Waiting one year between wellness exams and screenings isn’t usually a big deal for humans. We age relatively slowly, so it often takes a while for disease processes and ailments to set in and present themselves.

Animals age rather rapidly, though, so a year is a long time when it comes to the health of your pet. Most pets are considered seniors when they reach seven. Many diseases are more likely to affect your pet once they reach senior status.

Plus, there’s a bit of a communication barrier between us and our pets; since they can’t tell us what’s bothering them directly, we often don’t realize when they’re in pain. This is why early disease detection is so important, especially as your pet gets older.

Essentials PetCare veterinarians recommend that senior pets receive wellness screenings a minimum of once every year. Regular exams allow us to update your pet’s preventative care and detect health issues that are more common in older pets, like diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease, well before they burden your pet with uncomfortable symptoms.