THINK your pet is younger than you?

Multiply its age by seven and there might be a surprise new head of your household.

Veterinarians nationwide have put the spotlight on senior pets this month, as animal-owners often don’t realise just how old their pets really are.

A seven-year-old pet is the equivalent of a 50-year-old human, Batemans Bay Veterinary Surgery’s Dr Paula Roberts said.

Better food and care for animals mean they live longer, which puts them at risk of age-related illnesses.

“Pets are living longer and are thus at higher risk of developing old-age diseases such as arthritis, kidney disease and canine Alzheimer’s,” Dr Roberts said.

“Warning signs of these problems include bad breath, sleeping more, increased urinating and drinking, and changes in weight and behaviour.”

Many health problems can be aided by a shift to special pet food once they reach seven years old. It’s best not to wait for symptoms, as many conditions are only obvious once serious damage has occurred internally.

“Kidney disease, one of the most common diseases amongst older cats and dogs, will only show symptoms once 75 per cent of kidney fuction is lost,” Dr Roberts said.

Dr Roberts has two cats, Scamp and Missy, who are 21 and 19 years old respectively.

The cats have been with Dr Roberts from birth, and are very much part of the family.

“They’re just like [my] children. They’re the same age as my niece and nephew,” she said.

Missy can’t jump as many fences as she used too - she and Scamp are housebound now - but is as physically fit as can be expected for 133 cat years old.

Scamp, at 147 cat years old, is also doing quite well. She takes arthritis pills daily, sleeps a bit longer in the sun than she used to, and has very little time for reporters who disrupt her sleep routine.

Caring for older pets is a lot like caring for older humans - the animals can’t groom themselves as they used to and eat smaller portions more regularly.

“They do tend to be very demanding of your time as they get older,” Dr Roberts said.

Scamp does suffer occasional Alzheimer’s, but so far all the cat needed when it forget something was to be picked up, turned around, and pointed in the direction of her food bowl.