As cats age, they develop special needs. Older cats are at higher risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions that can decrease the quality of life. As your pet’s Burbank veterinarian, we recommend bringing your senior cat to the vet on a regular basis for wellness care. Bringing your cat in for regular wellness exams can help your cat avoid serious conditions and can improve your cat’s quality of life.
At Rainbow Veterinary Hospital, we recommend our cat patients see the vet every 6 months when they reach the age of 9 or 10 years old. All pets age differently, so we’ll let you know when to start increasing your cat’s veterinary care.
Senior Pet Wellness From Your Burbank Veterinarian
As your pet’s Burbank veterinarian, we provide a variety of senior pet wellness services:
- Wellness exams. During a standard wellness exam, we’ll check your pet’s weight, blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing. We’ll also perform a full physical examination to check your cat’s body for problems like periodontal disease, cancer and other conditions that come with age.
- Vaccinations. Cats need booster shots throughout their lifetime. When cats get older and their risk for common illnesses increases, vaccinations are more important than ever. We’ll help your senior cat stay up to date on shots and will remind you when shots are due.
- Dental care. Periodontal disease is a common problem in older cats. Regular dental cleanings will help protect your cat from gingivitis and gum disease. We use anesthesia to make your cat’s dental care as comfortable and safe as possible.
- Lab work. We’ll take samples of your pet’s blood to check for underlying conditions. With baseline testing starting at around 9 or 10 years of age, an annual screening will help us determine when your pet has a condition that needs treatment right away.
- Deworming and intestinal parasite screening. Parasites can make your cat sick and can even cause an early death for some cats. We’ll test your cat for worms and parasites, and then start treatment for parasites right away if we determine that treatment is necessary.
Helping Your Senior Cat At Home
Good care at home helps keep your senior cat healthy and strong. As your cat ages, you may need to make changes to the way you take care of your cat to avoid diseases and weight gain. Some of the changes that we recommend include:
- Special diet.
- Accommodations for cats with arthritis.
- Regular tooth brushing.
- Regular light exercise.
If you have a senior cat, we can help you determine which changes are right for your cat’s needs.
Contact Your Pet’s Veterinarian in Burbank Today!
At Rainbow Veterinary Hospital in Burbank, we help senior cats stay healthy. Our veterinarian is trained to identify senior cat illnesses and conditions. To make an appointment for your senior cat, contact us today at (818) 846-1166.