Senior Pet Care

Aging Gracefully: Compassionate Care for Senior Pets

We love our senior pets! As pets age, their needs change—and they deserve extra care and attention to stay healthy and happy. Senior pets, typically those over 7 years old, benefit from more frequent veterinary visits to monitor for age-related health concerns.

Common conditions that can arise with age include:

• Arthritis
• Dental disease
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Endocrine disorders

Because these issues become more common as pets get older, we recommend bringing your senior pet in for checkups twice a year. You may notice signs of osteoarthritis, such as stiffness after rest, trouble climbing stairs, or a decrease in activity. Early treatment with joint supplements, prescription medications, and customized nutrition and exercise plans can make a big difference in your pet’s mobility and comfort.

Annual screening lab work is also important—it can detect health problems in their early stages, before symptoms appear. With timely intervention, we can often manage these conditions effectively.

Some senior pets may also show behavioral changes due to cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia. If your pet seems confused, anxious, or disoriented, your veterinarian can suggest dietary changes and supplements to help support brain health.

Getting older doesn’t have to mean feeling worse. With regular veterinary care, your senior pet can enjoy their golden years with comfort and vitality.