Arthritis
Early signs of arthritis include stiffness when getting out of bed, an unwillingness to jump as high, or walk as far as before.
Kidney Disease
Kidney Failure is common in older pets. Signs include drinking more, going off their food, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, smelly breath, poor coat condition, poor vision, increased frequency of urination and recurring cystitis.
Heart Disease
There are several common breed related heart problems in dogs. They generally occur later in life and can be well treated. Signs that may indicate your dog has a heart problem include; exercise intolerance, coughing, in-appetence, weight loss, drinking more, collapsing, abdominal distension and difficulty breathing.
Dental Problems
Older pets commonly get problems with their teeth which often go unnoticed until they go off their food, start salivating excessively or develop an abscess. We monitor teeth at boosters and if we are concerned that a problem is brewing we may recommend that your pet comes in to have a routine scale and polish.
Lumps and Bumps
We would always recommend that if your pet has a lump then get it checked! Most lumps are either fatty or cyst like growths but there are others that can be cancerous and can spread quickly.
