As many of us know, and the rest are soon to find out, growing older takes its toll on our bodies. We awake with aches and pains, begin wearing trifocals, and can’t remember where we left our car keys. Much of this is part of the normal aging process and we just have to accept it. Many of our problems, however, may be symptoms of underlying medical conditions that are treatable. We need to be careful to rule out all possible medical problems rather than just assuming there is nothing we can do.

The same holds true for our pets. Don’t assume that decreased activity, hearing or vision changes, house-soiling, cognitive changes, or difficulty with stairs is just part of being an “old” dog or cat. Their quality of life can often be improved dramatically by diagnosing and treating underlying medical problems.

You can help find and resolve these problems by comparing your pet with the symptoms listed below. If you identify one or more of these signs, ask us about further tests that can help determine if your pet is suffering from a treatable condition. We can differentiate between minor signs of aging and other, more damaging health problems. Early detection can make a significant difference in your senior pet’s quality and length of life.

Do a simple, quick evaluation of you pet’s health:

• LOSS OF HOUSE TRAINING
• INCREASED THIRST
• INCREASED URINATION
• APPETITE CHANGE
• WEIGHT CHANGE
• CHANGES IN ACTIVITY LEVEL
• EXCESSIVE PANTING
• CONFUSION OR DISORIENTATION
• LESS INTERACTION WITH FAMILY
• DECREASED RESPONSIVENESS
• REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS
• DECREASED HEARING
• SKIN AND HAIRCOAT CHANGES
• CHANGES IN SLEEPING PATTERNS
• DIFFICULTY CLIMBING STAIRS
• DIFFICULTY JUMPING UP
• INCREASED STIFFNESS
• BAD BREATH, SORE GUMS, DIFFICULTY EATING, DISCOLORATION OF TEETH
• LUMPS, TUMORS