Senior Care for Pets

As your dog or cat ages, we provide specialized care as their overall health changes.

As dogs and cats get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior wellness program can help them remain fit and healthy as they age while allowing us to catch any potential problems earlier when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can help your pet live longer, too!

What is a geriatric program?

Our geriatric program is tailored to meet the specific needs of our aging dogs and cats. Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a dog or cat’s life, but it becomes even more critical when they enter their senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, dogs and cats often don’t show any signs of serious diseases until they are quite advanced. To learn more about the program, please contact us at 613-748-9820.

When does my dog/cat qualify for the geriatric program?

Senior status varies depending on your dog or cat’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats generally live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your dog/cat is in. Before they reach senior status, we recommend that you bring them in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for them so we can keep track of any changes. In most cases, we suggest this checkup when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age. Thereafter, your senior dog/cat will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.

What are the benefits of a geriatric program?

We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet’s individual needs. We also treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your dog or cat’s quality of life in many ways, including: 

  • Identifying and preventing or reducing pain
  • Recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan
  • Suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable
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