Senior Pet Care

Dogs are generally senior at age 7, though large and giant breeds may age faster (5-6 years). Cats are typically senior around age 10-11. We adjust care based on your individual pet.

Pets age roughly 5-7 human years for each calendar year. Bi-annual exams let us catch changes early—kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid problems are much more treatable when detected before symptoms appear.

Absolutely. We offer multimodal pain management including anti-inflammatory medications, joint supplements, laser therapy, and weight management plans. Many senior pets show dramatic improvement with proper treatment.

Increased thirst or urination, weight changes, difficulty standing or climbing stairs, confusion or disorientation, changes in appetite, and sleeping more than usual are all signs worth discussing with us.

Senior bloodwork panels include a complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid screening, and urinalysis. These tests evaluate organ function, detect infections, and screen for diseases like diabetes and kidney disease before symptoms appear.

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can cause disorientation, changes in sleep-wake cycles, house-soiling in previously trained pets, decreased interaction with family, increased anxiety, and aimless wandering. If you notice these changes, let us know—there are treatments that can help.

Pets often hide pain. Watch for reluctance to jump or climb stairs, decreased activity, changes in appetite, limping, excessive licking of a specific area, restlessness at night, or changes in temperament. Cats may stop grooming or hide more. We can assess pain levels during an exam.

Senior pets benefit from diets with adjusted calorie levels, increased fiber, joint-support ingredients like glucosamine, and easily digestible proteins. We recommend specific diets based on your pet's health conditions and nutritional needs.

Many senior pets can undergo surgery safely with proper precautions. We perform thorough pre-surgical bloodwork, use carefully tailored anesthesia protocols, and provide enhanced monitoring. Age alone is not a disease—each pet is evaluated individually.

Provide orthopedic bedding, use ramps or steps for furniture access, keep food and water easily accessible, add non-slip rugs on slippery floors, keep litter boxes low-entry for senior cats, and provide gentle daily exercise.

Yes, but we tailor vaccination schedules for senior pets. Core vaccines like rabies are still required by law. We assess your pet's lifestyle and health to determine which vaccines are necessary and may run titer tests to check existing immunity.

Many pet insurance plans cover senior pets, though premiums may be higher. Wellness plans that cover routine bloodwork and exams can be especially valuable for seniors. We recommend enrolling your pet in insurance while they're young for the best coverage.