Senior Pet Care
As pets age, they require specialized care to maintain their health and well-being. At Montclair Veterinary Associates, we offer comprehensive geriatric pet care in Montclair, NJ, tailored to senior pet’s unique needs.
Geriatric Pet Care: Senior Cat & Dog Care
As your furry companion enters their golden years, their needs change dramatically, requiring specialized attention and care to maintain their health and happiness. Senior pets face unique challenges including arthritis, cognitive decline, organ dysfunction, and decreased mobility that can significantly impact their quality of life without proper veterinary guidance.
At Montclair Veterinary Associates, we understand the deep bond you share with your aging pet and provide comprehensive senior care services designed to help your companion thrive in their later years. Dr. Cory Waxman and our experienced team offer tailored wellness programs, advanced diagnostic capabilities, and compassionate treatment plans that address the specific health concerns affecting older dogs and cats.
Understanding Senior Pet Health Changes
Senior pets experience gradual physiological changes that require proactive monitoring and intervention. Dogs typically reach senior status around seven years of age for giant breeds and ten years for small dogs, while cats generally enter their senior years around seven to ten years old. These aging animals commonly develop conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, heart problems, and joint deterioration that can progress silently without regular veterinary examinations.
Recognizing early warning signs becomes crucial for maintaining your pet’s well-being. Changes in appetite, increased thirst, difficulty climbing stairs, confusion, excessive vocalization, or altered sleep patterns may indicate underlying health issues requiring immediate attention. Other warning signs include unintentional weight loss, hearing loss, or changes in your pet’s behavior. Our veterinary team conducts thorough physical examinations and diagnostic testing to identify these problems before they become severe or life-threatening.
Common Senior Pet Health Conditions
Arthritis affects a significant percentage of senior dogs and cats, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility that impacts their daily activities. We offer comprehensive pain management strategies, including medications, joint supplements, appropriate exercise recommendations, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications to keep your pet comfortable and active.
Kidney disease frequently develops in aging pets, particularly cats, and requires careful monitoring through blood work and urinalysis. Early detection allows us to implement dietary changes, medications, and supportive care that can slow disease progression and maintain your pet’s condition and quality of life for years.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, similar to dementia in humans, affects many senior pets and manifests through disorientation, changes in sleep patterns, house soiling accidents, and altered social interactions. We provide guidance on home environment adjustments, mental stimulation activities, and medications that can help manage these behavioral changes.
Comprehensive Senior Wellness Programs
Our senior wellness programs include bi-annual examinations, comprehensive blood panels, urinalysis, blood pressure monitoring, and specialized diagnostic imaging when necessary. These preventive measures allow us to detect health problems early and develop treatment plans that address your pet’s specific needs. More frequent visits ensure that any changes in your pet’s health are caught and treated promptly.
Regular dental care becomes increasingly important for senior pets, as periodontal disease can affect overall health and contribute to heart, liver disease, and kidney problems. We provide professional dental cleanings, oral examinations, and home care recommendations to maintain your pet’s oral health throughout their senior years.
Nutritional counseling plays a vital role in senior pet care, as aging animals often require specialized diets to support kidney function, maintain a healthy weight, and manage chronic conditions. Senior-specific diets often include anti aging nutrients to support cognitive health, immune function, and mobility. Our team provides personalized dietary recommendations based on your pet’s individual health status and nutritional requirements.
Creating Comfort for Aging Pets
Environmental modifications can significantly improve your senior pet’s comfort and safety at home. We recommend orthopedic bedding, non-slip rugs, elevated food and water bowls, ramps or steps to furniture, and easy access to litter boxes or outdoor areas to accommodate decreased mobility and joint stiffness.
Exercise remains important for senior pets, though activities should be modified to match their physical capabilities. Short, frequent walks, gentle play sessions, and swimming can help maintain muscle mass, joint flexibility, and mental stimulation without causing excessive strain or fatigue.
An honest evaluation of your pet’s lifestyle, home setup, and routine can go a long way in making aging more comfortable and less stressful. Additionally, consider that reproductive diseases may become more apparent in unspayed or unneutered elderly pets and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
When does a pet become “old”?
