As our animal friends age, they become prone to certain diseases, just as humans do. Every few months at WSVC, we run information & awareness sessions designed for the owners of older pets. We have developed a short lecture program that discusses signs that might indicate if problems are present in older pets. These “senior-pet meets” are free of charge and represent great value for everybody. We run them after clinics ( 6.30pm) on an “as needs” basis depending on interest levels.

We use a nice PowerPoint presentation to help describe and explain common health problems for aging dogs. These includes things like:

• Pain & misery (old bones & arthritic joints)
• Impaired sensory perception (getting deaf and blind)
• Dental problems (bad/broken/damaged teeth)
• Urinary incontinence & cognitive dysfunction (losing the plot)
• Lumps and bumps (benign & nasty bad)
• Weight problems (too big for those old bones)
• Metabolic disorders (pancreas, thyroid, adrenals, kidneys & liver).

If (after the “seniours meet”), clients subsequently choose to access some further aspect of our seniors’ health care program, this would at least include an initial consultation visit with one of our veterinarians. At this time the vet can gather information about your pet’s health and also about any concerns you may have. The vet would also do a physical exam to note any items that may be of interest or concern.

If a more detailed assessment is requested, additional investigations might include biochemistry, haematology, XRays, biopsies, Ultrasound and so on. This “stay-the- day” arrangement provides for a much more thorough check of your pet. It is intended to help us identify small issues before they become big problems. Sedation may be needed for some of these procedures and most testing can be done in-house, with results ready that same day. Specialised veterinary pathology referral services in Brisbane are always accessible to us for those cases that pose unusually difficult problems.

There are THREE different care treatment levels in the WSVC seniors program. These different levels vary in terms of what treatments are undertaken and what costs are involved. Each case is different and what we do will always be governed by what seems to be required and what our clients would prefer.

The place to start if anyone wants to know more, is those FOC “seniors meets” that we run for the clinic from time to time. If you are interested, give us a call and put your name down for the next show. The more the interest, the more we do. For now, I’m out of your way… See you then.