Senior Pet Care in Wake Forest, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is a vet in Wake Forest, NC, that cares for older dogs and cats with exams every six months, lab trends and comfort plans. Most pets count as seniors from about age 7, and large dogs sooner.

Older pets change slowly, then all at once. Regular visits help the vet catch kidney, thyroid, joint and dental changes while they are still easy to manage.

Call (919) 891-6444 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome on weekends too.

When is my pet considered a senior?

At Petfolk Wake Forest, most cats and small dogs are treated as seniors from about 7 years old. Giant and large breeds age faster, so a Great Dane or a Bernese may count as senior by 5 or 6. Age is only a guide. The vet looks at how your pet moves, eats and acts.

What does a senior exam check?

A senior visit at Petfolk Wake Forest builds on the yearly exam with a closer look at the parts that wear down with age:

1. Weight and muscle, since muscle loss along the back and legs is an early clue.

2. Teeth and gums, because mouth pain often hides behind slow eating.

3. Heart and lungs, listening for new murmurs or changed breathing.

4. Joints, hips and spine, watching your pet walk and turn.

5. Eyes, ears and skin, including any new lumps.

6. Blood and urine tests to track kidney, liver and thyroid values over time.

Across Petfolk, senior cats are about twice as likely as younger adult cats to get blood work at a wellness visit (34% versus 18%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026). Comparing one year's numbers with the next is how slow kidney disease gets caught early.

How often should a senior pet see the vet?

Most senior dogs and cats do best with a visit every six months at Petfolk Wake Forest. Six months in a pet's life is like a few years in ours. A pet with a known condition, such as arthritis or diabetes, may need rechecks more often.

We've been to the WF Petfolk a few times this year with our senior pit and we've been really pleased.

Autumn B., Google review

Comfort at home and on the trail

Small changes help older pets the most. Short, flat walks on the Smith Creek Greenway are easier on stiff joints than long hikes around Falls Lake. In July and August, walk early, because heat and humidity hit senior and heavy dogs harder. Rugs on slick floors, a ramp to the couch and a litter box with low sides all make daily life easier.

Ask the team about pain relief, joint support and diet changes during the visit. Teeth matter too: more than a quarter of the pets who have dental work at Petfolk (28%) are 10 or older. See dental care in Wake Forest for what a cleaning involves.

Gentle visits for older pets

Fear Free handling is standard at Petfolk Wake Forest. For seniors, that can mean a padded mat on the floor instead of a high table, extra time to stand, and fewer moves to and from the room. Tell the team if your pet has a sore hip or poor eyesight so they can plan for it.

Cost of senior care

A wellness exam at Petfolk Wake Forest starts at $99, and senior lab panels are priced on their own. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. A PetfolkCare membership, which starts at $199 a year, can lower the cost of routine visits.

Signs that need a same-day visit

Call the clinic the same day if your older pet stops eating, drinks far more than usual, falls, or can't get up. For collapse, trouble breathing or a seizure, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital, such as the NC State Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh. When it is time to talk about quality of life, the team can help with that too.

Plan the next visit

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587, with parking right by the door. Call (919) 891-6444 to set up a senior exam.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest, or see all veterinary services in Wake Forest.