Animal & Bird
Medical Center of Temple
Dr. Mary Carpino
(254) 899-8800
"Where we treat your pet like our own"
Dr.Carpino & her dog Katie
If you see your pet's picture on our site you will get 5% off that week!
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Medical Center of Temple Dr. Mary Carpino (254) 899-8800 "Where we treat your pet like our own" Dr.Carpino & her dog Katie If you see your pet's picture on our site you will get 5% off that week! |
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1. When is your pet a senior? When is your pet geriatric? Generally, most pets are a senior at seven years old. More specifically, the larger your pet is, the sooner he or she will become a senior. If your pet is more than 90 lbs we consider he or she a senior at 5 yrs old. Geriatrics begin at 14 for your cat or as early as 10 for your 90+ lb dog.
2. What do seniors & geriatric pets need that is different from younger animals? As your pet ages, same as with humans, their parts essentially begin to wear out, but at a much faster rate than humans. Their immune system is diminished. They need additional nutritional requirements. Their digestion is not as good as when they were 2 yrs old. Their joints begin to break down and arthritis sets in. All of their body systems are at risk and we want to keep track of these since each pet will be different.
3. What are the most common diseases/disorders that occur in seniors & geriatrics? Periodontal Disease Osteoarthritis Obesity Heart Disease Liver & Kidney Disease Diabetes Mellitus Thyroid Disease Cancer
4. How are cats & dogs different as they age? Although cats are smaller and age more slowly than most dogs, they are also more secretive and may not show us when they are not feeling well until they are severely ill. In addition, when they stop eating, they are at serious risk for a disorder called Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver Syndrome) where their body is trying to break down fats and is unable to effectively do so. The result is a liver failure in addition to whatever initially made them ill. Consequently it is critical that we find out what is going on in your cat before an appetite decrease occurs.
5. What types of diagnostics are available to check on your older pets? The initial diagnostics done on most seniors and geriatric pets are blood chemistries and cellular exams - bloodwork. We can also evaluate radiographs, EKGs, and further tests and imaging diagnostics. Bloodwork is the basic place to start.
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