Due to improvements in diet and excellent veterinary care our pets are living longer and longer.  This is great news for us as we can spend many more years with our beloved pets, however they are unfortunately more prone to ongoing diseases.  The good news is that a lot can be done to prevent or slow the progression of these diseases.  Here’s our top ten tips for keeping your pet healthier for longer.

Watch their weight

Ensuring that your pet is an ideal weight will reduce the risk of them developing lots of diseases like diabetes and pancreatitis.  It will also reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Did you know that a 10% reduction in body weight can produce the same improvements in mobility as giving your arthritic dog pain killers? Come to our free nurse weight clinics for help or advice about your pet’s weight.

Get regular vet or nurse checks

You may feel that your pet is healthy but sometimes we can pick up subtle signs of disease before you notice them, enabling treatment to be started before your pets quality of life is affected. We have a healthy pet scheme so your pet will be checked every 6 months hopefully ensuring subtle signs of disease are not missed.

Prevention is better than cure

A lot of diseases are better if detected in their early stages. This is especially true for kidney disease and arthritis. Although we cannot cure these diseases if treatment is started early we can slow the progression of disease. We offer lots of alternatives to drug therapy such as laser therapy and acupuncture which can be used to treat arthritis, and some other painful conditions, if started early. Please call in and fill out one of our free pain score questionnaires so we can assess what treatment would be best for you pet.

Feed a good quality diet

Diet is very important in our older pets but can be confusing.  It is often worth feeding a senior food which will be lower in calories and some other ingredients which can help maintain health in older pets. Our head nurse Abi has a qualification in veterinary nutrition and will be happy to have a chat with you about the best diet to feed.

Observe cat’s behaviour

Older cats can be especially difficult to tell if something is wrong. Some subtle signs that something is not right might be that they no longer want to jump up to their favourite spot, or seek out warm or cold places to lie. They may also have a changes in their litter tray habits.  If you see changes in behaviour as your pet gets older don’t just put it down to old age. It can often mean that something is wrong.

Changes in your dog’s exercise tolerance

If your dog used to run for miles and miles and now only wants to go for a small plod this means that something isn’t right.  This isn’t a normal aging change and you should get your dog checked as a matter of urgency. It could mean there is an underlying health problem or that they are in pain.

Dental health is really important

Our pets teeth are often neglected and smelly breath can become the norm as our pet’s age. Just as we go to the dentist every 6-12 months it’s really important to get your pet’s teeth checked regularly.  Animals will carry on eating despite mouth pain so you might be unaware that your pet is actually in considerable pain.  If your pet’s breath smells this means that there is an increase in the number of bacteria in their mouths.  This can cause other illness and can worsen heart or kidney disease.

Watch their drinking

Alterations in your pet’s drinking can be a sign that something is wrong.  Many diseases can cause your pet to drink more than normal.  If you think your pet’s drinking has changed it is worth speaking to your vet as it could be a subtle sign that something is not right.

Blood Pressure

In a recent study of 9000 cats aged between 7-26years, 40% had undiagnosed high blood pressure.  This is a huge number and is why we recommend regular blood pressure checks in all cats over 7. High blood pressure can cause all kinds of health problems from kidney disease to sudden blindness.  It can be easily treated and if caught early will prevent a lot of other problems from developing. 

Eyes

You may notice that your pet’s eyes get cloudy as they age this may be nothing to worry about but can also sometimes be a sign that something more serious is going on.  If you notice any changes with your dog’s eyes ask your vet for an appointment as soon as possible, as like a lot of diseases, the prognosis is better if eye disease is treated early.