6 simple lifestyle changes for older dogs
As our pets get older their needs change. Dog owners will need to adapt their pet’s home environment, lifestyle, and routine to reflect these changes and give their pet the best quality of life in their senior and geriatric years.
Our veterinary team at Towcester Vets are highly experienced when it comes to treating senior pets and are here to help if you have noticed your dog struggling with mobility or simple tasks. Perhaps their behaviour has changed too?
Bring your dog in for a senior health check so our vets can see what’s going on and offer you practical advice.
Home & lifestyle changes for senior dogs
Adapting your senior dog’s home environment and routine is important to ensure their comfort and wellbeing. Owners can perhaps implementing these 6 changes and lifehacks to help make life easier for them.
- Avoid any impactful exercise such as jumping and ball catching
- Add non-slip rugs (or anti-slip tape underneath existing rugs) to laminate/tiled floors to prevent slips
- Raise food and water bowls off the floor
- Add ramps to steps or flooring height changes where your dog may struggle
- Get good quality, supportive bedding – try memory foam
- Do little exercise more often, rather than fewer long walks
Now, let’s look at these points in more detail.
Exercise
Simple environment and lifestyle changes really can have a huge impact on your senior dog’s comfort levels, as well as their mental health. Exercising regularly can help to keep their joints moving and give their minds regular mental stimulation. However, it’s important the exercise is little and often so that they are not doing too much that could cause harm to their joints. Our vet team also recommends avoiding walking small dogs off high pavement curbs and avoiding exercises that may cause impact to the joints such as playing frisbee and catch.
Swimming can be a great exercise for senior dogs as the warm water supports their joints and helps to strengthen muscles, whilst having a positive impact on their overall wellbeing.
Flooring
Modern day houses often have laminate and tiled flooring which can be a slip hazard to many dogs. As well as causing injuries, pets can develop anxiety about walking across flooring. Using non-slip rugs and runners is a great way of helping to give your dog stability and better grip so those incidents can be avoided. Lifehack – you can buy anti-slip tape to go under rugs too.
Food & water bowls
Many dogs eat and drink from a bowl off the floor. This can put a lot of pressure on their front legs when leaning down and make it uncomfortable. Raising the bowls up helps to relieve the pressure off their legs and makes eating and drinking more comfortable. This is very important in older dogs as they will often have higher hydration needs.
Impactful activities
As well as impactful exercises, it’s also important to consider the day-to-day activities that may be a concern. Activities such as going up and down stairs, jumping on and off the bed or settee, and in and out of the car, all put added pressure on a dog’s joints. Using ramps is a great way of still enabling your pet to do these activities but without the stress on their joints that can cause discomfort.
Comfortable bedding
As our pets age their activity levels decrease naturally and they spend more time resting and sleeping. Appropriate bedding can really make the difference between a comfortable or uncomfortable rest. Avoid using beds with high sides that can make it difficult to get in and out of as well as bedding that is very soft and unstable. Memory foam beds usually give good support whilst being comfortable and are a great option for arthritic dogs. For pets showing signs of incontinence, the use of toddler mattresses can be a great way of giving them comfort whilst keeping their bed hygienic.
Many of these simple changes really can make huge improvements to your dog’s comfort. However, different dogs have different needs based on their health, size, and activity levels.
Discussing your pet’s needs with one of the vets or nurses at your local Towcester Vets Clinic can help you identify more of these simple changes that can make a big difference.
Senior dogs & arthritis
Our team can also help you learn how to manage canine arthritis at home – a condition that affects most senior dogs. Speak to our team at Towcester Vets about the many resources that are available for arthritic dogs and the support we can offer to your pet and you – get in touch.
You may also find the Canine Arthritis Management website helpful as it has advice and products for arthritic dogs – visit it now.
Towcester Vets shares signs of kidney and heart diseases in dogs and cats
Heart disease and kidney disease are two of the most common diseases cats and dogs can develop. Veterinary surgeons at Towcester Vets are here to help pet owners understand more about these ailments and the signs to look out for.
