Senior Pet Talk | for dogs + cats

If someone said they could scan your 11-year-old pet, hand you a "biological age," and slow down their aging, would you buy it? In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks about longevity medicine in senior pets, walking through 7 reasons to be careful with anyone using the term "longevity medicine," and 6 questions you can ask instead to get to what will actually help your pet.

She discusses:

• Why we should be careful with the term "longev...

How do I love my senior pet the way they need? Today, Dr. Amanda talks about how caring for senior dogs and cats means adapting the way we show affection as their bodies, brains, and preferences change.

She gets into:

• The grief and guilt that can come up when pets can no longer do the activities they once loved, and how to keep the bond in new ways
• Respecting their boundaries and staying connected through gentler interaction
• Practi...

Is Librela safe for my pet? In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks about Librela for senior dogs, including what the drug is, how it works, and why it's such a debated topic.

She discusses:

• What Librela is
• Osteoarthritis and why it's so common in senior pets, and why pain management decisions can be difficult
• How we approach Librela treatment in practice, usually starting with other options first and using a multimodal plan
• The studies b...

What are some safe exercises for my senior pet? In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks about how to help senior dogs and cats stay active and keep moving safely as they age.

She explains:

• Why movement still matters
• The importance of maintaining a healthy body condition and monitoring muscle condition over time
• How in-person rehabilitation evaluations can help, especially for pets with mobility issues
• Simple, safe exercises for both senio...

Is this lump a problem? Today, Dr. Steffen covers how to evaluate skin masses, lumps, and bumps on senior pets, and why you shouldn't assume a mass is harmless based on appearance alone.

She explains:

• Why terms like "tumor" or "mass" don't automatically mean cancer, but a meaningful number of skin masses can be cancerous and should be checked
• What pet parents can monitor at home, including how keeping a monthly record with photos ...

What should I check on my aging pet every month? In this episode, Dr. Steffen shares a once-a-month, 10-minute senior pet checkup she calls her Aging Gracefully checklist, something you can do at home to catch changes earlier in dogs and cats.

She covers:

• Why small changes can be easy to miss unless you track them over time
• Weight and body condition
• Eating, drinking, and gastrointestinal signs, and why trends matter more than singl...

Is your home set up for your senior pet? Today, Dr. Steffen focuses on how a senior pet's home environment affects daily comfort and mobility. Senior pets spend most of their time at home, so layout and surfaces around the house can really improve their quality of life.

She talks about:

• Ways to make floors safer, especially hardwood and laminate surfaces
• Ramps, stairs, and stair treads for access to couches, beds, and different le...

Age is not a disease. We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Steffen and Dr. Hunter, where they continue digging into senior pets, sharing takes on tools, quality of life, integrative medicine, and common misconceptions.

They discuss:

• The practical challenges that come with aging dogs and cats
• The need for more at-home support, especially for larger pets
• How senior status is often met with denial from pet parents, and ...

What vets wish pet parents knew about senior pet care. In this first part of a 2-part series, Dr. Steffen is joined by one of her best friends and general practice vet, Dr. Terrence Hunter, who now owns his own practice, WAG Vet. They share experiences from veterinary medicine, explore senior pet care, and why thorough exams and client communication matter so much.

They chat about:

• Personal memories from their time in practice to...

How do I know if my dog is having a medical emergency? Last week was all about common cat emergencies, and today we're focusing on dogs. Dr. Amanda walks through 5 common emergencies she sees and the signs to watch for, so you can feel more prepared as a pet parent.

Including:

• Sudden collapse (fainting, internal bleeding, hemangiosarcoma): what it can mean and what to check first
• Bloat (GDV) and the warning signs
• Preventive gastrop...

How do I know if my cat is having a medical emergency? In today's episode, Dr. Amanda Steffen walks through 5 common senior cat emergencies. If you've ever found yourself wondering whether you needed to rush to the emergency hospital or get to your family vet urgently because something felt off with your cat, this one's for you.

She covers:

• Respiratory distress, including heavy breathing, belly breathing, or panting
• Kidney disease...

Caregiver burden and exhaustion are real, even for pet parents. Today, let's talk about the impact caregiving has on you, not just your pet.

Dr. Amanda covers:

• The impact senior pet caregiving has on us as pet parents
• The caregiver burden in practical terms: missing social events, work interruptions, and the constant worry about leaving your pet alone
• Anticipatory grief, guilt, and hindsight bias, including how hard it is to make t...

How much protein should my senior pet get? In this episode, Dr. Amanda discusses a common misconception: that protein should automatically be reduced as pets age. In reality, a lot of the time we actually need to be giving our seniors more protein, not less.

She covers:

• Why protein restriction isn't supported by current research for most healthy senior pets, and how it can contribute to muscle loss, frailty, and a shorter lifespa...

How do you choose a good supplement for your pet? Today, Dr. Amanda talks about why pet supplements can be so confusing for senior dog and cat parents, especially since many products make big claims without much behind them.

She covers:

• Why terms like "natural," "organic," and "holistic" aren't regulated in veterinary supplements, so they shouldn't be taken as proof of quality or effectiveness
• 3 things to actually look for in a su...

What should a senior cat vet visit include? Today, Dr. Amanda is back with another vet visit episode, but this time all about cats and what to ask for during your appointments.

She discusses:

• Why senior pet care is an investment, and why routine monitoring often means blood work, urine testing, and other diagnostics every 6-12 months
• Common early clues: weight loss, reduced activity, litter box changes, changes in appetite or drin...

What to bring with you and your dog to the vet. In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks all about what to expect at a senior dog veterinary visit and how to prepare for one.

She discusses:

• Prepping for the visit, including bringing a complete history, diet, supplements, written questions, and any videos or notes on changes you've seen at home
• Two things to always ask about: body condition score and muscle condition score
• Muscle loss and ...

My cat's losing weight. Should I be worried? That's exactly what Dr. Amanda focuses on in this episode - senior cat weight loss and why any unexplained changes should be taken seriously.

She covers:

• Why weight loss isn't normal unless it's intentional, and why weighing your cat monthly helps
• The main causes of weight loss in senior cats
• Hyperthyroidism, which can cause a ravenous appetite along with weight loss
• Diabetes, especially ...

What does integrative veterinary medicine actually mean? That's what Dr. Amanda digs into today, including the buzzwords you'll hear that don't really mean much in the world of medicine, and how to make sure whoever you're seeing is practicing evidence-based care.

She covers:

• The difference between integrative care, alternative care, and labels like "holistic" or "natural"
• A real case example: Fonzie, a 15-year-old cat whose care ...

How do I know if my dog or cat has dementia? Today, Dr. Amanda is talking all about how to recognize the early signs of cognitive decline in senior dogs and cats.

She gets into:

• How pets can develop this condition as they age, and why catching changes early helps support their quality of life
• Why there's no single test that confirms dementia and the importance of ruling out other causes first
• DISHAALV framework for recognizing sign...