Hamsters make great family pets; they are fascinating to watch, fun to handle, and relatively easy to look after. The average lifespan of a hamster is 2-3 years and many lead happy lives without serious illness or disease. However, like all creatures they can be susceptible to illness, and being so small in size means they can deteriorate quickly if left untreated. In this article, our Vet Nicola Armstrong discusses the signs to look for in a poorly hamster, how to tell if your hamster is hibernating and what to do and shares their favourite tips on how to keep your hamster happy.
Contact us if you spot the signs
How to tell if your hamster is under the weather
Nicola advises that just like with any family pet, it is important to be aware of your hamster’s daily routines, eating habits and activity levels. Changes to these things can indicate illness or stress and should not be ignored. Common signs that something may be amiss with your hamster are:
- Reduced eating or loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Not drinking
- Sore eyes
- Wetness around the tail or diarrhoea
- Frequent sneezing or coughing
- Inactivity or lethargy
- Visible skin lumps, ulcers or tumour
Six common illnesses in hamsters
According to Nicola, even though hamsters are fairly easy to keep, you should still monitor their wellbeing and behaviour to help spot these common hamster illnesses and health problems:
- Dental issues – Did you know that hamsters’ teeth never stop growing? Normally this doesn’t cause problems as long as they have plenty of suitable hard things to gnaw on. However, sometimes they can overgrow and cause pain and stop your hamster eating.
- Allergies – Hamsters can have sensitive skin and suffer from allergies to foods or bedding materials. This may cause skin redness, flakiness or bleeding, especially on the underside of their bellies.
- Lumps & bumps – They can also be prone to lumps and bumps which can grow large and cause problems. Nicola recommends checking your hamster’s skin regularly.
- Wet tail – Hamsters can get what is sometimes called ‘wet tail’ – a watery diarrhoea which presents as wetness around their bottoms. The cause is unknown but thought to be bacterial, often brought on by changes in food or sometimes stress. It can be serious so make sure you call our Glasgow practice straight away on 0141 643 0404 if you suspect your hamster has it.
- Coughs & colds – Hamsters can catch common coughs and colds just like humans. They may pass on their own with time, but it is always best to get them checked out by one of our vets.
- Eye injury/infection – If your hamster is squinting, has one or both eyes closed, and/or has discharge around the eyes there is a chance they have an eye injury or infection.
Contact us if you spot the signs
Is my hamster hibernating?
Hamsters in the wild can hibernate when temperatures drop. This means they will curl into a ball and sleep deeply for a long period of time. Pet hamsters shouldn’t need to hibernate if they are kept at normal household temperatures all year round. Letting your pet hamster go into hibernation isn’t necessary.
If you think your hamster is hibernating don’t panic, even though they won’t be moving you should still be able to see them breathing. To rouse your hamster from hibernation, Nicola recommends moving their cage to a warmer spot in the house (free from drafts) and they will wake gently over the course of a few hours. Once awake, it is a good idea to provide your hamster with fresh bedding to burrow into, and ensure they have fresh food and water to keep their metabolism up.
If you have concerns about your hamster’s current health, contact our team for advice on 0141 643 0404.
Tips to keep your hamster happy
Hamsters are likely to stay happy and healthy if their environments are well-suited to their needs. Here are a few of Nicola’s favourite tips for a stress-free hamster:
- Hamsters are intelligent and get bored easily. Make sure their cage is large enough so they can run around and explore. Enrich it with tunnels, toys, and different levels so they are kept active.
- Hamsters are sensitive to noise and can pick up high frequencies inaudible to the human ear which can cause anxiety. Place your hamster’s cage in a quiet area away from televisions, kitchen appliances, computers, and vacuum cleaners.
- Hamsters love to burrow and build nests. This is also where they like to stash some of their food rather than eat it all at once. Create some cosy areas of bedding in your hamster’s cage where they can rest, nest, and feel safe.
As always, our team in Glasgow love to share pet advice so if you have any questions, please do get in touch!
Thinking about adopting a cat? There are plenty of them in rescue centres around the Lanarkshire area looking for good homes, and cats are ideal for pet lovers who don’t have the time to devote to the more demanding needs of a dog.
But what do you need to think about when bringing a new addition into your home? Our cat-loving team have put together some top tips below.
Why not share your adoption experiences with our many followers on Facebook?