It varies, but cats and small dogs are generally considered geriatric at the age of 7. Larger breed dogs tend to have shorter life spans and are considered geriatric when they are approximately 6 years of age.
It may be helpful for pet owners to think of their pet’s age in human terms. While this is not as simple as “1 human year = X cat/dog years”, there are calculations that can help put a pet’s age in human terms:
Age: Human Equivalents for Older Pets
| Cat years | Human years |
| 7 | 45 |
| 10 | 58 |
| 15 | 75 |
| 20 | 98 |
| Dog years | Human years (by dog size*) |
| 7 | Small – Medium: 44-47 Large – Very large: 50-56 |
| 10 | Small – Medium: 56-60 Large – Very large: 66-78 |
| 15 | Small – Medium: 76-83 Large – Very large: 93-115 |
| 20 | Small – Medium: 96-105 Large – Very large: 120 |
| *Small: 0-20 lbs; Medium: 21-50 lbs; Large: 51-90 lbs; Very large: >90 lbs The oldest recorded age of a cat is 38 years. The oldest recorded age of a dog is 31 years. | |
What kinds of health problems can affect older pets?
Geriatric pets can develop many of the same problems seen in older people, such as:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Kidney/urinary tract disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Joint or bone disease
- Senility
- Weakness
I know my pet is getting older. How do I help them stay happy and healthy for as long as possible?
Talk to your veterinarian about how to care for your older pet and be prepared for possible age-related health issues. Senior pets require increased attention, including more frequent visits to the veterinarian, possible changes in diet, and, in some cases, alterations to their home environment.
Here are some basic considerations when caring for older pets:
Older/Senior Pet Care Considerations
| Area of concern | Description |
| Increased veterinary care | Geriatric pets should have semi-annual veterinary visits instead of annual visits so signs of illness or other problems can be detected early and treated. Senior pet exams are similar to those for younger pets, but are more in-depth, and may include dental care, possible blood work, and specific checks for physical signs of diseases that are more likely in older pets. |
| Diet and nutrition | Geriatric pets often need foods that are more readily digested and have different calorie levels, ingredients, and anti-aging nutrients. |
| Weight control | Weight gain in geriatric dogs increases the risk of health problems, whereas weight loss is a greater concern for geriatric cats. |
| Parasite control | Older pets’ immune systems are not as healthy as those of younger animals; as a result, they can’t fight off diseases or heal as fast as younger pets. |
| Maintaining mobility | As with older people, keeping older pets mobile through appropriate exercise helps keep them healthier and more mobile. |
| Vaccination | Your pet’s vaccination needs may change with age. Talk to your veterinarian about a vaccination program for your geriatric pet. |
| Mental health | Pets can show signs of senility. Stimulating them through interactions can help keep them mentally active. If any changes in your pet’s behavior are noticed, please consult your veterinarian. |
| Environmental considerations | Older pets may need changes in their lifestyle, such as sleeping areas to avoid stairs, more time indoors, etc. Disabled pets have special needs which can be discussed with your veterinarian. |
| Reproductive diseases | Non-neutered/non-spayed geriatric pets are at higher risk of mammary, testicular, and prostate cancers. |
My older pet is exhibiting changes in behavior. What's going on?
Before any medical signs become apparent, behavioral changes can serve as important indicators that something is changing in an older pet due to medical reasons or other factors. As your pet’s owner, you serve a critical role in detecting early signs of disease because you interact and care for your pet on a daily basis and are familiar with your pet’s behavior and routines. If your pet is showing any change in behavior or other warning signs of disease, contact your veterinarian and provide them with a list of the changes you have observed in your pet. Sometimes, the changes may seem contradictory, such as an older pet that has symptoms of hearing loss but also seems more sensitive to strange sounds.
