Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Senior Wellness Programmes and Quality of Life

Proactive senior dog wellness programmes detect age-related diseases earlier and maintain quality of life for longer.

Key Facts

Dogs are considered senior from approximately 7-10 years depending on breed size
Age-related conditions including OA, cognitive dysfunction, dental disease and organ failure are common
Six-monthly wellness checks in senior dogs allow earlier detection than annual examinations
Baseline bloodwork in middle age allows comparison as organ function declines with age
Pain and cognitive assessments are increasingly incorporated into senior wellness programmes

Welfare Considerations

Senior dogs frequently suffer from multiple age-related conditions that are underdetected between annual consultations. Six-monthly health checks with appropriate screening significantly improve early detection and quality of life through timely intervention.

What You Can Do

Switch to six-monthly vet health checks for dogs from age 7-9 depending on size and breed
Request baseline bloodwork for your dog in middle age to provide comparison as they age
Use validated quality of life and cognitive assessment tools to monitor senior dogs at home