Share your adoption experiences
Things to consider when adopting a cat
A consideration when adopting a cat may be their age. There are many older cats that often get overlooked in rescue centres because they are not kittens or younger cats. This sadly means they are more likely to spend a longer time in rescue centres. Older cats can be just as loving as younger ones and often come with less challenges in terms of toilet training.
If you are considering adopting a cat, there are many centres that have cats available such as the RSPCA and the Cats Protection League, as well as local pet rescue centres in Lanarkshire.
Behavioural issues
Just like adopting any animal, it is important to be aware of any potential behavioural or medical issues. In case of dementia, look out for:
- Disorientation
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Avoiding social interaction
- Increased meowing
Introducing an older cat into your home
The nursing team at our Glasgow surgery have lots of experience and advice when it comes to caring for older cats. If after reading this advice you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Plan ahead
When introducing a senior or geriatric cat into your home it is important to plan ahead, especially if you have another cat in the household. Introduce them slowly by keeping the new cat restricted to one room at first, and gradually allow them more contact with your current cat.
You can swap bedding, so they learn the smell of each other, but monitor them closely for any signs of stress such as restlessness, or changes in toileting or eating.
Contact our Glasgow team for more advice on how to introduce a new cat into your home.
Their environment
When introducing a geriatric cat, you want to ensure the environment suits their needs. You can do this by having soft, low sided beds in areas they can easily access without climbing or jumping. Make sure there are plenty of food/water bowls around, and litter trays with low sides.
Top tip from The Avenues Vets’ Head Nurse: You should have a litter tray and food/water bowls per cat and on each level of your home to avoid fighting and to aid mobility.
Older cats are less likely to use scratching posts to express their emotions and mark their scent, but horizontal scratching surfaces are likely to do the job just as well!
Health check-ups
With older cats it is important to have regular check-ups to ensure they are healthy. Older cats can suffer with kidney disease and arthritis so monitoring for signs of these is important.
They may also require regular grooming and nail trims, as older cats tend stop grooming themselves regularly and often struggle to shed their nails – these can get long and may grow into pads if not trimmed.
Remember to also keep on top of parasite control!
It’s wise to bring your new cat in for a senior health check – give us a call on 0141 643 0404.
The rewards
All that said, the majority of ‘senior cat issues’ can be easily treated and managed, so it’s still worthwhile considering giving an older cat a loving home. Older cats can be incredibly affectionate and rewarding to adopt and can be a lot of fun too!
Have you opened your home to an older cat? Why not share your experiences on our Facebook page and let other people know how rewarding it can be?
Share your experiences on our Facebook page
If you’d like further advice on adopting a cat, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to chat.
Getting a new puppy is one of the most exciting experiences life has to offer and it is an amazing feeling when you become a pet parent. However, it is common for new owners to underestimate their newfound responsibilities when taking good care of a puppy.
Vet nurses at our Glasgow practice are here to help you through your journey, giving advice on socialisation, diet, training, exercise, and visits to the vet.
Check out their list of essential needs below and download our handy Puppy Socialisation Checklist:
Everything your new puppy needs
Socialisation
In the first three months of a puppy’s life, they go through what is known as their ‘socialisation period’. This is an important stage because they begin to learn about the environment around them as well as learn what correct behaviour looks like. This will set them in good stead for socialising, having a good temperament around people and other animals, and can even make dog walking more pleasant.
Our nursing team recommend that to begin with, friendly, vaccinated adult dogs are the best companions for your new puppy when they come home with you as they can let off some steam, learn canine social cues, and build confidence around other dogs. If you have a cat in your home, when introducing your puppy, keep them on a lead and allow the cat to have an escape route; it is often very stressful for a cat to have a new, hyperactive puppy in their home.
Our team have put together a handy Puppy Socialisation checklist that covers lots of experiences for your new pet; download it here:
Get our Puppy Socialisation Checklist
Diet
Nutrition is of the upmost importance when you are looking after a new puppy to ensure optimal growth, development of their physical systems, and overall welfare as they get older.
When buying pet food from the supermarket or a company online, make sure to look at the information label. Here you will find what age group the food is designed for, dry matter percentage, and how many calories are in the serving, amongst more detail about protein and other nutrients. If you have any queries involving diet, do get in touch with our team at Glasgow by calling 0141 643 0404.
