SNY02196

Keeping Your Pets Golden years, Golden.

6 days ago

Just as humans do, our furry family members benefit from a yearly health check. However, because pets age much more rapidly than we do, senior health checks are a vital part of maintaining their overall health and wellbeing - especially in their later years. 

Annual health checks allow us to establish a baseline, helping us determine what is normal for your pet. These checks are commonly performed at the time of annual vaccinations and provide an excellent opportunity to monitor ongoing health changes. 

Although ageing is a normal part of life, it is also a complex process that leads to a gradual decline in health and behavior due to changes in cellular function and body systems.  Many age-related conditions develop slowly and may not show obvious clinical signs in their early stages. Some age-related conditions such as loss of hearing, loss of vision, and reduced mobility are an inevitable part of the aging process. However, routine senior health screening allows for earlier detection, timely diagnosis, and more effective management, helping your pet enjoy the best possible quality of life as they age. 

 

A comprehensive senior health check includes; 

  • Nose to tail physical examination  

  • Weight/body condition scoring 

  • Mobility assessment  

  • Cardiovascular assessment  

  • Dental assessment  

  • Abdominal palpations  

  • Lymph nodes and skin assessment  

  • Blood Pressure monitoring  

  • Helping to detect systemic hypertension – particularly relevant for cats and patients with renal and/or endocrine diseases 

  • Blood testing - recommend at least silver advance  

  • Full hematology 

  • Comprehensive biochemistry 

  • Kidney and liver parameters 

  • Glucose 

  • Total protein and albumin 

  • SDMA - allows earlier detection of reduced renal function compared with creatinine alone

  • Thyroid screening (Total T4) - Thyroid testing is especially important in senior cats, where hyperthyroidism is common 

  • Urinalysis  

  • Urine specific gravity 

  • Sediment examination 

  • Protein screening 

  • Supports early detection of kidney disease and urinary tract issues 

 

To complete this comprehensive screening, we recommend that your pet spend the day with us in hospital. This allows us to carry out all testing in a low‑stress manner throughout the day, which helps improve sample quality and enables a more accurate assessment. It also allows us to complete additional diagnostic testing if required. 

We understand that spending time in a clinic environment may not be suitable for every pet. If this approach isn’t ideal for your pet, we are more than happy to tailor a health screening plan to suit their individual needs. 

 

Want to book your pet for a senior health check or learn more? Please feel free to contact us - we’d be happy to help.