Senior Pet Care in Fulshear, TX, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fulshear is a vet in Fulshear, TX, that cares for senior dogs and cats, usually those 7 years and older. Most seniors do best with a checkup every six months and blood work at least once a year.

Pets age faster than people. Six months in a senior dog's life is like several years for us, so twice-yearly visits catch changes in kidneys, joints and teeth sooner.

Call (281) 214-6363, book online or walk in.

When is my pet a senior?

Petfolk Fulshear treats most dogs and cats as seniors from about age 7. Large and giant breed dogs often reach that stage sooner, around 5 or 6. At our Houston-area clinics, about 4 in 10 dogs we see are 7 or older, compared with about 1 in 4 cats (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).

What does a senior checkup include?

A senior checkup at Petfolk Fulshear goes deeper than a standard exam. The vet looks closely at:

1. Weight and muscle. Weight loss in an older cat can be an early sign of kidney or thyroid disease.

2. Joints. Stiffness, slow stairs and trouble jumping often mean arthritis, which can be treated.

3. Teeth and gums. Mouth pain makes older pets eat less and act grumpy.

4. Heart and lungs. New murmurs or coughs get a closer look.

5. Eyes, skin and lumps. New lumps are measured and, when needed, tested.

6. Thinking and behavior. Night pacing, confusion or new accidents can be signs of brain aging.

Ask about pet blood work in Fulshear. At our Houston-area clinics, dogs 7 and older are almost twice as likely to have blood work at a wellness visit as younger adult dogs. Across Petfolk, senior cats are about twice as likely as younger adult cats.

Small changes worth a visit

• Drinking or peeing more.

• Eating less, or dropping food.

• Sleeping more, or restless at night.

• Slipping on floors or skipping the stairs.

• Bad breath or pawing at the mouth.

• Hiding more (especially in cats).

Do not write these off as "just old age." Many have treatment that helps.

Food, water and weight

Older pets often need fewer calories but more care with what they eat. Extra weight strains sore joints, while sudden weight loss can point to illness. The vet at Petfolk Fulshear will weigh your pet at each visit and tell you whether to change portions or food. Keep fresh water in more than one room, since some seniors stop walking far to drink.

Summer is harder on old pets

Fulshear summers are long and humid. After Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, the Houston area had heat indices of 100 to 106°F for several days. Older dogs, flat-faced breeds and pets with heart or breathing problems overheat faster. Walk early, carry water, and use the Texas A&M hand test: if the pavement is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for paws.

Gentle care for stiff joints

Fear Free handling at Petfolk Fulshear includes padded mats, help on and off the table, and exams on the floor for dogs who cannot jump. Ask about pain control options for arthritis. The vet will explain each one and how it fits your pet.

The staff are extraordinarily friendly and made me and my dog very comfortable

Gail B., Google review

What does senior care cost?

A senior wellness exam at Petfolk Fulshear starts at $99. Blood work and other tests are priced separately, and a PetfolkCare membership, which starts at $199 a year, includes wellness exams. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

When it is more than aging

Call Petfolk Fulshear the same day if your senior pet stops eating, vomits more than once, or cannot get up. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital, such as VEG Katy, for collapse, trouble breathing, a swollen belly, or a sudden head tilt with falling over.

Book a senior visit

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fulshear is at 29615 Jordan Crossing Blvd, Suite 240, Katy, TX 77494. Parking is right outside, which helps with an older dog.

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