Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Patient Education

Senior Wellness Program

Twice-yearly screenings and proactive health management designed for the unique needs of aging dogs and cats — catching problems early, when they are most treatable.

Dogs and cats age faster than people — a seven-year-old cat or large dog is already in their early senior years, and the gap between veterinary visits stretches much longer in biological time than it does for their owners. Many of the most common diseases of older pets — kidney disease, hyperthyroidism in cats, hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease in dogs, heart disease, arthritis, dental disease, and early cancer — are silent in their early stages and highly manageable when caught promptly. Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas's Senior Wellness Program schedules examinations and screening bloodwork every six months for pets in their senior years, creating a consistent baseline that makes it much easier to detect meaningful changes and intervene before problems become crises.

How It Works

The program is built around a comprehensive biannual (twice-yearly) visit that goes beyond a standard annual wellness check:

  • Full physical examination — particular attention to joint mobility, muscle mass, lymph node size, abdominal palpation, heart and lung sounds, blood pressure, and oral health, all of which change meaningfully with age
  • Senior blood panel — complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive chemistry panel (including kidney values, liver enzymes, glucose, electrolytes), and thyroid testing (T4 in cats; thyroid screening in dogs with signs of hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease)
  • Urinalysis — urine specific gravity, protein, glucose, and sediment evaluation are critical for early kidney and diabetes screening; kidney disease can be present with normal bloodwork if urinalysis is not done
  • Blood pressure measurement — hypertension is common in senior pets with kidney disease or hyperthyroidism and is a significant cause of preventable organ damage and sudden blindness
  • SDMA testing — SDMA is a kidney biomarker that rises earlier than creatinine, allowing CKD to be identified at an earlier, more manageable stage
  • Additional diagnostics as indicated — chest radiographs for pets with heart murmurs or coughing, abdominal ultrasound for mass detection or organ assessment, fecal examination

Give your senior pet the extra attention they deserve

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What to Expect

Senior wellness visits are longer than standard appointments because there is more to evaluate and more to discuss. The veterinarian reviews the previous visit's results alongside the current findings — trends over time are often more informative than any single data point — and explains any changes clearly. A written summary with current values and the plan going forward is provided at discharge. If a screening test flags a concern, further diagnostics can often be completed the same day using the hospital's in-house lab and imaging. The goal is to leave each visit with a clear picture of the pet's health and a plan that addresses anything that needs action — whether that is starting a supplement, switching diets, adjusting medications, or simply scheduling a follow-up in three months to watch a borderline value.

Good Candidates

  • Dogs age 7 and older (earlier for giant breeds, who age faster — consider senior screenings from age 5–6)
  • Cats age 7 and older — feline hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease are very common from this age forward
  • Pets with any diagnosed chronic condition — diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease — who need more frequent monitoring than annual visits provide
  • Pets whose owners have noticed subtle changes — drinking more, sleeping more, moving more slowly, eating less — that may or may not be normal aging
  • Senior pets approaching a surgery or anesthetic procedure who need a current health baseline before proceeding
  • Recently adopted senior pets whose prior health history is unknown and who need a baseline established

Frequently Asked Questions

1At what age is a dog or cat considered senior?
Most cats and small- to medium-sized dogs are considered senior around age 7; large and giant breed dogs age faster and are often considered senior by age 5–6. The biological age equivalent to a 7-year-old human is much older in a dog or cat, which is why the monitoring frequency increases significantly in the senior years.
2Why does my senior pet need bloodwork every 6 months instead of once a year?
Senior pets can develop or progress through medical conditions much faster than their biological age suggests — a significant change in kidney values, thyroid level, or blood count can occur within 6 months. Annual testing in a senior pet means a problem could go undetected for up to a year, during which time it may have progressed to a point where treatment is more difficult.
3My older dog seems fine — do they really need extra screening?
Most conditions that shorten senior pets' lives — kidney disease, early cancer, dental disease, hyperthyroidism in cats — cause no visible symptoms in their early stages. The value of screening is precisely in finding these conditions before the pet looks sick, when treatment is simplest and most effective.
4What is SDMA and why is it checked in senior pets?
SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) is a kidney biomarker that rises earlier than the traditional creatinine measurement — it can detect a decline in kidney function when as little as 40% of function is lost, compared to creatinine's threshold of roughly 75% loss. Catching kidney disease earlier gives more time to implement protective interventions.
5How do I know if my senior cat is in pain?
Cats are masters at hiding pain — reduced jumping, reluctance to use stairs, sitting in a hunched posture, reduced grooming, or avoiding being touched in certain areas are subtle signs of arthritis or other discomfort. Many owners attribute these changes to "just getting old" when the cause is a treatable, painful condition.
6Can arthritis be managed in older dogs and cats?
Yes — arthritis is one of the most treatable conditions in senior pets. NSAIDs (in dogs), joint supplements, weight management, environmental modifications (ramps, orthopedic beds), and newer options like anti-NGF antibody therapy (Librela for dogs, Solensia for cats) provide meaningful relief. Management is most effective when started before the pet is visibly struggling.
7What vaccines does my senior pet need?
Core vaccines (rabies, DHPP for dogs; rabies and FVRCP for cats) are continued in senior pets on whatever schedule the veterinarian recommends based on local laws and lifestyle risk — immunity does not become unnecessary with age. Lifestyle vaccines (leptospirosis, Bordetella, feline leukemia) are reassessed at each visit based on current exposure risk.
8Is it too late to start managing a condition found in my senior pet?
Rarely — most chronic conditions found in senior pets are manageable even when diagnosed later. Kidney disease, thyroid disease, arthritis, and even early-stage cancer are all conditions where treatment can meaningfully improve quality of life and extend comfortable time with the family, regardless of when the diagnosis is made.

Give your senior pet the extra attention they deserve

Twice-yearly screenings are the single most effective way to catch the conditions of aging early — before they change your pet's quality of life.

Book an Appointment