As our companions get older there are many ways that we can forestall disease and improve the quality of our pets lives and health.  Keeping your pet healthy involves both recognizing problems early and then treating them appropriately. 

What should I do differently with my older pet to keep them healthy?

1. ANNUAL EXAM: The information and history is extremely important to the veterinarian in an exam. As the annual exam approaches, be sure to mention to your veterinarian if your pet's activity or behavior has changed. Do not just chalk up changes to old age--please see "Is it just old age?" for symptoms to look for. 

2. BLOODWORK/URINALYSIS: The veterinarian's physical exam is a very important aspect of keeping your pet healthy but it does not tell the doctor everything. Many diseases can be detected on abnormalities in blood work that is not apparent on the physical exam. After about age 6-7 years in dogs and 9-10 years in cats routine blood work on older patients is encouraged. 

3. MONITOR WEIGHT: It is important to monitor a pets weight throughout their lives. Both weight gain and weight loss can indicate significant disease. Dogs and cats that had no difficulty in their youth often become more sedentary in older age and gain weight.  Increased weight can lead to and/or worsen symptoms of arthritis. Being overweight also increases the risk of diabetes and other diseases.  Unusual weight loss is also EXTREMELY important. Please call your doctor if you note any changes or have any questions.   

4. ADD SUPPLEMENTS?: High-quality dog food does not require supplementation for overall health of your pet. However, some medical conditions can benefit greatly from supplements that are not provided in high enough quantity in dog food. Ask your veterinarian if these may apply to your pet.