How Often Should Senior Pets Be Screened?

As your pet gets older, their needs change—and so should their healthcare routine. Just like senior humans, ageing dogs and cats are more prone to developing health conditions that may not be visible on the outside.

At Creature Comforts, we believe in catching problems early and managing them gently, so your senior pet can enjoy their golden years with comfort and vitality. But how often should you really bring them in for screening?

Let’s break it down.

The age at which a pet is considered senior depends on their species and size:

• 🐱 Cats are typically considered senior at 7 years and geriatric at 11+
• 🐶 Small to medium dogs: senior around 7–9 years
• 🐶 Large and giant breed dogs: senior as early as 5–6 years

Ageing is a gradual process—and even if your pet still acts young, changes can be happening internally. That’s why screening becomes more important with age.

Older pets are more likely to develop conditions such as:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Liver problems
• Heart disease
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Thyroid imbalance
• Cancer

Many of these diseases start with no obvious symptoms, but if we catch them early through screening, they can often be managed successfully—and your pet can live a longer, happier life.

✅ Every 6 to 12 months is ideal

We recommend a comprehensive senior health screen every 6 months, which may include:

• A full physical exam
• Bloodwork (to check kidney, liver, glucose, and thyroid levels)
• Urinalysis (to check for kidney health or infections)
• Blood pressure check
• X-rays or ultrasound, if needed, for internal organs or arthritis
• Weight, appetite, and behaviour review

Why every 6 months? Because pets age faster than humans—and what feels like a short time to us could equal years of change in their body.

Senior screening helps us:

• Spot subtle organ changes before symptoms appear
• Track baseline trends over time
• Adjust medications or diets to better suit ageing needs
• Detect conditions like high blood pressure, thyroid issues, or early cancer signs

This gives you peace of mind—and gives your pet the best chance at early treatment if needed.