Senior dogs and cats, roughly 7 and older for most pets, do best with a checkup every six months and lab work that can catch kidney, thyroid and joint changes before signs show at home. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville is a vet clinic in Huntersville, North Carolina, where the senior visit is longer than a younger pet's checkup and ends with a plan you can follow at home.
Gray around the muzzle shows up years after the changes inside have started. Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
How many of Petfolk Huntersville's patients are seniors?
More than a third of the pets seen at Petfolk Huntersville (35%) are 7 or older, and nearly 1 in 5 (18%) are 10 or older (October 2025 to September 2026).
Older pets get sick more often. About 1 in 5 Huntersville sick visits (20%) are for pets 10 or older.
Labs are common for senior cats. More than half of Huntersville wellness visits for cats 7 and older (52%) include lab work.
Dogs too. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, blood work is part of about 1 in 4 wellness visits for dogs 7 and older (26%), in the same window.
When is a dog or cat considered a senior?
There is no single birthday. Giant-breed dogs can be seniors by about six, while many small dogs and cats reach that stage closer to ten. The Petfolk Huntersville vet will tell you when to switch to senior care based on breed, size and health, using life-stage guidelines like those from the AAHA.
How often should an older pet see the vet?
Twice a year is a common recommendation for senior pets. Six months is a long time in an older pet's life, and many age-related diseases move faster than that.
What tests are part of a senior checkup?
A senior checkup at Petfolk Huntersville usually adds lab work to the full exam.
Blood work checks kidney and liver values, blood sugar, and red and white cells. See our blood work and lab testing page.
Thyroid testing, especially in cats, where an overactive thyroid is common.
A urine test, which often shows early kidney change before the blood does.
A close look at the mouth. Dental disease quietly affects appetite and comfort; our dental care page explains the options.
Why is my older cat drinking so much water?
More thirst and more urine are among the most common early signs of disease in senior cats and dogs. Kidney disease, diabetes, an overactive thyroid and some hormone problems in dogs can all cause it. Measure the water bowl for a couple of days and bring the number to your visit. A kidney-support diet or medicine started early often helps a cat stay comfortable longer.
Is it arthritis, or is my dog just slowing down?
Often it is arthritis. Signs include stiffness after rest, hesitation at stairs or the car, and less interest in walks. Cats stop jumping on counters, miss the litter box or groom less along the back.
Weight control is the biggest single help, along with pain medicine, joint supplements, rugs on slick floors and a ramp into the car. Shorter, gentler walks on soft ground beat one long hike. Buckeye Cove Nature Preserve has a 3.6-mile beginner loop, and you can turn around well before the end; expect mud near the water.
They took great care of my senior dog who was having seizures today.
Tammy K., Google review
What changes should I report between visits?
Weight loss or gain you can see or feel along the ribs
Drinking or urinating more, or accidents in the house
Coughing, or tiring faster on walks
New lumps, or a lump that is growing
Pacing at night, staring at walls or getting stuck in corners, which can be canine cognitive dysfunction (similar to dementia)
A change in appetite lasting more than a day or two
When should an older pet go to a 24-hour hospital?
Go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital for a seizure lasting more than a few minutes or several in one day, sudden collapse, labored breathing, or a swollen belly with pale gums. Older pets have less reserve, and these problems can't wait for a daytime visit.
For a vet in Huntersville to set up your senior pet's checkup plan, Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville is at 14227 Boren St, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078. Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, or see all veterinary services in Huntersville.
Caring for an older dog or cat
Easy-access clinic on Boren St