Your pet brings you much joy. In return, you can make a major contribution to your pet’s happiness, longevity, and quality of life by scheduling regular checkups with the exceptional staff at Potts Point Veterinary Hospital. We will advise you on how to provide him or her with good nutrition, a safe, sanitary home environment, a suitable exercise routine, and a plan for a lifelong “wellness care.”
Kittens or Puppies
Your new kitten or puppy should visit our veterinarians as soon as possible. This first visits always include:
- A thorough physical exam
- Examination for and discussion of external parasites (Flea Control, ticks, lice, ear mites)
- Treatment for internal parasites (heartworm, tapeworm, roundworm, etc.) and begin the lifelong preventative routine that suits them best
- Vaccinations—See our “Vaccinations” page for more information about vaccinations for your puppies and kittens
- Discussion about spaying or neutering, recommendations on diet, dental care, exercise, and behaviour and socialisation routines
- You may also need tips on how to pet proof your house to avoid accidents or injuries (see Poisons and Your Pet)
Adult Pets
Adult dogs and cats should visit the veterinarian for an annual health check once a year. Much like human doctors, our vets perform a thorough physical examination at the visit. They will listen to the heart and lungs, feel (palpate) the abdomen to ensure the organs have normal sizes and shapes, check the limbs, spine, and private parts for any abnormalities. Those animals requiring vaccination or parasite treatments can receive them at this visit.
Geriatric Pets
Every year that passes, your pet is aging in an equivalent manner to every five to ten human years. For this reason we recommend older pets have wellness checks every six months. Detecting illnesses early allows easier and more successful treatment.
Common Problems for the Older Pet and What You Can Do
- Arthritis—To maintain muscle mass and tone our veterinarians can devise an exercise program suited to your pet’s particular condition. We might prescribe medication to help manage your pet’s pain.
- If your pet has frequent colds, infections or bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea, his or her immune system might not be functioning properly. Our vets can test for the common causes such as kidney problems, virus infections, food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Cognitive dysfunction can occur in older dogs and cats leading to confusion, inability to settle at night, vocalising for no reason or reduced activity. Underlying diseases, such as high blood pressure, can be resolved with medication.
- Constipation in older cats could be a result of colon problems, hairballs, or even renal disease. Make sure your cat is receiving a highly nutritious, easily digestible diet. And all pets should poop at least once a day.
- Mammary gland tumours or an enlarged prostate can occur in pets that were not desexed at early age. Our vets routinely check the prostate or mammary glands at your older pet’s wellness care visits.
- Obesity—Older pets are less active, so it is necessary to adjust your animal’s diet to prevent weight gain. This will reduce the risk of severe joint pains, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and digestive problems. Call us for advice on nutrition and proper weight maintenance any time.
- Separation anxiety and phobias—Older dogs that can’t cope with stress as well as young dogs sometimes become aggressive, may develop a noise phobia, bark or whine more, or have a hard time sleeping. Our vets can prescribe medication and teach you behaviour modification techniques to help reduce your pet’s anxiety and phobias.
- Older cats with a reduced sense of smell may have a reduced appetite, too. The best solution is to provide smaller amounts of cat food many times a day. Additionally, our staff can recommend aromatic cat foods.
- Skin or coat problems—As pets age, their fur thins, their coat becomes dull, and their skin loses elasticity, which could lead to injuries. Be sure to groom your pet frequently. Our vets can also prescribe fatty acid supplements to help.
- Increased drinking is a possible sign of diabetes, kidney failure, or hormonal imbalances such as hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and Addison’s disease. Our veterinarians determine the cause with examinations and blood tests and prescribe the appropriate medication. For further information about increased thirst in your pet, contact us today.
- Tooth loss or decay leads to pain, difficulty in chewing and increases the possibility of infections. Combat this by giving your pet proper nutrition and dental care including daily brushing. Our staff can demonstrate the proper way to do this.
- Pet Travel is only a good idea if you know that your pet doesn’t get motion sickness or can adapt well to unfamiliar places. Otherwise, boarding your cat with us or having your dog stay at a kennel may be your best option. If your pet will be accompanying you on your trip, be sure to talk to our staff about the steps you should take to ensure a safe and happy trip for you and your pet.
If you have any questions regarding the wellness care of your pet, Contact us today, or book a consultation.