Medical Information for Pet Owners

Medical Information for Pet Owners

As a service to our clients and visitors to our site, every few weeks we will post medical information that we feel would be useful and interesting to pet owners. Over a period of time you will be able to search our archives for pertinent medical information. However, we must state that we assume no liability for information obtained from this section as there is no substitute for having your pet examined by a veterinarian. For additional medical information on-line, you may want to visit the Pet Health links listed in the Internet Resources section of our site.

To view previous medical topics, select an item in our list and click "View":

September is Senior Health Care Month

Does your pet take longer to fetch his favorite ball? Has he stopped greeting you at the door? Or is she taking longer to get there? Has he "forgotten" his housetraining? Is she gaining weight? Is the condition of his skin and coat degenerating? Does she sleep more often now? You may think these behavioral, metabolic and physical changes are all just normal signs of aging. But the truth of the matter is that these and other such signs might be indicating that your best friend has a medical problem that needs attention.

With recent advances in disease detection and treatment, your pet's senior years can be a healthy and happy time. And you are the key to making this happen. No one knows your pet better than you do, so it's up to you to report any and all changes you see to your veterinarian.

It is estimated that your pet ages five to seven years for every one of yours, which suggests that health problems in your pet can progress at a faster rate. Therefore, a physical exam is recommended a minimum of twice yearly (every 6 months) in order to identify potential problems quickly in older pets. By working with your veterinarian, you can help prevent or treat many of the age-related conditions and enhance your pet's quality of life.

Use the chart provided below to find the relative age of your pet. If your pet's relative age is over 40 years we recommend a Senior Pet Exam that may include a physical, bloodwork, urinalysis, EKG, and xrays. Each pet is different and the exact procedures included in your pet's Senior Exam will be determined by you, your pet and your veterinarian.

Relative Age of Your Pet in "Human Years"
Pet's Age	Pet's Size (in pounds)
Pet's Age	0-20 lbs	21-50 lbs	51-90 lbs	> 90 lbs
5	36	37	40	42
6	40	42	45	49
7	44	47	50	56
8	48	51	55	64
9	52	56	61	71
10	56	60	66	78
11	60	65	72	86
12	64	69	77	93
13	68	74	82	101
14	72	78	88	108
15	76	83	93	115
16	80	87	99	123
17	84	92	104
18	88	96	109
19	92	101	115
20	96	105	120

Based on a chart developed by Fred L. Metzger, DVM, Dipl. ABVP; State College, PA : Provided by Pfizer Animal Health. Reproduced with permission.

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