Read their explanations abut these illnesses below.
About kidney disease in cats and dogs
Kidney disease can be acute or chronic and caused by many different things. The kidneys are very important organs and are responsible for:
- Removing toxins from circulation
- Getting rid of waste product from the body
- Keeping your pet’s blood pressure regular
- Stopping your pet from dehydrating
Acute kidney disease means the kidneys have stopped working suddenly. Chronic kidney disease means they have been deteriorating over a period of time.
Treatment for kidney disease in cats and dogs will depend on the severity of symptoms but may include IV fluids or hospitalisation for more intense treatments.
About heart disease in cats and dogs
There are many different types of heart disease a dog or cat can have. Some of these are:
- Mitral valve disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmias
- Congenital heart disease
- Pericardial disease
Each one affects the heart differently, but they all have very similar symptoms and can affect any dog or cat at any age. Heart valve problems are most common and typically affect small breed dogs aged five or older. Some breeds may be more likely to develop certain heart conditions such as Dobermans are more likely to have dilated cardiomyopathy.
Treatment for heart disease in dogs and cats will depend on the type, severity of symptoms, and your pet’s general health.
Common signs of heart & kidney diseases
According to our experienced vets, pet owners can help their pets by learning how to monitor any changes in their health at home. There are a few common signs of heart disease and kidney disease that you can look out for. The earlier the symptoms are picked up, the sooner your pet can undergo investigations and get the vital treatment they need.
The common signs are:
7 signs your pet may have kidney disease:
- Drinking more water
- Urinating more than usual (may look like water rather than urine a lot of the time)
- Feeling tired
- Quiet and lethargic
- Vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Off food
7 signs your pet may have heart disease:
- Coughing
- Breathlessness
- Exercise intolerance
- Lethargy
- Collapse/fainting
- Weight loss
- Abdominal swelling
Many of these signs can be linked with other conditions but if you have any concerns, it is always best to get your pet looked at by a vet. The veterinary surgeons at our Towcester vet practice advise that you should not overlook any symptoms whatever age your pet is as some diseases can affect them at a young age. Another sign of heart disease is a heart murmur, which a vet can listen out for during a health check.
Causes of Heart & Kidney disease
There are a few factors that can cause heart disease and kidney disease in cats and dogs. These include:
Kidney disease:
- Poisoning
- Underlying health problems such as heart disease
- Long term urinary issues
- Genetics
- Long term dehydration
- Age related changes
Heart disease:
- Genetics
- Age related changes
- Obesity and nutrition can play a role too
Regardless of which heart condition your dog or cat has, it is important to spot the signs early – the same goes for kidney disease.
Five ways to spoil your pet post-holiday
If you are going on holiday without your four-legged friend this half term, or perhaps at Christmas, have you thought about how you are going to spoil them when you get back? The team at Towcester Vets have come up with a few ideas.
Generally, dogs are super excited to see their owners return from a trip. Cats often appear aloof and a little miffed that you went away so do not be surprised if you get the cold cat shoulder for a short while. After they are done sulking, you will receive lots of purrs and leg rubs, we are sure. As for rabbits and small furry pets, we reckon they will be pleased in their own way that their faithful owner has returned.
Whichever type of pet you are returning to in Northamptonshire, our Burcote Road nursing team have come up with five ways to spoil your pet, post-holiday.
1. Extra exercise – It is unlikely your pet sitter will have given your pet the amount of exercise they are used to. Spoil your dog with some extra walks, your cat with more outdoors time or build them a home cat gym, and give your rabbit or small furry some extra exercise time too.
2. Playtime – Spend some quality one-on-one playtime with your pet – ideal for mental stimulation and re-connecting with each other.
3. Grooming & cuddles – Stick on a movie and snuggle up whilst giving your pet a good groom. This not only improves their fur and wellbeing but also strengthens the bond between you.
