Geriatric profiles?

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Honeybadger — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:25:28 GMT

We do a 'Pet MOT' which includes health check, bloods and urine testing for £30. The whole appointment takes about half an hour and then we do a follow up phone call with results and recommendations. I personally think this is excellent value and have no problem advising clients to do this. Patients obviously do get stressed sometimes but no more than any other trip to the vets which is unfortuantly unavoidbale.

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:28:38 GMT

theres sometimes I really really miss doing nurses clinics because this is an area I feel nurses can make a real difference. Clients are much more likely to 'open up' to a nurse and tell us things that might be considered too 'daft' to bother the vet with - and sometimes its the daft stuff that gives big clues as to what is going on with an animal. True you will always get those that think you are in it to make money but a lot of them dont, there are a lot who realise you are trying to do the best by their animal and if you have a good rapport with the client you will generally know which camp they fall into. I used to have really good clients who nearly always managed to bring in a pee sample (even from cats)

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Steph Worsley — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:12:43 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

but isnt that 1 in 12 animals that may enjoy a better quality of life because their problem gets diagnosed and they get appropriate treatment?

[/quote]

exactly what I was thinking Sal!!!

my 9 yr old cat had a blood sample "just to see" and he had a mild azotaemia, he had just pee'd so no urine sample but decided to do an ultrasound based on that and decided to FNA his spleen because of a prev mast cell tumour removed and found his mast cell mets, took a cysto and luckily his azotaemia was pre-renal (although his values are still a little on the high normal but back in normal ranges!) but it shows that doing some bloods and a cysto can help!

Also wanted to pick back up on the whole cysto/bloods/bp cause stress, we routinely do all 3 things and only on occasions do the animals get very stressed by having these things done, we ALWAYS perform bp first if the animal is not staying in to get an accurate reading, then usually bloods and finally cysto.If its a cat I will generally do the bp on my own with then sat in their basket as i find restraint increases their bp, bloods and cysto are usually done with minimal restraint depending on the animal of course. Like I said before, yes some animals do get very stressed at having these thingts done but I find that is very few and far between

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Samantha Russell — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:04:03 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

but isnt that 1 in 12 animals that may enjoy a better quality of life because their problem gets diagnosed and they get appropriate treatment?

[/quote]

Oh god yea, but like shelly said the other 11 in 12 think its a way for a practice to make money :(

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:57:15 GMT

but isnt that 1 in 12 animals that may enjoy a better quality of life because their problem gets diagnosed and they get appropriate treatment?

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Samantha Russell — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:51:27 GMT

I know that the profile can be a good thing but i still dont think its worth while yet. Out of all the cases ive had in about 1 in 12 had a problem (hyerthyroidism, liver failure and struvite crystals) so im glad the screening is working :)

And like Sally said, not many people are interested in it, the profile has been running for a little while now and not enough people are having it done. I just didnt know if it was worth me to stop it and just have it for cases that really need the profile done or leave it as an open profile for anyone who has a geriatric animal and just wants it done :-S

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:46:47 GMT

[quote user="shelly jefferies"]

We tried to do senior clinics, did a mail shot to every animal over 8 years of age. Offered free urine multistix and SG, and reduced blood profile if felt needed. Really poor uptake only about 5 people came in. Think they can be a good idea but some people see it as another thing for us to try to make money from.

[/quote]

you can always pick them up when they come in for other things ie dental check and make an appt for them to come back before they leave or if you get chance go through your nurses appts the day before and if there are any that would benefit just ask them to bring in a wee sample when they come in for their appointment and take it from there. I had quite a decent uptake this way.

Re: Geriatric profiles?

shelly jefferies — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:40:27 GMT

Re: Geriatric profiles?

Steph Worsley — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:32:33 GMT

personally I think they are a great idea, yes some animals do get stressed with them but those you may have to say its not worth doing unless something clinically is wrong, but you have to remember things like kidney disease doesn't show clinical signs until 75% of the function is lost whereas you can pick up problems earlier on bloods/bp and urine.