Here at Triangle Animal Clinic, part of our mission is to keep your pet healthy from the moment they join your family and all the way through their golden years. The needs of senior dogs and cats are typically greater than those of younger pets. That’s because older pets tend to be more at risk for developing certain health problems. These include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, liver disease, and certain types of cancer, to name a few.
The good news is, we can help you prevent many of these issues or treat them in their early stages, with the help of more frequent exams. We consider both dogs and cats to be “seniors” when they reach 7 years of age. Once they reach this age, we recommend that they receive a comprehensive wellness exam at least twice a year and stay current on their vaccinations. We may also recommend laboratory testing on a regular basis, such as blood chemistry panels, urinalyses, and thyroid tests.
Pet Aging Vs. Human Aging
You’ve probably heard that dogs and cats age seven times faster than humans, but this isn’t entirely accurate, as there are other factors to consider when calculating your pet’s age. Your pet’s breed, weight, and species also play a role. The following chart provides more specific details on the age of dogs and cats, compared to that of humans, based on data adapted in part by AAHA:
Dog Years VS Human Years
7 dog years = 44 – 56 years
9 dog years = 52 – 71 years
11 dog years = 60-86 years
13 dog years = 68-101 years
15 dog years = 76-115 years
Cat Years VS Human Years
7-9 cat years = 44-52 years
10-12 cat years = 56-64 years
13-15 cat years = 68-76 years
16-18 cat years = 80-88 years
19-21 cat years = 92-100 years
The My Pet’s Physiological Age chart provides the full age comparisons of dogs and cats from age 6 months to 21 years for cats, and age 1 to 20 for dogs. In general, cats tend to live longer than dogs, and smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breeds.
How to Keep Your Senior Pet Healthy
In addition to bringing your senior pet to Triangle Animal Clinic twice a year for a comprehensive wellness exam, there are things you can do at home to help them stay healthy.
- Watch for signs of pain or discomfort.
- Keep them at a healthy weight.
- Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures.
- Adjust their exercise routine, if necessary.
- Consider switching to a senior pet food.
- Look out for behavioral changes.
- Watch for signs of pain or discomfort.
- Keep them at a healthy weight.
- Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures.
- Adjust their exercise routine, if necessary.
- Consider switching to a senior pet food.
- Look out for behavioral changes.
We can discuss these and other recommendations during your pet’s next visit.
