Senior Veterinary Services for Cats & Dogs

Senior Dogs

As your dog reaches their golden years, there are numerous joint or bone disorders that can result in pain and discomfort. Some of the most common joint and bone disorders in senior pets that our veterinarians see include arthritis, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, reduction in spinal flexibility.

Addressing these issues as early as possible is crucial for keeping your dog comfortable as they continue to get older. Treatment of joint and bone disorders can vary depending on many factors. Your veterinarian will work with you to develop a plan that reduces the impact of these disorders on your pets as they move into their senior years.

Senior Cats

While osteoarthritis is typically a condition we think of in older dogs, this painful condition can also affect your elderly cat's joints.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats are more subtle than those in dogs. While cats can experience a decrease in range of motion, the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis in elderly cats include loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, change in attitude, poor grooming habits, urination or defecation outside the litter pan, and the inability to jump on or off objects. Lameness often seen in dogs is not frequently reported by cat owners.

Bringing your senior pet in for routine checkups, even when they seem perfectly healthy, allows your veterinarian to catch early signs of cancer and other developing conditions that respond much better to treatment when caught in their earliest stages.

Heart disease can be a serious issue for senior pets.

Senior dogs often develop conditions like congestive heart failure.

Heart disease is rarer in cats, but Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is fairly common.

Degeneration in the eyes and ears can lead to varying degrees of deafness and blindness in aging pets, especially dogs.

These conditions can develop slowly, allowing our pets time to adjust to the changes. The gradual changes taking place may sometimes go unnoticed by the pet parent.

Liver disease is common in aging cats and may be due to high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of liver disease in cats include increased thirst, loss of appetite, jaundice, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In dogs, symptoms such as weight loss, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, jaundice, and abdominal fluid buildup can be signs of liver disease.

If your cat or dog is displaying any symptoms of liver disease, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Despite dogs and cats being able to develop diabetes at any point in their life, most are diagnosed as they pass middle age.

Symptoms of diabetes in cats and dogs can come in the form of cloudy eyes, chronic or recurring infections, excessive thirst, increased urine, and increased appetite that is accompanied by weight loss.

Kidney function can begin to decline as our pets age and we often don't see symptoms of Kidney disease until 75% of the kidney has stopped working. That is why preventative bloodwork for our senior pets is an important tool for early detection.

While kidney disease cannot be cured, it can be managed.

Elderly pets can be prone to accidents, especially in their sleep, as the muscles controlling the bladder begin to weaken. That being said, incontinence can be a sign of a bigger health issue such as a urinary tract infection or dementia, so it should never be ignored.

If your senior pet experiences incontinence issues, make a veterinary appointment to have them medically examined as soon as possible.