Senior Animal Care

Animals are relatively similar to humans in that, as they age, they need more and different types of care. At Chesapeake Animal Hospital, we understand that animals age at a much faster and more dramatic rate than humans because their projected life span is quite a bit shorter. An older pet (greater than seven years of age), may be more prone to serious health problems such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and heart disease. The health concerns are brought on by the natural aging process. We know what an important part of your family your pet has become over the years, so we strive to keep him as healthy as possible. Chesapeake Animal Hospital is able to offer a geriatric program for your pet. This program will allow us the opportunity to screen animals for serious health problems rather than waiting for obvious signs of tragic illness. The geriatric program also serves to establish baseline values for pets. The normal healthy values may be used for a comparison in the future if your pet does happen to develop a disease or illness. Also, this health profile serves as a complete pre-anesthetic screen for a dental procedure or surgery. In addition, a geriatric profile helps us avoid using medications that may be unsafe for the pet’s condition or health status.

The geriatric program includes chest and abdominal radiographs, an ECG (electrocardiogram), complete blood chemistry and blood count, thyroid screen, electrolyte panel, blood pressure, ERD test (early renal disease), tonometer test for glaucoma, and a urinalysis.

We are not just looking to extend the life of your animal with our comprehensive care, because we believe that the quality of life is just as important as the quantity and we work with you to plan the appropriate care to ensure that your pet has a long and happy life.