866-2290 to schedule a consultation or for more information, ask Dr. Josh -  Drjosh@HillviewVet.com

 

Please print & complete the Questionnaire for Owners of Senior Pets before coming in for your appointment.  

Download Word Version   or   Download Acrobat Version

 

Pets enter "seniorhood" about seven years of age.   If you have not already, soon you may begin to notice some telltale signs that your pet is entering the "senior" years. Maybe your dog takes longer to fetch a favorite ball or is slower to greet you at the door. Maybe your cat has lost weight despite having a bigger appetite than ever. Maybe your pet is "forgetting" litter training or housetraining. Perhaps you've noticed weight gain, poor skin and coat condition, or sleeping more than usual. In the past, we often accepted a declining quality of life for our aging pets–or for ourselves, for that matter–as a fact of life beyond our control.

 

Thanks to advances in disease detection and treatment, that is no longer necessary!  Ailments that affect senior pets, such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, can now be effectively treated with new medicines and better nutrition.

 

With appropriate veterinary care and nutrition, your pet's senior years can be a healthy and happy time. And you are the key to making this happen. You know your pet better than anyone does, so it is up to you to report any changes you see to our veterinary staff. We also recommend that you bring you senior pet in for physical examinations and lab work more often now, at least twice yearly.  

Remember that your pet ages five to seven years for every one of yours. This suggests that health problems in your pet can progress five to seven times faster and, therefore, more frequent checkups are necessary. By working together, we can prevent or treat many problems that could rob your pet of his/her quality of life.

 

Proper nutrition is an extremely important factor in your senior pet's health.  Dietary needs mirror the changes occurring in the body: metabolism slows and fewer calories are required. Just as we need to alter our eating habits as we grow older, aging pets should modify their diet to avoid excess weight gain.  A properly formulated diet combined with a moderate exercise program is powerful preventive medicine for your senior pet. For those reasons, we have partnered with the Iams Company and Hill’s Pet Nutrition to provide your pets with Eukanuba Veterinary Diets and Prescription Science Veterinary diets, which are made specifically for the conditions we diagnose most often in older dogs and cats.

 

By sharing life and love with you, your pet has given you a priceless gift. Now that your pet has earned senior status, you have an opportunity to give something in return: the special love and care that can make the "golden" years happy and healthy. To help us to begin to safeguard you pet's health, please take the time to fill out the enclosed questionnaire. If you answered yes to one or more questions, you should call to make an appointment, so that we can better evaluate your pet's health status. Please remember to bring the questionnaire with you.

 

Dr. Josh Halper and Freddie