

Medications may be prescribed to help your pet with pain management.Cold Laser Therapy, Water Treadmill, and Acupuncture can bring much needed relief to pets with arthritis.Hydrotherapy and therapeutic massage are also effective therapies for dogs with joint pain.Orthopedic pet beds, with or without heating elements, may help keep your pet comfortable and relieve pressure on the joints.Make sure litter boxes are more easily accessible for cats. You can help by providing ramps to help them navigate around the house, get up on the bed, or get outside.Older dogs and cats may develop arthritis or other joint problems, which can make it harder for them to get around.
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Obesity in older pets also increases the risk of difficulty breathing, insulin resistance or diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, skin problems, cancer, and other conditions.Dogs with joint problems may benefit from supplementation with glucosamine or fish oils. Obesity puts a great deal of stress on your pet’s joints.Try feeding fresh vegetables (frozen green beans are often a big hit) as treats, and limiting portion sizes at mealtime. If your older pet is less active, he will need fewer calories.It’s important to keep them at a healthy weight despite their lessened activity. We often see our senior pets slowing down as they become older.We recommend a wellness check every six months for senior pets. Regular veterinary examinations can detect problems in older pets before they become advanced or life-threatening, and improve the chances of a longer and healthier life for your pet. An older pet is more likely to develop diseases such as heart, kidney and liver disease, cancer or arthritis. While it’s easy to spot the outward signs of aging such as graying haircoat and slower pace, it’s important to remember a pet’s organ systems are also changing. In general, we recommend seeing your veterinarian twice a year for checkups starting around the age of 7. Medium-sized pooches are somewhere in the middle on both counts. Tiny and toy breeds don’t become “seniors” until around age 7-9. A huge pup might age more slowly at first, but be nearing middle age at 5. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger ones, but they may mature more quickly in the first few years of life. When does a pet get “old” ? If you own a dog, you’ve probably heard this old rule of thumb: “1 year for Fido equals 7 years for you.” Turns out, the math isn’t that simple. Dogs mature more quickly than we do early on, so the first couple years of your furry friend’s life is equal to about 15 human years. Size and breed also play a role.
