Healthy Ageing
Canine Longevity: 7 Vet-Led Ways to Help Dogs Live Longer
A vet-written framework for helping dogs age well. Learn the seven pillars of canine longevity and how they work together.
14 min readRead the guide
Vet-written · Dr Kelly Yeo, BVSc
Help your dog age well
Practical, vet-written guidance to help dogs aged five and over stay healthier, more comfortable and active for longer.
Try “coughing”, “kidney disease”, “muscle loss” or “blood tests”.
What are you noticing?
Start from the change you can see at home. Each pathway opens the existing vet-written guides for that pattern.
- Drinking or urinating more
- Coughing or breathing changes
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Limping, stiffness or difficulty rising
- Lumps or swelling
- Appetite or weight changes
- Behaviour, sleep or cognitive changes
- Collapse, seizures or urgent symptoms
- Ear scratching, head shaking or head tilt
- Bad breath, drooling or mouth pain
- Ate something they shouldn't have
- Slowing down or low energy
- Signs of pain or discomfort
Recently diagnosed?
Calm, in-depth guides to the diagnoses we see most often in older dogs.
- Chronic kidney diseaseStaging, diet, monitoring and day-to-day care.
- Heart disease (mitral valve disease)How murmurs progress and when treatment begins.
- DiabetesInsulin, home monitoring, diet and warning signs.
- Arthritis and mobility problemsProtecting muscle, comfort and movement as dogs age.
- CancerMast cell tumours, splenic haemangiosarcoma and how testing works.
- Balance and neurological changesSudden loss of balance in older dogs, and what it can mean.
Keeping a healthy dog well
Preventive care, grouped the way vets think about it.
- Screening and blood testsHow often should dogs have blood tests?
- NutritionToxic foods for dogs
- Muscle preservationMuscle loss in senior dogs
- SupplementsSupplements for longevity in dogs
- Dental healthDental disease in dogs
- Brain healthUnderstanding normal ageing in dogs
- Healthy ageingThe healthy ageing collection
Most-read guides
Browse every vet-written guide
Tests & Screening
Longevity Blood Tests for Dogs: Which Biomarkers Are Worth Testing?
There is no single blood test for a dog's biological age. A vet explains which biomarkers in routine bloodwork are genuinely useful for longevity screening, and how to read them as patterns rather than pass-or-fail numbers.
14 min readRead the guide
Symptoms
Is My Dog Sick? When to Call the Vet or Seek Emergency Care
A vet-written guide to deciding whether your dog needs emergency care, a same-day call to your vet clinic, or close monitoring at home.
10 min readRead the guide
Symptoms
Why Is My Dog Coughing? Common Causes and When to See a Vet
A vet explains why dogs cough, what the sound means, and when kennel cough, tracheal collapse, bronchitis or heart disease needs urgent attention.
13 min readRead the guide
Symptoms
Dog Vomiting and Diarrhoea: When to Worry and What to Do
A practical, vet-written guide to vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. Learn when to monitor at home, when to call the vet, and which signs need emergency care.
12 min readRead the guide
Senior Care
Palliative Care for Dogs: What It Really Means
Palliative care is active medical care focused on comfort and quality of life. Learn what it involves, when it helps, and how it differs from hospice care.
11 min readRead the guide
Who writes this
Meet Dr Kelly Yeo, BVSc
Kelly is a veterinarian with more than 16 years in companion animal medicine and a special interest in geriatric health, chronic disease management and palliative care. Every guide here is written and reviewed by her, and none of it replaces your own vet — it is designed to help you arrive at appointments better informed.
The seven pillars of canine longevity
Almost everything on this site sits under one of seven practical areas.
- NutritionGood-quality protein, essential fats, fibre, hydration and body condition tailored to your dog.
- Gut & Immune HealthA stable, diverse microbiome supports digestion, nutrient absorption and normal immune function.
- Mobility & Muscle PreservationMuscle, joint and spinal health maintained through gentle movement and early pain management.
- Organ HealthKidneys, liver, heart and brain change quietly; early signs and monitoring buy time to act.
- Screening & Early DetectionHistory, examination, blood and urine tests and imaging catch problems while options remain.
- Brain Health & CognitionEnrichment, routine, sleep quality and adapted activity protect memory and confidence.
- Environment & ComfortBedding, traction, temperature, ramps and quiet rest areas reduce strain and preserve independence.
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