Senior dog care schedule
A dog does not become "senior" on a single birthday — the transition depends heavily on breed and size, with giant breeds reaching senior status years before small breeds. This guide covers what changes once a dog crosses into that stage: more frequent vet visits, a closer eye on weight and mobility, and medication or supplement reviews that a once-a-year check-up can miss.
Last updated 2026-07-19
| Stage | Timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Senior-life transition | Breed-and-size dependent | Ask your vet when your specific dog is considered senior — commonly earlier for giant breeds, later for small breeds. |
| Vet check-ups | Every 6 months once senior | Twice-yearly visits catch age-related change between what an annual visit alone would show. |
| Bloodwork and urinalysis | Annually, or as advised | Baseline senior bloodwork helps a vet spot kidney, liver or thyroid changes earlier by comparing against the dog’s own prior results. |
| Weight check | Monthly at home | Both weight loss and weight gain in a senior dog are worth flagging — track it rather than relying on visual impression. |
| Dental review | At every vet visit | Dental disease is common in older dogs and is frequently underestimated without a professional look. |
| Mobility and joint check | Ongoing, at home | Watch for stiffness after rest, reluctance on stairs, or slower rising — flag changes rather than assuming they are simply "getting old". |
| Medication review | At every vet visit | Any ongoing medication or supplement should be reviewed as kidney and liver function change with age. |
Why this order matters
Ageing changes a dog’s baseline gradually enough that changes are easy to miss without a consistent comparison point — which is exactly what regular bloodwork and weight logs provide. Moving from annual to twice-yearly vet visits roughly doubles the number of chances to catch a developing issue while it is still manageable, since many senior conditions (kidney disease, early arthritis, dental disease) progress silently for months before becoming visible day to day. Breed size drives a large part of the timeline: giant breeds often enter their senior years by 6, while small breeds may not be considered senior until 10 or later.
What happens if you miss a step
A missed senior check-up is a bigger gap than it would be for a younger dog, because six months is long enough for a slow-developing condition to progress from early and manageable to advanced. If a check-up is overdue, book the next available appointment rather than waiting for the "proper" six-month mark to come around again. A missed weight-log entry is lower stakes, but gaps longer than a month or two make it harder to spot a gradual trend versus normal week-to-week fluctuation.
When to ask your vet
This schedule is a general framework, not a diagnosis or treatment plan — an individual senior dog with an existing condition will need a plan built around that condition specifically. Seek prompt veterinary advice for sudden weight loss, laboured breathing, collapse, seizures, a distended abdomen, or any rapid behaviour change, none of which should wait for a scheduled visit.
How to keep the record useful
A senior dog’s record becomes more valuable the longer it runs, because the real signal is the trend — this month’s weight compared to six months ago, this year’s bloodwork compared to last year’s — not any single reading in isolation.
Keeping vet visits, weight checks and medication reviews on one running record makes it far easier to bring a complete picture to each appointment, rather than trying to recall from memory whether a symptom is new or has been present for months.
Frequently asked questions
At what age is a dog considered senior?
It depends heavily on breed size — giant breeds are often considered senior by around 6, medium breeds around 7–8, and small breeds sometimes not until 10 or later. Ask your vet for guidance specific to your dog.
Why twice-yearly visits instead of annual?
Six months is roughly how long many age-related conditions can progress from early-stage to harder-to-manage without being noticed day to day at home.
Is weight gain or weight loss more concerning in a senior dog?
Both are worth flagging to a vet — unexplained change in either direction can signal something worth investigating rather than being dismissed as normal ageing.