4. Treats – How about getting some of your pet’s favourite food or treats for them to enjoy?
5. Travel together – Next time you visit the shops or a friend, if you can, take your dog with you and enjoy an outing together.
You may also want to treat your pet to a health check at our Burcote Road, Weedon, or Paulerspury veterinary centre to make sure they are in tip-top condition. Your pets will be thankful you did!
TW // Towcester Vets explains cancer risk to unneutered female rabbits
Trigger Warning – This article contains subject matter that some readers might find upsetting.
As Pet Cancer Awareness Month is in November, the vets at our Towcester surgery are sharing their knowledge on the subject of uterine tumours in rabbits. Our aim is to help pet owners make an informed decision about their rabbit’s reproductive care.
If you have any concerns about your rabbit’s health, get in touch with our Burcote Road team by calling 01327 350239.
About uterine tumours in rabbits
Uterine tumours (cancer of the womb) are said to be the single most common cancer affecting rabbits, even though only females can get this disease. It is extremely aggressive and quickly spreads to the lungs and other organs in the abdomen.
The reason that female rabbits are prone to cancer of the womb is due to their overactive reproductive tract. Regardless of whether they are bred from or not, female rabbits have the ability to breed exceptionally fast. As they age, this causes the uterine wall to undergo metaplasia (cells change form) and then neoplasia – which is the formation of tumours.
Rabbits at risk
All unneutered does (female rabbits) are at risk of developing uterine tumours. It is expected that around 40% of unneutered does will develop tumours by two years old; this number doubles by six years old regardless of whether the rabbit has been bred from. The only preventative treatment for cancer of the womb is neutering as this removes the uterus and therefore the possibility of this disease developing.
Rabbit neutering also helps to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Signs of illness to watch out for
- Blood in the urine
- Bloody discharge
- Weight loss
- A swelling in the abdominal area
The above are all signs that there could be a uterine tumour present. If the cancer has spread to the lungs, you may notice coughing or breathing difficulties.
Some of the above symptoms could also be due to other health issues so it is always best to see a vet.
How we diagnose and treat cancer of the womb
Depending on the symptoms your rabbit is displaying, they are likely to need an ultrasound scan or an x-ray. An ultrasound may be able to show an abnormal growth in/on the uterus and then exploratory surgery can confirm if it is a tumour. An x-ray may be able to show secondary tumours in the lungs if they are large enough.
Treatment for uterine tumours in rabbits involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries for the best chance of recovery. However, if the cancer has spread, sadly the outcome is unlikely to be positive.
At Towcester Vets, our vets will talk you through the best option for your rabbit’s ongoing care and can schedule any necessary exploratory scans or procedures.
If you are concerned about your rabbit’s health, book an appointment with any of our highly experienced vets as soon as possible by calling 01327 350239.
How to choose a good cat sitter in Northamptonshire
There are some excellent catteries in Northamptonshire, but not all cats do well away from home and their normal routine. Stay-at-home care is an increasingly popular option, but it is important to get the details right for your cat. So, our nursing team have put together a few handy tips and checklist that you may find useful.
Download our cat holiday checklist
Types of holiday care for cats
Daily visits can be carried out by a friend, neighbour, or professional cat sitter. They will need to ensure your cat has enough food and water, as well as take care of their basic needs.
Live-in care is a more focussed version of daily visits, ideal if you have a few pets. Your furry friends will have constant company and their routine will be maintained.
In both cases, it can also be reassuring to know that someone you trust is visiting your home each day, checking everything is secure and everyone is healthy.
Whichever option you choose, you will need to check with your selected cat sitter to make sure they will provide the following:
- Regular visits – your cat should be visited at least twice daily
- Meals – their food and routine should be the same as if you were at home
- Water – an abundant supply of fresh water must always be available
- Litter – trays should be cleaned twice daily, especially during warm weather
Choosing the right cat sitter
As your pet is one of the most important parts of your life, you will feel better while you are away if you know that someone trustworthy and knowledgeable is looking after your cat.
