Have you noticed that pets are living longer than ever? Proper food and better veterinary care really do make a difference. But that doesn’t mean older animals don’t have special health challenges. Like people, pets contend with putting on more weight as they age, varied threats to mobility and, of course, cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and a wide range of other potential ailments. Good senior care begins with regular examinations that can help spot problems before they become serious. Regular examinations are very important to ensure your pet’s good health. The frequency of exams depends on the age of your pet and any ongoing health conditions. In general, we like to see our patients once a year until they reach the senior age of 6 or 7. After that, we recommend twice yearly exams. Because our pets age much faster than we do, 6 months is a very long time. The more frequent visits help us spot health issues your senior pet may be developing before they become much more difficult to treat.

Often, diet and lifestyle changes can be the most important medicine. However, there are many medications that can help senior pets to live longer and better than ever before. The veterinarians and staff at Strawbridge Animal Care will work with you to will develop a health plan that will maintain the health and vitality of your pet before and during his or her senior years.

Remember, too, that the life span of individual animals varies widely. Smaller dogs, for instance, may not be considered seniors until they are 10-13 years of age, while some large dogs are considered seniors as young as 5 years of age. We can help you understand breed-specific information as well as individual indicators for your pet so that you can plan the right care strategies as he or she ages.