Brushing your dog’s teeth at home, step by step
A two-week plan to get a dog used to a toothbrush, and what to look for in the mouth while you do it.
When to book a senior check
Why we suggest a yearly blood test from age eight, and what it looks for.
Dogs and cats age faster than we do, and many changes happen quietly. A dog of eight is roughly in late middle age; a cat of eleven is in her sixties. Small shifts in thirst, weight or energy are easy to miss when you see your pet every day.
A senior check starts with a full examination and a conversation about the last year: appetite, water, toilet habits, sleep and mobility. We measure blood pressure and run a blood panel that looks at the kidneys, liver, sugar and blood cells, along with a urine test.
The value of the test is partly in the comparison. One result tells us how things are today; a yearly result tells us how they are changing. Many owners keep the summaries in a folder or on their phone, so any vet can see the trend.
If something does need attention, your vet explains the options and their costs in the follow-up. Often the answer is a change in diet, a different exercise routine or a recheck in three months.