Possible Behavior Changes in Older Pets:
- Increased reaction to sounds
- Increased vocalization
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Decreased interaction w/humans
- Increased irritability
- Decreased response to commands
- Increased aggressive/protective behavior
- Increased anxiety
- House soiling
- Decreased self-hygiene/grooming
- Repetitive activity
- Increased wandering
- Change in sleep cycles
Is my pet becoming senile?
Possibly. Once any underlying or other disease causes have been ruled out, there is a chance your pet may be experiencing cognitive dysfunction. Studies conducted in the early 1990s were the first to identify brain changes in older dogs that were similar to brain changes seen in humans with Alzheimer’s disease. Laboratory tests were also developed in the 1990s to detect learning and memory deficits in older dogs. Recently, these studies have started on younger dogs in order to fully understand the effect of aging on the canine brain. Similar studies in young and older cats are also ongoing.
While researchers are still not able to identify any genetic cause of why certain animals develop cognitive dysfunction, there are drugs and specific diets available that can help manage cognitive dysfunction in dogs. If you think your pet is becoming senile, discuss it with your veterinarian.
Quality of Life Considerations
The signs you might see will vary depending on the disease or problem affecting your pet, and some symptoms can appear as the result of more than one problem. As the pet’s owner, you can provide your veterinarian with valuable information that can help them determine what is going on with your pet.
Common Warning Signs of Disease in Older Pets
Kidney Disease
- Decreased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Decreased or no urination
- Poor hair coat
- Vomiting
- Sore mouth
Urinary Tract Disease
- Increased urination/spotting or “accidents” in the house
- Straining to urinate
- Blood in urine
- Weakness
Heart Disease
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased tolerance of exercise
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
When should we euthanize a pet? How will we know it’s the right time?
This can be an incredibly difficult question for both the owner and the veterinarian, and it is often a very tough decision to make. Sometimes, euthanasia is obviously the best thing to do for your pet. At other times, however, it can be less clear. An open discussion with your veterinarian, including an honest evaluation of your pet’s quality of life, should help you make the decision.
One way to determine if your aging pet is still enjoying life and can remain with us a little longer is by using a “Quality of Life” scale to determine if the animal’s basic needs are being met. This scale can be very helpful for the veterinarian and pet owner when deciding what is best for your pet. In this scale, pets are scored on a scale of 1 through 10 in each category, with 10 being the highest score for quality of life. Again, only an honest evaluation of each category will help with the decision.
Quality of Life (HHHHHMM Scale)
| Score | Criterion |
| 0-10 | HURT: Adequate pain control (including breathing ability) |
| 0-10 | HUNGER: Is the pet eating enough? Does the pet require hand-feeding or a feeding tube? |
| 0-10 | HYDRATION: Is the pet dehydrated? Does it need subcutaneous fluids? |
| 0-10 | HYGIENE: The pet needs to be brushed and cleaned, especially after elimination. |
| 0-10 | HAPPINESS: Does the pet express joy/interest? Do they respond to their environment? Does the pet show signs of boredom/loneliness/anxiety/fear? |
| 0-10 | MOBILITY: Can the pet get up without assistance? Does the pet want to go for a walk? Is the pet experiencing seizures/stumbling? |
| 0-10 | MORE GOOD THAN BAD: When bad days start to outnumber good days, the pet’s quality of life becomes compromised and euthanasia needs to be considered. |
| Total | A total of 35 points is considered acceptable for a quality of life score. |
Schedule Your Senior Pet's Wellness Examination
Montclair Veterinary Associates is committed to helping your senior pet enjoy their golden years with dignity, comfort, and excellent health. Dr. Waxman has been treating pets in Northern NJ since 2011 and understands the unique challenges facing aging animals and their families. Our compassionate approach to senior pet care focuses on maintaining quality of life while managing age-related health conditions through evidence-based treatment protocols.
Let our veterinarian examine your pet regularly to catch issues early and adapt care to their changing needs. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear before scheduling your senior pet’s wellness examination. Early intervention and preventive care can add years of comfort and happiness to your companion’s life. Call Montclair Veterinary Associates at (973) 321-7229 or schedule an appointment online to discuss your senior pet’s specific needs with our experienced veterinary team.
