At what age does my pet need senior-specific vet visits?

Many vets shift to senior wellness protocols around age 7, though large and giant breed dogs are considered senior earlier, sometimes by age 5 or 6.

What's included in a senior pet wellness exam that a regular checkup isn't?

Expect added bloodwork and urinalysis, closer joint and mobility assessment, weight trend tracking, and often a more thorough dental check, on top of the standard physical exam.

How often should senior pets get wellness bloodwork?

Many vets recommend annual bloodwork for senior pets, and some move to twice a year for pets with an existing condition like kidney disease or diabetes.

Senior pet wellness exams in Denver

A senior wellness visit is a different appointment than a routine annual checkup: it's built around catching kidney disease, arthritis, dental decline, and tumors early in a pet whose risk profile has changed with age. This is a distinct booking intent from the general wellness category, which covers puppy visits, vaccines, and standard checkups across all ages.

Senior panels usually add bloodwork and urinalysis on top of a standard physical exam.
Vets look closely at joint mobility, weight change, and dental condition in older pets.
Ask whether your clinic offers a senior-specific package versus building one visit at a time.

Owners of dogs and cats past roughly seven years old (earlier for large breeds) are the core audience here, especially those noticing slowing down, weight changes, or new lumps.

What it costs

Senior wellness visits cost more than a standard annual exam because they typically bundle in bloodwork, urinalysis, and sometimes imaging to screen for age-related disease. Clinics that offer a bundled senior panel are often better value than ordering the same tests individually.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for general & wellness veterinary care.

1. Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists
5.0★ · 516 reviews

95
2. Berkeley Animal Hospital
5.0★ · 169 reviews

93
3. Goodheart Animal Health Center
4.9★ · 486 reviews

93

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FAQ

At what age does my pet need senior-specific vet visits?: Many vets shift to senior wellness protocols around age 7, though large and giant breed dogs are considered senior earlier, sometimes by age 5 or 6.
What's included in a senior pet wellness exam that a regular checkup isn't?: Expect added bloodwork and urinalysis, closer joint and mobility assessment, weight trend tracking, and often a more thorough dental check, on top of the standard physical exam.
How often should senior pets get wellness bloodwork?: Many vets recommend annual bloodwork for senior pets, and some move to twice a year for pets with an existing condition like kidney disease or diabetes.