Our Burcote Road nursing team recommend checking:
- References – if it is not someone you know personally, are they able to provide details of a few other people they have pet sat for?
- Knowledge – they should be able to spot signs of ill health and be able to care for any specific issues that your cat may have. Plus, if your cat needs regular medication, they should be capable of administering it.
- Quality time – the person should be willing to play with your cat or simply spend time sitting with them, for company.
- Insurance – if your cat sitter is a professional, they should be insured – ask to check their documents.
Whichever option you choose for your pet, be sure to download our cat holiday checklist . If you have any questions, you can always ask them on our Facebook page if you think they may be useful to other cat owners.
Remember to download our cat holiday checklist before you go.
Pet diabetes: could your pet be at risk and can you prevent it?
Just like humans, pets can also develop diabetes. There are two different types of diabetes, but diabetes mellitus is the most common form that cats and dogs can develop. The team at Towcester Vets in Northamptonshire have some advice for pet owners on how to spot common symptoms of diabetes mellitus at home in between annual and 6-monthly vet checks.
Common signs of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus occurs due to an insulin deficiency in the body. It is always helpful if pet owners can recognise signs of diabetes to help monitor their pet closely for any changes in their health.
Common signs that may show your cat or dog has symptoms of diabetes:
- Drinking more than normal
- Weeing more often
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss even if they are eating more
- Seeming a bit ‘off’ or depressed
- Reduced appetite or not eating
- Vomiting (with other symptoms of diabetes)
Many of these signs can be linked with other conditions but if you have any concerns, it is always best to get your pet looked at. You you should not overlook any symptoms whatever age your pet is. There are a few factors that can make your pet higher risk for diabetes – these include:
- Age – older pets are more likely to develop diabetes
- Sex – entire female dogs and castrated overweight male cats are more likely to develop diabetes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Cushing’s disease
- Genetics
- Obesity
Can you prevent pet diabetes?
One of the main causes of pet diabetes that owners can influence is obesity. Carrying extra fat can contribute to insulin resistance and is a risk factor for pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes.
Vets believe that 51% of dogs and 49% of cats are overweight (9487 PFMA Obesity White Paper 2019_Web.pdf).
Helping your pet to lose weight can be challenging on your own. Our vets and nurses are here to help guide you if your pet needs to lose weight.
By regularly weighing your cat or dog at home, or at our Northamptonshire veterinary clinic, you learn what is normal for them and spot weight changes sooner.
If you spot any of the symptoms above, or your pet’s weight is trending upwards or downwards, it is best to get them checked by a vet. The chances are it is something simple, but it is better to get it looked at and get your dog or cat the treatment they need.
Seeing Trigger Warnings in Towcester farm news? Here’s why
At Towcester Farm Vets, we do our very best to keep Northamptonshire farmers informed and up to date with current diseases, health conditions, treatment options, and more; this is why we cover such a wide variety of topics in our farm news articles. However, we recognise that for some people, some of the topics we write about may include content that could trigger a negative emotional or physical response.
Therefore, we will endeavour to include content and trigger warnings going forward for common trigger subjects to help you as the reader decide when and how you wish to engage with our content.
What are content & trigger warnings?
In the context of the news articles we create,
Content Warnings – shown as CW or CW //
– Describe something that might upset readers and make them feel bad e.g., blood.
Trigger Warnings – shown as TW or TW //
– Aim to prevent exposing someone with past trauma, to something that might insight a physical and/or mental reaction e.g., end of life, life-threatening diseases, obesity/diet advice, and traumatic accidents.
At Towcester Farm Vets, our aim is to always be respectful to our readers whilst educating and supporting our clients through our news content. If you have any feedback or suggestions on this subject, you can let us know by sending us a private message on our Facebook page here or feel free to email us.
Did you know you can receive our pet care news straight to your inbox each month? Just visit our News section and sign up!
