By Dr. Michael Skarie, DVM
One of the easiest things for pet owners to notice is when something about their dog or cat changes.
Maybe your dog used to jump onto the bed every night, but now waits on the floor. Maybe your dog once chased a ball across the yard for twenty minutes and now loses interest after a few throws. Maybe your cat used to greet you at the door but has gradually started spending more time alone.
It is easy to explain these changes away.
“He’s getting older.”
“She’s just slowing down.”
“That’s probably just his personality now.”
Sometimes, those explanations are correct. But sometimes they are not.
A change in what your pet wants to do can be one of the earliest clues that something physical is going on. Dogs and cats cannot tell us that their joints hurt, that a tooth is fractured, that their vision has changed, or that something internally doesn’t feel right. Instead, they often change what they do.
That is one reason I pay so much attention to behavior and lifestyle during wellness care. I don’t just want to know whether your dog is eating and drinking. I want to know what your dog normally enjoys doing—and whether they are still doing it.
At Hess Ridge Animal Hospital, our approach to wellness is proactive. We are not simply checking boxes or giving vaccines. We are looking for problems before they become larger problems and trying to identify changes that may be easy for a family to miss when they happen slowly.
Your Pet’s “Normal” Is One of the Most Valuable Health Tools We Have
Every pet has their own version of normal.
One dog may spend every morning running around the yard. Another may prefer a slow walk followed by a nap on the couch. One cat may constantly climb, explore, and demand attention.
Another may be happiest watching everything from a favorite windowsill.
There is no single definition of what a happy, healthy pet should look like.
What matters is knowing what is normal for your pet.
That baseline becomes extremely useful when something changes.
During a wellness visit, we ask questions about what you have been seeing at home because those details give us context that we cannot get from a physical examination alone. We want to understand appetite, activity, behavior, mobility, lifestyle, and anything else that may have changed since we last saw your pet.
The reason this matters is that many health problems develop gradually.
A pet may not suddenly wake up one morning unable to climb stairs. Instead, they may stop using the stairs as often. They may hesitate before jumping. They may choose a different sleeping location because it is easier to reach.
Those changes can happen so slowly that the family living with the pet every day may not recognize the pattern.
I have seen this with my own dog, too. When changes happen gradually over several months, it can be surprisingly difficult to recognize that anything has changed. One of the benefits of seeing a pet periodically is that we can compare what we are seeing now with what we saw six months or a year ago.
When “Slowing Down” May Actually Mean Something Is Hurting
One of the biggest mistakes we can make with an aging pet is assuming every change is simply part of getting older.
Age itself is not a diagnosis.
If your dog used to jump into the car and now waits for you to lift them, there may be a reason. If your dog used to chase a ball and suddenly no longer wants to, there may be a reason. If a three-mile walk used to be easy but your dog now seems tired after a quarter mile, that change deserves attention.
Arthritis is one possible explanation, particularly as dogs age.
The tricky part is that many dogs don’t act obviously painful. They may still wag their tail. They may still eat breakfast. They may still greet you when you come home.
From the outside, they can look fine.
But that does not necessarily mean they feel fine.
One of the most interesting things we see in practice is what happens when a pet’s discomfort is treated. Families sometimes call us afterward and tell us their dog is doing things they haven’t seen in years.
A dog starts jumping onto the bed again.
A dog gets into the car without hesitation.
A dog starts chasing the ball.
A dog becomes interested in going for longer walks again.
The family may have thought those behaviors disappeared because of age or personality. In reality, pain may have been limiting what the dog was willing or able to do.
That is why I don’t want families to think of wellness care as simply looking for obvious disease.
Sometimes the goal is to figure out why a pet is no longer doing something they used to love.
“My Pet Still Eats Fine” Doesn’t Always Mean Everything Is Fine
Another misconception we run into is that a pet cannot have a significant problem if they are still eating normally.
Unfortunately, that isn’t always true.
I recently saw a dog with two fractured teeth that were split almost completely in half. The dog was clearly uncomfortable when the affected teeth were touched, but was still eating because the dog was chewing on the other side of the mouth.
The fact that the dog could eat did not mean the dog was comfortable. It meant the dog had adapted.
That distinction matters.
Pets are very good at adapting to discomfort. They may change how they chew, alter how they move, sleep differently, or simply avoid activities that make them uncomfortable.
This is one reason oral health belongs in a complete wellness conversation. Dental disease and fractured teeth can cause pain without necessarily causing a dramatic change in appetite.
During a thorough physical examination, we have the opportunity to look at the teeth and gums and identify problems that may not be obvious at home.
The goal isn’t to wait until a pet stops eating.
The goal is to recognize the problem while there is still an opportunity to address it earlier.
Behavior and Physical Health Are Connected
Behavior is sometimes treated as a completely separate issue from physical health.
I don’t see it that way.
A pet’s physical, mental, and behavioral health are connected.
For example, imagine a dog that suddenly becomes more reactive around other dogs or people. It is possible that the dog has developed a behavioral issue. But it is also worth asking whether pain or discomfort could be contributing.
A painful dog may become more protective of themselves.
A dog that doesn’t feel comfortable moving may become less interested in activities.
A dog that has difficulty getting around may appear less social.
That doesn’t automatically mean pain is the cause. But it is part of the story we should consider.
The same principle applies when a pet becomes less active. Rather than immediately deciding that the pet is lazy, we should ask why.
Is the pet overweight?
Is movement uncomfortable?
Has the environment changed?
Is the pet bored?
Has their physical ability changed?
Is there another medical concern?
The best veterinary care doesn’t stop at identifying a behavior. We try to understand the reason behind it.
