Our senior dogs and cats (sometimes called “geriatric”) often need more care and veterinary attention than do younger ones. These are usually considered pets over 7 years of age, but that can vary a lot by breed and size as well. Dogs and cats age much faster than their owners. As our pets age, much like us, they can start to have aches and pains, signs of early disease, or even mental changes. When bringing an older pet to the vet, giving a detailed history of their life, activities, and appetite at home can be just as important as the physical exam. Doing regular weight checks on an older pet can also provide a lot of information. Although traditionally most people bring their pet to the vet once yearly unless they are sick, as a pet reaches older senior status, it can be beneficial to come in every 4-6 months to talk with the doctor and have the animal examined. It can also be very helpful to your pet’s health to have yearly blood work checks done on senior pets even if they are not yet showing signs of being sick. In these checks the vet is looking for signs of anemia, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, thyroid hormone issues, and more. Older animals may need to eat a different diet, take supplements or medications, or have adjustments made at home to make life easier. If you have a senior pet that needs a check up, we encourage you to book an appointment with your Qatar Veterinary Center Veterinarian. We’d be happy to help!
Dr Sam, DVM
Spokes woof: Penti, age 19, QVC Rescue