Training and exercise
Training and exercise should be worked into your furry friend’s day-to-day routine, so they get into a habit of exhibiting good behaviour. Training should encourage and support sustainable toileting, sleeping arrangements, them getting used to being alone in the house, and conduct around food, people and other animals.
As for exercise, our Head Nurse Linsey advises it is important that puppies go for a walk every day, but there are different lengths of time for different ages and breeds. Not only will this let them expel some energy whilst developing a healthy respiratory and musculoskeletal system, it will also allow them to explore new scents and environments.
Contact us to ask advice on how much exercise your age and breed of puppy requires.
Vet visits
When you bring your puppy home, you need to know if they are vaccinated, have any gastrointestinal parasites, or if they have a runny nose or cough. If they are vaccinated and free from illness, then they can socialise with other animals.
Puppies will usually be vaccinated and microchipped at 8 weeks old and then vaccinated again at 12 weeks to boost their immunity, but other protocols may be followed depending on the breed. You should also bring your puppy to our Glasgow vet practice to get an overall health check and set up a plan for booster vaccinations, parasite control, get advice on nutrition, and to ask any questions about puppy rearing.
Start socialising your new puppy
Overall, the first few months you have with your puppy are crucial for creating a suitable routine and for developing a precious bond to ensure both you and your pet live happy lives together.
As a general rule, most rabbits do better in pairs – discover why in our article created especially for National Pet Month and learn what signs to look for in a lonely bunny.
Remember that The Avenues Vets’ team of friendly vet nurses are always happy to give advice on rabbit care.
Ask our Vet Nurses about rabbit care
Working out if your rabbit could be lonely
As sociable animals, rabbits appreciate constant companionship and in the wild you would rarely find a rabbit alone. To mimic their natural behaviour, it is always a good idea to keep your pet rabbit with a friend to avoid them feeling lonely and unhappy.
Our Vet Nicola Armstrong advises that if you notice any of the below, it may be time to think about introducing your rabbit to a new companion.
- Lonely rabbits may overeat, pull at their fur, or become hyperactive and/or angry. Signs of this could be them chewing at rugs or carpets, gnawing furniture, or destroying toys in their hutch.
- If you notice your rabbit biting you, nudging you, or attempting to dig on you, these are other signs that they could be feeling isolated and want more attention.
- On the other hand, if they start to act withdrawn and do not respond as normal when you attempt to interact with them, this is also a sign they may feel lonely.
Remember: if you are worried your rabbit may not be feeling themselves, it is always worth seeking the opinion of your vet so they can rule out any underlying medical conditions.
Contact us to book an appointment
What to know about getting a companion rabbit
The vet nurses at our Glasgow practice recommend matching your rabbit with another of the same age and approximately the same size. Rabbits also like to be paired with a member of the opposite sex but remember to make sure both are neutered. Otherwise, you could end up with a few more rabbits than you originally settled on!
When you introduce them, try to do it somewhere neutral so your original rabbit will not get territorial. This will help to avoid fighting. It is essential that you do not try to rush this step; just take your time and allow your animals to adjust at their own pace.
If you spot them snuggling each other, nuzzling, and rubbing noses, this is a good sign that they have bonded and will be happy to live together full time.
If your rabbits are chasing or fighting one another, Nicola says this is a sign they are struggling to bond. Try changing their environment, providing lots of toys and hiding houses during the introduction, and petting them simultaneously for up to 15 minutes. If you are still struggling to encourage them to bond, then chat to one of our vet nurses who can advise further.
What if I can’t have another rabbit?
Although our vet nurses believe the best companion for a rabbit is another rabbit, plenty of pet owners simply do not have the time, space, or budget for a second animal. With the correct care and attention, it is possible to keep just one rabbit. Here are some tips recommended by our vet nurses to ensure your rabbit is happy and doesn’t feel lonely:
- Show your rabbit plenty of affection with soft rubs on their back, cheek, and forehead.
- Make sure they’ve always got plenty of fresh food, water, and enrichment toys to chew or scratch.
- Rabbits need at least one hour a day out of their hutch – why not set up a run with plenty of space and toys in the garden or set up an indoor rabbit play pen. Rabbits love to play so get down to their level and help them to dig, knock things over, toss things in the air, or even invest in a rabbit safe ball pit or sand box.
For more advice on rabbit health and companionship, don’t hesitate to contact our vet nurses who will be happy to answer your questions.
