Senior Pet Care

Aging is not a disease, but it does change what your pet needs from us.

What a Senior Wellness Visit Includes

Senior pet visits include a physical exam and a closer look at weight, muscle mass, mobility, dental health, vision, and any new lumps. We’ll ask about changes you may have noticed at home, such as difficulty with stairs or jumping, changes in sleep or appetite, or drinking more water.

We may recommend bloodwork and a urinalysis to check for concerns that aren’t apparent during the exam. When previous results are available, we compare them to your pet’s current results to look for changes over time. Our in-house laboratory can provide many results during the visit.

At V.E.T. Care Hospital, our team tailors senior care to your dog or cat as their needs change.

Common Questions About Senior Pet Care

If you have an older pet, you may wonder when senior care should begin, why we recommend more frequent visits, or whether procedures are still safe. We answer those common questions below. For advice specific to your dog or cat, our team can review their health history with you.

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When is my pet considered a senior?

There’s no single age when every pet becomes a senior. Large and giant breed dogs often need senior care around age six or seven, while cats and smaller dogs may reach that stage closer to age ten. We’ll consider your pet’s breed, size, and health when recommending when to begin senior care

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Why twice a year instead of once?

A year is a long time in an older animal's life. Kidney values, thyroid function, and body weight can shift meaningfully in six months, and catching that drift early usually means more options. Twice-yearly geriatric pet care visits also give us two data points a year to compare, which makes gradual changes far easier to see.

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My dog is just slowing down. Is that worth a visit?

If your pet is slowing down, schedule an exam rather than assuming it’s simply due to age. Changes in activity can be linked to arthritis, dental pain, thyroid disease, or heart problems. Once we know what’s causing the change, we can discuss ways to help your pet feel more comfortable.

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Is anesthesia safe for an older pet?

Age by itself is not a reason to avoid anesthesia, though it does warrant more caution. We run pre-anesthetic bloodwork, tailor the protocol to your pet, and monitor throughout the procedure. For many senior patients, the pain of untreated dental disease poses a greater risk than a carefully managed anesthetic event.

The Changes Owners Tend to Write Off

Slowing down, stiffness after rest, drinking more water, weight loss, cloudy eyes, or accidents in the house may seem like ordinary signs of aging. They can also point to a health problem that deserves attention.

Older pets can develop kidney or thyroid disease, arthritis, dental pain, heart disease, or changes in thinking and behavior. Many of these conditions can be treated or managed. Tell us about anything you’ve noticed, even if the change seems small.

Keeping Older Pets Comfortable

Comfort is the goal, and there is usually more we can do than owners expect.

Pain relief for an older pet may involve oral medication, injections, or laser therapy, depending on their condition and how they respond. Maintaining a healthy weight can also ease strain on sore joints.

Dental disease can cause pain that’s easy to miss, so pet dentistry may be an important part of your pet’s care. Senior visits build on preventive and wellness care, with more frequent checkups as your pet’s needs change. Explore all of our veterinary services for other ways we can help.

Mobility

Pain medication, laser therapy, and weight management can help keep older pets comfortable. Simple changes at home, such as nonslip rugs or easier access to food and water, may also make daily activities less painful.

Monitoring

We may recommend bloodwork every six months for senior pets and compare the results with their previous tests. Changes in kidney or thyroid values can sometimes appear before you notice symptoms at home.