Love is in the air this February at Palmerstown Veterinary Hospital and we have put together our 6 TOP TIPS on how to show your pet the love by keeping them healthy.

1. Make sure you are up to date with your VACCINATIONS. Your pet will need a yearly booster to ensure that they are fully protected. We send out text reminders but if you are unsure as to when your pet is due, call us on 01 6237044 and we can check your file.
2. Your pet should be treated with FLEA & WORM TREATMENT regularly. There are a variety of products available so why not pop in to us with your pet so we can weigh them and advise you on the best treatment for your pet.
3. MICROCHIPPING is a simple procedure and the quickest way to ensure you are reunited with your pet should they go missing. We are currently offering this at a discounted price of €20!
4. Is your pet NEUTERED? The benefits of neutering are numerous and include the prevention of unwanted litters, prevention of testicular tumours in males, the prevention of mammary tumours in females…to name but a few. If your pet is not neutered, please call us and we can discuss the procedure with you.
5. Does your pet have HEALTH INSURANCE? Pet health insurance helps cover the cost of veterinary bills when your pet becomes ill or injured. There are numerous health insurers on the market so if you need more information, you can call us.
6. NUTRITION is another important way of keeping your pet healthy. At Palmerstown Veterinary Hospital we recommend feeding Hills Science Plan/Vet Essentials or a Prescription diet depending on what your pets needs are. We can advise you on the best diet for your pet if you are unsure.

We hope you found our tips useful but if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01 6237044.

What is important is that we recognise when our beloved dog is getting old and appreciate the he needs looking after differently.

How you can Help:- 

1.Feed him differently:-

Just like people as dogs age their metabolism slows down so they need less calories. Being overweight is never good but more so for our elderly pets

Older dogs can also become fussy eaters partly because their sense of smell declines with age.

Diets for older pets contain higher levels of antioxidants which help combat the damage to cells by free radicals.

The inclusion of products such as omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin helps with arthritis.

Hill’s Science plan for senior pets which we stock at Clontarf veterinary Hospital is an example of good food for the older dog.

2.     Don’t let him overdo it!

Older dogs need may need more rest, especially if they have joint disease. Little and often is the key so if you’re going on a two-hour hill walk, best leave the dog at home!

If your dog isn’t exercising as much he may need his claws trimming – book an appointment with one of Anicare’s vet nurses for a nail clip.

Older dogs may sleep for longer and sleep more deeply. Don’t be tempted to wake them as if they are startled they may respond with a snap! If they enjoy playing with children in the family that’s great, but make sure children understand not to tease them, and to leave them alone when they need a rest.

3.     Make sure his bedding is comfortable

It’s probably not fair to keep elderly dogs outside as, like us, they become less able to cope with the cold as they age. As they sleep and rest more, it’s important that their bedding is nice and thick to prevent calluses on the elbows and other pressure points. Put your dog’s bed somewhere quiet so he can hide away from the hustle and bustle of family life if he needs to.

4.     Book regular health checks

Some people think that dogs don’t need vaccinating when they reach old age, but this is not the case. It is still important to give them an annual booster, especially as immunity can be weaker in elderly animals. It’s also still important to treat them for fleas and worms regularly.

The annual health check becomes more and more important as your dog ages. In fact, we at Clontarf Veterinary Hospital recommend stepping it up to every six months as your dog gets older as the sooner diseases are picked up, the better.

5. What to watch for:-

1. Increased drinking
2. Joint stiffness, reluctance to exercise, creaky joints or leg weakness
3. Poor appetite
4.  Confusion, walking into furniture.
5. Cloudy eyes
6.   Lumps and bumps
7.  Any other unusual  signs

6.     Keep him groomed

Because the quality of hair decreases and it becomes more important for him to groom himself, it’s more important to brush your dog regularly as he gets older. Use a soft brush so you don’t hurt him if brushing over sore joints. Matted coat may need to be clipped – your vet practice or groomer can help you with this.

7.     Be patient!

As your dog gets older he may start to go deaf and blind, find it more difficult to move around, and suffer bouts of confusion. Occasionally he may have toileting accidents. It’s really not his fault so do not chastise him for these. Remember whatever the problem with your pet it’s always worth checking with your vet to see if it can be treated – I have in the past been asked to put bitches down because they have started to leak urine, with the owner not realising that this is something that can usually be treated quite easily with regular medication.

