Senior Pet Care

Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital Providing our patients and their families an unsurpassed experience in veterinary care through the skilled and compassionate hands of our dedicated team members.

Senior Pet Health Care: (click to jump)

As preventatiave veterinary medicine continues to advance and education and information about animal health is more available to pet owners, your pet will live a longer and healthier life.

As your pet ages, changes in its behavior and physical condition will occur. Many conditions can be controlled or even prevented by early detection and treatment.

About Our Tests

There are 5 types of tests we use to evaluate your pet’s wellness. Each one provides a wealth of information concerning the true health of your pet.

Complete Blood Count

The CBC tests for anemia, infection, inflammation and overall healthiness of the blood cells. It also evaluates the number and type of cells in circulation. White Blood Cells (WBC) help fight infection or inflammation. Red Blood Cells (RBC) carry oxygen to the tissues.

Thyroid Function Tests

As the name implies, these tests are useful in diagnosing malfunctions of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) is common in dogs; whereas Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) is common in older cats. Because there is no single thyroid test that can diagnose all thyroid diseases in animals, a panel of several different thyroid tests are used to ensure proper diagnosis.

Chemistry Tests

Liver (AST, ALT, ALK.Phos., T. Bilirubin, GGT, Cholesterol, Proteins)

These tests monitor the function and health of the kidneys. They are most helpful and sensitive for detecting kidney disease when combined with a urinalysis.

Pancreas

(Glucose, Amylase, lipase, triglyceride) These tests are abnormal when there is something wrong with the pancreas of carbohydrate metabolism. Examples are diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis.

Muscle and Bone

Calcium and Phosphorous are helpful in determining the health of bone metabolism. CPK and AST are abnormal with muscle damage, trauma and inflammation.

Electrolytes (Sodium,Potassium,Chloride, Magnesium, Calcium Phosphorus) These are important in monitoring the electrical, water balance and cellular health of the body.

Deficiencies or excesses of these electrolytes are harmful to the animal’s physical and mental well-being.

Urinalysis

This assesses the health of the urinary system. It is especially important in older animals to help in early detection of kidney disease. While some serum chemistries help evaluate kidney function (BUN, Creatinine, etc.). Much more information is obtained when a urinalysis is done at the same time. The urine sample is tested for several chemical components (glucose, protein, blood and more), as well as any cells (WBC, RBC, epithelial, etc.).

Parasite Exams

Fecal

A sample of stool is examined to look for hookworms, whipworms, Roundworms, coccidia, Girardia and other intestinal parasites.

Blood

Serum is tested for the presence of heartworm on an annual basis.

Whole blood can also be examined in anemic animals for other parasites, such as Babesia, Hemobartonella or Cytauxzoon.

Senior Pet Health Care for Dogs

As preventative veterinary medicine continues to advance and education and information about animal health is more available to pet owners, your pet will live a longer and healthier life.

As your pet ages, changes in its behavior and physical condition will occur.

Many conditions can be controlled or even prevented by early detection and treatment.

We offer two programs for assessing the health of older pets

Stage I Initial Senior Screening

An Annual Assessment for Dogs Turning 6 years of age

  • Establishes base line for measuring changes in your pet’s health.
  • Comprehensive Health Exam, including Dental Exam,
  • Senior Blood and Urine Screen
  • (SuperChem, CBC, T4, Urinalysis)
  • Blood Pressure Check
  • Includes Nail Trim and All Day Stay at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital

Stage II Advanced Senior Screening

An exam for Senior Dogs in advanced senior years or senior pets with specific behaviors or symptoms; at least yearly or more often based upon age and/or disease found Comprehensive Health Exam, including

  • Dental Exam
  • Senior Blood and Urine Screen (Superchem, CBC,T4, Urinalysis)
  • Blood Pressure Check
  • Xray- Chest and Abdomen
  • Includes Nail Trim and All Day Stay at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital

Senior Pet Health Care for Cats

As preventative veterinary medicine continues to advance and education and information about animal health is more available to pet owners, your pet will live a longer and healthier life. As your pet ages, changes in its behavior and physical condition will occur. Many conditions can be controlled or even prevented by early detection and treatment.

We offer two programs for assessing the health of older cats:

Stage I Initial Senior Screening

An Annual Assessment for Cats turning 6 years of age

  • Establishes base line for measuring changes in your cat's health
  • Comprehensive Health Exam, including Dental Exam,
  • Senior Blood and Urine Screen (SuperChem, CBC, T4, Urinalysis)
  • Blood Pressure Check
  • Includes Nail Trim and All Day Stay at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital

Stage II Advanced Senior Screening

An exam for Senior Cats in advanced senior years with specific behaviors or symptoms; at least yearly or more often based upon age and/or disease found

  • Comprehensive Health Exam, including Dental Exam
  • Senior Blood and Urine Screen (Superchem, CBC,T4, Urinalysis)
  • Blood Pressure Check
  • Xray, Chest and Abdomen
  • Includes Nail Trim and All Day Stay at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital