Senior Pet Health
Vets on Balwyn provides quality care to pets at all stages of life, but we have a soft spot reserved for our senior pets. Once your cat or dog turns seven, they are considered a senior and at this age, pets need a little extra love and care as well as more frequent check-ups to ensure they get the most out of their golden years.
The Vets on Balwyn team is here to support healthy ageing for a longer, happier life for your pet
As pets grow older, subtle changes can occur long before any symptoms become noticeable. Our Healthy Ageing Assessment is designed to uncover these changes early, allowing us to take proactive steps to support your pet’s health and wellbeing.
Why is senior wellness screening important?
Many pets show very subtle signs when something isn’t quite right. Changes such as reduced activity, increased sleeping, or a change in appetite can be easy to overlook, but they may indicate underlying health conditions, including:
- Arthritis and joint disease
- Kidney or liver disease
- Endocrine (hormonal) conditions
- Dental disease
- Cognitive decline
Detecting these changes early allows us to provide more effective treatment and support your pet’s long-term wellbeing.
What does the assessment include?
Our Healthy Ageing Assessment is designed specifically for pets entering their senior years. It provides a more detailed picture of your pet’s health than a routine consultation, helping us identify subtle changes before they become more significant concerns.
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Weight, body condition and muscle condition scoring
- Mobility and joint health assessment
- Discussion of appetite, behaviour and lifestyle changes
- Personalised health recommendations
Your assessment also includes:
- Comprehensive blood testing
- Urine analysis
- Blood pressure measurement
Together, these tests help us detect underlying health changes early, often before obvious symptoms develop.
If the assessment uncovers any changes that warrant further attention, we’ll provide clear guidance on what they may mean for your pet and discuss any recommended follow-up testing or treatment. Any additional diagnostics are entirely optional and will be discussed and quoted beforehand.
When should my pet have a Healthy Ageing Assessment?
As a guide:
- Dogs: From 7 years of age (5 years for giant breeds over 40kg)
- Cats: From 8 years of age
The Healthy Ageing Assessment bundle is available once every 12 months for eligible pets.
Growing older together
Your pet is an important member of the family, and we’re committed to helping them enjoy every stage of life. The Vets on Balwyn team combines compassionate care with practical advice to help you feel supported and informed throughout your pet’s ageing journey.
Supporting your pet through healthy ageing
If your pet is getting older, now is the perfect time to take a proactive approach to their health. We’re here to help every step of the way.
$349 (valued at over $490)
INCLUDES:
- Comprehensive Wellness Examination
- Blood and Urine Testing
- Blood Pressure Measurement
We recommend bringing your senior pet in for a check-up once every six months as at this age, they tend to be more vulnerable to certain health conditions including:
- Dental disease and sore teeth
- Skin tumours
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin disease
- Eye and ear problems
- High blood pressure
Blood testing
We recommend annual blood testing for pets over 7 years of age. This simple and sensitive test can be used to diagnose several very serious health conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, tumours) which can affect older pets but often don’t produce symptoms until the disease is well advanced. These tests are performed and processed in-house by our pathology lab, so we can provide fast and accurate results that could potentially save your pet’s life.
Arthritis
An important part of your senior pet’s six monthly check-ups involves checking their joints for signs of arthritis. This condition is extremely common in older pets and it can be quite painful if left untreated. Fortunately, the condition can be managed with medication and a few lifestyle adjustments. Some of the common signs of arthritis in a senior pet include a slowed walking pace, lowered activity levels, a reluctance to jump and stiffness when getting up.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure is a common problem in older cats and is associated with serious diseases including blindness, kidney disease and thyroid problems. Because of this, a painless, non-invasive blood pressure test is standard when you bring your senior cat in for their check-up as it allows us to monitor your pet’s blood pressure over time for any significant changes.
If you have a senior pet over 7, your vet will chat with you about senior pet care and the urine and/or blood tests we recommend the next time you bring them into the surgery.
Need an appointment?
When your pet’s unwell, or it’s time for a general check-up or vaccination, your furry friend is in good hands. Book online to see our expert Vets on Balwyn!
Contact Details
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: 8am – 7pm
Saturday: 9am – 2pm
Sunday: Closed
