RASCAL GROWS UP

By James R. Moebius, DVM

Our beloved family pets… for those of us who are amazed at how quickly children grow up, our pets leave them in the dust! Wasn’t it just a few months ago that Rascal was a fuzzy puppy and now the veterinarian is discussing “senior” issues with me?

Although the time goes by quickly, there are some easy steps to take to make sure our pets stay healthy and with us for as long as possible. Some of these include disease prevention through such methods as vaccination and parasite control. Another method is something commonly referred to as “wellness” testing. This typically involves running tests on various body systems to see how your pet compares to the established normal levels. Most often this means blood and urine tests, as well as, blood pressure, eye pressure and electrocardiograms (ECG’s).  In pets that outwardly look healthy, subtle variations may be found. This can act as an early warning system which is very important since our patients cannot verbalize how they are feeling. By identifying problems early, we have more opportunity to manage these problems, often through simple steps such as a change in diet. When incorporated with results from the physical exam, a very thorough picture of your pet’s health status is obtained. This will help you and your veterinarian determine the best course to take to keep Rascal healthy and happy.

At Murphy Road Animal Hospital, we are offering special free diagnostic tests for both dogs and cats when they are brought in for their senior exam this month.  Call and make an appointment to find our more.