Senior Care for Pets

As your life-long best friend enters their senior years, annual physical examinations and routine screening bloodwork become increasingly important. Identifying and treating common age-related conditions early is the best way to keep your pet healthy for longer. Some common age-related conditions include: arthritis and muscle loss, dental disease, cardiac and kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, changes in vision and hearing, as well as cognitive dysfunction.

When is a dog or a cat considered a senior pet?

Dogs are considered as seniors after the age of 7, depending on the breed. Cats, on the other hand are considered to be elderly at 11-years-old and onwards.

How should I care for my senior dog?

Below are some pointers from our veterinary team that you should keep in mind, in order to take care of your senior dog(s) and cat(s). We advise that you put these point in practice, in conjunction with annual visits to your veterinarian:

• Proper nutrition
• Regular exercise
• Keep an eye on weight and body condition
• Monitor skin and coat quality
• Monitor mouth, gums and teeth
• Annual bloodwork

My senior cat/dog is losing weight, what can I do?

We would recommend a complete physical examination with one of our veterinarians as a first step in determining why you are noticing weight loss.

What are some common health issues experienced by senior cats and senior dogs?

Most commonly, senior cats experience kidney failure, thyroid and liver issues. Senior dogs, on the other hand, often experience hearing and vision loss, cancer, dementia and joint problems.

Why is my senior cat/senior dog having behavioural issues?

Behavioural changes do occur as our pets age, and can often be early indicators of a medical condition. We would be happy to discuss any concerns that your pet may be experiencing.