The good news about heart disease in pets is that in most cases the illness can be well managed with medication, for a long time.
Symptoms of heart disease include reduced energy, breathlessness, coughing and sometimes episodes of collapse or fainting.
We often recommend an ultrasound examination and X-rays to assess the heart’s function before prescribing medication and again after a few months to monitor the heart’s response to the medication.
The kidneys play many important roles in the body; from maintaining water and salt balance and helping to control blood pressure, to excreting waste products.
Unfortunately kidney disease is a common problem in older animals, especially cats.
Cats and dogs are very sensitive to toxic substances that can irreversibly damage their kidneys.
Did you know that grapes, lily plants and some human medications can cause serious, sometimes fatal damage to your pet’s kidneys?
We regularly screen pets for kidney disease because, although the condition can’t be reversed, early detection can allow treatment to slow its progression. Blood and urine tests performed onsite will detect the disease.
High blood pressure (hypertension) can be a problem in animals with kidney disease, so we also regularly check blood pressure when pets present for a check-up.
Treatments usually involve specific dietary changes and medications to reduce blood pressure and help pets with long-term kidney damage.
We encourage having your pet’s kidney enzyme levels checked before lengthy anaesthetic procedures, especially for older animals.
