SENIOR DOG VETERINARIAN IN OAKVILLE

Dr. Mac is one of fewer than 500 veterinarians worldwide certified by the Senior Dog Veterinary Society, bringing specialized training in aging and geriatric dog care to every appointment.

Have you noticed any of these changes in your older dog?

  • Is there a little more time needed to get up in the morning?
  • Have the stairs become something to negotiate rather than bound up?
  • Is there a new hesitation before jumping onto the couch, or a cloudiness in those familiar eyes?

These shifts can sneak up on you, and they often bring complicated feelings. You want to support your senior who’s been your companion through so much, but you’re not always sure how to help support them through their golden years.

Dr. Mac understands. As a Senior Dog Certified veterinarian in Oakville, she’s completed advanced training through the Senior Dog Veterinary Society, a program dedicated entirely to studying aging dogs. Unlike general continuing education (CE) required of all veterinarians, this program is dedicated entirely to the science of how dogs age and how to support them through every part of that journey.

It’s also personal because all four of Dr. Mac’s own dogs (Monkey, Maple, Loki, and Millie) are now in their senior years. She’s navigating this chapter right alongside you.

What Does It Mean to Be a Senior Dog Certified Veterinarian?

The Senior Dog Veterinary Society is an organization dedicated to advancing veterinary care for aging and geriatric dogs. Their certification program provides veterinarians with specialized CE focused entirely on the unique needs of older canine patients.

The truth is that senior dogs aren’t just older adults. Their bodies process medications differently. Their nutritional needs shift. They may experience cognitive changes that look like behavior problems but have treatable underlying causes. They often have multiple health conditions happening at once, which means appointments require a different kind of attention.

Dr. Mac’s certification covers the areas that matter most for aging dogs:

Canine cognitive health

Recognizing and managing canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD, sometimes called “dog dementia”) which affects many senior pets and is often mistaken for normal aging or behavior issues.

Older dogs are experts at hiding discomfort. Dr. Mac is trained to spot the subtle signs and build effective pain management plans that improve daily quality of life.

When dental work, surgery, or other procedures are needed, geriatric dogs require carefully adjusted anesthesia protocols. Dr. Mac’s training includes pre-anesthetic screening and modified approaches for older patients.

Dietary strategies that support joint health, organ function, cognitive wellness, and overall vitality in senior and geriatric dogs.

Helping you understand what you’re seeing at home, what to expect as your dog ages, and how to make decisions that honor your dog’s comfort and dignity, including end-of-life planning when that time comes.

This training shapes how Dr. Mac approaches every senior dog appointment at our Oakville clinic: from the questions she asks, to the diagnostics she recommends, to the way she talks with you about what comes next.

What to Expect at a Senior Dog Wellness Exam

When you bring your aging dog to Mac Animal Clinic, the visit is designed around their specific needs (and yours).

We start with the big picture

Before diving in, Dr. Mac wants to understand how your dog is doing at home. What does a typical day look like? What’s changed? What are you worried about? Your observations matter because you know your dog better than anyone.

We take our time

Senior dogs often need a slower pace, and so do the conversations around their health. As a Fear Free Certified practice, we’re already focused on reducing stress for every patient, but this matters even more for older dogs who may be dealing with anxiety, vision changes, or mobility challenges. Every team member is trained in senior-specific handling methods, as well as making their visit more comfortable through items like non-slip mats that help with traction on senior paws.

We look at everything together

Older dogs frequently have several things going on at once. Rather than treating each issue in isolation, Dr. Mac considers how different conditions interact and prioritizes what will make the biggest difference in your dog’s daily life.

We make a plan you can actually follow

You’ll leave with clear next steps. Instead of an overwhelming list of problems, we provide a focused approach that fits your dog and your family.

We talk about the hard stuff when it’s time

Whether that’s managing a new diagnosis, adjusting expectations, or beginning conversations about quality of life and end-of-life planning, Dr. Mac provides guidance with honesty and compassion.

When Is a Dog Considered a Senior?

There’s no single birthday that makes a dog a senior; it depends largely on size and breed. Larger breeds like Great Danes and German Shepherds may enter their senior years around age 6 or 7, while smaller dogs like Yorkies and Chihuahuas might not show significant age-related changes until 10 or older.
What matters more than their age is what you’re observing: changes in mobility, energy levels, sleep patterns, appetite, or behavior. If you’re noticing anything unusual (or if you just want to get ahead of them) a senior wellness exam can help establish where your dog is now and what proactive steps might support them going forward.

General Senior Age Guideline

  • Small dogs (under 20 lbs): Senior around 9-11 years
  • Medium dogs (20-50 lbs): Senior around 8-10 years
  • Large dogs (50-90 lbs): Senior around 7-9 years
  • Giant breeds (over 90 lbs): Senior around 5-7 years

Click the image above to enlarge and explore your pet’s true biological age compared to their chronological age.
(Spoiler: it’s not just dog years x 7.)

Senior Dog Resources

Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Dog Care

What is a Senior Dog Certified veterinarian?

A Senior Dog Certified veterinarian has completed specialized continuing education through the Senior Dog Veterinary Society, focusing specifically on the medical, cognitive, and quality-of-life needs of aging and geriatric dogs. This certification requires completing RACE-approved courses covering topics like canine cognitive dysfunction, pain management in older dogs, anesthesia considerations for senior patients, and end-of-life care.

Most veterinarians recommend senior dogs have wellness exams at least twice a year, rather than the once-yearly visits typical for younger adult dogs. Because health conditions can develop and progress more quickly in older dogs, more frequent check-ups allow for earlier detection and intervention.

Common signs that your dog is entering their senior years include: slowing down on walks or reluctance to climb stairs, stiffness when getting up (especially in the morning), changes in sleep patterns, increased thirst or urination, weight changes, cloudy eyes, hearing loss, confusion or disorientation, and changes in appetite or eating habits. While slowing down is a natural part of aging, the discomfort that often comes with it doesn’t have to be. If you’re noticing any of these changes, schedule a senior wellness exam to help determine what’s normal aging versus what might benefit from treatment or management. Our goal is to support your dog’s comfort throughout their golden years.

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a condition similar to dementia in humans that affects many senior dogs. Signs include disorientation, changes in sleep-wake cycles, potty accidents in previously housetrained dogs, decreased interaction with family members, and general anxiety or restlessness. CCD is often underdiagnosed because pet owners assume these changes are just “normal aging,” but there are treatments and management strategies that can help.

Anesthesia does carry more considerations for senior dogs, but with proper pre-anesthetic screening (including bloodwork, heart evaluation, and careful protocol selection) many older dogs tolerate procedures well. Dr. Mac’s Senior Dog Certification includes specialized training in anesthetic considerations for geriatric patients to maximize safety.

The Senior Dog Veterinary Society certification is specific to canine patients, but Dr. Mac’s focus on the unique needs of aging pets shapes how she approaches senior cats as well. If your feline companion is entering their golden years, that same thoughtful, individualized attention applies to their visits too.

Compassionate Senior Dog Care in Oakville

Your senior dog has been there through everything: the moves, the milestones, the hard days, the ordinary ones. This stage of life comes with new questions, but it also holds something worth protecting: more time together.

At Mac Animal Clinic, we’re here to help you make the most of it. With specialized training in geriatric dog care, a gentle Fear Free approach, and a deep respect for the bond you share with your aging companion, Dr. Mac and her team are ready to support you both.

Mac Animal Clinic is located at 1026 Speers Road in Oakville, Ontario, serving pet families throughout Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and the surrounding areas.