Senior Pet Care
Older pets change faster than younger ones, and slowing down isn't always just age. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, sees senior dogs and cats for exams, screening labs, and the comfort care that keeps them doing what they love.
Many seniors do best with exams every six months. Start at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for collapse or sudden inability to stand, trouble breathing, a swollen belly, seizures, straining with no urine, or sudden blindness or disorientation.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
When a Pet Becomes a Senior
Senior status depends on species and size: giant-breed dogs reach it years before small dogs and most cats. AAHA's senior care guidelines stress that senior plans can't be one-size-fits-all for exactly that reason. Your vet will tell you when your pet's plan should change.
Changes Worth Mentioning
Owners often put these down to age. Many are treatable:
Stiffness, trouble on stairs, or not jumping onto furniture anymore
Drinking or urinating more
Weight loss, especially in a cat who's still eating
Bad breath, dropping food, or chewing on one side
Restless nights, pacing, or seeming lost in familiar rooms
New lumps, or lumps that change
Accidents in the house
What Senior Screening Includes
Along with the exam, the vet may recommend lab work to check kidney and liver values, blood counts, blood sugar, and in cats, thyroid levels. Urine testing helps too. Petfolk runs most samples in its in-house lab.
Results from one visit become your pet's baseline. Comparing year to year is often how slow changes, like early kidney disease, are found.
Comfort Matters as Much as Lab Values
Arthritis: pain medication, weight control, and simple changes like rugs on slick floors and ramps.
Dental pain: older pets often have painful teeth without showing it. A dental assessment comes before any cleaning under anesthesia.
Cognitive changes: routines, nightlights, and treatment options for pets who seem confused.
Appetite and weight: diet changes for kidney disease, weight loss, or gain.
Our Gentle Handling team gives sore senior pets padded footing and extra time, and the exam can happen on the floor if the table is hard on their joints.
“My family and I are going through a difficult time as our senior chihuahua's health has been failing. Bringing her to Pet Folk has been the best decision we could have ever made for her care.”
— Tash T., Petfolk client
When You May Not Need More Tests
A senior pet with normal labs six months ago, no new signs, and stable weight may not need a full repeat panel at every visit. The vet will explain which tests are worth repeating and which can wait.
What Senior Care Costs Depends On
The exam
Screening lab work and urine testing
Medications for pain, kidney, thyroid, or heart conditions
Rechecks to adjust treatment
You'll get an estimate before testing or treatment. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work.
Keep Up With an Aging Pet
Book a senior exam at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691, and set a schedule that keeps pace with your pet's changes.