Senior & Geriatric FAQ

Dr.Carpino & her dog Katie Important Dates:		Animal & Bird Medical Center of Temple Dr. Mary Carpino "Where we treat your pet like our own" (254) 899-8800 Animal & Bird Medical Center will be Closing as of March 16, 2011 We have enjoyed taking care of your pets these past 13 years. However, the physical demands of the job are significant, and the time is right for me to take a position that is less physically challenging. I am a "big dog" person at heart, but when our many 130 lb patients seem to weigh 180 and our one 227 lb patient seems to weight 400 lbs, it is time to make an adjustment. I will be moving out of the area, but will continue to be accessible at katie@animalandbird.com. We will be taking care of records after March 10, 2011 and will let you know the details of that as the week progresses. Please be sure we have your email. If you are not sure we have it - please send it to katie@animalandbird.com Please be patient with us as we close the clinic.	NOTE: All equipment, fixtures and supplies must go. Equipment and fixtures are being auctioned online at www.shattuck.com Click on Online Auctions and then on Veterinary Hospital - Temple Check daily as we add more items. Inspection of items will be Fri & Sat 3/11-3/12 from 10 am to 12 noon The auction ends 3/14/11. Pickup of auction items will be 3/18 & 3/19 from 10am to 5pm
Last appointment date:	3/10/11
Last day to order prescription food:	3/9/11
Last day to order prescription medicine:	3/12/11
Last day to pick up pre-ordered food or medicine:	3/16/11
Large Reductions in all non-prescription items:	3/7-3/16/11
Big "Garage/Lobby/Yard Sale" - Yes - this is a Sunday 8am-5pm.	3/20/11

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 him 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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