For the Month of APRIL  Anicare’s  Clontarf Veterinary Hospital is offering  FREE   Vet Nurse Senior Dog Health Checks.

To watch a video of our Qualified Veterinary Nurse – Maeve Deady  giving senior dog health check  - just click on the link below.

Senior Dog Health Checks

Free check ups are subject to appointment availability so call us now to make an appointment for your dog.

 Should you have any queries on this or any other topic call Clontarf veterinary Hospital on

01 8330744

Clontarf Veterinary Hospital – Where We Put the Care of Your Pet First – ALWAYS.

We have all heard the stories on television and in the papers about dogs attacking children when left unsupervised. Here are a few tips to help keep them both safe from each other.

Anyone who has had to introduce a new baby to the family dog has probably gone through steps such as playing baby sounds and bringing home a blanket from the hospital for the dog to sniff a however, it’s not the same as physically having a child & a dog together so always remember the following:

• Children & dogs should never ever be left unattended no matter how well behaved they are.

• If you are getting a dog for the children, the children must be old enough and strong enough to manage it. Think very carefully about the dog you choose, you want to have this dog for its entire lifetime. So do your research!

• Teach your children that the dog is not a toy. Small children and puppies do not know how to behave around each other, therefore they need to be taught how to play safely with each other. The children might pull the puppies tail and in return the puppy might nip at the child.

• It may be helpful to teach the children some responsibility for the dog by getting the children to carry out the daily ‘poop-scoop’.

• Visiting children must be supervised at all times too. Your dog may not tolerate unwanted attention from children it is unfamiliar with.

• Teach your child how to pet a dog. Dogs should only be stroked from collar to tail. Do not allow children to pet an unknown dog. Dogs don’t necessarily like to be petted on the head – this can make them feel worried.

• Learn to ‘Speak Dog’ – teach your children how to interpret your dogs facial/body expressions.

• Children should also be taught not to scream, wave arms and run around wildly with dogs as this may incite the dog to jump up and bite. See the ‘Be Like a Tree’ picture below.

• Education is the key for a successful, long and happy relationship between dogs and children.

If you have any queries about your dog please do not hesitate to contact our Anicare branches in Palmerstown, Blanchardstown, Glasnevin, Clontarf and Santry and we can advise you.

Dogs, unlike people, have a fairly long, flexible tongues and therefore it is not quite so important to brush the lingual, or inside, surfaces of the teeth since these are rubbed fairly vigorously by the tongue and consequently the build up of tartar on these tooth surfaces is considerably less than we experience.

How do I start to train my dog?

The procedure should be made as pleasurable as possible.  For the first few days simply hold your dog as you normally do when petting him.  Pet him particularly around the head and use treat rewards and lots of praise.  Do this especially at your pet’s meal time since for a healthy dog is the most pleasurable part of the day.  You are going to utilise this to encourage dental home care compliance.

We can supply a special toothbrush designed for use in your dog’s mouth.  Initially dip this in your pet’s dinner or in some meaty titbit, for example pate, and brush this on the outside of the teeth holding the jaws shut and inserting the brush gently between the lips with the bristles against the teeth at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the tooth and gum surface.  Gently rub the bristles against both the teeth and the gums.
If necessary let the dog consume some of his meal in between brushing sessions.
Most people find their dogs will tolerate the cheek teeth being cleaned before they are happy to allow you to clean the front teeth or incisors.  If you do have problems do not hesitate to contact the practice.

Once your pet is used to having the outside of the teeth cleaned in this way, it may be possible for you to venture into the mouth
to clean the inside surfaces.  To do this you have to hold the dog’s head up as high as possible and then gently open his mouth.  If you can hold a finger or your thumb pressed against the roof of the mouth, this will prevent him from shutting his mouth.  However as previously stated this procedure is not as important as cleaning the buccal or outside surfaces of the teeth.
If you find you are unable to carry out these procedures, do not despair.  Today there are special foods that have been formulated to help with tooth cleaning and there are also gels and other antiseptic solutions that can be applied on a daily basis.