Dear Friends of South Hedland Vet Hospital,
Old age itself is not a disease, it is a wonderful privilege and one you can share with your pet.
The advances in veterinary medicine and the dedication of pet owners has resulted in many pets reaching and enjoying their senior years.
Six months of your pet’s life is equivalent to approximately 3 ½ human years! Now you know why they don’t eagerly bolt for the door anymore for their daily walk and would rather curl up in the sun for an afternoon nap.
For the month of July 2018 we offer all our senior pets:
25% OFF CONSULTS, VACCINATIONS, PROHEART INJECTIONS, DENTALS
FOR ALL SENIOR PETS (7+ years)
Kind Regards,
The Team at South Hedland Vet Hospital
This month we will be focussing on the health and wellness of our golden oldies and we are offering all our senior pets (7+ years) 25% off all consults, vaccinations, Proheart Injections and dentals for the month of July. This will hopefully give you the peace of mind that you are taking all the necessary precautions to keep your senior pet happy, pain free and healthy.
Some of the best ways to look after your senior pet is:
Regular Health Checks
For a senior pet, we recommend 3 –6 month check-ups. We can monitor any changes, if there are any, and ensure that the correct treatment plan is commenced to help your pet live a healthier and more comfortable life.
Appropriate Diet
A complete and balanced premium diet will help maintain ideal body condition and improve longevity.
Older pet’s dietary needs change as they get older, ask us for a specific dietary recommendation.
Signs or Changes
Behavioural –loss of house training, increased anxiety, night pacing, changes in interaction with the owner
Inactivity – your pet would rather have snooze in the sun than go for a daily walk, sleeping more often and for longer periods of time
Stiffness when walking or getting up – finding it difficult to jump into the car or walk up or down steps
Change in thirst or urination – drinking more water, urinating more often or straining to urinate
Weight loss
Bad smelling breath
Change in appetite – struggling to finish their food, not interested in their food
Persistent cough
Hearing and vision loss
Lumps and bumps – a common occurrence in older pets but needs to be checked out by a vet
Many of these problems can be readily managed and should not be ignored as part of the aging process. Addressing these conditions early and developing a treatment plan when first noticed will ultimately improve the prognosis and give your pet the best quality of life as the aging process kicks in. Our aim in end-of-life care is ensuring that your pet is comfortable, pain free and that their physical and mental health is still optimised.
Under the microscope…
Dr Tim Lloyd
Veterinarian at Karratha Vet Hospital
Having come from a medical family, Dr Tim gave up on his career as an Exploration Geophysicist to study Veterinary Medicine, graduating from Murdoch University in 2017.
Whilst studying, Tim worked weekdays at a private boy’s school as an indigenous student mentor and tutor and on weekends at a western suburbs veterinary clinic. As such, he still retains a passion for outback work, working with indigenous Australians and community medicine.
Dr Tim has joined the Pets + Vets Group as a vet at Karratha Vet Hospital, where he has taken to all the small animal needs and has a special interest in orthopaedics. Additionally, Dr Tim has begun cattle work on local stations, seeing to the horses in town and is also looking after the thoroughbred race rounds of Roebourne and Marble Bar.
With a love for getting his hands dirty and anything outdoors: red dirt, the sea, boating, fishing and camping, Dr Tim has also joined several sporting clubs in Karratha.
He is set on the Pilbara lifestyle and keen to see what he can make of it all!
