At Summer Hill Village Vet, we believe that growing older doesn’t have to mean slowing
down or suffering in silence. Many of the changes we see in ageing pets: drinking more
water, stiffness, weight loss, changes in sleep or behaviour are often dismissed as “just old age.” In reality, these are frequently early signs of underlying medical conditions. The good news is that when we identify these changes early, we can often dramatically improve your pet’s comfort, quality of life, and in many cases, even their life expectancy.
Ageing Is a Journey, Not a Stage
One of the most important things to understand is that ageing isn’t a single stage, it’s a journey. Pets move through phases from mature to senior to geriatric, and each stage brings different health considerations. A small dog at 8 years old may just be entering their senior years, while a giant breed dog of the same age is already considered geriatric. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work. At Summer Hill Village Vet, we tailor our care to your pet’s individual stage of life, guiding you with proactive health checks, targeted diagnostics, nutritional advice, and treatment plans designed to support them every step of the way.
Early Intervention Makes All the Difference
Our focus is simple: we want your pet to be here for a good time as well as a long time. That means not waiting for obvious illness, but instead looking for subtle early changes and acting on them. Early intervention can make an enormous difference across a range of conditions, including:
- Managing arthritis before it becomes debilitating
- Detecting kidney disease before symptoms appear
- Supporting cognitive health as pets age
Our Senior Pet Checks
If your pet is entering their later years or if you’re not quite sure where they sit, this is the perfect time to take a closer look. Our Senior Pet Checks are designed to pick up problems early, establish a baseline for your pet’s health, and create a personalised plan to keep them thriving.
Because ageing is inevitable – but suffering is not.
When Is My Pet a Senior?
| Pet Size / Type | Mature | Senior | Geriatric |
| Cats (all sizes) | 7–10 years | 11–14 years | 15+ years |
| Small Dogs (<10kg) | 7–9 years | 10–12 years | 13+ years |
| Medium Dogs (10–25kg) | 6–8 years | 9–11 years | 12+ years |
| Large Dogs (25–40kg) | 5–7 years | 8–10 years | 11+ years |
| Giant Dogs (40kg+) | 4 years | 5-7 years | 8+ years |
