Senior Pet Care

Putting the golden in golden years.

Senior Wellness Care

While we always enjoy new puppies and kittens, we especially love our gray-muzzled patients. We love providing care over a pet’s lifetime, and look forward to being part of each new chapter.

Just as your aging pet’s activity level or personality may change, their health care should also shift to fit their senior status. Although old age is not a disease, older pets have a higher likelihood of developing a variety of issues. Organs deteriorate, their metabolism slows down, and painful conditions can develop. We are here to help keep your senior pet active and healthy, so they can enjoy a good quality of life through their golden years.

Disease Screening

Your pet’s regular wellness visits also provide an opportunity to screen for diseases that may be developing, but are still in the early stages. For example, kidney failure does not cause noticeable signs until the majority of a pet’s kidney function is lost, and the disease has progressed to an untreatable stage. However, regular disease screening can detect kidney failure at an earlier point, when treatment can slow progression, improve quality of life, and prolong your pet’s life. We recommend annual diagnostic testing to detect any changes in your pet’s health status.

Wellness care, which focuses on preventing disease and detecting health problems early, is particularly important for senior pets. As their bodies age, older pets are more vulnerable to infectious diseases, and rely on you to protect them. Keeping up with your senior pet’s vaccines and parasite prevention is a critical part of keeping them healthy. Regardless of when your pet last received vaccines, our team will assess their risk, and recommend vaccines that will provide the best protection. We will also recommend veterinary-approved parasite preventives to protect them from diseases transmitted by fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

Prevention is Key

Illness care for senior pets

Unfortunately, conditions such as arthritis, organ failure, heart disease, diabetes, and sight and vision problems commonly affect older pets. Most age-related health problems are chronic conditions, and cannot be cured. However, we can help you manage your pet’s illness to ensure they remain active and continue enjoying life.

Senior pets with chronic health problems often require more frequent veterinary visits to monitor treatment progress, adjust medication doses, or add new treatments. Specialized diets and veterinary supplements can often help manage disease and improve your pet’s quality of life. Our veterinarians have vast experience with a variety of manufacturers, and can recommend safe, veterinary-approved products as part of your pet’s treatment plan.

End-of-life care for senior pets

If your pet’s health declines, our focus may shift to hospice care to keep them comfortable. Many palliative treatments are available to manage pain, increase appetite, and decrease disease symptoms, while providing you more precious time with your pet. As your senior pet’s primary caregiver, you may need to administer medications and other treatments at home. We are happy to coach you through this transition, to help you be the caregiver your pet deserves.

When your pet’s quality of life is no longer acceptable, you may choose to provide a peaceful, pain-free passing with euthanasia. Our compassionate team can walk you through this process, including discussions about your pet’s quality of life, what to expect during euthanasia, and after-care options.

End-of-life care for senior pets

If your pet’s health declines, our focus may shift to hospice care to keep them comfortable. Many palliative treatments are available to manage pain, increase appetite, and decrease disease symptoms, while providing you more precious time with your pet. As your senior pet’s primary caregiver, you may need to administer medications and other treatments at home. We are happy to coach you through this transition, to help you be the caregiver your pet deserves.

When your pet’s quality of life is no longer acceptable, you may choose to provide a peaceful, pain-free passing with euthanasia. Our compassionate team can walk you through this process, including discussions about your pet’s quality of life, what to expect during euthanasia, and after-care options.