• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Start a senior wellness program

July 1, 2009

What every senior program needs?and why.

1. A comprehensive package

In order to determine which diagnostic tests to run, first you need to know what you're looking for, says Caitlin Rivers, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and technician trainer at Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa. Common conditions older pets are likely to develop include-but aren't limited to-obesity and periodontal, heart, kidney, liver, and thyroid disease. To rule these diseases in or out, a basic senior wellness package should include a wellness exam, senior, chemistry, and complete blood work panels, electrolyte checks, and urinalysis, Rivers says. (For senior tests at a glance, click here.)

Setting your practice's approach to nutrition and exercise is also vital to your senior program because obesity directly contributes to the incidence of osteoarthritis, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension-all conditions that crop up in older pets. Many practices recommend-and carry-special diets to control obesity and its related illnesses. Many also suggest nutritional supplements to ease arthritis pain. But don't try to stock every food-related product available. “You should only pick stuff that you'll actually recommend,” Rivers says.

 

Advertisement

2. A patient database

It's no secret pets age faster than people. But when should you start talking to clients about senior care? As a general rule, pets are considered seniors at 7 years old. But that's not a magic number. “The best time to start talking about senior wellness is before patients need it,” Rivers says. Then watch each pet individually, says Gina Toman, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and practice manager at Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, N.C.

“Certain breeds age differently so look at the average life span,” Toman says. Periodontal disease is appearing earlier and earlier in smaller breeds, Toman says, so it's smart to start screening those dogs at 4 years of age. It's a good idea to set up a system in your records to flag full-fledged and soon-to-be seniors so there's a visual reminder to get the discussion going.

To download a sample senior wellness letter to send or e-mail clients, click here.

BONUS: Click here to download a senior wellness report card.

Related Content:

Technicians
Veterinary tech students awarded national scholarship
Veterinary tech students awarded national scholarship
AAHA seeks applicants for its board, including for a newly created veterinary technician role
AAHA seeks applicants for its board, including for a newly created veterinary technician role
A technician’s true value
A technician’s true value

Advertisement

Latest News

To refer or to not refer

Advice panel for women interested in the veterinary field

AVMA president set to testify before Congress

New Hawaii-based pet CBD brand launches

View More Latest News
Advertisement