Recently released figures have indicated that 40% of cats and 50% of dogs are overweight or obese.

These figures prompted us to set up our own 'Pet Weight Watchers Club'.

Obesity can be one of the main causes of these following conditions and therefore needs to addressed and treated as we would any other problem your pet may visit the practice for:-

• Orthopaedic problems (such as arthritis)
• Diabetes
• Breathing difficulties
• Heart and skin disorders
• Exercise intolerance
• Heat Stroke
• Urinary tract disease

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

The easiest way to tell if your pet is carrying a few extra pounds is to carry out a 'Body Condition Score'.

We recommend that an ideal weight will have a body condition score of 3 out of 5, when a 5 point scale is used.

An overweight animal would be classed as a score of 4 and an obese animal would be a 5.

If you have questions or concerns about your pet's weight score please give the surgery a call and ask to speak to one of our veterinary nurses, They will be more than happy to help you.

What do I do if I think my pet is overweight?

If you think your pet may be overweight then why not make an appointment with one of our nurses. They are here to help and will guide you through the weight loss process. Together you will develop a weight loss program that will allow your pet to lose weight safely.

We will weigh your pet and calculate how much they need to lose to stay healthy. We will then discuss with you the best diet and exercise regime to achieve this. You will get your very own weight watchers pack with weight record charts and handy tips.

And lastly...don't worry, our nurses are always available to give advice and support along the way.

Our team of veterinary nurses are happy to carry out FREE of charge demonstrations on the following procedures:

• Dental Care - How to brush your pets teeth and what products to use
• Clipping/filing claws
• Cleaning your pet's ears (maintaing a healthy ear canal)
• Choosing the correct grooming tools/products
• How to administer medication
• How to carry out a basic health check at home

This clinic is designed to help owners of pets who are 8 years and above.

With exception to when they are very young, this is when our pets need us the most.

During the consultation, we aim to help you understand and identify any age related ailments your pets may be living with.

As our pets get older, their bodies slow down and stop working as well as they used to. Early and regular check-ups can help ensure that any problems are detected sooner and treated more effectively.

The health check will cover topics such as:

• Teeth and gums
• Nutritional needs
• Exercise intolerance
• Behavioural changes
• Mobility problems: Your pet maybe feeling the aches and pains of arthritis or other minor ailments. There are many therapies and medications that can ease this pain and will help them lead a happier and healthier life

Dental hygiene is very important for animals as well as for humans. Seventy percent of dogs and cats have some form of dental disease which, if left untreated, can lead to disease of the heart, liver and kidneys in addition to causing pain to your pet.

Symptoms of dental disease:

• Eating difficulty
• Eating behavior change 
• Smelly breath
• Pawing face
• Drooling
• Less social
• Aggression
• Lethargy
• Less Social

What can I do to improve the condition of my pet's teeth?

There are many ways to look after your pet's teeth. The best way is to brush their teeth, ideally this should be done once a day. Some animals won't allow us to brush their teeth but thankfully there have been new developments in the past few years with special dental diets proving to clean the teeth while they eat and other treatments including toys, dental chews and oral hygiene gels have also been proven to help keep teeth and gums healthy.

If you think your pet may be showing signs of dental disease, why not book an appointment with one of our qualified nurses and they will develop a dental care plan for your pet that suits them and your lifestyle.

• Nail Clipping
• Dressings/Bandage changes
• Microchipping
• Introduction to Clicker Training (allow 30-40 minutes-Jess only)
• Renal Failure Patient Monitoring (Jess only)
• Bereavement Counselling (Jess only)
• Basic Tellington Touch moves to aid relaxation/Application of  Anti Stress Body Wraps (Jess only)

These procedures/consultations will incur a small fee.