Why Is Preventative Care and Wellness Testing for Senior Pets Important?
Preventative care is a cornerstone of veterinary medicine, offering numerous benefits that go beyond a pet's immediate and daily health. Regular diagnostic screenings are becoming a more crucial aspect of this preventative care, especially for senior pets (dogs aged nine years and over and cats aged ten years or older). Despite the known benefits—such as establishing baselines and ensuring a comprehensive understanding of a pet's health status—the importance of preventative diagnostic screening, particularly for senior pets, is not always recognised by many veterinarians or communicated to their clients.
Let's explore the reasons behind this hesitance and discuss why we as veterinarians should integrate regular diagnostic screening into our patients' yearly routine visits.
The Benefits of Preventative Care
Routine diagnostic screening plays a crucial role in veterinary practice for several reasons:
- Establishing baselines: Regular screenings help us establish a baseline of what is normal for each pet. This information is invaluable for identifying deviations that might indicate emerging health issues.
- Early detection: Many conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease, can develop without noticeable clinical signs. Diagnostic screenings can uncover these conditions early, allowing for timely intervention and better management.
- Monitoring chronic conditions: For pets with known health issues, regular screening helps monitor the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatments, enabling adjustments as necessary.
- Longevity and quality of life: Early detection and management of health issues can significantly improve the longevity and quality of life of pets, ensuring they live healthier, happier lives.
Current Practices in the UK and Germany
Despite the benefits, not all veterinarians in the U.K. and Germany conduct regular diagnostic screenings, particularly for senior pets. There are several potential reasons for this reluctance.
- Cost concerns: Pet owners may be hesitant to incur additional costs for diagnostic tests, particularly if their pet appears healthy. Because of this, veterinarians may be wary of recommending tests that could be perceived as unnecessary expenses.
- Time constraints: Busy practices might prioritise immediate health concerns over routine screenings, particularly if no visible symptoms suggest a problem.
- Lack of awareness: Both veterinarians and pet owners may not fully appreciate the benefits of routine diagnostic screenings or may underestimate the prevalence of asymptomatic health issues in pets.
Why Regular Diagnostic Screening Is Crucial for Senior Pets
Senior pets are particularly vulnerable to a range of health issues that can progress silently. Recent studies underscore the importance of regular diagnostic screening for these pets:
High Incidence of Hidden Health Issues
An IDEXX study revealed that wellness testing including a CBC, chemistry profile, and urinalysis uncovered significant health problems in 2 out of 5 senior dogs (aged nine years or older) and 3 out of 5 senior cats (aged ten years or older). If it weren't for routine screening, these issues might not have been detected until much later stages.
Health Monitoring With Biannual Testing
Twice-yearly diagnostic screening allows for closer monitoring and more timely interventions, which can significantly improve health outcomes, than screening only once a year.
Improved Quality of Life
Regular screenings can lead to early detection of conditions such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and more. Early management of these conditions can prevent severe complications, reduce suffering, and enhance the quality of life for senior pets.
Addressing the Hesitance
As veterinarians, we can take several steps to overcome the barriers to routine diagnostic screening. First, educating ourselves and pet owners and providing clear information about the benefits of routine screenings can help pet owners understand their value. Highlighting studies and providing real-life examples of how screenings have detected hidden issues can be persuasive. Offering flexible options and a range of diagnostic packages or payment plans can make routine screenings more accessible to pet owners concerned about costs. Communicating and stressing the long-term health benefits and potential cost savings from early detection and treatment can help pet owners see routine screenings as an investment in their pet's health.
Incorporating regular diagnostic screening into yearly routine visits is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of pets, particularly senior dogs and cats. By addressing common barriers and effectively communicating the benefits, veterinarians in the U.K. and Germany can help ensure their patients receive the best possible preventive care. Emphasising the importance of yearly wellness testing—and ideally, twice-yearly for senior pets—can make a significant difference in pets' overall health outcomes.
