Just One Bite from Just One Mozzie...

Just one bite from a mosquito is enough to infect your dog with heartworm, which can lead to heart failure and death.

ALL dogs are at risk, thankfully it takes just one yearly injection to give your dog protection.

How do dogs get heartworm?

Our ageing pets require a little bit of extra attention to help keep them on all four paws for longer.

A check up at least once a year is essential for your ageing friend. Much can change over this time and we aim to pick up on any problems and act quickly.

Some changes may be obvious such as accidents around the house, hearing problems or stiff legs. Beyond the visible changes, there can be much more going on internally, such as a slowing metabolism and changing of nutritional requirements.

Here are a few things you might notice at home:

• Changes in appetite or thirst
• Increasing or decreasing weight
• Loss of house training
• Difficulty climbing stairs or getting into the car
• A cough

Top Tips to help your senior pet!

We have compiled a list of the top things you can do at home to help improve your senior pet's quality of life:

Diet: Older animals may be less able to cope with nutrient excesses or deficiencies, or changes in nutrient intake and quality. A top recommendation is for your senior pet to be fed a complete and balanced premium food suitable for mature pets - we will be able to give you the best advice when it comes to diet.
Exercise: Senior pets must maintain mobility and muscle mass in their later years. Dogs should have consistent levels of daily exercise - slow and steady is the key.
Routine: Our senior pets can become a little rattled if their routine is changed, especially if they are showing signs of dementia. Keep to a routine with exercise and feeding times. Too many changes can lead to anxiety problems.

Cats Get Arthritis Too

Because cats are relatively small and very agile they are even better than dogs at hiding or covering up mobility difficulties caused by arthritis. We generally don't take cats for a walk around the block so it is hard to see a limp or change in gait. Pain commonly goes unnoticed in our feline friends so watch out for these subtle signs:

Mobility

• Your cat may hesitate when jumping up or down from your lap or from the furniture
• She may not land very gracefully when jumping down
• Will be reluctant to climb the fence or climb trees
• Will be unwilling to move freely in and out of cat flap
• She may no longer use the litter box, especially if it has high sides