- 966 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Mon–Fri 8am–7pm · Sat 9am–4pm
- (215) 516-7000
The gray around their muzzle means something — different wellness checks, different pain management, and different conversations. We walk you through the aging journey from the first “they’re slowing down” all the way to hospice, on your pet’s timeline.
Smaller dogs (under 20 lbs) tend to have longer lifespans and cross into senior territory around age 10. Medium breeds follow at 8–10. Large breeds (50–90 lbs) are considered senior by age 8, and giant breeds as early as 6–7 years. Bigger dogs age faster — we adjust protocols accordingly.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners classifies cats as “mature” from 7–10, then “senior” from 11–14, and “geriatric” at 15 and above. We start senior-protocol care at age 10 — a full bloodwork panel including thyroid, blood pressure screening, and twice-yearly scheduling.
Senior thresholds vary widely across exotic species. Rabbits are often considered senior at 5–6 years. Many parrots can live decades and show aging signs far later. Reptiles age differently than mammals. We set species-specific senior timelines at the first exotic exam and revisit them as your animal ages.
Comprehensive mobility evaluation, gait scoring, joint palpation, and pain scale assessment at every senior visit. We find what hurts before we treat anything.
Treatment is multimodal — we combine medications, in-house laser therapy, and acupuncture based on what we find and what your pet tolerates best.
When curative care is no longer the goal, we shift to comfort-focused hospice care — managing symptoms, supporting quality of life, and walking the end of life care journey with you at every step.
