Few things in life are as satisfying as the loving companionship our pets provide. Your pet has become a valued member of your family and with proper care can live many healthy, enjoyable years. The field of veterinary medicine has progressed over the years, greatly enhancing the life expectancy of our pets. Along with the longer life span comes an increase in the number of health problems that can occur. They may walk stiffly and have problems going up and down stairs. You may notice “selective hearing,” an increase in water intake and urination, or hazy eyes. They have many of the same physical problems as humans.

Your companion is now among that group of older pets who can benefit from a health monitoring program that addresses age-related changes. The biological clock moves much faster for pets than it does for people. Instead of taking 18 years to reach physical maturity as people do, pets mature when they are slightly more than one year old. Each year of a pet’s life is equivalent to 5-7 human years, and 10-15% of its total life span. While certain conditions such as vision and hearing loss cannot be prevented, timely wellness examinations, routine vaccinations, dental check-ups, proper diet, and regular exercise can add significant years to your pet’s life. Detecting problems early prolongs the quality of life as well as minimizing the costs of expensive treatments for a condition that could have been prevented.

Screening programs improve senior pet health. Pets can’t talk and often “hide” signs of illness. Clinical signs often do not develop until the very late stages of a disease process. Screening for specific conditions known to create problems in older pets allows many diseases to be caught much earlier.