Caring For Your Geriatric Pet

Much like their human counterparts, senior pets require a little extra care. The difference with pets is their senior years come much more rapidly than they do for people. For a large dog, that is about 8 years of age. The smaller your dog, the longer they have until they are geriatric but even a small dog is considered old at 11 years of age. When it comes to felines, your average house cat is considered a senior between 11-14 years of age. At Trumbull Animal Hospital, our veterinarians provide full care for your pets at every stage of their lives.

Health

You should bring your pet in for a visit with a veterinarian twice per year. Our veterinarians will be able to make sure any health issues your pet has will be diagnosed early and treated quickly. Additional tests may need to be performed. Like people, pets can suffer from arthritis. This can be a painful condition for both dogs and cats. Treatments are available and adding some nutritional supplements may help. Talk to our vets during your semi-annual visit and discuss anything different you are seeing in your pet's behavior or activity level.

Diet

Aging will likely change your pet's appetite. Your pet might become a finicky eater. If you notice your pet is losing weight, talk to our veterinarians about possible health problems. One area to consider is dental issues. Your pet may have loose or missing teeth, and it can make eating more difficult. Choosing softer and more nourishing food is an excellent option.

Accommodations

If you live in a multi-story home you may find that as your pet ages it will have a difficult time negotiating the stairs. If you have a 10-pound cat that isn't going to be a serious problem, you can just carry it up and down but if you have a 75-pound dog, you have a problem. You may have to make a bed for your pet on the first floor, so it can be comfortable and not have to climb the stairs.

Contact Our Veterinarians in Trumbull, CT

If you are looking for geriatric pet care, our team at Trumbull Animal Hospital is here to help. Call us today at (203) 268-6231 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians.