Life Stage Care

The needs of a 3-month-old kitten, a 16-year-old cat, a 6-month-old puppy and a 12-year-old dog are all VERY different. At Plum Creek Veterinary Hospital, we recognize that life stages (age groups) are a very important factor in the health of our pets. As you know, pets age much faster than humans do, and so we recommend visits, services and nutritional counseling based on your pet’s life stage.

For cats, we follow the recommendations of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) for its Feline Life Stage Guidelines.

Although a formal life stage guideline for all aspects of care of our canine companions has not been created, we recognize that canine life stages do exist as well (neonatal, pediatric, young adult, adult and senior) and draw from various sources for our recommendations. Each life stage has its own nutritional, vaccination and wellness care needs. Once your dog reaches its senior years, twice yearly examinations and early detection testing (i.e. blood pressure and blood work) are recommended. The age at which your pet reaches the senior years is directly related to his/her adult size and breed. For instance, a 160 pound Mastiff will reach his senior years at age 5, while a 5 pound Chihuahua is not considered a senior until age 8. We work with you to determine the best individualized care your beloved pet needs based on his/her breed, life stage and lifestyle.