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Senior Pet Care

Senior cats and dogs need comprehensive geriatric care to keep them healthy and help them maintain a good quality of life. Our Charlotte veterinarians can help by identifying health issues and providing proactive treatment.

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Geriatric Care for Senior Dogs & Cats

Routine preventive veterinary care and early diagnosis are important to helping senior pets maintain good health and quality of life as they continue to age. 

Ensuring your pet receives diligent care can help keep them healthy and extend their longevity, so it's essential that they attend regularly scheduled routine exams, even if they seem healthy. 

Our veterinarians can help geriatric pets in Charlotte achieve ideal health by identifying and treating developing health issues early, and providing proactive treatment. 

Geriatric Care for Pets, Charlotte

Typical Health Problems

Our companion cats and dogs are living much longer today than they have in the past, due to better veterinary care and improved dietary options. 

While we can certainly celebrate this fact, pet owners and their veterinarians are now also facing more age-related conditions than they did in the past. 

Senior pets are typically prone to the following conditions:

  • Joint or bone disorders

    Geriatric Dogs

    As your dog reaches their golden years, there are a number of joint or bone disorders that can result in pain and discomfort. Some of the most common joint and bone disorders in geriatric pets that our veterinarians see include arthritis, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, reduction in spinal flexibility, and growth plate disorders.

    Addressing these issues early is essential for keeping your dog comfortable as they continue to age. Treatment for joint and bone issues in senior dogs ranges from simply reducing levels of exercise, to the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, to surgery to remove diseased tissue, stabilize joints or reduce pain.

    Geriatric Cats

    While osteoarthritis is typically a condition we think of in older dogs, this painful condition can also affect your senior cat's joints.

    Symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats are more subtle than those in dogs. While cats can experience a decrease in range of motion the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis in geriatric cats include weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, change in general attitude, poor grooming habits, urination or defecation outside the litter pan, and inability to jump on and off objects. Lameness typically seen in dogs is not commonly reported by cat owners. 

  • Cancer

    It is believed that approximately 50% of all pets in the US die from cancers. That's why it's important for your senior pet to visit the vet for routine wellness exams as they age.

    Bringing your geriatric pet in for routine checkups even when they seem healthy allows your veterinarian to examine them for early signs of cancer and other diseases which respond better to treatment when caught in their earliest stages. 

  • Heart Disease

    Like people, heart disease can be a problem for geriatric pets.

    Senior dogs commonly suffer from congestive heart failure, which occurs when the heart isn't pumping blood efficiently, causing fluid to back up in the heart, lungs, and chest cavity.

    While heart disease is seen less in cats than in dogs, Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is relatively common. This condition causes the walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s ability to function efficiently.  

  • Blindness and hearing loss

    Degeneration in the eyes and ears can lead to varying degrees of deafness and blindness in older pets, although this is more common in dogs than in cats.

    When these conditions are age-related they may come on slowly, allowing geriatric pets to adjust their behavior and making it difficult for pet owners to notice. 

  • Liver disease

    In senior cats, liver disease is common and may be the result of high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of liver disease in cats include loss of appetite, jaundice, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased thirst.

    Liver disease in dogs can cause a number of serious symptoms including seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, jaundice, abdominal fluid buildup, and weight loss.

    If your geriatric dog or cat is displaying any of the symptoms of liver disease, veterinary care is essential.

  • Diabetes

    Although dogs and cats can develop diabetes at any age, most dogs are diagnosed at approximately 7-10 years of age and the majority of cats diagnosed with diabetes are over 6 years of age.

    Symptoms of diabetes in dogs and cats include excessive thirst, increased appetite accompanied by weight loss, cloudy eyes, and chronic or recurring infections.

    Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes in both cats and dogs.  

  • Kidney disease

    As pets age, their kidneys tend to lose their function. In some cases, kidney disease can be caused by medications used to treat other common conditions seen in geriatric pets.

    While chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, it can be managed with a combination of diet and medications.  

  • Urinary tract disease

    Our Charlotte vets often see geriatric cats and dogs with urinary tract conditions and incontinence issues. Elderly pets can be prone to accidents as the muscles controlling the bladder weaken, but it's important to note that incontinence could be a sign of a bigger health issue such as a urinary tract infection or dementia.

    If your senior pet experiences incontinence issues it's important to take your geriatric dog or cat to the vet for a thorough examination.

Veterinary Care for Seniors

Your senior pet will receive a thorough examination from the veterinarian, who will ask about the home life in detail and perform any tests that might be required to receive additional insight into his or her overall physical condition and health. 

We'll recommend a treatment plan based on our findings. Treatment may include medications, dietary changes and activities to help improve your senior pet's health, comfort and well-being. 

Routine Wellness Exams

To help your senior pet live a happy, healthy and fulfilled life, it's important to ensure they receive preventive care. Routine exams also afford our veterinarians the opportunity to detect diseases early. 

With early detection of disease, we can help preserve your pet's physical health and identify emerging health issues before they develop into long-term problems. 

By bringing your pet in for regular physical checkups, you can give them the best chance at quality long-term health. 

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Compassionate Euthanasia

One of the most difficult choices we must make as pet parents is when to let our beloved companion go. At Quail Hollow Veterinary Hospital, we will do everything we can to make your pet's final moments are calm, comfortable and free of pain. After a quality of life assessment has been conducted to ensure all other alternatives are exhausted, we can offer the information and support you need to make decisions during this difficult time. We also offer counseling for grieving pet owners. 

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New Patients Welcome

Quail Hollow Veterinary Hospital is accepting new patients! Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of Charlotte companion animals. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.

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