Veterinary Visits - When to be concerned
Signs that your Pet needs the Vet
- Vomiting
-Diarrhea
-Unintended weight loss
-Change in appetite—decreased or increased
-Change in activity level - lethargy, hyperactivity, not sleeping or sleeping more
-Limping
-Sudden inability to move back legs
-Crying in pain when touched
-Clumsy or disoriented behavior
-Seizures
-Any loss of consciousness
-Coughing, especially at night
-Panting in a cat
-Any difficulty breathing or labored breathing
-Any blue, purple, or pale hue to the tongue and gums
-Sudden collapse
-Excessive drooling
-Straining in the litter box without producing any urine
-Crying out while urinating
-Change in urination: location, frequency, amount, color, smell
-Bloated abdomen
-Sneezing excessively
-Uncontrolled bleeding
-Nose-bleed or bruising anywhere on body
-Any unusual odor
-Hair loss
-Runny eyes or nose
-Squinting
Signs your Pet needs to see the Vet -
The older Pet - Concerns
Locomotory/ambulatory assessment
a. No alterations or debilities noted
b. Modest slowness associated with
change from youth to adult
c. Moderate slowness associated
with geriatric aging
d. Moderate slowness associated
with geriatric aging plus alteration
or debility in gait
e. Moderate slowness associated with
geriatric aging plus some loss of
function (e.g., cannot climb stairs)
f. Severe slowness associated with
extreme loss of function, particularly
on slick surfaces (may need to
be carried)
g. Severe slowness, extreme loss of
function, and decreased willingness
or interest in moving
(spends most of time in bed)
h. Paralyzed or refuses to move
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.
Appetite assessment
a. No alterations in appetite
b. Change in ability to physically
handle food
c. Change in ability to retain food
(vomits or regurgitates)
d. Change in ability to find food
e. Change in interest in food (may
be olfactory)
f. Change in rate of eating
g. Change in completion of eating
h. Change in timing of eating
i. Change in preferred textures
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Assessment of elimination function
a. Changes in frequency and “accidents”
No change in frequency, no “accidents”
Increased frequency, no “accidents”
Decreased frequency, no “accidents”
Increased frequency with “accidents”
Decreased frequency with “accidents”
No change in frequency, but “accidents”
b. Bladder control
Leaks urine when asleep
Leaks urine when awake
Leaks urine when awake or asleep
Full-stream, uncontrolled urination when asleep
Full-stream, uncontrolled urination when awake
Full-stream, uncontrolled urination when awake or asleep
No leakage or uncontrolled urination
All urination controlled, but inappropriate or undesirable location
No change in urination control or behavior
c. Bowel control
Defecates when asleep
Defecates without apparent awareness
Defecates, awake and aware of action, but in inappropriate/undesirable locations
No changes in bowel control
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Visual acuity: How well do you think the dog or cat sees?
a. No change in visual acuity detected by behavior, appears to see as
well as ever
b. Some change in acuity not dependent on ambient light conditions.
c. Some change in acuity dependent on ambient light conditions
d. Extreme change in acuity not dependent on ambient light conditions
e. Extreme change in acuity dependent on ambient light conditions
f. Blind
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Auditory acuity: How well do you think the dog or cat hears?
a. No apparent change in auditory acuity
b. Some hearing loss
c. Extreme hearing loss
d. Deaf
Play interactions: If the dog or cat
plays with toys, which situation best
describes that play?
a. No change in play with toys
b. Slightly decreased interest in toys
c. Slightly decreased ability to play with toys
d. Slightly decreased interest and Levitra;ability to play with toys
e. Extreme decreased interest in toys
f. Extreme decreased ability to play with toys
g. Extreme decreased interest and ability to play with toys
Interactions with people: Which situation
best describes that interaction?
a. No change in interaction with people
b. Recognizes people but slightly decreased frequency of interaction
c. Recognizes people but greatly decreased frequency of interaction
d. Withdrawal but recognizes people
e. Does not recognize people
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Interactions with other pets:
Which situation best describes
that interaction?
a. No change in interaction with other pets
b. Recognizes other pets but slightly decreased frequency of interaction
c. Recognizes other pets but greatly decreased frequency of interaction
d. Withdrawal but recognizes other pets
e. Does not recognize other pets
f. No other pets or animal companions in house or social environment
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Changes in sleep-wake cycle
a. No changes in sleep patterns
b. Sleeps more during the day
c. Some change, awakens at night and sleeps more during the day
d. Much change, profoundly erratic nocturnal pattern and irregular daytime pattern
e. Sleeps virtually all day, awake occasionally at night
f. Sleeps almost around the clock
Source: Manual of Clinical Behavioral
Medicine for Small Animals by Karen Overall,
published by Elsevier in 2008.
Behavior screen for older dogs and cat
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