Senior Pet Care and Wellness Exams

At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, our loyal senior pets are treated to special care. More frequent exams allow us to catch developing problems early, and provide treatments that are less invasive, more comfortable, and less expensive in the long run. Senior wellness planning is designed to keep your old friends healthy and vigorous for years to come.

Senior Wellness Exams

We see your senior pet at least twice a year to maintain good health and address any concerns. At these visits, we discuss your companion's changing nutritional needs, exercise options, behavioral indicators of age-related illness, skin care and grooming needs, and much more. Dental exams become more critical as your pet ages, and we address these needs during each visit, as well.

Wellness Testing for Senior Pets

Wellness testing helps maintain your senior pet's health and prevent disease by promoting early detection and treatment of illnesses. Having established a baseline for your pet during the early years, we compare current test results to that baseline for an accurate health profile.

Pets six years of age and older are given a more comprehensive health profile compared to younger pets, consisting of:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Complete chemistry and electrolytes
• Thyroid analysis
• Urinalysis
• Feline AIDS and leukemia test (indoor/outdoor felines only)
• Chest x-rays

Health checkups are recommended every six months for pets over six years of age. Bi-annual exams allow your doctor to monitor for the development of cataracts, heart murmurs, and abdominal masses that are more common in geriatric pets.