Early Disease Detection

Pets don’t outwardly want to show signs of sickness, as in the wild this ultimately means weakness and most certain death. In this busy day and age, it is also often hard to rely on owners to be able to detect when their pet is showing early signs of illness.

Vets are very good a doing physical examinations and picking up abnormalities of the skin, ears, eyes, heart and some lumps and changes in the abdomen(tummy). Unfortunately vets can’t detect liver, kidney, diabetes, electrolyte, calcium, red and white blood disorders without performing blood and urine tests.

We often recommend taking blood from your pets when they are healthy, so that we can record ‘baseline’ normal values for you pet- these can vary between breeds. Blood can then be taken each year to compare previous results and record any changes in organ function. Blood results should not vary by more then 10-15%, otherwise this is an indication of early disease. We then can start treatment to slow or monitor changes.

Viral Diseases

Viruses such as canine Parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis and feline enteritis are all preventable diseases. Three vaccinations are initially required for puppies and kittens at 6-8 weeks , 12 weeks and 16 weeks of age. A booster vaccination is then given at 1year of age, which will provide immunity in most pets for up to 3 years.

Weight Control

By keeping your pet slim they will live on average 2 years longer (and it will cost you less to feed them!). Ideal body weight is gauged on being able to feel, but not see the rib cage. Can’t feel = too fat, can see = too skinny.

Keeping slim helps prevent diabetes (especially in cats) and slows the onset of arthritis (especially in dogs). One study showed that slim Labradors were twice the age of over weight Labradors when they got signs of hip arthritis.

Latest News

After the 1 year injection cats and dogs need yearly Canine Cough Boosters and every 3 years for Parvovirus (dogs), Distemper (dogs), hepatitis (dogs) and cat flu (cats) and Panleukopenia (cats).

It still important for your pet to visit the vet each year, for their yearly heartworm injection and external physical exam. Vets can pick problems before some pets show signs of sickness.