Senior pets

8:29AM Tue 1st May

Book NOW for your pet’s FREE Senior Health Assessment with a Vet and Nurse
 
We wouldn’t do this job if we didn’t love animals …

And we know the bond you have with your pet only strengthens as they grow older.

To re-assure you that your pet will help to minimise or avoid the pain of age-related arthritis, we’re providing a FREE Senior Pet Health  Arthritis Check during the months of May, June & July.

This free check will include:

1. Physical Exam – A check of your pet’s physical condition including weight, body condition, eyes, ears, heart and lung function.
2. Arthritis Check –With cooler weather upon us, our older pets are often more stiff and sore. Many new strategies and products are now available to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
3. Dental Check – Poor dental health can contribute to bad breath, loss of appetite, heart and kidney disease, as well as being very painful for your pet.

Spaces are limited, so phone us NOW on 02 6672 1919 for an appointment.  Please mention this special to take part in the offer.

Bookings will be on days nominated by us.

Warmest regards

The Team at Murwillumbah Vet Clinic

Winter is almost here!  It is time to think about the health of our senior pets.  We know that our pets rely on us to keep them in good health.  Because instinct tells animals not to look weak or sick, they may often hide illnesses.  Sometimes, they can be suffering badly and nobody knows.  Imagine if you had a rotten tooth and you couldn't tell anybody?  Imagine your heart was wearing out and you got tired easily, but the family just said you were getting old or lazy.

There are many diseases that can impact on the health of our senior pets, such as:

- dental disease

- heart disease

- arthritis

- cancer

- hormonal imbalances

- prostate disease (in males)

- organ failure

Most people don’t realise it but dogs and cats are classified as senior when they reach 7 or 8 years of age. Our senior pets require special attention to help keep them on all four paws and allow them to live a quality life.

A 6 monthly health check is essential for your ageing friend. Much can change over a whole year (equivalent to 6-8 years in humans) and we aim to pick up on any changes and act quickly.

These changes may be obvious such as accidents around the house, hearing problems or stiff legs. Beyond the changes you can see, there can be much more going on internally, such as a slowing metabolism and changing of nutritional requirements.

Here are a few things you might notice at home:

* Changes in appetite or thirst

* Increasing or decreasing weight

* Loss of house training - inappropriate urinating or passing faeces

* Difficulty climbing stairs or getting into the car

* A cough

* New lumps

* Bad breath

* Changes in sleeping patterns

* Occasional vomiting or diarrhoea

*Attempting to bite if they are pushed to do something painful for them - they have no other way of telling us it hurts!

It is easy to put any one of the above signs down to 'getting old', however any of these symptoms may indicate an underlying age related disease - many of which can be treated.

Blood and urine tests, blood pressure checks, eye checks, arthritis checks and weight checks are all important for a senior pet. We look for changes in trends over the senior years and adjust treatment programs and nutrition as necessary.

If you want to help your senior pet age gracefully make sure you ask us for more information. After the many years of joy they have brought you, you owe it to them!

If your pet is suffering from a problem, we are there to help.  There are many ways in which we do this, depending on the problem.  If we need to use a General Anaesthetic for any reason, we strongly advise a Geriatric Blood test to assess organ function and therefore anaesthetic risk.  If we suspect a systemic illness in which organ function is involved, we will also recommend a Geriatric Blood test.