Senior Pet Care for Your Old Friend

Old age is not a disease. Due to better veterinary care, our pets are enjoying longer, more active, and healthier lives than ever before. At BBVA/DVA, the goal of senior pet care is to provide your companion with the best quality of life for as long as possible.

To accomplish this goal, we offer Senior Wellness Programs for every pet we treat. Senior Wellness is consistent with our whole pet care approach and includes physical examinations, vaccinations, parasite control, age-appropriate diagnostic tests, and client education and resources focused on preventive health care.

Early detection and treatment of medical problems can result in many additional years of health and vigor for your pet. We work together with each pet owner to enhance quality of life and ensure a comfortable maturity for pets.

Senior Dogs

Older dogs tend to be susceptible to many diseases. Thanks to advancing veterinary technology, many of these diseases are easily and successfully treated — if they are found early enough.

Dogs develop problems as they age, but these problems are identifiable and treatable with proper veterinary care. Our goal for your senior dog is not life at all costs, but rather, the highest quality of life possible.

For a detailed outline of our whole pet care for senior dogs, view our Canine Senior Wellness Plan.

Senior Cats

At 7 years of age, we consider our feline patients senior citizens. Older cats tend to be susceptible to many diseases. Thanks to our advancing veterinary technology, many of these diseases are easily and successfully treated if they are found early.

Our hospital philosophy is to provide you with the best veterinary care available for your senior cat. We feel strongly that this wellness plan will help us understand the status of your cat’s body, as well as help him or her stay healthy for as long as possible.

For a detailed outline of our whole pet care for senior cats, view our Feline Senior Wellness Plan.

If your old friend has developed feline diabetes, view this handout for a discussion of treatments and pet care suggestions.

Veterinary care is progressing at a rapid rate, extending the length and quality of life for companion animals. Unfortunately, this also means we have to make difficult decisions — whether to run a certain test or pursue a course of treatment — that can be costly and even distressing for both pet and owner.

Your BBVA/DVA vets compassionately explain the advantages and disadvantages of all treatment options so that pet owners may make logical and educated choices in senior pet care. In addition, we support pets that suffer from chronic or debilitating diseases with a variety of pain management protocols. No pet should suffer needlessly — we help you provide a comfortable and dignified seniority for your loyal companion through various treatments and home care options.

Contact our office to discuss concerns about your senior pet or to schedule your next visit.

Do you know what kind of pet qualifies as a senior pet or the best ways to care for one? Test your Senior Pet knowledge in this fun and informative quiz game from AAHA.

Pet loss is a difficult and sensitive topic, however inevitable it may be. To assist you in your healing at times of loss, we offer a Grief Library and Light A Candle memorials to help remember a special friend. Visit our Pet Loss page for these links.

For more about Pet Loss, read this brochure from the AVMA, When your animal dies: Understanding your feelings of loss.