Caring for an older pet comes with a unique set of challenges that you may not have faced earlier in your pet’s life. Although you may struggle with the idea of your pet getting older, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to make them as comfortable, happy and healthy as possible during their geriatric years. It is absolutely possible to maintain your pet’s quality of life despite them getting older, and our vet in Bridgeport is here to help you every step of the way.

What Pets Are Considered Seniors?

The answer to this question depends on whether you have a cat or a dog and the type of breed that they are. Cats and small dogs are considered to be geriatric around the age of 7 while large-breed dogs may be considered geriatric around 6 years old. Your pet may be acting younger than their age if they have lived a healthy, active lifestyle throughout the early years of their life.

Common Problems Older Pets Develop

It’s important to keep a close eye on your pet as they get older so you can provide for them in the best way possible. There are a variety of common illnesses that aging pets may experience including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or urinary tract disease, liver disease, joint or bone disease, or overall weakness.

How Our Team Can Help

There are a variety of steps that we can take together to help your senior pet enjoy his or her elder years. Make sure to schedule an appointment at least once every 6 months instead of once every year so that we can monitor their health and keep track of any changes. Diet and nutrition is another important thing to consider for your aging pet, making sure they are receiving the right caloric intake as well as using limited-ingredient foods that are easy for their stomachs to digest. Particularly for geriatric dogs, weight gain is a concern, something that the right nutrition can help combat. In geriatric cats, weight loss is a concern, so we can work with you to combat that as well. Always make sure your pet gets enough exercise and don’t ignore your pet’s dental needs, either!

The best thing you can do for your aging pet is to make sure they get the love, care and attention that they deserve. At Urban PetRx, we will treat your geriatric pet with the love and guidance necessary to give them the best possible final years of their life.