When is your dog or cat considered a senior?

    senior pet

Your pet’s graduation from an adult to a senior may not be as noticeable as you’d imagine. Many pets tend to be so happy or stoic (or a combination of both) that the early signs of age are often completely masked.

The chronic aches and pains that elderly people may complain about might simply register as slightly longer naps or slightly shorter play sessions for your pet. Plus, gray hairs are often easy to miss in most coat colors. But whether the obvious signs are there for us to see or not, our pets could use a little more care and pampering once they hit their golden years.

So rather than wait for the obvious signs to appear, we tend to rely on a pet’s age to determine when they’ve reached their senior status:

When is my dog a senior?

  • Small (20 lbs or less): approximately 9 to 11 years old
  • Medium (21-50 lbs): approximately 7 to 9 years old
  • Large (51-100 lbs): approximately 6 to 7 years old
  • Giant (100+ lbs): approximately 4 to 5 years old

When is my cat a senior?

  • All sizes: approximately 9 to 11 years old

How to keep your senior pet healthy

Once your pet has reached this point, there are several things you can do to keep your senior dog or cat comfy and healthy:

  • Visit the veterinarian every six months (instead of once a year) for routine wellness appointments. This will help catch and address any diseases or age-related conditions early. Both dogs and cats should be evaluated for arthritis pain so that a treatment plan can be discussed. With a CareClub® membership, your pet can enjoy unlimited exams, including joint health evaluations and rechecks.*
  • Re-evaluate your pet’s diet with your veterinarian to decide if your pet might benefit from a senior diet. Your veterinarian can also help you decide whether it’s time to start new medications now available that can effectively relieve arthritis pain, along with joint health or other supplements.
  • Continue exercising regularly to keep your pet’s joints loose and muscles conditioned, but pay close attention for signs that your pet is done, like hanging back on walks or losing interest in a game.
  • Give your pet plenty of cushy places to sleep to help ease any achy joints.
  • Consider placing carpets on hardwood floors, which can be slippery for older pets.
  • Make sure that litterboxes are easy to reach so your cat doesn’t have to climb many stairs or step over any obstacles to use the bathroom.
  • Keep your pet’s mind sharp with new toys and tricks that will engage their brain.

 

From helpful articles to veterinarian-recommended products, find senior dog and cat care resources to help your older pet age gracefully.

 

*Unlimited exams are any exams during regular business hours, excluding specialty, emergency and telemedicine exams. Urgent care exams are available through CareClub until December 31, 2024, at select VCA Animal Hospitals Urgent Care locations.