Does my pet have arthritis?

Did you know that as many as one in five older dogs has arthritis? It can be difficult to spot, but here are some signs to watch out for in your pet:

• They might avoid the activities they used to enjoy
• They may stop jumping onto the furniture or avoid climbing stairs
• If they yelp, nip or become upset when touched
• Your pet may become depressed, or perhaps just more grumpy
• Dogs may lag behind on walks

This can be a very painful condition. If you suspect that your pet has arthritis, please get in touch with us immediately, and we can arrange to check your pet and advise on treatment.

It is very important that you not try to treat your pet’s arthritis yourself, as human anti-inflammatories and supplements can be dangerous for animals.

Does my pet have high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can show in many different ways, depending on the underlying disease. Some of the signs of hypertension are:

• altered behaviour
• fits
• reduction in vision

High blood pressure or hypertension can be caused by several different diseases, all of which are more common in the older pet. In the dog it can be caused by kidney failure, Cushings disease, or diabetes mellitus. In the cat it can be caused by kidney failure, an over-active thyroid gland, heart disease or diabetes mellitus. In cats it can also happen just due to old age.

It is very easy and pain free to check your pet’s blood pressure - we simply place a cuff around their leg and listen for the pulse in their paw. We can do this in a routine consultation. If your pet is diagnosed with hypertension we will then need to check for any underlying diseases. Elderly cats should have their blood pressure checked annually, as they are more at risk of problems developing.

If your pets blood pressure remains high for too long then it can damage their kidneys or their eyes, in some instances causing permanent damage including blindness. However hypertension and many of the diseases that cause it are treatable.

If you are at all concerned about your pet please make an appointment to speak to a vet or have a blood pressure check.

My pet is drinking more

This can be caused by several different conditions. The common ones include hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and diabetes mellitus.

If you believe your pet is drinking more than normal, please call us. We can arrange to check these conditions and arrange the appropriate treatment.