If you are looking to book a cat vaccination, please be aware that there is an ongoing shortage of some cat vaccines affecting all UK Veterinary practices. Find out more here.

Seniors & Geriatrics

Practical advice and support

At Clent Hills Vets we provide lifelong care for a variety of pets in all shapes and sizes. If you think your pet is ‘getting on a bit’, or you have noticed their behaviour, activity level or health has started to change, book an appointment with our nursing team who can determine what life stage your pet is at, any health concerns that need addressing, and the right type of care your ageing pet will need going forward.

Ageing Pet Assessment

Animals’ healthcare needs change as they get older; so that we can provide the right type of care at each stage of their life, it’s helpful to understand how your pet behaves in their home environment and if their behaviour has changed recently.

Changes in your pet’s behaviour

During your pet’s ageing assessment our nurses will ask you to fill in a short questionnaire about any recent behavioural changes such as decreased mobility, excessive licking or chewing of joints, diarrhoea, hearing problems, lethargy, incontinence, skin lumps or bumps and weight change, to name a few.

Recommended course of action

Once assessed, our nursing team may recommend one or a combination of the following; referral to our arthritic clinic; referral to our weight & diet clinic; referral to our cat wellness clinic; appointment with one of our vets if they are showing any signs of illness; practical advice on how you can change your pet’s routine and environment to better suit their ageing needs.

Is your pet a senior or a geriatric?

The age at which dogs and cats enter their senior and geriatric years depends on body weight. This table was developed to help determine which life stage your pet is at, by relating their age to a human’s.

For example, a 9-year old dog weighing 30kg is 61 in human years, making them a senior. A cat typically weighs under 9kg, so at 14 years of age they would be 72 and a geriatric.

Being overweight adds years prematurely to your pet’s life. This table will highlight the number of extra years they are ageing because of their weight, something that’s easily reversed with a healthy weight loss programme. Ask our team for a FREE Weight & Diet Consultation.

Return to Pet Advice
Send us a message