Signs your senior dog needs a check-in

Subtle changes worth a video visit — before they become bigger problems.

Most senior-dog problems start quietly. The dogs who do best are the ones whose owners notice the small stuff early.

Watch for: drinking more water than usual, slower to stand after lying down, reluctance on stairs, cloudy eyes, bad breath, lumps that change shape or size, and changes in appetite or weight without a diet change.

A short video visit is ideal for these — the vet can watch your dog move at home, review symptoms, and decide whether bloodwork or an in-person exam is warranted.

Twice-yearly checkups become more valuable past age seven. They catch kidney, thyroid, and dental disease while they're still cheap and easy to manage.