Improvements in the care of dogs and cats, in their nutrition and in the prevention of illnesses by means of vaccination has meant an increase in life expectancy for our pets. A dog or a cat which is protected, vaccinated and loved by its owners will live much longer now than it would have 30 years ago.
This increase in life expectancy is associated with a increased risk of the appearance of “new” illnesses, which are often chronic and are more insidious in their appearance, but which will eventually influence its life expectancy or its quality of life:
- Arthrosis will affect the majority of animals and reduce their quality of life
- Ageing of the kidneys will not be immediately perceptible but will sometimes suddenly get worse
- Heart conditions will affect more than half of small dogs and a growing proportion of cats and large dogs.
- Today, cancer has become one of the main causes of death in dogs and cats, in the same way as in human beings, and age is one of the most significant risk factors when determining whether or not cancer will develop. These lesions may be visible (cutaneous mass) or invisible (abdominal or pulmonary mass).
- The risk of observing two (or even more) conditions in the same animal will therefore grow exponentially as it ages.
In order to help your animal grow old in good health, the clinic also offers a “geriatric assessment service” for your pet.