What changes after seven
Senior care at Oak Grove is led by Dr. Holland — a certified senior care specialist, Fear Free trained — with Dr. Cogswell.
- Slowing down isn’t just age
- Stiffness, shorter walks, trouble with stairs or the litter box — arthritis pain is common, under-diagnosed, and treatable.
- Weight shifts
- Gain from a slowing metabolism, or loss from thyroid, kidney or dental disease. Any unexplained change deserves a workup, not a shrug.
- Drinking & urinating more
- Classic early signs of kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid problems — all far more manageable when caught early.
- New lumps
- Most are benign; some are not. We measure, sample and keep them on a watch schedule rather than guessing.
The senior screening visit
- Twice-yearly exams
- For seniors we recommend an exam every six months — in pet years, that is like seeing your own doctor every two to three years.
- Senior bloodwork
- Kidney and liver values, thyroid, blood counts and a urinalysis — the panel that finds disease before the symptoms do.
- Blood pressure & eyes
- High blood pressure rides along with kidney and thyroid disease and quietly damages eyes and organs.
- Pain & mobility plan
- Joint support, weight targets, modern pain control and laser therapy options, built around your pet’s actual life.
Comfort at home
- Ramps, rugs & raised bowls
- Small changes — traction on slick floors, a ramp into the truck — prevent the injuries we see every week.
- Keep the routine
- Senior brains thrive on predictability. Night pacing or disorientation is worth telling us about; cognitive changes have options too.
Senior dogs
Senior cats
Arthritis pain
Senior bloodwork
Quality of life
