The so-called “pandemic pet boom” has now matured into something very different: a senior pet wave. [Recent data shows](https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/news/lasting-lockdown-love-rvc-research-identifies-that-problem-behaviours-are-damaging-the-owner-dog-relationship-as-pandemic-puppies-reach-young-adulthood "Pandemic Pets") that around 50% of dogs in the UK and USA are now over 7 years old, while puppies under one year old make up just 3.6% of the UK dog population, down from 23% during lockdown. In the US, puppies now represent only 7–8% of the dog population, compared to around 11% in 2018. In short, the puppy boom has ended and veterinary practices are now managing a growing population of older, higher-need pets with more complex health requirements. Yet at the same time, many clinics are seeing something unexpected: lower-than-normal visit frequency and a rise in lapsed compliance.
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