It brings us great joy to watch our patients grow from wiggly, gangly youngsters into strong, healthy adults. And as our patient’s age and grey, we tailor our approach and treatment to match their evolving healthcare needs.
Senior Wellness Care
Pets age seven times faster, on average, than people – most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two. By age four, many pets are entering middle age. By age seven, most dogs and cats, particularly larger breeds, are entering their senior years.
At Campus Veterinary Clinic we recommend semi-annual wellness exams for all senior animals as health problems progress faster in pets. Why?
- Because dogs and cats age so rapidly, major health changes can occur in a short amount of time.
- Even pets that appear normal can have an underlying problem that may only be detected during an examination by their veterinarian.
Diagnostic tests performed on a senior pet will pick up abnormalities in about 20% of seemingly healthy pets. Luckily, these abnormalities can usually be treated and managed by simple dietary changes or medications – ensuring many more golden years for your pet.
Pain Management
Animals are notoriously good at disguising their discomfort, especially as they age and develop chronic illnesses. It’s important for owners to keep an eye open for any subtle changes in their pet’s behavior, such as difficulty getting up from a sleeping position or limping after a long walk. During regular check ups our doctors can examine your pet for any potential pain and address issues as needed. Pets do not always tell us when they hurt, so it’s up to us to be proactive and provide pain management that can increase their quality of life.
Hospice/Euthanasia
The most challenging part of pet ownership is that we often outlive our furry family members. Hospice can be used to attempt to give pets more good days than bad. At Campus Veterinary Clinic we aim to lessen pain, extend life expectancy, and increase the quality of life for pets in their final days. It is always difficult to make the decision to euthanize your pet. In consultation with your veterinarian, we hope we can help you come to a decision that will bring you peace. Arrangements can be made in advance for home euthanasia.