Like humans, our pet’s healthcare needs change as they age. Unsure of whether or not your pet is a “senior?” As a rule of thumb, small dog breeds may be considered senior at 10-13 years, while giant breeds are classified as seniors at ages as young as five. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to discuss this with our veterinary team when you’re in the hospital to see us.

While pre-senior pets should see us at least once a year for wellness exams, we do recommend bringing in your senior pet for exams twice a year. Advances in veterinary medicine have continued to help pets live longer than ever before. However, with this increased lifespan comes an increase in the types of ailments that can afflict senior pets like weight and mobility changes; osteoarthritis; kidney, heart, and liver disease; tumors and cancers; hormone disorders such as diabetes and thyroid imbalance; and many others. Being proactive rather than reactive with your senior pet’s care is essential!

Protecting Your Senior Pet

Protecting senior pets from diseases remains an integral part of keeping them healthy. As the body ages, the unnecessary stresses from preventable diseases can significantly harm a pet, so staying on a vaccination schedule is even more critical. This includes keeping your senior pet free from fleas and ticks will help protect them from disease as well as from discomfort and the depletion of nutrients.

We do offer nutritional counseling for pets of all ages, but this is incredibly important for your senior pet. After dogs and cats reach seven years of age, the needs of their bodies change, and they require a quality senior pet food. Consult with our veterinarians on the pet food that will be most beneficial for your pet.

Everything from mobility checks to wellness exams will continue as usual, and our team will be sure to make sure you’re well taken care of every step of the way.