Early Disease Detection
08/15/05

Early detection and treatment is becoming a new mantra in veterinary medicine much as it is in human health care. Progressive diseases such as arthritis, dental disease, kidney failure, hormone imbalances, heart disease, cancer and more can be detected and treated effectively in the early stages resulting in significant improvement in both the quantity and quality of the pet’s life. The catch is (there’s always a catch) that detection often requires more than just a physical exam, i.e. blood tests, urine tests, x-rays, etc. So what should you look for as signs that something may be wrong?

In the wild, the weakest animals become some other animal’s dinner. Our pets may therefore mask their pain as long as possible. Signs of arthritis and other diseases may be subtle such as taking a bit longer to stand (especially in the rear legs) or a subtle reduction of activity. Upper middle aged dogs and cats that seem to be drinking more water than usual may have kidney failure or hormone problems. Bad breath or red gum lines are good indicators of dental disease. Weight loss or gain and overall coat and skin condition should be noted and monitored. “Lumps and bumps” in or under the skin are often nothing to be worried about but can also be very serious forms of cancer as with mast cell tumors, fibrosarcomas and others. Make a mental note of these sorts of things and ask your veterinarian about them.

One idea I try to impress on pet owners is that old age is not a diagnosis. Our pets don’t become unhealthy from old age, they get some specific manifestation of degenerative or age related conditions, often combinations of one or more of the diseases mentioned above. Many of these can be treated or, at worst, controlled especially when diagnosed early. So next time you find yourself tempted to say “oh, he/she’s just startin’ to get old …” you may want to ask your veterinarian what could be causing these “symptoms of old age”.