THESE days, much is made of preventative medicine – if you eat healthy food, get plenty of exercise and attend regular health checks, then you increase your chances of warding off ailments in the future.
But the idea of looking after yourself to prevent health difficulties later in life is not just a good idea for your own personal wellbeing, you should also approach the health of your pet in a similar fashion.
"It is very important to get your d
og checked at least yearly, perhaps more often, depending on the age and specific conditions of your dog," advises Bridget O'Farrell, manager of the Dick Vet Small Animal Practice at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Easter Bush in Midlothian.
"Around 80 per cent of pet dogs and cats have dental disease, with plaque and tartar building up on the teeth and causing painful inflamed gums and smelly breath. It can potentially lead to major problems with harmful bacteria entering the dog's circulation via the gums, infecting major organs."
Recently, council environmental wardens joined forces with animal charity PDSA to highlight the need for dog owners to take the best possible approach to looking after their pets. The guidance on offer included informing owners of their responsibility for the health of their pet, as well as their obligation to clean up after them.
Dog obesity levels are also a worry and a quarter of pets seen by PDSA vets are now dangerously overweight – a similar rate of obesity as found in humans. A health check can offer advice on how to reduce your dog's weight to a safe level and prevent conditions like diabetes from occurring.
Bridget stresses that if caught early, diseases and ailments can be treated more successfully and thus improve their chances of survival, as well as reduce the discomfort an illness can cause your pet.
"At a regular health check, the mouth, the eyes, the nose and ears – a common site for painful infections – are inspected," explains Bridget. "The skin is investigated for lumps, bumps and signs of mites and fleas, while the heart and lungs are monitored by stethoscope to look for indications of heart and chest disease.
"We also check the abdomen in search of any growths on the internal organs – we have saved a dog's life before by finding a tumour during a routine check-up, operating right away and removing the growth before it burst."
Vets at the PDSA are so concerned about the problems caused by the obesity epidemic in cats and dogs, they are campaigning for owners to take their pets in for regular check-ups.
It is during such a consultation that owners will be able to get good advice on how to improve the health of their canine companion.
Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinary surgeon with the charity, says: "We can give advice on all kinds of things – worming vaccinations, as well as health and lifestyle. We can also pick up on any of the things that an owner might be a little bit worried about, say if a dog is drinking more water than normal or if the owner has found a small lump somewhere on its body.
"Generally, a health check like this is about making sure your pet is in tip-top condition and is getting the right food and diet for its time of life."
CHECK-UPS ARE MONEY WELL SPENTTHE PDSA advises that your dog should be registered with a vet as soon as you take ownership.
The prices of a general check up will vary considerably but a consultation at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies will cost around £25.
Annual vaccinations are also encouraged and at the School they cost around £40, including a full clinical check up. However, by making regular visits and following the advice of your vet, the costs that can be saved in the long run financially and emotionally are considerable.
The PDSA offers free healthcare all year round to pet owners who are in receipt of financial support but, given that the organisation is a charity, a donation is required.
To be eligible for medical support, owners must live in the defined catchment area of a PDSA hospital or practise and be receiving financial help in the form of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.
In Edinburgh, there is a PDSA PetAid hospital at 2B Hutchison Crossway in Gorgie. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is at Easter Bush near Roslin, Midlothian.
The full article contains 757 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
