Geriatric typically refers to a pet who is over the age of 6 (for large breed) or 7 (for small breed). Many geriatric pets develop the same kind of health issues seen in older people. These include: cancer, heart disease, kidney, urinary tract disease, liver disease, diabetes, bone and/or joint disease, senility, blindness, and weakness. As pets age, they require more in-depth care and health screenings. At a minimum, once a year, your pet should have blood work done, along with digital radiographs. This helps our doctors catch many issues that from the surface can’t be seen. Many of these issues can be properly managed, and at times, disappear, if caught early.