You may already know that your senior pet will have different health needs than their younger selves, but you may not know exactly what you need to do to accommodate them. That’s why for this Senior Pet Month, we’re here to share some essential information and tips on how to best care for your beloved senior pet. Let’s take a look at how you can tell if your pet is a senior and how you can care for them at home.
Do I Have a Senior Pet?
Your pet might be a senior before you know it! That’s because a large dog is considered a senior at age 6, while smaller dogs are seniors at age 8. For most cats, they’ll be labeled seniors, anywhere from 8 to 10 years of age. That doesn’t mean that your pet will automatically need intensive at-home care–in fact, lots of pets live happily for many years as seniors. However, it does mean that you’ll need to pay more attention to their health care needs and keep up with their veterinarian visits to make sure that they’re getting the right care.
Senior Pet Care
When your pet becomes a senior, you’ll need to take them to the veterinarian to get an update on their care needs. They’ll most likely need a different diet, and your veterinarian may recommend certain medications to help manage symptoms of common conditions like arthritis. Your pet may also need more frequent testing to detect signs of diseases like cancer, kidney or liver disease, dental disease, and more. Early detection is key to the most successful treatments possible, so be sure to ask your veterinarian if you think your pet needs testing.
Contact Your Veterinarian Today!
Contact your veterinarian today to see how you can best care for your senior pet.