Just like in humans, checkups and preventive screenings are good at any age for dogs, but especially for senior dogs. And this is not just ensuring your senior dogs' vaccinations are up to date. In fact, if you have been diligent with the administration of your dog's boosters every year when they were younger, the duration between the booster in an older dog can be stretched beyond a year provided your senior dog is not often exposed to environments where they may potentially contract diseases as the assumption is that the dog has already built up a certain level of immunity against various diseases through the regular boosters in its younger years.
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| Senior dog, Mantou |
As like with people, age carries a heavier risk of health problems. Senior dogs are just as susceptible to the same kind of health risks that senior humans are faced with. Diseases like Chronic heart disease, Arthritis and Cancer become more prevalent in senior dogs, just as they do in people beyond a certain age. Some of these diseases may not necessarily present outward symptoms in their early onset. Coupled together with a dog's inherent ability to withstand higher thresholds of pain, by the time these conditions present noticeable symptoms and signs, it might already be too late to do anything.
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| Senior dog, Chelsea |
This is why annual checkups are especially important for senior dogs. Annual checkups allow vets to spot health problems early on. Additionally, you may want to also consider opting for a blood test for both kidney & liver functions which are typically not included in standard health checkups unless specifically requested. Detecting a health issue early on allows for better treatment and management, this allows both the owner and dog to be in a better position to address the deterioration of any health conditions. All of this translates into ensuring a better quality of life for your dog in their senior years.
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| Senior dog, Zeus |
From a financial standpoint, it is much cheaper to prevent diseases as opposed to the cost of treating them. Annual checkups can also highlight areas of concern that may potentially develop into health issues later if left unattended. Sometimes all it takes is a simple change in diet to prevent the onset of chronic organ disease rather than lifelong medical treatment once the disease has taken root.
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| Senior dog, Chloe |
All these benefits mean that you have more time to make happy memories with your dog in his golden years. With all the pros heavily outweighing the cons, there really is little argument why you shouldn't schedule your dog for annual health screenings. Just as how you would advise a senior member of your family to go for regular health checks, why not extend the same consideration towards your precious furkid? Have you scheduled your dog's yearly checkup this year? Even if you have lapsed on this, it still is better late than never so book an appointment with your vet today!
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| Senior dog, Milo |
Written by: Samantha
