New Delhi, July 8 -- A few weeks ago, I noticed a small lump on my cat Catbury's chest. At 11 years of age, she has officially entered her senior years, so my mind immediately went where many veterinarians' minds go when they find a lump on an older pet. We had it checked. Fortunately, it turned out to be benign.

The experience was reassuring, but it was also a reminder that age changes the way we look at our pets. A lump that might have been easy to dismiss in a younger animal deserved attention in a senior one. More importantly, it reinforced something I tell pet parents regularly: wellness checks are not just annual formalities. They are one of the most valuable tools for keeping older pets healthy and identifying problems before they...