My pet is elderly or has special needs, do they have additional requirements?

My pet is elderly or has special needs, do they have additional requirements?

Monte Vista Pet Lodge is a well and special needs boarding facility and is not equipped to provide veterinary care if diagnostics or treatment are needed. This form is for our special needs lodgers who are considered to have a significant medical conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to;

Cardiac (Heart) Disease

Hepatic (Liver) Disease

Renal (Kidney) Disease

Diabetes

Neoplasia (Cancer)

Immunocompromisation

IVDD or Herniated Disc

Seizures

Neurological Disorders

Geriatric or Palliative Care:

Small Breed and Cats: 12yrs+

Med and Large Breeds: 9yrs+

Pets meeting these criteria will be required to provide the following information in addition to the required vaccines and seasonal (April – October) flea and tick prevention. 

A Letter of Health from your pets rDVM

Boarding is an inherently stressful experience for any pet and it is important to discuss how this may affect your pet’s health conditions with your veterinarian prior to their stay. A letter will be required every 6 months for boarding.

A Copy of Labwork

Dogs are very good at masking illness and disease. If a disease can be detected early, before a pet shows signs of illness, then steps can often be taken to manage or correct the problem before permanent damage occurs. Wellness testing is particularly important in senior and geriatric dogs, since there is a greater chance that an older dog will develop disease or have an ongoing but stable condition that needs to be monitored. Lab work should include the following;

  • CBC (Complete Blood Count): This blood test provides information about the different cell types in the blood.
  • Chem 16 (Biochemistry Profile): This is a panel of tests that provides information about the organs and tissues of the body and helps to detect diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, and other disorders
  • UA (Urinalysis): Urinalysis is a routine test that reports the microscopic and chemical properties of a pet’s urine. Urinalysis provides information about how well the kidneys are working and identifies inflammation and infection in the urinary system.

Lab work will be required every 6 months for boarding. You can read more about routine lab work and its importance in your pet health plan here.