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Senior Canine Care

Baldwin Animal Hospital is here to help guide you and your pet through their senior years. As our canine companions age, changes begin to take place in that can affect their health and comfort. When detected early and managed properly, many age-related medical conditions can be prevented from progressing to serious illnesses. Once symptoms appear, the condition may have advanced to a stage that is more costly and difficult to treat. We want to help you and your dog to enjoy the longest, healthiest life together. This is why we recommend biannual wellness exams for senior pets. We also recommend annual blood tests and urinalysis for senior dogs so that we can detect conditions early, when intervention is most effective.

Compared to humans, dogs age more quickly, resulting in dramatic changes in health that can occur in as little as three to six months. Please call us if you notice any of the following changes in your senior dog.

• Weight loss
• Decrease in appetite
• Bad breath or drooling
• Increased appetite, especially if accompanied by weight loss
• Excess urination
• Increased water intake
• Reduced exercise, increased stiffness, trouble jumping or walking
• Apparent pain when your dog moves or is handled
• Any vomiting, abnormal stool or decreased frequency of bowel movements
• A new lump or growth, especially if it appears to increase in size quickly
• Appearance of a "pot belly"
• Depression or listless behavior
• Excessive panting
• Heavy or rapid breathing when resting
• Coughing