As our furry friends age, their health needs change. It’s important to keep an eye on your older dog health status to ensure they are comfortable and happy in their golden years. But how do you evaluate your Older dog health status?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about assessing your older dog health. From understanding common age-related health issues to monitoring their diet and exercise routine, we’ll provide tips and tricks to help you keep your pup healthy and happy for as long as possible. So whether you’re a new pet parent or have been with your furry friend for years, this guide is a must-read for any owner of an older dog.
As we age, it’s important to stay on top of our health and make sure we’re taking care of ourselves in the best way possible. One tool that can help with this is an older health status evaluation, which can provide valuable insights into your current health and potential areas for improvement. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what an older health status evaluation is, what it entails, and how it can benefit you as you age. We’ll also cover some tips for preparing for your evaluation and making the most of your results. So whether you’re a senior looking to prioritize your health or a caregiver helping someone else do so, keep reading to learn more about this valuable tool.
Introduction: Preventive medicine, whether for yourself or your family pet, has been a long established method of improving health. Essentially, it means early detection of those factors that may progress to disease. In addition, preventative medicine loosely defined may cross over into the realm of restorative medicine… that is discovering a malady in its early stages and correcting the disease process before it becomes a serious health risk.
Older dogs and cats have special problems easily overlooked even by conscientious owners. Dental and oral problems, kidney and bladder infections, diabetes, tumors and nearly any disorder common in humans is a possibility in our pet companions.
Older Dog Health Status Evaluation
Goal: The ultimate objective of the”Older Dog Health Evaluation” is to assist patients in achieving a longer, healthier life. At many animal hospitals the veterinarians have developed an Older Dog Health Evaluation protocol that provides a very careful physical exam coordinated with a comprehensive laboratory analysis. The goal of this analysis is threefold:
1. To define areas of potential health risk.
2. To detect and correct existing health problems.
3. To encourage the pet owners to continue with health enhancing procedures.
PROCEDURE
Admission: The pet is admitted to the hospital in the morning and the veterinarian who is in charge of the case takes a thorough history (called anamnesis) and pays close attention to any major health impacting events in the pet’s life. Current activity levels, nutritional factors and medications being administered are some of the topics discussed with the pet’s caretaker. Vaccination status and recent health factors are also assessed.
Physical Exam: The veterinarian performs a thorough physical exam in the presence of the pet’s caretaker, encouraging the pet’s caretaker to make any comments that may prompt the veterinarian’s information gathering so that any subtle or forgotten aspects of the pet’s body condition can be evaluated. The weight is recorded (and should be recorded every time the pet is brought to the hospital) and any deviations from normal are noted on the health chart.
Routine Lab Checks: Blood is drawn for a basic Chemistry Panel and a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a urine sample is collected. Usually the owner can obtain the urine at home in a clean container before the appointment. Take a look at common laboratory tests that are included in a Chemistry Panel and an example of a real urinalysis below.
X-rays (Radiographs): If there is any indication of arthritis, abnormal aspects of the physical exam, or other suspicious elements in the history or physical exam, radiographs are taken to gather more data on the patient.
Evaluation: When all laboratory test results are available, x-ray films have been read and the data gathering process is complete, the veterinarian will make an evaluation. If there are any substantial deviations from normal for a pet of this age, the veterinarian may suggest further tests be done. For example, if the patient is evaluated as being healthy but the history indicates a lack of energy or enthusiasm and the physical exam displays an overweight pet with some deficiencies in the coat condition… the veterinarian may suspect Hypothyroidism. Further blood testing with emphasis on the thyroid function will be suggested. Another example would be the suggestion of bone marrow biopsy if there seems to be a significant lack of platelets and white blood cells, or the biopsy of a lymph node if far too many lymphocytes are noted on the CBC (Complete Blood Count).
