BONESS E-NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY Call us anytime on Including Emergencies. Age, Physiotherapy, Health, Happiness, Photos, Friends -

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1 BONESS E-NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2011 Call us anytime on Including Emergencies Age, Physiotherapy, Health, Happiness, Photos, Friends - Its all here every month, at Boness E-Newsletter OK, nothing is perfect is it? Why not tell us what you would like to see in your newsletters from Boness. Just drop me an and we will try to add your ideas to our unique monthly Newsletter for Pets and their Families. Send to: newsletters@vetlinks.co.uk Contents 1. 'She's getting on a bit...' - tips for the elderly pet 2. News 3. Physiotherapy Update 4. Busters Pet Health Club - new features 5. Photo Competition 6. New - Tell Your Story 7. Refer a Friend - or neighbour, colleague, family member Growing Old Gracefully Management of health problems in senior pets There is no question that dogs and cats are living longer today than ever before and at the veterinary hospital and the clinics we are seeing more and more senior pets both for routine health checks and to investigate specific problems. We generally consider dogs and cats as "mature" or "senior" once they are over 7 years of age, but thanks to improvements in nutrition and veterinary healthcare we now see many animals living well into their teens and still enjoying an active, good quality life. However, advancing age brings with it an increased risk of problems and the healthcare requirements of a senior pet differ significantly from those of a younger animal. A year is a long time in a dog or cat's life, especially as they get older, and many things may start to change from one year to the next. Our older patients will benefit from more frequent health checks - ideally at least every 6 months. Cats in particular are very good at hiding the early signs of illness and may continue to appear well despite the progression of underlying disease. The earlier we can detect problems the better our chances of successful disease management, maintaining a better quality of life. In this article we will look at a few specific health issues that are of particular concern in the more mature dog and cat. Many owners are scared to bring their elderly pets in to us for fear that we might tell them their pet is terminally ill and needs to be 'put to sleep'. Hopefully after reading this some of your fears will be allayed and if you recognise any of these signs in your pet, you will bring him or her to us early enough so that we can help.

2 Nutrition and body weight This is a really important area for all senior pets. Obesity is a common problem in dogs and cats of all ages, but it can be more of an issue in older animals as they may become less active for a variety of reasons and may also develop other medical conditions that promote weight gain. Obesity itself has many implications for the health of our pets, putting them at increased risk of conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and lung disease, high blood pressure (particularly dogs) and bladder problems. Thankfully obesity is something that can be managed effectively though using the right diet and formulating an appropriate exercise or activity plan. Some animals may benefit from regular visits to see one of our qualified veterinary nurses to monitor their weight and help with dietary adjustments. For some of our canine patients, hydrotherapy sessions in our underwater treadmill may be a helpful aid to weight loss. Some senior animals face the opposite problem and actually have trouble maintaining their weight and body condition. Older pets can lose weight due to changes in their metabolism and/or their ability to digest and absorb nutrients with advancing age. Senior pets also have an increased risk of diseases which can contribute to weight loss such as chronic kidney disease, dental problems, thyroid disease in cats, and stomach and intestinal disorders. It goes without saying that we need to identify and treat any underlying health problems as well as potentially introducing some dietary changes for these animals. Even apparently healthy animals will benefit from a review of their dietary needs as they get older. Broadly speaking we advise that animals over seven years of age start to make the transition onto a diet specifically formulated for senior dogs or cats. These diets have controlled levels of protein, minerals, fat, energy and fibre, adjusted to promote the health of older animals. They may also contain supplements to help improve joint health, skin and coat condition, immune function and fat metabolism. Feel free to ask any of our vets or veterinary nurses for advice on the best diet for your senior pet. Water intake also becomes more important in older animals as many conditions seen in senior pets will predispose to dehydration. Ensuring adequate water intake can be a particular challenge in cats and it is really important to remember that cats often drink outside, so in very hot or very cold weather their water supplies disappear! Cats can also be really fussy about tap water and will often benefit from a few extra water bowls around the house or even a water fountain.

3 A water fountain in action. Arthritis Arthritis is something we tend to associate primarily with older, large breed dogs but in fact all breeds of dogs and even cats can be affected. Dogs may show obvious signs of stiffness or lameness, particularly when they get up in the mornings, or may have difficulties getting into the car or going up or down stairs. With cats the signs of arthritis are usually more subtle. The pain in their joints may manifest as relatively minor changes in their activities and behaviour such as a reluctance to jump up onto high surfaces, a change in grooming activity or a reduced level of interaction with their owners or other pets. Radiography is usually required to confirm a diagnosis of arthritis although we will often have a strong suspicion based on the description of your pet's symptoms and a good physical examination. There are many treatment options available for arthritic dogs and cats including conventional anti-inflammatory and pain-killing medication, joint supplements, diet changes, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and even acupuncture.

