As our pets get older, they can be more prone to certain medical issues and may need a bit more attention.
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There are many issues that can affect our pets as they age. As with all things, if we can pick these up early then we can stop the progression and help your pet to live a longer, happier and more comfortable life.
One of the things to consider as your dog ages is changing their diet.
There are diets that are specifically formulated for elderly pets.
They have lower energy - as elderly dogs tend not to exercise as much and so are at risk of becoming overweight - and increased fibre for intestinal health.
There are also specific diets that can help if your pet suffers arthritis or other medical conditions.
Regular vet checks (at least every six months) in older pets can help pick up any disease processes early. At these checks, your vet will perform a thorough check over.
Elderly pets are more prone to dental disease and your vet will check teeth carefully at each visit, picking up early dental disease.
Sometimes, pets with dental issues may need an anaesthetic to clean up bad teeth.
Your vet may also advise to have some bloods taken.
A general blood profile will check your pet's organ function, blood count and electrolyte levels.
Frequent blood tests will help to show any trends and point out early organ failure (especially important for kidney function).
If this is picked up in the early stages, a treatment regime can be implemented to try to slow the progression.
As pets age, their joints can be affected by arthritis.
This can be picked up in the early stages and treatment regimes can be implemented by your vet to help keep your pet comfortable.