Photo courtesy Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Aging in our pets is not a disease, but it is a pivotal stage of life that requires the highest levels of empathy and compassion from veterinary health care teams. As dogs and cats enter their senior years, their needs evolve in ways both medically significant and emotionally profound for their families. For credentialed veterinary technicians and veterinarians, these years present a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on patient comfort, longevity, and quality of life. For pet parents, they mark a tender phase where guidance, empathy, and clear communication matter more than ever. At the Hill’s Global Symposium (HGS) October 2025, I led a session that explored practical, evidence-based strategies to empower veterinary teams to better support senior pets through nutrition, mobility assessment, client education, and senior wellness programs. This article brings together these insights, along with new perspectives on communication, clinic environment, and end-of-life support, all designed to offer a comprehensive and actionable guide for veterinary professionals. Veterinary technicians are uniquely positioned to influence outcomes for senior pets. They often spend the most time interacting with clients, gathering histories, and monitoring long-term progress. Because effective senior pet care relies heavily on early detection, routine assessment, and ongoing support, veterinary technicians play a crucial role in this process. The art and science of nutritional assessment A thorough nutritional assessment remains a cornerstone of senior pet wellness care. According to the 2023 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Senior Care Guidelines, senior pets require routine examinations and nutritional evaluations to adjust for shifting metabolic needs, emerging medical conditions, and changes in appetite or body condition.¹ In my HGS session, we discussed how credentialed veterinary technicians conducting these assessments matters just as much as what they uncover. For example, taking a good, thorough diet history is critical. More importantly, we need to do that with compassion. Pet parents of senior pets can be anxious. They are worried about how much more time they have with their beloved pets, usually pets that have been part of their lives and families for years. It is important not to appear or sound judgmental in these moments. Here’s an example: When a pet parent reveals they feed their overweight dog a daily scoop of ice cream, the instinct to correct may be strong, but how we, as technicians, respond to them can often determine the success of our interaction. In these situations, I typically ask neutral questions (such as, “What flavor?” or “What brand?”), to keep the conversation open and build trust between myself as the technician and the pet parent. Only after an examination has been completed and medical findings have been determined should a technician revisit the food choice and explain why an alternative is needed (if new food is recommended). This approach reframes the conversation from one where the pet parent fears a reprimand to a partnership, where clinic staff and pet parents work together to craft a plan for helping a senior pet lead a long, healthy life. Using images, not numbers, to educate Body condition score (BCS), body fat index (BFI), and muscle condition score (MCS) are essential components of geriatric pet assessment, yet many pet parents need assistance in interpreting what these tools tell them. Visuals are easier to understand than numbers. If I tell a pet parent, “Your pet is a five out of nine,” that doesn’t have any meaning for them. But if I engage them in doing a hands-on assessment of their pet (i.e. Do you feel your pet’s ribs? How about the backbone? What does this mean?), this leads them to their own conclusions without feeling as if they have been judged or criticized for the condition of their pet. Rather than receiving a technical lecture, pet parents feel they are helping develop a health plan for their pet’s senior years. Implementing a comprehensive senior status assessment Geriatric care should begin long before a pet enters the last 25 percent of its anticipated lifespan. Aging changes often warrant adjustments to an animal’s care and attention to their evolving needs.2 Yet many pet parents delay senior care because early-stage signs of aging are subtle or easily dismissed. Veterinary practices can help clients recognize the importance of early intervention by implementing consistent senior assessments that include: BCS and MCS evaluation Frailty and mobility assessment tools Comprehensive diet history Pain scoring and osteoarthritis screening Baseline diagnostics and trend monitoring These assessments serve not only to detect issues early but also to initiate ongoing, proactive conversations with clients. Identifying the unhealthy senior pet Senior pets often exhibit health changes that pet parents attribute to “just getting old.” These can include: ● Decreased appetite ● Increased water consumption ● Weight loss or gain ● Altered sleep or social patterns ● Mobility or grooming challenges ● Changes in elimination Because these signs overlap across multiple diseases, assessments must be thorough. Comprehensive