Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Senior Wellness Proactive Screening

Proactive health screening in senior dogs enables early detection of common age-related conditions, improving treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Key Facts

Dogs are considered senior from around 7-9 years depending on size
Annual or biannual bloodwork detects kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes early
Blood pressure monitoring identifies hypertension causing silent organ damage
Dental assessment and thyroid screening are important senior wellness components
Early detection allows treatment initiation before significant quality of life decline

Welfare Considerations

Many age-related conditions progress silently until advanced stages. Proactive screening allows intervention when treatment is most effective and can prevent months of unrecognized suffering in geriatric dogs.

What You Can Do

Begin twice-yearly wellness examinations and bloodwork from age 7 in dogs
Include blood pressure and dental assessment in senior wellness protocols
Discuss senior health screening packages with your vet proactively