Senior Pet Care
Aging changes arrive slowly, so they're easy to blame on getting older. Many of them, like arthritis, dental pain, kidney changes, and thyroid disease, can be treated. Senior visits at our Midlothian clinic, on Steam Avenue off Midlothian Turnpike, are built to catch them early.
Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.
When it's an emergency: Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your senior pet collapses, has trouble breathing, has a seizure, suddenly can't stand, or has a swollen belly with retching. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.
Changes That Are Easy to Miss
Sleeping in a new spot, or skipping the couch or the stairs.
Drinking more water or having accidents.
Weight loss while eating normally.
Bad breath or chewing on one side.
Pacing or confusion at night.
Less interest in walks or play.
AAHA's guide to your senior pet's life stage notes that recognizing senior status helps you stay alert to subtle changes. Write down what you notice and when it started.
What a Senior Visit Adds
A senior visit is a full wellness exam with extra attention to joints, weight and muscle, teeth, heart, and behavior. The doctor usually recommends blood work and a urine test to establish a baseline, so later changes stand out.
Most senior pets do well with an exam every six months. A lot can change in a year.
"My cats are aging and have a multitude of issues. This office has addressed many of the issues and explained the diagnostics and helped address my questions."
— Christine S., Petfolk client.
Comfort Is Treatable
Stiffness, slowing down, and grumpiness are often pain. Arthritis medications, weight management, joint-friendly changes at home, and dental treatment can give an older pet better days. The doctor will talk through options and their tradeoffs, including for pets with kidney or liver changes.
When a Change Isn't Urgent
A little gray on the muzzle, more naps, or slower morning walks in a pet who's otherwise eating, drinking, and comfortable usually doesn't need a separate visit. Mention it at the next senior exam. Weight loss, increased thirst, or new pain should be checked sooner.
Midlothian Summers Are Harder on Older Pets
Richmond-area summers are hot and humid, with July highs around 90°F. Humidity makes panting less effective, which matters most for seniors with heart or airway disease, flat-faced breeds, and overweight pets. A walk that was easy in April can wear them out by July.
Walk early in the morning or after sunset, and shorten the route.
Check pavement with your hand; if it's too hot to hold, it's too hot for paws.
Keep water and shade available all day.
Watch for heavy panting that doesn't settle, weakness, or wobbling, and treat those as urgent.
What Senior Care Costs
The senior exam is a wellness exam: $99, or included with PetfolkCare ($199 a year). Blood work, urine tests, and any medications are priced separately, and members save 10% on lab work. You get an estimate before anything is done.
Start a Baseline Now
Book a senior exam at our clinic on Steam Avenue. A baseline today makes tomorrow's changes easier to catch. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.