What extra care does my senior (7 years and older) dog need?
Like people, pets are living longer. That is good news! We all value the companionship we share with our pets. Nothing helps that friendship more than working with your veterinarian to maintain your pet’s health and quality of life. As your pet ages, changes in its behavior and physical condition will occur. This is the time to start on a senior health maintenance program to provide optimal care for your older pet. The aging process varies between species and between individuals. Middle age in humans is defined as 45-59 years, “elderly” 60-75 years, and “aged” is the term applied to individuals greater than 75 years. In animals, we usually start to talk about senior care during the last 25-40% of the expected life span. In reality, old age is not just a chronological measurement of years lived, rather it is a measure of the function of our body systems subsequent to the effects of aging. Aging can be affected by a number of variables including genetics, nutrition, and environment. For
