Senior Dog & Cat Veterinary Care
in San Jose, CA

While annual wellness exams are appropriate for most adult dogs and cats, senior pets benefit from more frequent and more detailed evaluations. During a senior wellness visit, your veterinarian performs a thorough nose-to-tail examination that includes careful palpation of the abdomen, lymph nodes, and joints — looking for masses, organ enlargement, or tenderness that may not have been present at earlier visits.

Weight assessment becomes especially important in older pets. Unexplained weight loss can signal kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or other systemic conditions, while gradual weight gain can strain aging joints and contribute to metabolic disease. We track your pet's weight over time to identify trends that warrant further investigation.

Mobility evaluation is another key component. Your veterinarian will observe how your pet moves, rises from rest, navigates stairs, and responds to joint palpation. Changes in gait or reluctance to jump can indicate arthritis or other orthopedic concerns that benefit from early intervention. These exams give us a chance to catch age-related changes while they are still early and manageable.

Pets age rapidly, and the internal changes that come with age often develop without any outward signs. A chemistry panel, complete blood count, and urinalysis give veterinarians a detailed picture of how your pet's organs are functioning — information that a physical exam alone cannot provide.

Chemistry panels evaluate liver enzymes, kidney values, blood glucose, electrolytes, and protein levels. The CBC assesses red and white blood cells and platelets, revealing anemia, infection, or inflammation. Urinalysis measures kidney concentrating ability and checks for protein, glucose, blood, or bacteria in the urine.

For senior pets, we typically recommend baseline lab work when they first enter their senior years, followed by recheck testing at intervals determined by your pet's results. Because our in-house laboratorycan process many panels the same day, we can review findings and discuss next steps while you're still at the clinic. More frequent testing also allows us to compare results over time, which is often more revealing than any single result in isolation.

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common conditions affecting senior cats, and it also occurs in older dogs. The kidneys filter waste from the blood, regulate hydration, and maintain electrolyte balance — functions that become increasingly important as pets age. Unfortunately, kidney disease often develops gradually, and by the time clinical signs like increased thirst, increased urination, or weight loss appear, significant kidney function may already be lost.

Blood work measuring BUN and creatinine helps evaluate kidney filtration, while urinalysis assesses how well the kidneys are concentrating urine. In cats, SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) can detect kidney changes even earlier than traditional markers. Your veterinarian may also recommend blood pressure measurement, as hypertension can both result from and accelerate kidney disease.

When kidney changes are detected early, there is often a great deal we can do to slow progression. Dietary modifications, increased hydration, and supportive medications can help maintain quality of life for months or years. Regular monitoring through lab testing allows us to adjust the plan as your pet's condition evolves.

The liver is one of the body's most versatile organs — it processes nutrients, filters toxins, produces clotting factors, and metabolizes medications. Because the liver has significant functional reserve, disease can progress substantially before outward signs become apparent. Changes in appetite, vomiting, increased thirst, or abdominal distension may suggest liver problems, but lab testing often reveals concerns before these symptoms develop.

Blood chemistry panels evaluate liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, GGT) and liver-produced proteins like albumin. Elevated liver enzymes may indicate inflammation, infection, toxin exposure, or structural changes within the liver. In some cases, additional testing such as abdominal ultrasound may be recommended to evaluate liver size and structure.

For senior pets, periodic liver function evaluation is an important part of comprehensive screening. Early detection allows us to investigate the underlying cause, initiate treatment if appropriate, and make dietary or medication adjustments to support liver health. Monitoring liver values over time helps us distinguish between a temporary fluctuation and a trend that needs attention.

Heart disease is a significant concern in senior pets. Dogs may develop degenerative valve disease, where the heart valves thicken and fail to close properly, leading to murmurs and eventually heart failure. Cats are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle thickens and restricts the heart's ability to pump efficiently. Both conditions can progress silently for months or years.

During senior wellness visits, your veterinarian listens carefully for murmurs, arrhythmias, and abnormal heart sounds. While a stethoscope exam provides valuable information, we may recommend additional testing such as chest X-rays, blood pressure measurement, or an echocardiogram to evaluate heart size and function more precisely.

