The Senior Dog Healthspan Scorecard Dog Longevity Lab A 10-minute worksheet for noticing what changed before everything feels urgent. Educational only. Not veterinary advice. Dog Longevity Lab does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. If you notice new, severe, painful, scary, or worsening symptoms, contact your veterinarian instead of waiting for a checklist. How to use this safely 1. Fill out the baseline once. 2. Circle or check anything that changed in the last 3–6 months. 3. Write down the top three changes you want to discuss. 4. Bring this worksheet, plus any useful photos or short videos, to your veterinarian. 5. Do not use this worksheet to delay care. 1. DOG PROFILE AND BASELINE DATES Dog name: __________________________________________ Age: ____________ Breed/mix: _________________________________________ Current weight: _____________________________________ Approximate body condition, if known: ________________ Known diagnoses or medications: ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Last vet exam: ______________________________________ Last bloodwork: _____________________________________ Last dental evaluation or cleaning: ___________________ Baseline status: [ ] I know the date of my dog's last vet exam. [ ] I know the date of my dog's last bloodwork. [ ] I know the date of my dog's last dental evaluation or cleaning. [ ] I am missing one or more dates and want to ask my clinic. Vet questions: - At this age and size, what should we be tracking every month? - Are there breed- or size-specific risks I should watch for? - Are my dog's baseline exam, bloodwork, dental, and weight records current enough? 2. MOBILITY AND HOME SETUP Check anything that changed or became more noticeable in the last 3–6 months: [ ] Slipping on floors [ ] Trouble standing from lying down [ ] Hesitating on stairs [ ] Trouble jumping into the car, couch, or bed [ ] Limping, paw dragging, knuckling, or uneven gait [ ] Shorter walks or lower exercise tolerance [ ] Avoiding favorite activities [ ] More trouble after rest or after exercise Home support currently in place: [ ] Rugs or runners on slick floors [ ] Ramp or stairs for car/couch/bed [ ] Harness or support sling [ ] Nails/paw traction managed [ ] Safer sleep/rest area [ ] Blocked access to unsafe stairs or slippery areas How to interpret this section: - 0–1 checked: establish a monthly mobility baseline. - 2–3 checked: make a home-surface audit and ask your vet whether pain, weakness, joint disease, or another issue should be evaluated. - 4+ checked or sudden change: call your vet rather than waiting for the next routine visit. Vet questions: - Could these changes reflect pain, weakness, neurologic issues, or something else? - What home changes would make movement safer? - What should I film at home to help you evaluate gait, pain, or weakness? 3. WEIGHT, APPETITE, AND MUSCLE Check any current concern: [ ] Weight gain in the last 6 months [ ] Weight loss in the last 6 months [ ] Appetite increase [ ] Appetite decrease [ ] New pickiness or food refusal [ ] Visible muscle loss around hips, spine, shoulders, or head [ ] Harder time maintaining normal activity [ ] Treats, snacks, or table food have crept up 30-day tracking action: - Weigh monthly if practical. - Take one top-down and one side-view photo each month. - Note appetite, food changes, treat changes, and activity changes. Vet questions: - What body condition score should we aim for? - Does this weight or appetite change need bloodwork or another workup? - Should diet, calories, protein, or exercise change for this life stage? 4. DENTAL AND EATING Check any current concern: [ ] Bad breath worse than usual [ ] Dropping food [ ] Chewing on one side [ ] Avoiding hard food or chews [ ] Visible tartar, bleeding gums, or loose teeth [ ] Pawing at the mouth or face [ ] Owner anxiety about anesthesia or dental cleaning Dental changes belong in the vet conversation. This scorecard does not diagnose dental disease. Vet questions: - What does my dog's mouth look like today? - Is a dental procedure recommended, optional, or not needed right now? - What are the anesthesia risks, and how are they managed for a dog like mine? - Are there VOHC-accepted products that make sense for maintenance? 5. COGNITION, SLEEP, AND BEHAVIOR This worksheet only helps you describe changes. It does not diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction. Check any change: [ ] Disorientation: staring, getting stuck, confusion in familiar spaces [ ] Interaction changes: less interest, new clinginess, irritability, or changed greeting [ ] Sleep-wake changes: pacing, restlessness, or waking at night [ ] House-soiling, learning, or memory changes [ ] Activity changes: less interest in play/walks or repetitive/aimless activity [ ] Anxiety or fear changes [ ] New sensitivity to sound, touch, other dogs, visitors, or being alone Tracking action: Write down when it happens, how often, what else changed, and whether it is getting better, worse, or staying the same. Capture short videos when safe and useful. Vet questions: - Could this be pain, sensory loss, medication effect, cognitive change, or another medical issue? - Would a senior behavior/cognition screening tool be appropriate? - What signs mean I should call sooner? - What tracking would help you distinguish causes? 6. QUALITY-OF-LIFE TREND In the last 14 days: Good days: __________ Bad days: __________ Favorite activities still enjoyed: ____________________________________________________ Activities avoided: ____________________________________________________ Pain signs suspected: ____________________________________________________ Photos/videos from 6–12 months ago available for comparison? [ ] Yes [ ] No Vet questions: - What quality-of-life scale do you recommend for our situation? - Which changes are normal aging, and which are potentially treatable problems? - What should we track weekly? 7. COST AND PLANNING Current status: [ ] Pet insurance active [ ] Emergency fund or care budget exists [ ] I know which clinic/emergency hospital to call after hours [ ] I know which recurring senior-care costs are likely this year [ ] I have talked with my vet about likely monitoring needs for the next 6–12 months Biggest cost worry: [ ] Surprise bill [ ] Chronic medications [ ] Dental/anesthesia [ ] Mobility support [ ] Diagnostics/bloodwork [ ] End-of-life decisions [ ] I do not know what to expect yet This section is not insurance or financial advice. It is a prompt to plan before urgency makes choices harder. ONE-PAGE VET PREP SUMMARY Top 3 changes I noticed: 1. ________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________ Most important question for my vet: ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Photos or videos I can bring: ____________________________________________________ Dates I need to confirm: Last exam: _________________________________________ Last bloodwork: ____________________________________ Last dental: _______________________________________ What I will track for the next 30 days: Weight/body condition: _____________________________ Mobility: __________________________________________ Appetite: __________________________________________ Sleep/behavior: ____________________________________ Quality of life: ____________________________________ When I should call sooner instead of waiting: ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Educational only, not veterinary advice. Use this worksheet to notice patterns, track changes, and have better conversations with your veterinarian.