Our veterinarian tips on for keeping your senior pet healthy- from Main West Animal Hospital Welland

The years seem to fly by don’t they?  For a lot of us it seems like it was just yesterday that we brought our new puppy or kitten home.  They were full of energy, driving us mad and making us laugh at the same time.  They still have those spurts of energy, not as often as they used to but we love them all the same.

If you have a dog or cat over 9 years old they are in their senior years of life.  This is a great time to enjoy our pets as they still have many quality years ahead of them.  This is also a time where we need to be especially diligent in ensuring they get the proper health care.  The veterinarians at our animal hospital in Welland recommend that they come in for their annual examination at least once a year.  This exam is very important to ensure that your pet is healthy and that everything is functioning properly.  Your veterinarian can sometimes find things on an examination that you wouldn’t normally look for.  Problems like cataracts, heart murmurs, and arthritis can all be tricky to spot by the untrained eye.

At the Main West Animal Hospital in Welland we strongly recommend that your pet have their bloodwork examined annually to ensure that their immune system and organs are functioning properly.  Annual bloodwork can give us a baseline value for your pet’s current liver, kidney and immune health.  This baseline serves as a reference point for the future, if values begin changing we can compare levels yearly to determine the best course of action to improve your cat or dog’s health.  At our veterinary clinic we often find the earliest signs of serious illness on annual bloodwork of seemingly healthy pets.  This is very fortunate for the patient and their owner because we can correct things earlier before they deteriorate.

We encourage pets of all ages to come in for their annual exam so that our veterinary team can keep your furry family members healthy.  Scheduling regular check-ups is as important for animals as it is for humans, especially our senior pets.   To schedule an appointment contact our care team at the Main West Animal Hospital in Welland at (905)735-7877,  or email us at:  [email protected]  .

We serve clients and their pets in Welland, Port Colborne, Pelham, Fonthill, Fenwick, Thorold and Niagara.  New clients are always welcome.