Justine Lee

Thankfully for us and our pets, our four-legged companions are living longer than ever thanks to advancements in veterinary medicine. With the improvement in superior diagnostics such as ultrasound; MRI; CAT scan; laparoscopy; elbow, knee and hip replacements; and ability to seek specialized care, we as owners can do so much more to improve the quality of life in our pets. Unfortunately, for your pocket book, it’s also getting more expensive. That said, your dog and cat are worth it, right? When it comes down to improving quality of life, take these special steps to ensure that your geriatric pets are feeling good.

Skip the vaccines and get blood work or x-rays instead
I’m a firm believer that the less chemical and drug exposure, the better. Most dogs and cats need to be vaccinated initially to protect them from potentially fatal diseases, such as distemper, parvovirus, panleukopenia, and rabies. However, if your pet has gone through his full puppy or kitten series (which involves a set of three to four vaccines every 3-4 weeks until 14 weeks of age) and annual vaccines for the first half of his life, then he’s pretty well protected. Once your dog or cat hits 7 or 8 years of age, talk to your vet about skipping the vaccines at this year’s annual visit and splurge on blood work or x-rays instead. The caveat is that some vaccines (such as rabies) is legally required by your state, so that one is a must! Doing geriatric blood work every year is a good way to check for any early problems in the red or white blood cells, platelets, kidneys, protein, or liver. Another extra step would be to consider doing abdominal x-rays one a year, particularly in large breed dogs such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, or Labradors, as these breeds are very predisposed to certain type of malignant cancers. As a vet, it’s hard to feel the belly when it’s full of fat, and an unmissed tumor on the spleen or liver could be caught in advance with x-rays.

They should check to see if their pet needs NSAIDS for arthritis or other pain; be even more vigilant about their pet’s weight (studies show skinnier dogs live longer); as lumps and bumps develop, get skin masses tested; stop getting vaccines but instead get yearly bloodwork; and be sure to take care of their pet’s teeth.