Ask our vet nurses about rabbit care
Spring is in the air and with the warmer and wetter weather parasites, like worms, become much more prevalent. With that in mind, we’re encouraging The Avenues Vets’ clients to make sure their dogs are up to date with worming tablets and if their cover has lapsed, to make an appointment at our Woodside Avenue surgery. When you come in our nurses can advise you on the best products to keep worms at bay.
Follow our simple worm prevention checklist
Our head nurse Linsey has highlighted a simple three-step process to help you help your dog avoid worms. They have also put together a reminder, in the form of a simple PDF poster, for you to download, print, share & keep. Follow our simple advice and you’ll stand a very good chance of saving your dog a lot of worm-based hassle.
1. Prevent – Make sure you worm your dog regularly
This is the most effective way to protect your pet, but you must use medication that is appropriate for your dog. Never share wormers between dogs as they are pet specific.
2. Check – Know the signs of worms and check your dog regularly
Download our PDF to get all the details. Linsey has also added a few pointers at the end of this article.
3. Avoid – Avoid common ways that worms are contracted
Things like dog faeces, fleas, slugs & snails, and dead host animals can all carry parasitic worms. Help your dog avoid these and you’ll minimise the chances of them contracting a worm infestation.
Download our detailed checklist
Now download the infographic, it’s got all the detail you need in an easy-to-understand format. Please feel free to either share it with other dog owners, we’re very happy for you to post this on your preferred social media channel. Or just print it out and pin it up somewhere until spring is over.
Download our worm prevention PDF
Know the signs of worms and act early
We’d encourage any dog owner to make themselves familiar with the signs of worm infestations. Below, we have listed the main types of worms we tend to see at Avenues Vets along with the symptoms one might expect to see with each.
- Tapeworms: You may notice individual segments of these flat worms that look like grains of rice in your dog’s faeces or on their anus, ‘scooting’ their bottom on the ground, and weight loss.
- Hookworms: Pale gums, anaemia, weight loss, weakness, bloody diarrhoea, itchy paws, poor growth – can be fatal.
- Roundworms: Rice or spaghetti-like worms in faeces, vomiting, diarrhoea, swollen and painful belly, weakness, dull coat, and weight loss.
- Whipworms: Diarrhoea, bloody stools, anaemia, and weight loss.
- Lungworm: Weight loss, difficulty breathing, coughing (with blood), lethargy, unexplained bruising and bleeding, seizures, collapse, shock, blindness – can be fatal.
If you see or suspect your pet has any of these, we suggest you call us for advice and to book an appointment.
Parasites are a common concern for small pets like hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs; they are susceptible to a variety of parasites that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. In this article, one of our Glasgow vets is looking at some of the most common parasites that affect these popular pets and what you can do to protect them.
Notice the signs below? Contact us
Mites
According to our vet Nicola, one of the most common parasites that affect small pets is the mite. Mites are tiny, eight-legged creatures that can cause severe itching and irritation. They are most commonly found on the skin, in the ears, and in the eyes. Mites can be difficult to detect because they are so small, but they can cause severe itching and scratching, hair loss, and even secondary infections. Have you spotted any of these signs of mites on your hamster, fancy rat, or gerbil? It’s important to keep your pet’s cage clean to try and prevent mites. We recommend that you book an appointment at our Woodside Avenue surgery if you have any concerns.
Lice
Another common parasite that affects small pets is the lice. Lice are tiny insects that live on the skin and fur of small pets. They can cause itching and scratching, and they can also lead to secondary infections. Lice can be difficult to detect, but they can be treated with topical medications that can be prescribed by Nicola or another of our vets.
Worms
When compared to mice and rats, tapeworm infection in hamsters is more common. Typically, hamsters contract tapeworms from contaminated water and/or feed. It is wise to be aware that some tapeworms that infect hamsters can also infect people. Worms can cause diarrhoea, weight loss, and other health issues. Treatment for internal parasites typically involves a medication prescribed by one of our vets.
Coccidia in Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs, in particular, are also at risk of getting a specific parasite, Coccidia which is a protozoan that can cause diarrhoea and weight loss.
To protect your small pet from parasites, it’s essential to maintain good hygiene in their living area and to schedule regular vet check-ups with our team here at Avenues Vets. Keeping the cage clean and disinfected (look for pet-safe products), providing fresh food and water, and preventing your pet from coming into contact with wild animals or their faeces, can also reduce the risk of parasite infestation.
