Local Vet starts Geriatric Pets Awareness Campaign
Briar Dawn Veterinary Centre in Oldham has launched a Geriatric Pets Awareness Campaign after vets warned that many owners miss subtle signs of pain in older dogs and cats, with nearly 9% of senior dogs affected by mobility issues that often go unnoticed.
Briar Dawn vets launch Geriatric Pets Awareness Campaign after records reveal one in 11 senior dogs already has mobility problems - and many more are suffering in silence.
Dogs older than seven and cats older than eight rarely yelp or limp, Rebecca Muwanga, Clinical Director at the Oldham practice, warned. Instead they “sleep more, hesitate on stairs or lose enthusiasm for walks” - changes owners routinely dismiss as normal ageing.
“Mobility issues creep in slowly and owners just think their pet is ‘slowing down with age’. But in many cases, that pet is uncomfortable every single day,” Muwanga said. “If a human felt this level of discomfort, they’d say something. But unfortunately our pets can’t.”
The campaign, launched this week, will also highlight dental disease and suspicious lumps, which national data show affect 13% and 10% of senior dogs respectively. Muwanga urged owners who spot altered behaviour, smelly breath, red gums or fast-growing masses to contact the surgery through cvsvets.com for low-cost advice.
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