COVID UPDATE – We are currently seeing essential appointments only whereas non-essential appointments may be delayed.

If mutually agreeable, subject to face coverings being worn, no clinical signs of COVID and the type of appointment, consultations will be carried out inside the building. In order to maintain social distance we have a maximum occupancy level policy and thank you for your patience whilst waiting. We kindly request only one member of the family attends and where possible aim to get for us at the correct time for your appointment to avoid ongoing delays.

Please be aware that as from 18th January due to altered working practices we intend on closing at 6pm for the foreseeable future and will keep this under review until current lock down rules change. Our full list of opening hours can be found here

For repeat medication requests, please order in advance as usual by telephoning us on 01458 832972 or emailing us at medicines@ovg.co.uk. You will be requested to pay prior to collection and our reception team will provide you with further instructions as appropriate.

If you are shielding or self-isolating and require repeat medication or veterinary advice please contact us on 01458 832972.

Arthritis is as uncomfortable for our pets as it is for humans and it doesn’t discriminate by species! All senior pets including dog, cats and rabbits are known to suffer with the condition. Arthritis literally means “inflammation of the joints” and is common with age, but can develop earlier in life secondary to other problems like joint ligament damage.

Signs of Arthritis

We commonly see changes to our pets’ mobility as a result of arthritis. Things to look out for include:

Ability and willingness to climb stairs
Ability and willingness to jump to a raised height (e.g. into the car, on to the sofa, or up to a counter top for cats)
Stiffness, particularly in the mornings or after walks
Reduced willingness to exercise and run (or hop!) around
Any changes to walking pattern
Behaviour changes, including aggression
Difficulty getting comfortable
Pacing at night
Muscle loss
A dirty or wet bottom for rabbits
General ‘slowing up’ with age

Every animal is an individual and will present with different signs: it is important to note that most animals will not vocalise pain from arthritis. Symptoms are wide ranging and could even be confused with other diseases, so make sure to get your pet checked by a vet.

Management

Management of arthritis is wide ranging and includes lifestyle and diet changes for your pet as well as joint supplementation and anti-inflammatory medications in some cases. Our vets will develop a personalised management plan with you for you pets, but treatment and management options could include:

Weight management (our nurses run free weight clinics to help you if this were required for your pet)
Environment adaptions such as: avoiding slippery flooring; providing ramps to the sofa or other areas of height; moving rabbit or cat litter trays so they are more easily accessible; brushing your rabbit daily because they may find grooming more difficult and increase their risk of fly strike; avoiding the cold which will exacerbate arthritis symptoms in all species
Modifying exercise to ‘little and often’ approach rather than long walks for dogs
Complementary therapies such as hydrotherapy or veterinary physiotherapy
Evidence-based and scientifically approved diet supplementation to support joint health
Anti-inflammatory medications
Additional pain relief or surgery may be required in more advanced cases

For dog-specific advice, take a look at the Canine Arthritis Management website: https://caninearthritis.co.uk/. Our nurses also offer complimentary senior pet clinics to help you and your pet transition in to the more distinguished stage of their life!