Senior Pet Care in Prior Lake, MN
For aging pets, 7 years and older.
Supporting Your Pet’s Health in Their Golden Years
As pets grow older, their medical needs and lifestyle requirements evolve. At River Valley Veterinary Service, our senior pet care program focuses on helping dogs and cats aged seven years and older enjoy comfortable, healthy, and happy lives. Regular wellness exams, early detection screenings, and tailored care plans allow our team to identify age-related changes before they become serious health issues.
Why Senior Wellness Visits Matter
Just like people, pets experience physical and metabolic changes as they age. Health concerns such as arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, and dental problems become more common in older animals—but with regular checkups, many of these conditions can be managed effectively or even prevented.
That’s why we recommend twice-yearly wellness exams for pets over the age of seven. These more frequent visits allow our team to:
- Monitor subtle health changes between appointments.
- Detect aging-related issues early, when treatment is most effective.
- Adjust medications, diets, or exercise routines as your pet’s needs change.
- Provide preventive care and testing tailored to your senior pet’s stage of life.
Proactive, consistent veterinary care is key to maintaining comfort and quality of life for senior cats and dogs.
Comprehensive Senior Pet Wellness Exams
Each senior wellness visit includes a full nose-to-tail physical exam and diagnostic screening to monitor your pet’s ongoing health. During these visits, our veterinarians may recommend:
Physical Examination
A detailed head-to-tail assessment helps us evaluate your pet’s heart, lungs, joints, teeth, eyes, skin, and body condition. We look for early signs of arthritis, dental disease, heart changes, or vision loss that are common in older pets.
Parasite Prevention and Control
Even senior pets remain vulnerable to parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms. We continue to perform parasite testing and recommend safe, age-appropriate preventives to protect your pet year-round.
Nutritional and Exercise Guidance
Senior pets often require changes to their diet, calorie intake, and activity level. We provide personalized nutrition counseling to maintain muscle tone, manage weight, and support joint and organ health.
Blood and Diagnostic Screening
Routine wellness bloodwork provides vital insight into your pet’s internal organ function, thyroid health, and metabolic balance. We also offer specialized senior screening panels to detect age-related diseases earlier and track health trends over time.
Vaccinations
Immunity can decline with age, making vaccinations an important part of senior pet wellness. Our team will adjust your pet’s vaccine schedule based on their current health status, exposure risk, and lifestyle needs.
Caring for Pets with Experience, Compassion, and Respect
At River Valley Veterinary Service, we understand that senior dogs and cats deserve attentive, individualized care as they enter their golden years. Our experienced veterinary team provides thoughtful guidance, advanced diagnostic screening, and preventive care designed to keep aging pets comfortable and thriving. By combining medical expertise with genuine compassion, we’re proud to support pet families throughout the greater Prior Lake area in giving their companions the dignity, health, and quality of life they deserve at every stage.
Comprehensive Services
Puppy & Kitten Care
Wellness Care
Senior Pet Care
Urgent Pet Care
Dentistry
Diagnostics
Regenerative Therapy
Surgery
Boarding
Grooming
Daycare
End-Of-Life Care