Early signs of heart disease in pets can be subtle — decreased tolerance for exercise, occasional coughing, increased respiratory rate, or mild lethargy. Because these signs are often attributed to normal aging, regular veterinary evaluation is the most reliable way to catch cardiac changes early. When heart disease is identified sooner rather than later, medications and management strategies can help maintain your pet's comfort and quality of life for a longer period.

Osteoarthritis affects a significant percentage of senior dogs and many older cats, though cats often hide signs of joint pain more effectively than dogs. Common indicators include reluctance to jump or climb stairs, stiffness after rest, decreased interest in play or walks, and difficulty rising from a lying position. Cats may also stop grooming themselves as thoroughly or begin urinating outside the litter box if climbing in becomes painful.

Treatment for arthritis is multimodal. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can reduce joint pain and inflammation, while joint supplements and prescription diets support cartilage health. Weight management is critical — even a small amount of excess weight places significant additional stress on already compromised joints. In some cases, physical rehabilitation, laser therapy, or injectable joint protectants may be recommended.

Environmental modifications at home — ramps, orthopedic beds, non-slip flooring, and elevated food bowls — can also make a meaningful difference in your pet's daily comfort. Our goal is to develop a pain management plan that allows your senior pet to stay active and engaged with life as much as possible, tailored to their specific needs and response to treatment.

Dental disease is one of the most common — and most overlooked — health problems in senior pets. Tartar buildup, gum recession, and periodontal infection become more prevalent with age, and many older pets are living with chronic oral pain that they hide remarkably well. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to tooth loss, bone deterioration, and bacteria entering the bloodstream and affecting the heart, kidneys, and liver.

During senior wellness visits, we evaluate your pet's teeth and gums carefully, noting areas of concern that may warrant professional dental cleaning. Dental procedures under anesthesia allow us to take X-rays of the tooth roots, clean below the gumline, and extract any teeth that are too damaged to save. Pre-anesthetic blood work helps us confirm that your pet can safely undergo anesthesia.

After a dental procedure, many pets show a noticeable improvement in energy and appetite — signs that they were tolerating more oral pain than their owners realized. Ongoing dental care at home, combined with regular professional evaluations, helps maintain oral health and prevents the cycle of infection and inflammation that can compromise your senior pet's overall well-being.

Maintaining a healthy weight becomes more challenging as pets age. Senior dogs and cats are prone to both obesity and unexpected weight loss — and each carries health risks. Excess weight puts additional strain on aging joints, increases the risk of diabetes, and can worsen heart and respiratory conditions. Unexplained weight loss, on the other hand, may indicate kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (especially in cats), or malabsorption.

Body condition scoring — assessing how your pet looks and feels, not just what the scale reads — helps us evaluate whether your pet is carrying too much or too little weight. Muscle condition is also assessed, as senior pets can lose muscle mass even while their overall weight appears stable. This muscle loss, called sarcopenia, can reduce mobility and strength.

Thyroid disease is particularly common in senior cats and can cause significant weight changes along with increased appetite, restlessness, or changes in coat quality. Dogs can also develop thyroid conditions that affect weight and energy levels. Blood testing for thyroid hormone levels is often included in senior screening panels, and treatment for thyroid disease is typically straightforward and highly effective.

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is the pet equivalent of dementia and affects a significant number of senior dogs and cats. Signs can include disorientation in familiar surroundings, staring at walls, getting stuck in corners, changes in sleep-wake cycles (restlessness at night, excessive sleeping during the day), decreased interest in interaction, and house soiling in previously housetrained pets.

While there is no cure for cognitive dysfunction, early recognition allows us to implement strategies that may slow progression and improve your pet's quality of life. Certain supplements, prescription diets enriched with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, and medications that support brain function may help. Environmental enrichment — puzzle feeders, consistent routines, gentle play, and social interaction — also supports cognitive health.

It's important to rule out medical causes for behavioral changes before attributing them to cognitive decline. Pain, vision or hearing loss, endocrine disease, and urinary tract infections can all cause behavioral shifts that mimic cognitive dysfunction. A thorough senior wellness evaluation helps us determine what's driving the changes and develop an appropriate plan.