Geriatric Medicine, Elderly Pets
With millions of elderly pets around the world and suffering from chronic pain, geriatric medicine for elderly dogs and cats has become a medical priority with pet owners and veterinarians on the Sunshine Coast. Appropriate pain management can help extend the enjoyment of life for your pet has by reducing or eliminating the pain that they feel from a variety of conditions. For those seeking geriatric medicine in the Palmwoods area for their pets, the appropriate guidance will be needed to ensure the right course of action.
One of the difficulties that many pet owners face is discovering that their pet is feeling pain. This is because animals do a good job of hiding what they feel. As you spend more time with your pets, you will start to notice the little changes in behaviour that may indicate that they are feeling pain. The earlier you can detect the condition, the faster it can be addressed. Such indications may include the following.
- Slowing down
- Changes in routines, such as grooming
- Not eating or drinking as much
- Changes in urination or bowel movements
- Labored breathing
Any of these may be an indication of something wrong. You may want to inspect the area your pet is favouring to see if there are any indications of wounds, sore spots, or other issues. Whether you find something or not, it is best to take the following actions.
Advise in Pain Management
Any unusual changes in behaviour that may indicate your pet is feeling pain should be checked out by a Vet. Be sure to tell the Vet what you are seeing and report all symptoms. Your Vet may have some questions, so be prepared as much as possible. If you do not know the answers, have your pet nearby to check them out. Most likely, the Vet will schedule an appointment to find out what is wrong and advise on pain management. The Vet may suggest an xray or another specialised service.
Your Vet may advise you to limit the movement of your pet. Crates and leashes can help keep them in one place. Also, you should not walk or play with your pet in the same manner as usual until you can find out what is bothering your pet.
Special Care for Elderly Pets in the Palmwoods area
Do not feed your pets pain medication or other treatments unless directed by your Vet. This is important as you do not know the cause of the pain that they are feeling. What you do may make the situation worse for your elderly pet, so follow the guidance provided by your Vet in the Palmwoods area and keep your pet as safe as possible. When the pain or illness becomes to unbearable for your elderly pet and all avenues have been explored, the Vet may suggest the Euthanasia service as a last resort.
Suitable geriatric medicine as your pet ages will help them feel less pain over time. For elderly pets, pain management is crucial to their happiness. For residents in the greater Palmwoods area, regular visits to the Vet and understanding the services they provide will be a good start. It also helps if you start now, before any issues arise, to feed your pet a balanced diet and provide plenty of exercise to help reduce the chances of long-term issues from arising.
