Senior Pet Care

Making the golden years the best.

Senior Care

As your beloved companion ages, their care needs change. As such, our focus shifts from disease prevention to close monitoring, early disease detection, diagnosis, and quality of life-based care. From expected senior conditions such as osteoarthritis, vision loss, and cognitive changes (i.e., dementia) to unexpected ailments including endocrine disease, cancer, and organ failure, Mt. Horeb Animal Hospital is committed to honoring the pet-owner bond and providing professional and compassionate care at every life stage.

Radiology

Radiographs (i.e., X-rays) are a powerful and convenient diagnostic tool that allow us to visualize your senior pet’s internal anatomy and health. Whether your pet is limping, coughing, or recently took a dumpster-dive into the trash, X-rays provide immediate and invaluable insight that we use to reach a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan.

Nutrition as medicine is not a new concept, but it is more powerful than ever with the help of specially formulated veterinary diets for chronic conditions, including kidney disease, bladder stones, degenerative joint disease (i.e., arthritis), weight management, and more. If our veterinarians believe your senior pet would benefit from a specialized diet, we offer a variety of trusted brands and formulas through our online store, as well as a select variety at our hospital.

Prescription Food

Pain Management & Control

Recognizing and measuring pain in pets can be challenging, as dogs and cats instinctively hide pain and illness to protect themselves. Subtle changes in how your pet moves, stands, or behaves can indicate chronic (i.e., ongoing) pain. Undiagnosed or untreated pain can create a cycle of compensation, muscle weakness, and additional discomfort. Simply put, pain negatively affects every aspect of your senior pet’s daily function and quality of life.

At Mt. Horeb Animal Hospital, we evaluate pain as a vital assessment—as essential as heart and respiratory rate—and combine what you’re seeing at home with your pet’s physical exam findings to develop a clear understanding of their pain. From there, we’ll work together to address their pain and routinely reevaluate our treatment plan to ensure your pet stays comfortable.

End of Life Care

Here at Mt. Horeb Animal Hospital we have one common goal between our clients and our staff, that is compassionate patient care and quality of life. There comes a time in every pet’s life that this quality of life discussion becomes about the most caring and humane way to say goodbye. Our staff is open and willing to have an honest discussion about your pet’s care and what steps need to be taken to keep them comfortable. A common question at the practice is knowing when it is time to schedule that final appointment. Being able to evaluate when the bad days outweigh the good days can be an initial assessment. We want to keep our pets as comfortable as possible through all aspects of life. When you are ready to discuss this decision further or schedule an appointment with us, we are available by phone or by email here at the clinic.

When it comes to aftercare for your pet, there are many options to consider. These include taking your pet home with you for burial, group cremation or private cremation. More detailed explanations of cremation options can be found on the link below.

https://www.memorialpetservices.com/cremation-options There are also some helpful resources for during and after the process available to pet owners. To find more information on these resources see the link below. https://www.petlossresourcecenter.org/

One additional service offered in the area is at home euthanasia. The company we recommend is Journey’s Home if this is an option you would like to consider. For more information on their services, we have provided a link below. https://journeyspet.com/in-home-pet-euthanasia-wisconsin/