Tailored Senior Pet Care
Pets age much faster than we do, and different species and breeds even age at vastly different rates. Senior pets are defined as those in the upper 25 percent of the age range for their predicted lifespan. A pet rodent, for example, is a senior at 3 years of age, a Great Dane at 6 years, a cat at 9, while a parrot with a 50-year lifespan won’t be considered a senior until age 35. We carefully tailor our senior care to your pet's specific needs, and we make sure we're doing everything we can to extend both longevity and quality of life.
We will make a recommendation when it’s time for your pet to begin senior-specific checkups.
Twice Yearly Visits
With routine senior care, we can detect medical problems before they become serious, create a treatment plan, and ultimately reduce medical expenses by controlling a condition before it becomes an emergency. Because early detection is our goal, we recommend visits twice a year for physical exams and necessary diagnostics. We offer a discount on the second senior exam for pets receiving regular wellness services with us.
Senior Considerations
Your pet’s senior visits center on thorough physical examinations and discussions of factors that should be carefully monitored as your pet ages: nutrition, weight control, preventive dentistry, exercise, and pain management. In addition to your pet’s physical changes, it’s important to be aware that mental changes are also likely, so please inform your pet’s doctor of these observations as well.
Managing Chronic Conditions
Chronic diseases in senior pets, such as Cushing's Disease in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats, have hugely different outcomes if detected early. Cancer is a leading cause of problems in older pets, and just like in humans, the outcome can vary significantly if caught early. There are many things we can do to help your pet live a longer, happier life, so let your pet’s doctor know about recent changes in behavior or appearance.
Dr. FitzSimons has a passion for senior pet care and decades of experience managing both common and rare conditions in older pets. Schedule a senior checkup for your older pet today.