Have you noticed there is a double standard in pet care dependent on your place of residence? Do you have friends in Vancouver? Or Whistler? Why are dogs treated differently in Yaletown than they are in Abbotsford?

Perhaps you haven't noticed the difference. But this is a question I have been asked several times by owners who have moved out of the Fraser Valley.

In Vancouver, Whistler and other metropolitan regions pets receive more frequent and intensive medical care. These owners are health conscious and this extends onto their pets. Do Abbotsford pets not deserve the same? Do Abbotsford owners not want the same?

Is it that Yaletown and Vancouver residents have greater disposable income and therefore they can afford this higher level of medical care for their pets? I rather doubt it. Do you want to carry their mortgages compared to those in Abbotsford?

Is it that Abbotsford is less interested in their pets? This is highly improbable. Survey after survey shows pet owners throughout North America want to know what the optimum care for their pets is and why.

They may not be able to provide all recommended care in its entirety but they want the option. They want to be offered the same quality of medicine as that which is found in Vancouver or other metropolitan centres.

The level of care found in these regions did not develop overnight. It happened in response to the demands of owners. Veterinarians needed to learn that clients understood and wanted this quality of medicine. If you want to see this level of medical care for your pet in Abbotsford, do not be afraid to ask for it. Asking promotes communication and teamwork.

This becomes particularly important as your pet ages. Pets age at various rates. Generally, a small breed dog is considered middle aged at seven years of age and a large breed dog at five years of age.

Have you noticed how your doctor sends you off for a cholesterol check, prostate exam, PSA test, mammogram and more starting in your middle years? This is when pet care should also intensify.

At middle age it becomes time to ask for baseline testing and perhaps moving to biannual exams. Check out the American Animal Hospital Association site and you will see this testing includes a complete blood count, chemistry, urinalysis and parasite check.

By the time a pet is a senior (at least 10 years old in smaller breeds and seven years old in giant breeds) these tests should be done every six months.

Ask your vet about nutritional changes, arthritis recognition and management, and exercise modification.

Ask them about changes you see in water consumption and urination, appetite and weight, intestinal habits, eating habits, housebreaking, lameness, vision, hearing, head shyness, abdominal size, panting, exercise intolerance, hair loss and anything else you note. You are your pet's advocate.

Ask for blood pressure checks, especially in cats. Renal disease and hyperthyroidism can cause hypertension in cats.

Ask about detailed cardiac exams for older pets including radiographs when heart murmurs are detected and regular follow-ups in cardiac care.

Realize your pet ages more rapidly than you do and six months in their lives is equivalent to three to five years of your life.

What level of medical care do you want for yourself? What level of care do you want for your pet? Let your veterinarian know you are comfortable with more than the minimal level of medical care for your pet.

Remember, it's OK to ask and open the avenue of discussion for more complete wellness care for your pet. Your vet will probably listen.

- Dr. Borgmann is a pet columnist and veterinarian with the Whatcom Road Veterinary Hospital in Abbotsford.