
It’s Senior Pet Month! There’s no better time to celebrate your senior pet. While they can’t sprint around the yard or play as much as they used to, they’re still treasured parts of our families. In order to best care for your senior pet, it’s important to make some modifications to their routine and living space to give them a healthy and safe living environment. Read on to find out how you can support your senior pet this November and every Senior Pet Month.
Senior Pet Ages
Have you ever wondered if your pet is actually classified as a senior? Just because your pet is still spry and agile doesn’t mean they’re not seniors. Many animals actually reach senior status quite early in their lives. Cats, for instance, can have life spans lasting 18 years or more, but they’re considered seniors starting at age 8 through 10. As for dogs, their weight, and size play a role. Larger dogs, weighing over 50 pounds, begin their senior years at age 6, while smaller dogs are seniors at age 8.
Senior Pet Care
Many health conditions become much more common in senior pets, for both cats and dogs. You’ll need to keep an eye out for health concerns like:
- Cancer
- Lumps and Bumps
- Dental Disease
- Heart Disease
- Kidney & Liver Disease
- Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
- Neurologic Conditions
- Arthritis
Senior pets will also have different dietary and exercise requirements, so be sure to ask your veterinarian about the best ways to care for them. In fact, it’s a good idea to take your senior pet to the veterinarian more often than you used to in the past. This gives them the best chance of finding a problem early on and prescribing the right treatment as quickly as possible.
Contact your veterinarian today for more information on how to best care for your senior pet.