Pets are living longer. Because of advances in nutrition and prevention care, an 11-year-old cat may look and act as energetic as a cat half their age. This doesn't mean that his body is not aging. In fact, an 11-year-old cat is the equivalent to a 60-year-old person.

Age brings along a series of diseases, most of them preventable or at least treatable if discovered in the early stages. For animals older than eight, a complete yearly exam is key. For pets over 10 or those at risk, exams should be conducted every six months and should include an ultrasound and EKG.

The most common diseases to affect older pets, in no particular order, are:

Obesity

What Is It: Obesity is a widespread problem among senior cats and dogs. As pets age, they become more sedentary and do not burn as many calories as they used to do when they were younger. Still, many keep eating the same amount of food, resulting in obesity, which in turn can lead to a series of medical conditions, from diabetes to heart disease.

Symptoms: If you cannot feel the ribs of your pet, he or she is probably overweight. Rounded backs in cats are also a sign of extra weight.

Treatment: Low-calorie, low-fat diets are recommended in most cases. The best ones are only available through a veterinarian, such as Hill’s w/d and High Factor (by IVD). In animals with severe obesity, a special prescription diet can be administered for a while, until the animal goes down to a more normal weight. These diets are usually high in fiber, which helps with digestion and makes the animal feel full on less food. Small, frequent meals throughout the day are better than one or two large meals.