Why Trigger Warnings will be in Towcester’s pet care news
At Towcester Vets, we do our very best to keep Northamptonshire pet owners informed and up to date with current diseases, health conditions, treatment options, and more; this is why we cover such a wide variety of topics in our pet care news articles. However, we recognise that for some people, some of the topics we write about may include content that could trigger a negative emotional or physical response.
Therefore, we will endeavour to include content and trigger warnings going forward for common trigger subjects to help you as the reader decide when and how you wish to engage with our content.
What are content & trigger warnings?
In the context of the news articles we create,
Content Warnings – shown as CW or CW //
– Describe something that might upset readers and make them feel bad e.g., blood.
Trigger Warnings – shown as TW or TW //
– Aim to prevent exposing someone with past trauma, to something that might insight a physical and/or mental reaction e.g., end of life, life-threatening diseases, obesity/diet advice, and traumatic accidents.
At Towcester Vets, our aim is to always be respectful to our readers whilst educating and supporting pet owners through our news content. If you have any feedback or suggestions on this subject, you can let us know by sending us a private message on our Facebook page here or feel free to email us.
Did you know you can receive our pet care news straight to your inbox each month? Just visit our News section and sign up!
Why Trigger Warnings will be in our equine news
At Towcester Equine Vets, we do our very best to keep Northamptonshire equine keepers informed and up to date with current diseases, health conditions, treatment options, and more; this is why we cover such a wide variety of topics in our equine news articles. However, we recognise that for some people, some of the topics we write about may include content that could trigger a negative emotional or physical response.
Therefore, we will endeavour to include content and trigger warnings going forward for common trigger subjects to help you as the reader decide when and how you wish to engage with our content.
What are content & trigger warnings?
In the context of the news articles we create,
Content Warnings – shown as CW or CW //
– Describe something that might upset readers and make them feel bad e.g., blood.
Trigger Warnings – shown as TW or TW //
– Aim to prevent exposing someone with past trauma, to something that might insight a physical and/or mental reaction e.g., end of life, life-threatening diseases, obesity/diet advice, and traumatic accidents.
At Towcester Vets, our aim is to always be respectful to our readers whilst educating and supporting our equine clients through our news content. If you have any feedback or suggestions on this subject, you can let us know by sending us a private message on our Facebook page here or feel free to email us.
Did you know you can receive our equine news straight to your inbox each month? Just visit our News section and sign up!
12 signs that your cat could be in pain
Did you know that September is Animal Pain Awareness Month? In this article, our veterinary surgeons are examining a firm favourite of our pet-loving nation – cats. Keep reading to understand why spotting pain in cats can be tricky, and the tell-tale signs to look out for that show your cat needs veterinary attention.
If you have any concerns about your cat after reading our article, book a consult at our Burcote Road vet practice.
Cats are amazing creatures and have adapted in ways that can hide the most painful feelings they experience. Because of the ancestry of cats, showing pain or weakness in a wild environment could leave them vulnerable, so they would hide these feelings.
Now, obviously pet cats do not live in the wild, but they still express many of the same behaviours. As a nod to Animal Pain Awareness Month, our vets want to help pet owners understand how to identify pain in their cats.
How to spot pain in cats
When humans are in pain or discomfort, we can verbalise and show physically what and where the problem is. Cats are limited in these ways and given their nature are less inclined to draw attention to pain. Therefore, many signs and symptoms can be difficult to spot because they do not want you to know! Our vets’ advice is that you may notice the below changes in your cat at home:
12 signs that can indicate pain in cats
- Behaviour changes
- Lameness/subtly shifting weight onto other legs
- Biting the area or overgrooming
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Lack of interest
- Reluctance to interact
- Reluctance to be touched
- Swelling/redness
- Sleeping more than normal
- Not wanting to move much
- Increased vocalisation
There are many different types and causes of pain. Some pain can be more subtle, chronic pain can gradually increase, and then there is more intense acute pain. If you notice any of the above symptoms it is important to speak to your Vet to make sure your cat is not quietly suffering in pain.
We are here if you need us. Contact us to book a cat check-up with any of our highly skilled Vets as soon as possible.
