The Senior Pet-Unconditional Love-Become your pet's Super Hero!
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SilverSandsVeterinary.com
Donald H DeForge, VMD
General Practice
Walk-In ER -Urgent Care
203-877-3221
DonDeForge100@gmail.com
Become a Super Hero and Help Your Geriatric Pet!
“I wish people would realize that animals are totally dependent on us, helpless, like children, a trust that is put upon us.” – James Herriot
The Senior Pet and Unconditional Love-
Become a Pain and Discomfort Detective!
From the American Veterinary Medical Association:
What do senior pets need to stay happy and healthy for as long as possible?
No matter how well cared for, senior pets are vulnerable to aging-related issues, including certain diseases. This means that senior pets require more attention than younger pets, including more frequent visits to the veterinarian as well as possible changes in their diet and home environment.
Here are some basic considerations when caring for senior pets:
- Increased veterinary care: Senior pets need to see a veterinarian twice a year or more so signs of illness or other problems can be found and treated early, before they become bigger problems. Senior pet exams are similar to those for younger pets but more in-depth. These exams may include dental care, possible bloodwork, and specific checks for signs of aging-related diseases.
- Diet and nutrition: Senior pets often need foods that are more easily digested, provide different energy levels and ingredients, and contain anti-aging nutrients.
- Weight control: Weight gain in senior dogs increases the risk of health problems, whereas weight loss is a bigger concern for senior cats.
- Parasite control: Senior pets' immune systems aren’t as strong as those of younger pets. As a result, senior pets may not be able to fight off parasites or heal as fast.
- Vaccination: A weaker immune system means senior pets also might have different vaccination needs than younger pets.
- Maintaining mobility: Pets can become less active with age. Keeping senior pets active through appropriate exercise helps them stay healthier and more mobile.
- Mental health: Senior pets can show signs of senility or cognitive dysfunction. Stimulating them through interactions can help keep them mentally active.
- Environment: Senior pets may need changes in their lifestyle, such as new sleeping areas to avoid stairs, more time indoors, etc.
- Reproductive diseases: Non-neutered/non-spayed senior pets are at higher risk of breast, testicular, and prostate cancers.
- There are two times during a pet's life that they need careful medical scrutiny and examination by a veterinarian. Think young and think of the Golden Years.
- Veterinary Scrutiny of the Pediatric stage of life and the Geriatric stage of life is critical. So many senior patients are brought to the Silver Sands Veterinary Walk-In Emergency and Urgent Care Department who have very serious problems that could have been avoided with earlier examination.
- Silver Sands Veterinary stresses proactive care and not reactive care. The sooner a problem is diagnosed the sooner appropriate steps can be taken to resolve the issue and return a normal quality of life.
- Is your pet drinking more water or urinating more frequently?
- Is your pet having trouble getting up after lying down?
- Does your pet have an odor on the skin or from the ears?
- Does your pet have an abnormal odor in the mouth?
- Has your pet been losing weight?
- Has your pet developed a poor appetite?
- Has your pet developed a ravenous appetite but is losing weight?
- Does your pet have trouble moving through the home in dim light?
- Does your pet's stool have normal form and color; is there a problem with intermittent diarrhea or constipation?
- Does you pet cough or wake up coughing at night?
- Does your pet have shortness of breath going up and down stairs or with minimal exercise?
- Call Dr. DeForge with questions at 203-877-3221 or schedule an appointment on the SSV website: SilverSandsVeterinary.com if you do not have a pDVM
- Return the unconditional love TODAY by removing pain and discomfort with a geriatric check-up!
One of the common problems with aging is orthopedic pain. A new tool of Physical Rehab in dogs is termed Photobiomodulation Therapy [PBMT]; Cold Laser Therapy; or Therapeutic Laser Treatments. It has been used in humans for quite some time and is being increasingly used in dogs and cats.
- Osteoarthritis
- Back Pain-Spinal Pain
- Hip Dysplasia Minor or Partial Cruciate injuries
- Tendon weakness
- Elbow arthrosis
- Post Surgical Pain Control
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Other target pain centers
Reduction in inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic conditions will increase the patient's quality of life. By improving analgesia, PBMT can be preemptive in preventing or minimizing chronic pain or wind-up and help reduce dependence on medications.
If medications can be avoided, there is a benefit for the patient as a whole.
Veterinary rehabilitation does not focus on one specific problem, but rather sees the patient as a whole. One of the main goals of rehabilitation is a return to normal or near-normal function. Returning a quality of life and removing pain is a reality with Therapy Laser Treatment. The added bonus is that is is inexpressive.
The benefits of Photobiomodulation for rehabilitation patients focus on two main areas: [1]-increasing healing times through faster, stronger tissue repair, and [2]- the analgesic effect of the laser.
Call Dr. DeForge about the SSV Therapy Laser Treatment Program for your pet.
The consultation and first treatment is free for you to see for yourself the difference it makes in your pet. Diagnostic testing and x-rays are commonly coupled with Laser Therapy.
Traditional methods of pain management are very systemic in their approach.
Laser Therapy treats the source of the pain rather than treating the symptoms systemically.
PBMT-Laser Therapy is direct and specific about where it is targeting; while simultaneously producing immediate relief!
PBMT is not just for arthritic joints and tissue injuries; it’s actually outstanding in many other conditions.
Any form of pain or inflammation, in which you need to help the healing process along--Laser Therapy is a great add-on for immediate pain relief.
It’s important, therefore, to “think of [PBMT] as a medical tool to help many pain problems in your fur baby instead of a treatment for only one condition.
Questions: Write to DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
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