Senior Pet Care for Cats & Dogs in Rocklin & Loomis, CA

Your senior dog or cat is a cherished member of your family and deserves some special considerations. But first, you may be wondering, “When does my pet become a senior?”

The life cycle of our family pets can be divided into stages of life: from newborn puppy or kitten, into adulthood, and then on to senior citizen. It is important to remember, however, that our pets pass through these life stages within a relatively condensed time period compared to our human family members.

A general rule of thumb for determining age of dogs or cats is approximately 7 years for each human year. However, the rate at which any pet ages is determined by a variety of factors, including breed, size, nutrition, and lifestyle. The best approach is to discuss this issue with your Rocklin Road Animal Hospital veterinarian, who will help you accurately determine your pet’s current life stage and any resulting follow-up.

If your pet falls into the senior stage, don’t be alarmed. Today, pets are enjoying more vigorous health and greater longevity due to advancements in basic veterinary care. The goal of senior pet care at Rocklin Road Animal Hospital is to provide your dog or cat with the best quality of life for as long as possible.

Our Senior Wellness Program for pets focuses on preventive veterinary care, including:

• Regular physical examinations
• Preventive vaccination and parasite control programs
• Appropriate diagnostic tests (blood panels, X-rays)
• Regular pet dental care
• Client education materials

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends all senior pets have a wellness exam every 6 months, with laboratory testing annually.

Early detection and treatment of veterinary problems, paired with the recognition and prevention of disease risk factors, can result in many happy years of good quality life for your pet. Working together, we can help ensure our loyal friends enjoy the longest and healthiest life possible, sharing the gift of their companionship well into their “Golden Years.”

Visit our Internal Medicine page for more about our early detection technology and our Pet Vaccinations page to learn about disease prevention for your senior pet.

To learn more, read these highlights of the AAHA Senior Pet Care guidelines.

Enjoy this article, Behavior Changes in Aging Dogs, from the experts at the Pet Health Center of WebMD.