In conclusion, Nicola advises that although parasites are a common concern for small pets, by keeping a close eye on your pet’s health, providing proper care and hygiene, and consulting with our vets, you can protect your beloved small pet from the harmful effects of these parasites.
Fleas can cause a host of health issues for your cat and the rest of your family. With Spring around the corner, cat owners in Glasgow will see the start of the 2023 flea season soon. So, Linsey our head nurse thought it would be a good time to focus on what cat owners need to know about fleas. Top of the list is to ensure your cat’s own flea protection is in place. If you’re not sure, then give us a quick call and we can tell you your cat’s status.
Call to see if your cat is protected
How to prevent cat fleas
Apart from ensuring your cat’s flea protection is up to date, here are four tips that Linsey suggests you follow to prevent or treat a cat flea infestation.
1. Protect – Ensure all your pets are protected
Cats can catch fleas from other pets in your house, from neighboring pets, other animals in the wild, or even you as fleas can cling onto your clothing! So, making sure all pets in your household have protection with a vet recommended flea treatment is vital.
2. Wash – Wash your pet’s bedding
Fleas love warm places like a cat’s bedding. Regularly wash bedding on a 60–70-degree cycle with a specialist pet bedding wash. Why not ask a question to our Facebook community to see what’s worked for other cat owners?
3. Hoover – Keep your house spotless
Once fleas are in the house, they can be tough to get rid of. Whether you’re looking to help prevent fleas appearing in the first place or remove an established infestation, regular hoovering of the house is essential. Environmental treatments are also available, please ask our team for advice.
4. Check – Check your cat regularly for fleas
Knowing what to look out for is an essential part of catching fleas early. One of the most obvious signs of an infestation is intense itching and scratching, which can lead to hair loss and irritated skin. Otherwise, part your cat’s fur so you can see the skin and look for flea droppings – tiny, black spots in your cat’s fur (mainly dried blood).
Why you need to be vigilant for fleas
As well as being irritating for your cat, and everyone else in the house, a flea infestation can cause anaemia in your cat and provoke allergic skin reactions too. Many people don’t even realise their cat has fleas. A 2018 survey of 300 vet practices treating 1,400 cats and dogs found that over 28% of cats had fleas and 8% had a skin condition caused by a long-term infestation.
That’s why you should check your cat for fleas and ensure their protection is up to date.
If you need information or advice, give our team a quick call and we can tell you the vet-recommended flea treatments we use and make sure your cat is fully protected.
It’s pet dental health month so the team at Avenues Vets in Lanarkshire have devised six simple checks that every dog owner should be doing between vet visits.
We’ve also created a Dog Dental Health Checklist for you to download and keep. Use this to brush-up on your dog’s dental routine now and if you spot anything that concerns you, book a dental check up immediately.
All dog owners in Lanarkshire need to know how important it is to keep on top of their dog’s oral health. Infections caused by gum disease and loose teeth can lead to pain and bad breath at the very least. However, in some circumstances, oral infections can spread to the heart, liver, kidney, or lungs with much more serious consequences.
Six simple checks to maintain your dog’s oral health
Here’s what our head vet Nicola says you should be looking out for:
- Bad breath
- Painful, red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Plaque – this will appear as a build-up of yellow material on the teeth
- Tartar – this will appear as a hard, brown build-up on the teeth
- Loose or missing teeth
- Mouth pain – you’re going to need to look out for the three main symptoms:
- Decreased appetite
- Difficulty eating
- Reluctance to be handled around the mouth
Regular dental checks must be backed up with a weekly once-over at home.
Now you know what to look out for, you should check your dog’s mouth every week or so. Catching dental issues early is important. Just like in humans, a month is a long time for a dog to suffer from toothache. If you need any help, just give us a call or pop into Avenues Vets and one of our nurses will show you how to examine and clean your dog’s teeth.
Preventing plaque and bad breath in dogs
We all know that prevention is better than cure. Taking one or more of these simple actions will help maintain your dog’s teeth and gums between visits to our practice.
