Ensuring comfort, mobility, and quality of life for your cherished older companion.
There’s a particular kind of worry that comes with watching a beloved companion slow down. The dog who used to bound up the stairs now hesitates at the bottom. The cat who once leaped to the windowsill now waits for a boost. Recognizing these changes and knowing when they signal something more than simple aging is one of the hardest parts of loving a pet through their senior years.
At Oakland Park Animal Hospital, senior pet care has been part of our practice since we opened our doors in 1987. We have watched generations of Oakland Park families bring their pets to us from puppyhood through their golden years, and in many cases, we have cared for a family’s second, third, even fifth dog because that family trusted no one else with the ones that came before. That kind of multi-generational trust does not happen by accident. It happens because we treat every senior pet the way we would want our own pet treated, with patience, honesty, and a plan built around their individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Aging changes a pet’s body in ways that are not always obvious from the outside. Joints stiffen, organ function shifts, and conditions like kidney disease or hypothyroidism can develop quietly for months before a pet shows any outward sign of trouble. According to the American Animal Hospital Association‘s 2023 Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, senior dogs and cats represent 44% of the pet population, which means most of the patients walking through a veterinary hospital’s doors on any given day are seniors who need a more attentive, individualized approach than a young, healthy adult would.
That is exactly the approach Dr. Ratnoff brings to every senior wellness exam. With over 40 years of experience caring for pets in this community, he has learned to read the small signs that owners sometimes miss, such as a slight change in gait, a shift in appetite, or a new hesitance around stairs. We do not rush these appointments. We ask questions, we listen to what pet parents have noticed at home, and we build a picture of the whole pet, not just a single symptom.
Senior pets generally benefit from more frequent checkups than younger adults, often twice a year instead of once, so that emerging issues can be caught early rather than after they have progressed. A typical senior visit at our hospital includes a full physical exam, a conversation about diet and mobility, and bloodwork run through our in-house laboratory so we can review results with you the same day rather than asking you to wait on an outside lab.
We are especially proud of our in-house diagnostic capabilities, including fecal testing that lets us identify parasites with precision, and bloodwork panels that catch early markers of kidney or liver changes before they become emergencies. For senior pets managing arthritis or mobility issues, we also work with treatments like Librela, a monthly injectable that many of our senior dog patients have responded well to. We believe in explaining these options clearly rather than simply handing you a prescription, because pet parents who understand the why behind a treatment plan are the ones who stick with it.
Caring for an aging pet is not only a medical journey, but it is an emotional one. We have sat with families through difficult conversations about quality of life, and we never treat those conversations lightly. Our goal is always to help you make informed decisions with as much time and clarity as possible, whether that means adjusting a treatment plan, exploring pain management options, or simply making your pet more comfortable at home.
To help make ongoing senior care more affordable, our Stay Well Pet Plan offers members discounted exam fees, reduced bloodwork pricing, and savings on other routine services throughout the year. Many of our long-time clients enroll their pets annually specifically because it takes some of the financial pressure off the regular monitoring that senior pets need. We are also glad to work with pet parents through financing options like CareCredit and Cherry so that cost is never the reason a senior pet goes without care.
You will not find a rotating cast of unfamiliar faces here. Dr. Ratnoff still personally examines his senior patients, and our team of Dream Doctors and Terrific Techs get to know your pet by name, not by chart number. That continuity matters most in the senior years, when a familiar face who has followed a pet’s history for a decade or more can spot a change that a stranger might miss entirely.
If your dog or cat is entering their senior years, we would be honored to be part of that journey the way we have been for so many Oakland Park families before you. Please contact our office to schedule a senior wellness exam, and let us help you give your pet the comfortable, well-monitored golden years they deserve.
Schedule a visit with our compassionate team and let’s partner in your pet’s lifelong well-being.
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