Senior Pet Wellness Testing

Important facts about senior testing

An aging pet’s organs gradually deteriorate and may lose their ability to function properly. We use senior testing to promote early detection and treatment of disease, so we can maintain health and prevent illness during your pet’s senior years. Early detection of disease often gives us more effective and less costly treatment options. And senior testing helps establish normal baseline values for your pet, creating a point of comparison for the future.

What pets should take part in senior testing?

We recommend senior testing for all senior pets as well as any pet who is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms: weight loss or gain, increased thirst or urination, lethargy, vomiting/diarrhea, poor hair coat, coughing, seizures, unusual behavior, or overall decline in condition.

Is my pet a senior?

If your pet is 7 years old or older, we consider him or her senior. Your pet may seem healthy well into its senior years. However, many problems common to senior pets (like kidney or heart failure) may not present symptoms until your pet becomes seriously ill. A comprehensive senior care program helps your veterinarian identify problems early enough to institute preventive healthcare measures.

What is senior testing?

Your pet’s individually tailored senior testing program will be comprised of the following tests:
►A physical exam is the most important part of the senior care program. Your veterinarian will assess all body systems to check for any abnormalities.
►Blood chemistry tests measure levels of various substances in the blood and diagnose diseases such as diabetes, and liver and kidney failure

►A complete blood count (CBC) provides a detailed look at the blood itself and helps the doctor diagnose anemia or infection.

►A urinalysis gives information on kidney function and checks for urinary tract infections.

►The thyroid screen (T4) helps diagnose thyroid disease, which is an especially common ailment in older cats and dogs.

And may include one or more of these elements:

►Glaucoma testing measures the pressure in each eye quickly and painlessly using a tonometer. Undetected glaucoma leads to irreversible blindness.

►During a retinal exam, performed after the pupils are dilated, the veterinarian will look for evidence of bleeding, degeneration, inflammation, or detachment.

►Blood pressure measurement lets our team check for hypertension. Just as in humans, high blood pressure in pets can lead to kidney problems, heart disease, blindness, and other complications.

►Radiographs (X-rays) may be part of the senior care program for some pets. Generally, we perform chest radiographs to assess the heart and lungs. However, your veterinarian may decide a different set of radiographs would be more important for your pet. For example, he or she could recommend abdominal radiographs to assess the liver or kidneys, or orthopedic films to assess arthritis.

►FeLV/FIV testing, recommended for previously unscreened senior cats, tests for the feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses, which can suppress the cat’s immune system and lead to secondary infections, anemia, and even cancer.

I’d like my pet to participate in the Senior Care Program. What do I do?

Call us at 315-363-8700 to arrange an appointment for your pet to receive his or her testing. A fasting blood sample is best, so please withhold food from your pet for 12 hours prior to the appointment time, if possible. Make water available for your pet as usual. In many instances, senior screening can be done along with regular wellness checkups and vaccines and usually results are available in 24-48 hours.