After practicing for over 20 years I’ve experienced and seen many things relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.  Among them are the many great advancements in the technologies as well as the newest and greatest pharmaceuticals now available for the care of our beloved four legged companions.  One thing I do know: 20 years ago we expected dogs to live to be about 10 years old, and cats to 13.  Today’s veterinarians are able to assist caregivers and their pets to not only a better quantity of life, but a much improved quality of life as well.  My sense and observations have caused me to conclude that for the most part geriatric medicine lo these many past decades has been little more than a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the pet owners/caregivers, as well as the veterinarians.  That is to say we deal with the problems of aging as they arise and become obvious.  The tragedy is that often diseases are detected late in their course, and if they were detected earlier more substantial efforts could be made and the results of said efforts could be more rewarding.  We are all aware of our physicians ordering PSA tests, mammograms, stress tests for our hearts, and other tests with disease markers significant in the early detection of disease in man from the age of 40 years on. For this reason I, and the doctors and staff of the Hebron Animal Hospital, are announcing the development and institution of a Senior Wellness Program.

The Senior Wellness Program has many facets, but the goals are simple:  detect subclinical or preclinical disease early and affect a cure or at least halt/slow the progression of the disease, and to “maintain” a state of “wellness”.  The desire is to preserve health.  It is easier to maintain health than it is to return a pet’s health back to its previous state before illness. 

I believe all pet owners have accepted that pets age much more rapidly than humans, and for those remembering Lorne Greene’s TV commercials, about 7 years for every year we age.  On the average this is true, but a more exact aging shows that pets age and mature much more quickly early in life, and then slows down as a pet ages, to the extent that a 10 year old dog may only age the equivalent of 4 years per each human year.  The Hebron Animal Hospital has been recommending that dogs that have reached 7 years of age, and cats at 8 years of age, visit the hospital for semi-annual checkups.  This would be like us (humans) going to our physician every 2 years.  The purpose of more frequent visits is to detect changes in a pet’s health early.  It is important to include the tests listed below for the appropriate species for 2 reasons: 1) gather baseline data for a given pet that reflects its “healthful” state, and 2) to detect subclinical disease early in its course and treat early for a better chance at a cure.  The following recommended tests have been well thought out to screen for all common, treatable, and perhaps preventable, geriatric diseases.  These tests when batched together with an Office Visit/Geriatric Examination will be discounted 20%.

Canine:

·         CBC/Profile (21 serum chemistries)

·         Complete Urinalysis

·         Blood Pressure Assessment

·         Thoracic (chest) Radiographs (x-rays)

·         EKG

Feline:

·         CBC/Profile

·         Complete Urinalysis

·         Blood Pressure Measurement

·         T3/T4 (thyroid) evaluation

These tests are excellent screening tests for disease with the minimum of expense.  Normal results are a phenomenal report that the pet is indeed healthy, and serves as a great reference point with which to compare should a pet’s health decline later in life.  However, should the tests detect disease, or raise the suspicion of disease, then it may be necessary to delve into more testing to secure a diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.  To kick off our Senior Wellness Program the Hebron Animal Hospital will give a 10% discount on all treatments, vaccinations, and medications for the LIFE of the patient to the first 50 patients enrolled!  By enrolling you are committing your pet to semi-annual checkups (every 6 months), the initial thorough senior workup listed above, and should a disease state be found the necessary testing to track and treat the disease.  Call our office today for more information regarding scheduling and pricing.  There is so much we can do together for your pet’s longevity and the quality thereof.

Sincerely,

Gregory T. Lloyd, DVM

One person has commented on this article.

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james57becky54, Registered

i like your website.

 Posted 2008-04-10 12:54:07

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