That requires listening to the whole story rather than focusing on one symptom in isolation.
Quality of Days Matters
When we talk about longevity, it is easy to focus entirely on how many years a pet lives.
I think we should also talk about how those years are lived.
For most families, the goal isn’t simply to have a pet who reaches a certain age. They want their dog to enjoy walks. They want their cat to climb, explore, and interact with the family. They want their pet to be comfortable enough to participate in the things that make them who they are.
That is why I often think about the quality of days, not just the number of days.
If a dog loves chasing a ball, being unable to chase that ball matters.
If a dog loves going for walks, suddenly stopping after a few minutes matters.
If a cat loves jumping onto a favorite piece of furniture and suddenly can’t do it, that matters.
These aren’t insignificant lifestyle changes. They are pieces of information about your pet’s quality of life.
We may not always be able to quantify every part of a pet’s happiness, but keeping them engaged in the activities they enjoy is an important part of wellness.
Mental Enrichment Is Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
Wellness is not only about preventing disease.
It is also about giving pets opportunities to use their bodies and their minds.
Exercise is important, but physical activity isn’t the only way to enrich a dog.
Different dogs need different things. Some may benefit tremendously from walks where they can stop and smell their surroundings. Others may enjoy learning new commands, interacting with people, exploring new environments, or experiencing different sights and sounds. Sometimes a mentally stimulating outing can be just as valuable as trying to physically exhaust a dog.
For example, taking a dog somewhere they can safely experience new smells, people, sounds, and environments may provide a different type of stimulation than simply walking the same route every day.
The important thing is to understand what your individual pet enjoys.
A wellness plan should not be built around what social media says every dog needs. It should be built around the animal in front of us.
Weight Can Change More Than Appearance
Behavior changes can also be connected to weight.
If a pet is carrying excess weight, activities that were once easy can become more difficult. Extra weight can contribute to problems involving joints, mobility, and overall health.
This is one reason I talk about weight as a health issue rather than an appearance issue.
When we recommend that a dog or cat lose weight, it isn’t about criticizing the owner or trying to make the pet look different.
The goal is to give that pet more healthy, comfortable time.
Weight management can also involve much more than simply reducing the amount of food in the bowl. We need to consider what the pet is eating, how much they are actually consuming, treats, table scraps, activity level, body condition, breed, age, and individual metabolism.
Pet food labels can provide a starting point, but they don’t know your individual dog.
Two dogs that weigh the same may need different amounts of food to maintain a healthy body condition. We pay attention to what the pet’s body is actually telling us rather than relying on a package recommendation alone.
What We Look For During a Wellness Visit
When we examine a pet, we are not simply looking for the obvious.
We start by getting a weight so we can compare it with previous measurements. Changes in weight can provide important information about a pet’s health.
Our care team also gathers a detailed history, including diet, travel, symptoms, medications, and anything the family has noticed at home.
Then we perform a complete physical examination.
We look at the nose, teeth, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, lymph nodes, abdomen, back, and mobility.
We also watch how the pet moves around the room.
Sometimes observation begins before we even touch the animal.
How does the dog stand?
Do they favor one leg?
Are they moving comfortably?
Do they shake their head?
How is their breathing?
Are they behaving differently from what we would expect?
Those observations can help direct the rest of the examination. Depending on the pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, and individual circumstances, we may also discuss blood work, parasite testing, vaccinations, dental care, nutrition, or other preventive recommendations.
The goal is not to automatically recommend every possible test.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to veterinary medicine.
Our job is to look at the individual pet, understand the family’s goals, and determine what makes the most sense for that situation.
Don’t Wait for Your Pet to Tell You Something Is Wrong
Dogs and cats cannot tell us when something hurts.
They can’t explain that their back is sore.
They can’t tell us that a tooth hurts when they chew.
They can’t tell us that they feel different inside.
What they can do is change.
Sometimes the change is obvious. Often, it is not.
That is why I encourage families to pay attention to the things their pets normally love doing.
Those everyday behaviors can become some of the most useful clues we have.
If your dog stops jumping into the car, your cat stops climbing, your pet no longer wants to go on walks, or an activity they once loved suddenly disappears, don’t automatically assume it’s aging.
Ask why.
Sometimes the answer is simple.
Sometimes it is something we can treat.
And sometimes identifying a change early allows us to make a small adjustment that prevents a much bigger problem later.
At Hess Ridge Animal Hospital, that is what we mean by proactive wellness. We want to listen to the whole story, work with you rather than lecture you, and find realistic ways to help your pet live the healthiest and most comfortable life possible. Our philosophy is not one-size-fits-all.
There are different paths for every pet and different options for every family.
Helping Your Pet Keep Doing What They Love
Your pet’s favorite activities can tell us a lot about their health.
Keep paying attention to them.
Notice what changes.
Bring those observations to your veterinary team.
Sometimes a small change in behavior is simply a small change. Other times, it is the first piece of a much bigger health story.
Our job is to help you put those pieces together.
Because keeping a pet healthy isn’t only about preventing disease. It is about helping them continue to enjoy the walks, games, naps, adventures, routines, and time with their families that make their lives meaningful.
Schedule a Wellness Visit at Hess Ridge Animal Hospital
If you’ve noticed that your dog or cat isn’t doing something they used to enjoy, don’t assume it’s simply part of getting older. A wellness visit gives us an opportunity to look at the bigger picture, identify subtle changes, and determine whether there is an underlying reason for the difference. Contact Hess Ridge Animal Hospital to schedule your pet’s next wellness visit and let us work with you to protect their comfort, health, and quality of life.