Senior Pet Care

Caring For Your Senior Pet

At Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital, we take pride in the health and wellness of the many senior pets we care for.

As pets age, their health requirements change. Their metabolisms slow down, and their immune systems decline. Their behavior might change and the care they need will alter in relation. Senior pets are also more likely to develop a chronic disease such as arthritis, diabetes, or cancer.

Just like in humans, many of these signs are natural and inevitable side effects of aging. Our goal is to work with you to help your senior pet have as many happy, healthy, and mobile years as possible.

To attend to the specific needs of elderly pets, we recommend that they receive veterinary check-ups more frequently. Instead of a once annual wellness exam, we will recommend that they are examined twice annually.

Because senior pets are more at risk for both chronic and contagious disease, the increased frequency of wellness exams can save time and money in the future, as diseases are more easily treated when caught early.

During the exam, we will also want to run some routine tests to screen for any potential issues. Our professional recommendations will likely include a urinalysis, complete blood count, and x-rays.

If your senior pet’s behaviour changes rapidly, please immediately call us and let us know. If the issue is pressing, we will try to schedule an examination for you as soon as possible.