Film it: a short video can show your vet what the exam room cannot
Older pets often move differently at home than they do on a vet clinic floor. A few short clips on your phone can close that gap.
What the guidelines say
The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines say a relaxed animal in a comfortable environment allows a more accurate exam, and that senior pets may feel pain and distress more often. They also say client videos of a pet moving in its own environment are a useful tool to assess pain, mobility and movement, and that videos of the pet walking or jumping “can help detect early neuropathic or musculoskeletal disease.”
Cats hide it well
The same guidelines note that, unlike dogs, cats rarely have a grinding sensation (crepitus) in affected joints during an exam. Studies they cite indicate more than 60% of cats have osteoarthritis in at least one joint, even without that exam finding. For a cat, what you see at home may be the main clue.
A simple way to film it (our suggestion, not a guideline)
- Film in your usual setting, on the surfaces your pet really uses.
- Capture a side view and a view from behind while your pet walks.
- Add getting up from a nap, using stairs, or stepping into the car, if those are part of life.
- Keep each clip short, and note the date and what you noticed.
Pair the video with notes
A clip shows how your pet moves. Notes show how that changes over weeks: appetite, water, bathroom habits, sleep and mood. AAHA lists these among the topics a thorough senior history covers.
