As pets age, gradual changes in health, mobility, and behaviour are common. While some changes may be part of normal ageing, others reflect underlying medical conditions that benefit from early recognition and ongoing veterinary care.
This page brings together veterinary information, educational resources, and products commonly used to support senior pets. It is designed to help pet owners understand common age-related health problems, how they are typically managed, and when veterinary assessment is important.
Information on this page does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Senior pets may show a wide range of changes, which often develop gradually. Common signs include reduced activity or stamina, stiffness or mobility changes, weight gain or loss, altered appetite or thirst, changes in sleeping patterns, and behavioural changes such as increased anxiety, confusion, or withdrawal.
Because these changes can occur slowly, they are sometimes attributed to “old age” rather than recognised as signs of treatable or manageable health conditions. Regular monitoring and veterinary check-ups are important for identifying concerns early.
Ageing affects multiple body systems over time. Wear and tear on joints, changes in organ function, altered metabolism, and cumulative effects of previous illness or injury can all contribute to health problems in older pets.
Some conditions become more likely with age, while others may be long-standing issues that require different management as pets get older. Individual factors such as genetics, body weight, lifestyle, and previous medical history also influence how ageing affects each pet.
Understanding which changes are expected and which are not is an important part of senior pet care.
Management of senior pet health focuses on maintaining comfort, function, and quality of life. This often involves regular health assessments, monitoring for subtle changes, and adjusting care plans as needs evolve over time.
Depending on the individual pet, management may include medical treatment, dietary adjustments, pain management, weight control, environmental modifications, and supportive care. Many age-related conditions are managed rather than cured, making ongoing veterinary guidance essential.
Older pets often change gradually, which makes it easy to miss the point where support would help. Weight change, drinking more, stiffness, confusion, appetite changes and altered sleep are all worth taking seriously.
Learn how Takurua Vets supports older dogs and cats through checks, monitoring, pain assessment, blood testing and tailored plans.
A practical guide to what senior monitoring can include and how it helps answer real decisions.
Helpful when night waking, confusion, pacing, vocalising or changed routines are part of the picture.
Practical home-care guidance for older pets, chronic illness, activity restriction and quality-of-life support.
Useful when you are unsure whether a change should be checked or simply monitored.
Read how current guidance supports individualised senior care, monitoring, pain assessment and quality-of-life planning.
Senior diets, joint support, supplements, dental products, and recovery aids may help older pets when they match the health picture. The same product can be useful for one senior pet and unsuitable for another, especially when kidney disease, heart disease, arthritis, weight change, dental disease, or medication are involved.
Before changing diets or adding multiple supplements, it is worth checking whether new signs are pain, organ disease, dental disease, nausea, anxiety, or cognitive change. Products can support comfort, but they should not replace assessment when an older pet is losing weight, drinking more, slowing suddenly, becoming unsettled, or withdrawing.
Eukanuba™ Senior Large Breed for large breed dogs (25kg to 40kg) over 6 years old. For giant breed dogs (>40kg) over 5 years old.
Eukanuba™ Senior Medium Breed Dry Dog Food is for all breed dogs (11kg to 24kg) over 7 years old.
Eukanuba™ Senior Small Breed for small breed dogs (<10kg) over 7 years old.
Hill's Science Diet Senior Vitality is scientifically developed to work with your 7+ aged cat’s biology. Our breakthrough formula helps improve your senior cat's everyday ability to get up & go.
Hill's Science Diet Senior Vitality is scientifically developed to work with your 7+ aged dog’s biology. Our breakthrough formula helps improve your senior dog's everyday ability to get up & go.
If your older pet has changed in a way that is hard to interpret, contact us. Senior care is often about noticing small changes early enough that comfort and function can be protected.
Useful when stiffness, reluctance to jump, reduced activity, or behaviour change may be linked to pain.
Increased thirst can be an important senior-pet sign and should not be dismissed as normal ageing.
Weight loss in older cats can be subtle at first and is often worth investigating early.