Action: The veterinarian will discuss the results of the entire “Older Pet Health Evaluation” with the pet caretaker and suggest actions that should be taken. If a biopsy or further blood or urine tests are indicated, permission is obtained from the owner to proceed with additional tests and the next steps are taken. If the pet is healthy, another “Older Pet Health Evaluation” is scheduled for the following year and the owner is encouraged to contact the veterinarian if anything suspicious develops in the interim.
SUMMARY
The pet is admitted to the animal hospital for a preliminary discussion between the veterinarian and owner and a thorough physical 
exam is performed. Special attention is paid to dental health, presence of arthritis, abnormal growths, cardiac and ocular function, prostate and colon abnormalities and more. It is important for the owner to be present for the physical exam because the owner can provide important suggestions and answer pertinent questions at this time. The exam and medical history discussion may take somewhere between ten and thirty minutes and covers such topics as previous medical problems, dietary considerations, individual habits of the pet and how the pet relates to its environment. The patient is kept in the hospital for part of the day during which time blood and urine samples are procured for analysis.
Some of the laboratory work is done “in house” at the animal hospital and some analyses are performed by local specialized medical labs that pick up specimens on a daily routine basis. The blood analysis includes what is commonly called a CBC and a CHEMISTRY PANEL. This is a very comprehensive hematological exam. The urine analysis checks for the presence of blood or bacteria in the urine and cultures can be done to grow any bacteria in order to determine the best antibiotic to use in therapy. Additionally, the urine density, protein level, acidity and other very important aspects of urinary tract health are evaluated.
When the pet is discharged later in the day, the veterinarian will discuss the findings with the owner. The pet may need dental care, or have a growth removed before it gets unmanageable, or have an x-ray taken to evaluate a painful joint. At discharge from the hospital, the pet is scheduled for any follow-up work that the thorough physical exam revealed is needed. In addition, the owner receives a copy of the physical exam report and a copy of the laboratory analysis. Especially in the older dog or cat, periodic, thorough health evaluation is very important in maintaining an optimum “quality of life”.
Most animal hospitals will suggest a Geriatric Workup for older pets as an important aspect of preventative veterinary medicine… “It is better to prevent disease than to have to cure it”. The age at which a pet could be classified as a “Older Pet” is quite subjective. For example a Bull Mastiff may be considered geriatric at age 7 and at the same age a miniature poodle is just getting warmed up! Some cats live into their twenties and might be considered an “older pet beginning around twelve years of age. The effects of age on any individual are determined by a number of factors including environmental impacts, diet, activity levels, weight control and especially genetic predispositions. You, your pet and your veterinarian form a unit which, if all parts are in close integration with one another, can promote a lasting and rewarding “full life” experience for each individual. Consider asking your veterinarian about an “Older Dog Health Evaluation”.
As our furry friends age, it’s important to pay attention to their health and well-being. Regular health evaluations can help identify potential issues before they become serious problems. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can evaluate your older dog health status and take steps to ensure they remain happy and healthy for years to come. However, it is important to remember that every dog is unique, and some may require more specialized care than others. If you have any additional tips or insights on evaluating an older dog health status, please share them with us in the comments below. Together, we can help our furry companions enjoy their golden years to the fullest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What health problems do older dogs have?
Dementia, arthritis, and cancer are generally the health problems that elderly dogs experience. Heart, renal, liver, and tooth disease are further issues. Canine cognitive dysfunction is the name given to canine dementia. (CCD). It resembles the early stages of human Alzheimer’s disease.
What are four common problems of older dogs?
Compared to younger dogs, senior dogs are far more prone to illness and disease, including ailments like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, visual and hearing loss, and cognitive dysfunction.
What is the common cause of death in older dogs?
One of the most frequent causes of mortality in elderly dogs is renal failure. The kidneys’ primary job is to filter blood and remove dangerous poisons, which are then eliminated as waste by urination. These toxins are able to accumulate to deadly amounts as the kidneys lose their capacity to filter waste.
