The first year of a cat or dog’s life is a very important time. Just like children, their body grows rapidly and their experiences during this time become the framework for how they react to situations later in life.

At Urban Vets, our nurses run complimentary development checks for our younger patients. During these visits, our nurses will check your pet’s weight and let you know if they are growing at a suitable rate, as well as checking their teeth, skin, eyes and ears.
If you have any questions about your puppy or kitten, we will be happy to discuss them with you and can direct you to a qualified behaviourist if needed.

We will also discuss nutrition, socialisation and preventative healthcare such as parasite treatment and neutering. The experience of coming to the clinic for these short visits (and getting lots of treats) while your pet is healthy can really help them not to be afraid when they come to see the vet later on.

We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about your pet’s weight, diet and feeding guide. Sometimes a more structured approach is advised when a pet needs to lose weight, which is a common problem these days and can easily happen. If one of our vets or nurses has identified that your pet’s weight is posing a potential problem for their health, we may advise a series of weight clinics.

These clinics are run by our veterinary nurses and are usually 2-3 weeks apart. We will create a tailored feeding plan with whatever diet is most suitable for your pet and discuss other elements of weight management such as exercise and behaviour.
Measurements and photos may be taken to help monitor progress and support from our nurses is always available via phone, text or email.

Our head nurse Emily has a particular interest in nutrition and is experienced in successfully running these clinics, with many owners noting that their pets have experienced a major increase in mobility and comfort levels following their weight reduction.

Older pets will be more prone to certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems and joint pain due to osteoarthritis. The symptoms for some of these diseases are more obvious than others, and often it can be hard to tell what is simply part of the normal ageing process and what is cause for concern.

Particularly with cats and very calm dogs, our pets can hide it from us when they are feeling unwell and so some problems won’t be easily noticeable. Other issues are only detected when we run tests to check for them, based on the age and species or breed of your pet.

Depending on your pet’s age, we will recommend how often to see our nurses for a wellness check between their routine vet visits. This may involve filling in a questionnaire about any changes in your pet’s routine or behaviour, as well as a clinical examination and some tests such as urine and blood work.

If any abnormalities are detected, one of our vets will follow up to see about creating a treatment plan to help you and your pet manage their symptoms and improve their comfort and wellbeing.