On average, pets age 5 to 8 times faster than humans. Just like their human companions, aging pets have the potential of facing life-threatening diseases that may include kidney, heart, and liver disease, weight and mobility changes, arthritis, cancer, and hormonal conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease.

We recommend pets over the age of 10 receive an annual preventive care exam to detect, treat and prevent health problems before they become life-threatening. We believe it is far more important to screen pets for serious health problems ahead of time, rather than wait for obvious signs of illness to develop later.

Regular preventive care exams throughout a pet's lifespan will help us establish a baseline so we can track health changes as your pet ages.

Senior preventive care exams include a complete physical exam, blood profile and urinalysis. Depending on your pet's health and age, further testing may be recommended, such as an ultrasound or X-ray.

If your senior pet is exhibiting any of the following signs, please contact our office:

• Increased or decreased water intake

• Unexpected weight loss or weight gain

• Mouth odor

• Inflamed and irritated gums

• Recurring vomiting or diarrhea

• Difficulty rising, walking, running or jumping

• Decreased exercise tolerance

• Coughing or labored breathing

• Lumps

• Skin changes

• Vision loss

• Urine or fecal incontinence

• Unusual changes in behavior