Senior Dog Care
We are Here for Your and Your Senior Dog!
At the Animal Medical Center of Fort Sheridan, we take pride in offering the best veterinary care and support to our senior citizen patients. As your dog ages, normal changes take place and diseases can follow that affect their overall health, wellbeing, and comfort. We have the experience, knowledge and access to diagnostics that allows us to detect some of those changes early, when treatment is most effective. Many conditions, when detected early and treated properly, can be prevented from progressing into more serious and sometimes life-threatening illnesses. Our goal is for you and your pet to enjoy the longest, healthiest life together.
For senior dogs, we recommend twice annual wellness exams with us to monitor your senior pet’s health. Remember, dogs are aging 5-7 times faster than we are. We encourage pet parents to take an active role in the health of their senior dog. If you notice any of the following issues with your senior pet, we strongly recommend you schedule an appointment with us:
- Weight loss
- Decrease in appetite
- Excess urination
- Excess drinking
- Reduced exercise, reluctance to move, run, jump, etc.
- Perception of pain when your pet moves or is handled
- Any vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of bowel movements
Along with the senior canine wellness exam, our veterinarians may recommend additional diagnostic testing, such as blood work, urinalysis, x-rays, ECG’s, and blood pressure checks to determine if your dog is experiencing any health changes.
Osteoarthritis is a common condition that occurs as dogs age. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints in which the normal cartilage cushion in the joint breaks down. Eventually, adjacent bones rub against each other, causing pain, decreased joint movement, and sometimes the formation of bone spurs and other changes in and around the joint. Osteoarthritis can be managed. We will help you determine the severity of this uncomfortable condition and make recommendations to help ease the discomfort and pain that is associated with it.
Call us today to schedule an appointment for your senior dog.
