Pets 'N' Vets - Glasgow Vet Centres

emergency Vet Service Treating pet problems

In this section of the site we look at how to treat the different problems that can occur with your pet.

Behaviour

An increasing number of requests for help in our surgery are for behaviour problems. Many of these are caused by poor socialisation and training at puppy and kitten level, but others are hormonal, age related or caused by disturbances to the central nervous system.

In all such cases your pet needs a full physical examination and then an investigation into what might have triggered the behavioural upset. Our two senior nurses have special training as behaviour counsellors, and there are sometimes medical treatments which can help. We can also arrange referrals to behaviour specialists who can be helpful in the most unusual cases.

Many of these behavioural problems can be prevented if your pet receives the right “house” training when they are young and newly arrived at your home.

This does not just involve toilet training, or preventing a hyperactive puppy from destroying your house but a careful educational programme involving socialisation with humans and other animals and positive training of useful habits and behaviour patterns. Our practice will give advice on this training and recommend classes.

Your pet’s hormones will have a major impact on your relationship. This does not just involve your pet coming into “season”, or developing a “phantom pregnancy” but also inter-male aggression, territorial defensiveness, wandering and other undesirable traits.

Come and discuss these problems with us in advance. For most situations neutering your pet is the answer. This involves an operation with your pet coming in the morning and home again by the afternoon. It is not necessary for your pet to have had a litter or even a season before being neutered. However our practice believes that your pet should be near maturity before the operation is carried out. Contact us for details.

There are also medications which can control hormone activity. These are not normally useful for long-term control but help in short-term situations.

If you decide to breed from your pet, first contact an experienced breeder as to advice on a suitable mate, and then contact us to find out the best time to arrange for the mating, and early pregnancy check, a late pregnancy check with brief midwifery instructions and what to do during and after whelping.

Sadly many pets coming to our surgery are overweight. This causes a massive reduction in quality of life. It can lead to an increased chance of contracting diabetes or heart disease, and can cause and accelerate the problems of rheumatic disease.

Our practice will help with these problems. Regular weighing of your dog – advice on diets and exercise – special low calorie prescription diets along with health checks and blood tests.

Over 50% of pets suffer from poor dental health. When you bring your pet for its annual booster ask about the condition of the teeth. We shall provide advice about tooth paste for pets and oral hygiene products. We can also bring your pet in for major dental checks in our especially dedicated dental clinic.

Old age may be inevitable but it does not mean that we accept that our pets should suffer the increasing indignities of old age. We recommend regular checks to assess how your pet is doing. Tests on liver, kidney and digestive function. Check-ups for rheumatic disease, heart disease, respiratory problems, dentals, pedicures and skin health.

There are many medical treatments which can help your pet cope with advancing years, and an annual or even six monthly check can lead to treatments which will greatly improve your pet’s quality of life.