Carmelus is still looking for his loving forever home. He is castrated and as you can see, a very cute boy🐱
Cats are much better at hiding pain and discomfort than dogs and sometimes it is not obvious that they suffer from joint problems.
If your cat displays any of these signs, please bring them in so that we can assess the problem and work out a plan to provide relief.
Stiffness when walking
Swollen joints
Lethargy and weakness
Reluctance to jump
Excessive grooming of the joints
Lameness or limping
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Visible pain and discomfort
Angry temperament
General reduced activity and mobility
Our pets do many things for us, but let's not forget how they can entertain us.
This kitty has everyone oohing and aahing with the noises she makes when finding a treat.
This week we want to know about the pets that give you your daily dose of laughter around feeding time. Please share your videos or stories.
How cute is this first meeting between a parrot and his family's new puppy?
It makes our hearts melt!
How cute is this special moment between owner and cat?
Ever wondered what it looks like when a cat shakes its paw in slow motion?
Well, wonder no more!
Ramping up physical exercise is probably what your vet suggests when your pet needs to lose weight.
Some days this feels like a very hard ask. If you need motivation to keep up with your pet's exercise routine, remember that a good old romp around the back yard is an easy way to build some movement into those days that the 5km walk is just not going to happen.
Anything is better than nothing and you will both feel so good after that roll around on the grass. What clever plans do you have for getting your pet to move more without making it a chore? Share with us - you may just help someone out of a rut.
Here's a fun activity to start the week and bond with your pup.
Set your phone camera to slow motion and call your dog's name to film their reaction.
Of course, you must share the video!
Large breed dogs often suffer from joint disease, especially later in life.
Can their bed make a difference? The answer is a resounding 'yes'. A bed that protects joints from pressure can help manage joint disease better and, more importantly, reduce pain significantly.
What kind of bed will do these wonderful things for your dog?
Essentially you are looking for a bed that prevents added pressure on your dog's joints - a bed where your dog's hips, knees and elbows do not push through and come in contact with the cold hard floor. The very best test is to try out the bed yourself. Lie on it, but also kneel on it and roll around on it - if you feel that a joint touches the floor through the bed then this is not a good bed for your large dog.
You can rule out certain bedding material before you even start. Beds with polyfill stuffing are very common but they simply do not provide the support a large, heavy dog needs. Those joints will be in contact with the floor, increasing the load on the pressure points. A single layer foam mattress is also not sufficient. Depending on the quality of foam, the foam may quickly disintegrate and compress with the rigors of supporting a large, often moving animal.
Memory foam beds sound appealing, but the quality of memory foam seals the deal - once the memory foam compresses there is little support for those sore joints.
From the perspective of a large breed dog, a bed make of more than one layer of foam works better. A base layer of firm foam of a high quality keeps joints from pushing through and a top layer of softer, but still good quality, foam or memory foam provides comfort.
You can do lot to increase the happy, active years of your large dog's life. Do a little research and invest in something that will last. Your dog will thank you.
As always, if you are concerned about your dog's joints, let us assess your four legged pal and get him or her onto a prevention or intervention plan for joint health.
We've all been here! The futility of trying to let the floor dry after a mop when one person wants to get to the fridge, another one suddenly needs to drink water and someone else's question just can't wait...
And let's not mention the muddy paws of pets.
How much exercise does your cat need?
Cats need exercise for many reasons. Outdoor cats often have enough opportunity and stimulation to be active, but cats that spend the day inside may need a bit of help and should get exercise through about 30 minutes active playtime a day.
Here is an article with lots of helpful tips for getting your indoor cat active and guidance on how much exercise is necessary.
https://www.careah.com/cat/how-much-exercise-cats-need/
Winter is an excellent time to check up on the general health and well being of your pet.
Phone us today to make an appointment for your fur pals and let us check all the bits that matter.