4 Acupuncture needles in Bertie's hind quarters. Dental problems Dental disease is extremely prevalent in older dogs and cats. It is unfortunately a common source of chronic pain that may go unrecognized or untreated in senior pets, as well as serving as a source of infection in the body that can affect other organs such as the heart and kidneys. The signs may be quite obvious such as bad breath and difficulties eating, but many animals won't show any obvious symptoms until the changes are quite advanced. The prospect of a general anaesthetic for dental treatment is naturally a concern for many owners, but with a thorough pre-operative assessment, good supportive care and fluid therapy, close monitoring and careful selection of the drugs we use the majority of older patients cope with dental treatment extremely well. Prompt attention to dental problems can make a real difference to quality of life.

5 An older canine patient undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia. He is suffering from periodontal disease and required a thorough descale plus a two extractions. Lumps and bumps Just as in humans, lumps tend to develop more frequently as dogs and cats get older. Abnormal masses may arise on the body surface, underneath the skin or deeper inside the body â any body tissue or organ can potentially be affected. Not all lumps are cancerous but some can be and an internal cancerous tumour is always a consideration in any animal showing signs of unexplained weight loss or illness. Although all masses have the potential to be malignant many of them are in fact benign and we now have many treatment options available even for the more aggressive cancers. Early detection and diagnosis will of course give us the best chance of success and any new or changing lump should be checked out promptly to decide on the best course of action. Blood pressure We saw in a previous article how dogs and cats can be affected by high blood pressure (hypertension) and how blood pressure can be measured. Hypertension becomes more of a concern in senior animals and ideally should be checked on a regular basis, particularly in animals affected by conditions known to cause high blood pressure such as kidney disease and feline hyperthyroidism. Hypertension can have harmful effects on the heart, brain, eyes and kidneys and the sooner we can detect and correct abnormalities in blood pressure the greater our chances of preventing serious damage. Metabolic and hormone problems â kidneys/thyroid/diabetes Both dogs and cats may experience a decline in their kidney function as they get older. The classic symptoms of kidney failure such as an increase in drinking, weight loss, a reduced appetite and sometimes vomiting may only be seen once the condition is quite well established and early changes can only be picked up through blood and urine testing. Diabetic animals also tend to drink more and lose weight although their appetite is usually good or even better than normal. Cats with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can display very similar signs. In contrast, dogs tend to suffer from an underactive thyroid associated with weight gain, lethargy and skin or hair/coat changes. These are just some of the metabolic and hormonal conditions we see in senior pets. The best treatment will

6 of course depend on the diagnosis and the severity of disease but there are many options available. Regular screening blood tests and urine sampling will help us to pick up problems early, increasing our chances of successful management and keeping our older pets happy for longer. A senior cat with hyperthyroidism - his coat condition is poor and he has lost weight despite a ravenous appetite. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) Also known as senility, CDS has been recognized in older dogs and cats for some years now. The symptoms can be extremely variable but may include disorientation, forgetfulness, altered sleep-wake cycles, changes in activity and altered interactions with owners and other animals in the household. There are a few other conditions that can lead to similar symptoms and a diagnosis of CDS can only be made through ruling these out through appropriate blood and urine testing, blood pressure measurement and sometimes diagnostic imaging. Our understanding of CDS is increasing every year and there are several approaches we can take to help these animals, ranging from behavioural therapy to nutritional supplements and specific medications targeted at the nervous system. So how can we help our senior pets? - Think about introducing a senior food when your pet reaches 7-8 years of age - If your cat or dog is over or underweight, ask us for advice on how to help - Keep a close look out for changes in your pet's and behaviour and activity as he or she gets older, and note down anything different â even subtle changes can be significant - Take note of any changes in appetite, water intake and body weight - Bring your pet in for a clinical examination at least every 6 months - Take advantage of the screening diagnostic tests available â running blood and urine tests regularly and monitoring blood pressure will help us detect problems early - Seek our advice promptly if you notice any specific signs of illness such as sickness, diarrhoea, coat changes, lameness - Look out for any lumps and get them checked out - Take steps to address any particular problems identified â even if this just means closer monitoring at first - Don't forget we are always available for advice so don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns at

