Supporting Your Dog or Cat Through Their Golden Years

Watching a pet grow older can be bittersweet. The puppy who once sprinted laps around the yard now takes the stairs a little slower. The kitten who scaled the bookshelf for fun is now more inclined to nap in the sun.

These are normal, beautiful parts of aging — but they’re also a sign that your pet’s care needs are changing. At Rialto Animal Hospital, our senior care program is built to help you spot what matters, treat what we can, and keep your pet comfortable, active, and happy for as long as possible.

When Is a Pet a “Senior”?

Most veterinarians consider dogs and cats to be seniors starting around age 7. Because pets age roughly seven years for every one human year, illnesses can develop and progress much faster than they do in people. That’s why preventive senior care is so important — small changes can signal big problems, often before pets show obvious symptoms.

What Senior Pet Wellness Care Looks Like

For senior pets, we recommend:

  • A senior wellness exam every 6 months (instead of the usual annual visit)
  • Comprehensive senior lab work at least yearly, or as your veterinarian recommends

This routine helps us catch internal changes early — often before your pet feels unwell. By monitoring kidney, liver, thyroid, and other organ function, we can spot disease in its earliest stages, when treatment is more effective and quality time with your pet can be extended.

Common conditions we screen for include:

  • Kidney and liver disease
  • Heart disease
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Hormone disorders
  • Osteoarthritis and mobility changes
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Tumors and cancer

When It’s More Than “Just Slowing Down”

Many of us assume we’d notice if our pet were in pain — but according to research, fewer than 50% of pet owners can accurately identify signs of pain in their animals. Pets are remarkably good at hiding discomfort, and age-related changes can be subtle.

Please let us know if you notice:

  • Significant changes in water consumption, appetite, or weight
  • Persistent lameness or stiffness
  • Difficulty eating hard food
  • New lumps or bumps (or changes in existing ones)
  • Behavioral changes (irritability, withdrawal, confusion)
  • Changes in elimination habits
  • Excessive panting, pacing, or drooling
  • Difficulty climbing stairs, jumping, or getting comfortable

When in doubt, give us a call. We’d much rather check and find it’s nothing than miss something we could have helped with.

Laser Therapy for Pain Relief and Recovery

Laser therapy (also called photobiomodulation) uses targeted wavelengths of light to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and speed healing. It’s a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that’s especially valuable for senior pets — but useful for pets of all ages.

Pet Laser therapy can help with:

  • Osteoarthritis and joint pain
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Neck and back pain
  • Tendon and ligament injuries
  • Muscle strains
  • Post-surgical recovery
  • Wound healing
  • Chronic pain conditions
  • Rehabilitation

What to expect: Laser treatments are painless — most pets feel a mild, soothing warmth — and require no sedation or restraint. Treatment lengths vary by condition, but typically run 15-45 minutes. Many pets show greater comfort and mobility within 12 to 24 hours of a session, and treatments are cumulative, meaning the benefits build over time.

We typically recommend a multi-visit treatment plan tailored to your pet’s needs — often starting with more frequent sessions and tapering off as your pet improves.

Acupuncture

For pets dealing with chronic pain, arthritis, neurological issues, or recovery from injury, veterinary acupuncture can be a wonderful complement to traditional treatment. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture supports the nervous system, improves circulation, and helps relieve pain naturally.

Dr. Victoria Schultz is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and brings an integrative approach to chronic pain management, mobility, and overall well-being. If you’re curious whether acupuncture could help your pet, we’d be happy to talk through whether they’re a good candidate.

Helpful Tips for Home

A few small changes at home can make a meaningful difference for senior, recovering, and special needs pets:

  • Add rugs or runners to slippery floors (hardwood, tile, and laminate can cause falls)
  • Trim nails regularly — long nails reduce paw pad grip
  • Trim hair between paw pads to improve traction
  • Moisturize dry paw pads with a pet-safe balm
  • Consider grip socks or paw pad coatings for pets with mobility issues
  • Offer elevated food and water bowls for pets with neck or joint pain
  • Add ramps to help pets get into bed, onto the couch, or into the car
  • Use heated bedding (with appropriate safety precautions) for added comfort
  • Ask about joint supplements like Dasuquin or omega-3 fish oils

We can also recommend specific products through our online pharmacy or in person — just ask.

Schedule Your Senior Pet’s Wellness Exam

If your pet is approaching their senior years — or you’ve noticed changes that have you wondering — give us a call at (909) 875-6161 or request an appointment online. Senior pets are some of our favorite patients, and we’d be honored to walk this stage of life with you and your best friend.