- Brush your dog’s teeth regularly with pet-safe toothpaste
- Give your dog chew toys
- Feed dry dog food or a specialised dental diet
- Download, print, and use the extra advice in our ‘doggy dental checklist’
It’s pet dental health month so at Avenues Vets we’re recommending all our clients with ‘small furries’ book a nurse-led dental check, so we can give your rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, or rats a dental once-over.
Book a ‘small furry’ dental check with a nurse
We’re raising awareness of the importance of oral health as many of the problems we see in little furry creatures at our Glasgow practice originate from dental issues. This is why it’s so important to keep a close eye on your pet’s teeth.
Seven signs of dental disease in small mammals
According to our vet nurses, you should keep a sharp lookout for the following seven symptoms that indicate your pet may be suffering from dental issues:
- Not eating or difficulty eating
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the jaw, particularly noticeable along the lower edge of the mandible
- Excessive salivation and drooling
- An inability to fully close the mouth
- Watery eyes with matting of the hair in the corner
- Swollen appearance of the eye caused by infections behind the eyeball
The effect of diet on the oral health of rabbits & rodents
Most dental problems in rabbits and rodents are linked to a lack of normal wear on their teeth. This is because diets are often too low in fibre. A lack of fibre causes uneven wear of the teeth and in some cases, teeth become overgrown or develop sharp enamel points, known as spurs.
If spotted early enough, ‘spurs’ can be addressed by changing your pet’s diet to one rich in natural, high-fibre foods – Timothy Hay is ideal. Small furries love to nibble on dried grass to keep their continually growing teeth naturally filed down to a healthy length.
If your pet does have significantly elongated teeth, they will need trimming. NEVER do this yourself. If you live in Glasgow or the wider Lanarkshire area, please contact us and we’ll trim their teeth safely.
Our four dietary suggestions for little pets
- Offer your small pets an unlimited amount of fresh Timothy Hay. As well as keeping their continually growing teeth naturally filed down, Timothy Hay also helps small animals maintain regular, firm bowel movements.
- Avoid muesli-style diets as these will cause long-term problems; a high-fibre diet is essential.
- Do not allow your pet to be a selective feeder.
- Buy the highest quality products whenever possible.
We hope you found our dental advice for ‘small furries’ helpful. If you’d like a little help checking your pet’s teeth, contact us to book a nurse-led dental check-up at our Glasgow vet surgery for your rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, or rats.
If our nurse finds dental issues your pet may need a vet consultation for further investigation, therefore if you suspect a problem yourself, we recommend booking a vet-check right away. Dental problems in rabbits and guinea pigs are an emergency.
It’s a sad fact that four out of five cats in the Lanarkshire area will likely have gum disease by the age of three. Which means that if you have a cat, you should act now to give them the best possible chance of getting into the 20% that have no oral issues. If you’re not sure whether your cat has had a dental check-up in the last 12 months, then we recommend you book an appointment as soon as possible.
According to The Avenues Vets’ Vet Nicola Armstrong, it is important to catch dental problems early because advanced dental disease is unpleasant for your cat and can lead to other health issues. As it’s pet dental health month, we’re sharing a few simple steps you can take to prevent problems from arising and give yourself peace of mind.
How to protect your cat’s teeth between vet checks
1. Check your cat’s teeth regularly
You should examine your cat’s teeth regularly. Get them used to being checked and you’ll minimise the chances of being bitten or clawed. Nicola advises that you check for:
- Painful, red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Gums that have receded
- Lumps on the gums
- Yellow material on the teeth (plaque)
- Hard, brown material between the gums and the base of the teeth (tartar)
- Loose, broken, or missing teeth
2. Learn the signs of early dental problems in cats
Always keep a careful eye on your cat’s behaviour and look out for the early signs of dental problems:
- Bad breath
- Reduced appetite
- Discomfort when eating
- Weight loss
- Poor coat condition
- Pawing at the mouth
- Drooling
3. Prevention of cat teeth problems
As with oral health in humans, we all know that prevention is better than cure. Here’s what Nicola recommends you should be doing on a regular basis:
- Brush your cat’s teeth – If you’ve never done this before then pop into our Woodside Avenue surgery and one of our friendly vet nurses will show you how.
- Pay attention to your cat’s diet – Special dental diets are available for cats with oral issues.
- Consider using dental treats and chews – Ask our team for tips on tried & tested products.
If you need any help or advice, or would like us to check your cat’s teeth, book a dental check-up online or give us a call on 0141 643 0404.
