When a pet reaches approximately 8 years of age, they are equivalent to retirement age in humans. As your pet reaches this stage in their life, their every day requirements change.

With the ageing process, changes occur in the function of the body. Some of these changes can be seen from the outside: weight gain or loss, stiffness, dull hair/coat, loss of sight or hearing. Some changes, however, occur internally and can’t be discovered without laboratory testing. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms of illness can be seen (in liver or kidney disease for example) organ damage is already in the advanced stages.

Cats are notoriously good at hiding all signs of illness so, although your cat may seem healthy well into their senior years, many problems common in senior cats, such as kidney and heart disease may not show obvious signs until your cat becomes seriously ill.

Regular examinations and senior care testing can help identify problems early enough to prevent and/or slow down senior health ailments. Early detection of disease often means more effective and less costly treatment options. Senior testing can help establish normal baseline values for your pet, creating a point of comparison for the future.