Senior Health Care

As pets age, they require specialised care to maintain their

health and quality of life. At Hallam Park Animal Hospital, we offer
comprehensive senior pet care services to address the unique needs of older
cats and dogs.

Early Detection through Blood Screening

Regular blood tests are crucial for senior pets, as they
can:

  • Detect illnesses before visible symptoms appear
  • Identify decreasing organ function early
  • Monitor chronic conditions and treatment effectiveness
 

We recommend annual blood tests for pets, increasing to
twice yearly from age 7-9.

 

Early detection through regular check-ups and blood screenings can help manage these conditions and improve quality of life for senior dogs

 

To help your senior pet thrive, we offer:

  • Regular health exams (typically every 6 months)
  • Nutritional counselling for age-appropriate diets
  • Pain management and arthritis care
  • Dental care to prevent pain and infection
  • Cognitive health monitoring
 

Our senior pet wellness plans include comprehensive care to address these issues and more, ensuring your pet ages comfortably and gracefully.

By prioritising early detection and tailored care, we can help extend the healthy years of your senior pet’s life, allowing them to enjoy their golden years to the fullest

 

 See below for some common issues that arise in senior pets, all of which can often be detected in a blood test or consult

 

Common Diseases in Senior Dog

Arthritis and Joint Problems

    • Difficulty
      getting up or lying down
    • Stiffness,
      limping, or favouring a limb
 

Cancer

  • Most
    common cause of death in dogs over 2 years old
  • Almost
    half of dogs over 10 will develop cancer
 

Heart Disease

  • 75%
    of senior dogs have some form of heart disease
  • Can
    lead to congestive heart failure
 

Kidney Disease

  • Inability
    to remove toxins from the body
  • Increased
    thirst and urination
 

Liver Cancer

  • More
    common in dogs over 9 years old
  • Can
    seriously impact lifespan
 

Vision and Hearing Loss

  • Cloudy
    eyes or irritation around eyes and ears
  • Lack
    of response to sounds
 

Cognitive Dysfunction (Dementia)

  • Confusion
    and disorientation
  • Changes
    in sleep patterns
 

Incontinence

  • Urinary
    accidents due to weakening muscles
  • Can
    also be a sign of urinary tract infection
 

Other Common Issues

Gastrointestinal Problems

  • Vomiting
    and diarrhoea
  • Can
    be signs of more serious conditions
 

Diabetes

  • Increased
    thirst and appetite
  • Weight
    loss despite eating well

Common Diseases in Senior Cats

Kidney Disease

    • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects up to 40% of cats over 10 and 80% of cats over 15
    • Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and lethargy
 

Hyperthyroidism

    • Caused by overproduction of thyroid hormone
    • Signs include weight loss despite increased appetite
 

Diabetes

    • Often develops in middle to senior age
    • Requires daily insulin injections and a strict low-carbohydrate diet
 

Dental Disease

    • Common in older cats, including periodontal disease and stomatitis
 

Cancer

    • Various forms including lymphoma, leukaemia, and organ-specific tumours
 

Arthritis

    • Causes pain and reduced mobility in older cats
 

Heart Disease

    • Conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure
 

Cognitive Decline

    • Similar to dementia in humans, affecting behaviour and mental function
 

Vision and Hearing Loss

    • Common age-related changes affecting sensory function

Desexing

Health Consultations

Cat Vaccinations

Blood & Urine Analysis

Pharmacy

Behavioural Advice

Weight Loss Advice

Prescription Pet Food

Nutrition Advice

Specialist Referrals

Bulldogs, French Bulldogs
& Pugs

New Owner Advice

Senior Health Care

Microchipping

Dentistry

Dog Vaccinations

X-Ray & Ultrasound

Surgery

Ophthalmology (Eyes)

Insurance Advice

Parasite Prevention

Nail Clipping

Emergency

End of Life Care

Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel

Greyhound

Puppy & Kitten Care