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Senior Pet Talk | for dogs + cats

7. How to Prepare for Your Senior Dog's Vet Visit

July 23 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 7 · 19.3 MB
0:00-40:08

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What to bring with you and your dog to the vet. In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks all about what to expect at a senior dog veterinary visit and how to prepare for one.

She discusses:

  • Prepping for the visit, including bringing a complete history, diet, supplements, written questions, and any videos or notes on changes you've seen at home
  • Two things to always ask about: body condition score and muscle condition score
  • Muscle loss and frailty, and how diet, calories, and rehab exercises can help
  • Senior wellness panel, including CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis, blood pressure, thyroid testing, and SDMA, and what we're actually looking for in these tests
  • When more testing is needed, such as heart evaluation, ProBMP, and cancer screening
  • The cost of all of this, and how to think it through

Remember that senior pet care should be a shared plan between you and your veterinarian, based on your pet's needs and your family's budget. If you have questions on what to bring, listen in!

LINKS

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Preparing for your senior pet vet visit
02:03 - What to bring to your dog’s vet visit
06:04 - Cost considerations and understanding veterinary care
10:17 - The testing that goes into caring for a senior pet
12:01 - Question 1: Body condition score
13:52 - Question 2: Muscle condition score, and what to do about it
20:17 - Senior wellness panel: bloodwork, chemistry panel, urinalysis, blood pressure, thyroid panel, SDMA
27:22 - What we're actually looking for in these tests
28:44 - Testing for common cancers in dogs, plus other testing if something's off
32:30 - Imaging: X-rays and specialist tests
35:33 - The costs of some of these tests, and how to think it through
36:07 - Recap and being your pet's best advocate

Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs.