At Riverview Animal Hospital, we always say age is just a number! Different breeds enter their golden years at different ages. As your pet enters this phase of their life, they may have additional needs that we can help with. Annual bloodwork to monitor your dog’s internal organ function and other routine testing can help ensure your dog lives a long and happy life.
Most dogs enter their senior years, between the ages of seven and ten. Large breed dogs tend to age faster than smaller breed dogs, usually resulting in them becoming a senior sooner.
Some of the most common health issues seen in senior dogs are arthritis, gum disease, blindness, kidney disease, and cancer. Annual health exams with your dog’s veterinarian can help with early disease detection.
Regular checkups with your veterinarian, feeding your dog a highly nutritional diet, maintaining a healthy body condition score, regular exercise, and oral health care are all elements of senior pet care.