7 all about your senior pet. Jennifer Donaldson MRCVS 2. News A week in the life of the Veterinary Hospital at Barton le Clay. In January BBC 3 Counties Radio spent a week with us at the Hospital seeing behind the scenes. The reporter, Ben, wanted to get his hands well and truly dirty so he did a spell of kennel cleaning, helped out with a diabetic check on a dog, watched some hydrotherapy and even went into the operating theatre to help out with a big operation. Despite turning a funny shade of green he survived and we all agreed if the BBC put him out of work he could come back! We would like to thank the patients and owners who made this possible and in particular Holly, Meg and Disney. Flitwick Update Now open for the last six weeks, our new Flitwick Branch is going well and customers are commenting on how easy it is to get to and how pleasant it is to come into a clean, bright and cheery environment with their pets. We have had many new clients come to visit and this is a testament to the great PR we receive throught word of mouth - thanks to all of you who promote us when you talk to family, friends and colleagues. Remember, you can book an appointment at any of our Clinics by just calling any one of our Clinic numbers which are: The main Hospital in Barton The Cat Clinic in Barton The new Clinic in Flitwick Outside of normal opening hours all our numbers transfer to the Barton Hospital. 3. Physiotherapy - its not just for humans... The First Pet Physiotherapy Centre in Bedfordshire As always at Boness Veterinary Hospital, the Only Veterinary Hospital in Bedfordshire, we are always first to bring our clients the best of modern practice and modern technology in the best interests of the pets of Bedfordshire. We are delighted therefore, to be able to tell you that we have launched the first, perhaps the only, Physiotherapy Centre at our Hospital site in Barton-Le-Clay. For 10 years Boness Veterinary Hospital has been at the leading edge of veterinary treatment for pet animals and has been offering physiotherapy for pet animals. We have a physiotherapy centre that is unique and can offer your pet all sorts of physiotherapy and alternative treatments. Hydrotherapy The Hydrotherapy Underwater Treadmill is our flagship piece of physiotherapy equipment.

8 Since 2008 we have been able to provide hydrotherapy in an underwater treadmill for patients. This-high tech piece of equipment, the same as that being used by top sports physiotherapy advisors for some of our greatest football teams, allows your pet to exercise while being supported by the buoyancy of water. The unique benefit of the underwater treadmill is that, unlike swimming, it is the only form of hydrotherapy that actively rehabilitates walking and trotting movements in our patients. Some of the conditions that can be treated with hydrotherapy: - Spinal Disc disease - Trapped nerves - Degenerative Myelopathy (crippling back problems affecting especially German Shepherd Dogs and crossbreeds) - Osteoarthritis - Cruciate disease - Hip dysplasia - Elbow dysplasia - Hydrotherapy is also really helpful to speed up recovery from broken bones and after other major orthopaedic operations. Hydrotherapy can speed up return to normal mobility by as much as 3 fold! Aerobic exercise in the Hydrotherapy underwater treadmill is also useful in the battle against obesity and for getting dogs into peak condition prior to the working season. Treatment sessions are only done under the directions of a qualified veterinary surgeon and supervision of a qualified veterinary nurse and are claimable as a valid treatment with many Pet Health Insurance companies. Sessions are available by appointment and will be complemented by physiotherapy exercises both at the centre and at home. Drying facilities are available and if you cannot spare the time to attend yourself you will be able drop your pet off. If you would like to see a session before booking one, we will be happy to arrange this for you. Of course, we do much more than Hydrotherapy at our Physiotherapy Centre. We can also provide ultrasound

9 therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy and massage and manipulation. Julia M. Boness MRCVS 4. Buster's Pet Health Club - New Features This month we have introduced new additional discounts that will apply from now on. The new discounts: - 10% off all food including prescription diets - 15% of Rabies vaccinations To find out more about Buster's Pet Health Club, and the discounts this will give you, just call any of our Clinics and any member of staff will be pleased to discuss this great way of making savings on your pet's regular Healthcare needs. 5. Photo Competition This month our winner is Pixiebelle Bracey Phew, I can't leave this toy alone I love it so much. I'll just have an ickle nap, nobody will notice. January was the last month, for the time being, that we are running the photo competition. The monthly competition will now be 'Your Story' - see below. 6. Your Story For the coming months we would like you to write your story about pets, successes, behaviour, illnesses, recovery, vets or anything else pet related - what are your likes and dislikes etc. As usual the winner will receive a  30 credit on their account. We will publish the winning story each month in this newsletter, and all stories will be published on our website, unless you specifically ask us not to do so. Don't foget to include a photo if you wish. We hope this will be a fun and enlightening experience for us all. Good Luck! Jerry

10 Contact Us Please contact us by any of the methods below: The Hospital at Barton-Le-Clay available 24x7 The Cat Clinic at Barton-Le-Clay diverts to the Hospital at night The Flitwick Clinic diverts to the Hospital at night reception@vetlinks.co.uk Visit our website at: