Senior dogs and cats are those that have reached the age at which the diseases associated with aging are likely to begin. The exact age at which this occurs varies with the individual pet and within the various breeds. For this reason, we recommend following a senior wellness program for your older, furry family member. This includes physical exams a minimum of twice yearly, blood and urine screening tests, and EKGs. At our animal clinic, we also recommend special diets or nutritional supplements depending on your pet’s lifestyle.
Ideally, caring for your senior pet should focus on preventative measures. Whenever possible, it is better to prevent a problem from occurring than to wait for a problem to develop. Detecting disease in the early stages greatly improves the outcome.