Proper geriatric pet care can help prevent unnecessary discomfort

Don't let symptoms become severe before getting your aging pet checked by a vet

Don't let symptoms become severe before getting your aging pet checked by a vet at Palm Bay Animal Clinic

As our pets age, they are at risk for developing many medical conditions that can sometimes go overlooked until the pet begins to show severe symptoms, which can leave us with fewer options for treatment.

At Palm Bay Animal Clinic, we recommend wellness screening blood work as part of our geriatric health program. These simple blood tests can help us to identify early signs of disease, often even before our pets feel sick.

Of course it is also important to continue annual physical exams, dental exams, and vaccinations, and to alert the doctor to any abnormal behavior your pet is displaying.


Behavior Changes can be signs of many problems with aging pets

Please alert the staff at Palm Bay Animal Clinic if your pet is showing changes in behavior as they age.

For example, diseases such as diabetes Diabetes In animals, we most commonly refer to diabetes mellitus - a broad term encompassing a complex group of syndromes that have in common a disturbance in the body’s ability to process and use glucose.
Read Full Definition » » , kidney disease Kidney (Renal) Disease/ Failure Renal disease refers to the reduced capacity of the kidneys to perform this function and renal failure implies that the kidneys are no longer able to maintain their function.
Read Full Definition » » , liver disease Liver (Hepatic) Disease/ Failure Liver disease can occur as a result of many causes including toxins, infectious diseases, cancer, certain medications, inflammation, and immune-mediated disease.
Read Full Definition » » , and thyroid dysfunction Thyroid dysfunction/ Thyroid testingThe thyroid gland secretes hormones (T4 and T3) which cause changes in many places including the hair and skin, muscles (including the heart), metabolism, red blood cells, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, and activity level.
Read Full Definition » » can cause our pets to drink excessive amounts of water and need to urinate more frequently.

If your geriatric pet seems to be having trouble going upstairs or is moving around slower than in the past, they may have problems with arthritis and could potentially benefit from pain medication or joint supplements.


We urge our clients not to begin treating their pets with any human medication before discussing this with one of our veterinarians, as many medications are not safe and can have devastating side effects