diagnostics should evaluate all major body systems, including renal, endocrine, cardiac, neurological musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal, allowing for early detection and tailored treatment, such as a therapeutic diet tailored to support one or more medical conditions. The importance of client-facing educational tools Senior pet owners receive large volumes of information during veterinary visits. Without written support, much of it is forgotten. Clinics should consider building a library of customizable handouts covering topics, such as: Nutrition for senior pets Body condition and muscle maintenance Home modifications for aging pets What to monitor between visits Mobility and exercise adjustments Handouts reinforce recommendations and empower clients to become active participants in their pet’s care. Developing a robust geriatric wellness program A successful senior care program integrates nutrition, mobility, preventive screening, and ongoing communication. It also accounts for each pet’s unique medical, behavioral, and sensory changes. As dogs and cats age, the number of taste buds decreases, and their sense of smell begins to dull, especially in cats.3,4 These changes often lead to appetite fluctuations pet parents may not recognize as significant. Key considerations include: Palatability becomes crucial. Older pets prefer aromatic, high-palatability diets. Species preferences differ. For example, dogs favor sweeter flavors, while cats are indifferent to sweetness. Dogs respond well to moist textures or water added to kibble, while cats often reject softened kibble. Digestibility and nutrient balance matter more with age. Senior pet foods must balance protein quality, controlled fat, and appropriate phosphorus levels with palatability and digestibility, so that food is enticing to senior pets while allowing for superior nutrient absorption. Creating a senior pet–friendly practice A senior-friendly clinic environment can significantly increase compliance and reduce stress for both senior pets and owners. Thoughtful environmental adjustments can make a tremendous difference, such as: ● Easy-access entrances with ramps ● Non-slip flooring and padded exam surfaces ● Separate waiting areas for dogs and cats ● Pheromone diffusers for calming cues ● Staff training in low-stress handling and pain recognition These changes signal to pet parents that the practice understands and prioritizes the needs of older pets. Many practices also benefit from incorporating resources, such as Fear Freecertification, Cat Friendly Practice guidelines, and veterinary hospice continuing education programs, which expand clinical skills while enhancing the overall client and patient experience. Transitioning to new diets For most pets, a seven-day gradual transition works best: Days 1–2: 25 percent new, 75 percent old Days 3–4: 50 percent new, 50 percent old Days 5–6: 75 percent new, 25 percent old Day 7+: 100 percent new For pets with digestive sensitivity or significant aversions, transitions may take weeks to months. The key is clear written instructions and ongoing support. A challenge to the profession: Lead with empathy and evidence Senior pet care is one of the most impactful and often overlooked areas in veterinary medicine. The challenge to the profession is clear: be proactive, be thorough, and above all, be compassionate. Every nutritional assessment, mobility check, and follow-up call represents an opportunity to improve a pet’s comfort and extend the healthy years that families cherish. Senior care is not only about addressing disease; it is about honoring the human–animal bond during the phase of life when it matters most. Veterinary technicians and veterinarians have the tools, knowledge, and influence to dramatically improve outcomes for aging pets. What they do with that opportunity will determine how many senior pets live not just longer, but also better. Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), is a veterinary technician specialist in nutrition with more than 30 years of experience in small animal clinical practice, education, and professional training. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences and a contributor to veterinary nutrition education programs. Ograin serves as a Scientific Communication Senior Specialist with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, where she focuses on helping veterinary teams elevate patient care through nutrition. She can be reached at vicky_ograin@hillspet.com References AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Available at: JAAHA7343_proof.pdf. Accessed on 11/24/2025. Fascetti AJ, Delaney SJ. Feeding the Healthy Dog and Cat. In Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., West Sussex, UK, 2012, pages 75 – 94. Debraekeleer J, Gross KL, Zicker SC. Feeding Mature Adult Dogs: Middle Aged and Older. in Hand, MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL et al, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th edition, Kansas: Mark Morris Institute 2010: 273-280. Gross KL, Becvarova I, Debraekeleer J. Feeding Mature Adult Cats: Middle aged and older in Hand, MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL et al., Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition, Kansas: Mark Morris Institute 2010: 715 – 730.
