Veterinary Therapy for Senior Pets in Westport, Massachusetts

Do you have a senior pet? Our pets age approximately seven times faster than we do, which means that a seven-year-old pet is about equal to a 50-year-old human. All the aches, pains, and illnesses that begin to plague us as we get older can also impact our pets. Your ten-year-old dog might not run and play the way he used to, and there’s a reason why your twelve-year-old cat sleeps a lot more than she used to just a few years ago.

When you come to Anchor Animal Hospital, you can count on comprehensive veterinary care for your pets at every stage of their lives. Our Dartmouth vet hospital offers a wide variety of services, including dental care for pets, veterinary therapy for senior pets, pain management, veterinary acupuncture, and much more. We know how much your pets mean to you, which is why we offer so many different diverse treatments designed to address all of the issues that pets face throughout their lifetime.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Dr. Kate Pietsch is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist who completed her training in 2012 at the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. Many people are surprised to discover all of the things that acupuncture techniques can be used to help with arthritis, chronic back pain, gastrointestinal disorders, nerve diseases, and many other conditions that are common in senior pets. Urinary incontinence, muscle tension, oncology pain, and other serious issues can all be helped through therapy provided by veterinary acupuncture.
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Laser Therapy

Westport pet owners and pet owners from all over the Southcoast region can bring their pets in for state-of-the-art technology healing with Class IV lasers for laser therapy treatments. Laser therapy has been proven to provide pain relief with a wide range of veterinary disorders, as well as to speed up the healing process. It penetrates deep into the tissues to stimulate the cells, reducing pain, inflammation, increasing blood flow, and stimulating the growth of cells that help in the healing process. Used for post-surgical pain and inflammation, inflammation from injury or disease, arthritis, hip dysplasia, lick granulomas, and many other conditions.
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Dental Care for Pets

Veterinary studies reveal that approximately 70-80 percent of cats and dogs have some stage of dental or periodontal disease by the time that they are three years of age. Not only will dental issues cause bad breath, but it can also lead to a painful mouth and difficulty eating. In severe cases, it can even lead to issues with kidney and heart disease if left untreated. For pets that are seven years of age or older, we recommend that you get a pre-anesthetic blood screening which can alert our Dartmouth vet hospital about any problems so we can act accordingly. Anchor Animal Hospital creates a unique anesthetic protocol for each pet to provide adequate pain relief and a smooth recovery period.
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Senior Wellness Exams

For pets aged seven and older, we recommend a special exam that is tailored just to their needs. As your pet ages, they might require more specialized care. Laboratory testing is done on-site and includes a basic screening with a complete blood cell count, general chemistry panel, and thyroid, along with a complete urinalysis. We also check your pet’s blood pressure, run an echocardiogram (ECG), provide radiographs, and do a tonometry exam to check for glaucoma to test your pet’s eyes before they are in pain or lose their vision.
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Other Things to Check Regularly

Keep track of your pet’s diet and weight. As pet’s age, they tend to either become over or underweight without much of a warning. A few too many treats and decreased exercise or issues with eating due to a need for dental care for pets or other underlying illnesses should be addressed as soon as it is recognized. Annual check-ups with your Dartmouth vet hospital can help you and your pet to stay on track with treatments and ongoing care. Westport pet owners who have questions about their pet and the care that they require as they age should contact our veterinary team or visit Anchor Animal Hospital to schedule a check-up. Give us a call at 508-996-3731 to learn more about veterinary therapy for senior pets and dental care for pets of all ages.