Consultations

For most healthy adult dogs, we recommend a comprehensive veterinary health check at least once a year. Dogs age considerably faster than we do, and regular examinations give us the opportunity to identify subtle changes before they become obvious problems. Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with ongoing medical conditions may need to be seen more frequently.

Our dogs are considered senior citizens from the age of 7, so from this age onwards 6 monthly health checks are recommended.

Even apparently healthy cats should have a veterinary health check at least once a year. Cats are particularly good at hiding signs of pain and illness, so problems such as dental disease, weight loss, arthritis or early kidney disease may develop before owners notice anything is wrong.

Our cats are considered senior citizens after from the age of 8, so from this age onwards 6 monthly health checks are recommended.

At Struggletown, your veterinarian performs a thorough nose-to-tail examination. This includes assessing your pet’s weight and body condition, teeth and gums, eyes, ears, skin and coat, heart and lungs, abdomen, muscles and joints, as well as discussing any changes in appetite, drinking, toileting, behaviour or activity.

We also use the consultation to review your pet’s nutrition, dental health, vaccination requirements, parasite prevention and any screening tests that may be appropriate for their age and lifestyle.

Usually, yes. For most senior dogs and cats, we recommend a health examination every six months, although this may vary depending on your pet’s age, breed and medical history.

Conditions such as arthritis, dental disease, kidney disease, heart disease, hormonal disorders and high blood pressure become more common with age and can initially cause very subtle signs.

Your veterinarian may also recommend periodic blood tests, urine tests or blood pressure measurements to help detect problems earlier (just like in human medicine), as early detection leads to earlier intervention, and better management of your pet’s health.

Preventative care should be tailored to each individual pet, but typically includes a regular health examination, review of vaccinations and parasite prevention, dental assessment, weight and nutritional advice, and discussion of any changes in behaviour, mobility or lifestyle.

Depending on your pet’s age and individual risk factors, we may also recommend preventative dental treatment or screening tests such as blood tests, urine tests or blood pressure measurement. Not every vaccination needs to be given every year, so your veterinarian will recommend an appropriate schedule for your individual pet.

Yes. Regular health examinations are just as important for apparently healthy pets as they are for animals that are unwell. Many conditions develop gradually and may not cause obvious symptoms in their early stages. This is even more important in our furry friends because they cannot talk to us to let us know how they are feeling.

Regular checks allow us to monitor changes in weight, teeth, heart, joints, skin and other body systems over time, while also keeping preventative healthcare up to date. Finding a problem early will often give us more options to treat or manage it and help keep your pet healthy and comfortable for longer.