🚨 Emergency or out of hours? 0131 516 2499 | Calls auto-forward to ICR Loanhead out of hours | ⚠️ Pet eaten something? Poison guide

Home › Your pet's care › Older pets

Senior veterinary care

The later years
deserve the best
care of all.

Older pets face different challenges — and they deserve a vet who knows that. We take a proactive approach to senior care — regular health screening, early identification of age-related conditions, and a full toolkit of pain management and support options to keep quality of life high for as long as possible.

Book a senior health check Pet Wellness Plan →
🩸
Regular blood & urine screening
Age-appropriate health panels included in the Pet Wellness Plan for senior pets. Catching problems on a blood test is far better than waiting for clinical signs.
💚
Quality of life focus
We think about what makes your pet's life good — not just what we can treat. Pain, mobility, sleep, appetite, emotional health — all of it matters.
🤝
A familiar face
Having a vet who has built a relationship with you and your pet makes all the difference — especially when it comes to honest, and sometimes difficult, conversations about your pet's health and quality of life.

How we support older pets

A complete approach to senior care

🩸
Health screening
Routine blood panels, urine analysis and blood pressure monitoring for age-appropriate conditions — kidney disease, thyroid, liver function, diabetes, anaemia. Included in the Pet Wellness Plan for senior pets.
💊
Pain management
Multimodal pharmaceutical pain management, tailored to your pet’s individual needs and adjusted over time. We use validated scoring systems such as LOAD to support our clinical assessments and track progress objectively.
Pain management →
💧
Hydrotherapy & physiotherapy
Low-impact exercise for arthritic or mobility-impaired pets. Building the supporting musculature, maintaining range of movement and improving cardiovascular fitness — without loading damaged joints.
Rehabilitation →
✦
Western veterinary acupuncture
Particularly effective for the chronic musculoskeletal pain that most older pets experience. Reducing medication requirements while maintaining — or improving — comfort and function.
Acupuncture →
🥗
Nutrition consultations
Diet matters enormously in the management of kidney disease, arthritis, diabetes and other age-related conditions. Miriam offers dedicated nutrition consultations — a written plan included.
Nutrition →
🌿
Western veterinary herbal medicine
Herbal support for liver function, chronic inflammation, immune modulation and organ support — prescribed by Miriam as part of a comprehensive senior care plan.
Herbal medicine →

Senior health screening

Catching problems early — before they become serious

What senior screening includes
Included in the Pet Wellness Plan for pets of appropriate age — dogs and cats over 10 (earlier in giant breed dogs). Catching kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and other conditions on a routine blood test changes the outcome significantly. Treatment started early works far better.
Blood panel
Full haematology & biochemistry — kidney, liver, thyroid, glucose, protein
Urine analysis
Specific gravity, protein, glucose, sediment — early kidney disease marker
Blood pressure
Hypertension is common in older cats — and causes real damage if missed
Clinical exam
Full nose-to-tail examination — joints, heart, lungs, eyes, lymph nodes
Patient story
Purdie
12½ year old cat · Arthritis management · Pet Wellness Plan member

Purdie came to us for arthritis management. Her senior blood panel — included in her Pet Wellness Plan — found hyperthyroidism her owner had no idea about. Caught early, it is now well controlled. The screening that found it cost nothing on the plan.

£757
Saved in one year on the Pet Wellness Plan — including the screening that changed everything
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
They truly do a great job. Is the first time in 15 years my dog gets so excited to go to the vets. The hydro therapy and physio therapy has done wonders for Hobbs and given him a new lease for life.

Lewis · Google

Book a senior
health check

Call us to book a senior health check — or ask about the Pet Wellness Plan, which includes age-appropriate screening for older pets as part of the monthly cost.

Call 0131 516 2499 Pet Wellness Plan → Pain management → Email us
Not sure if your pet needs to be seen? Use our clinical triage tool for guidance on urgency — with time-aware, out-of-hours advice. Is my pet okay? Could my pet be in pain? Animals hide pain remarkably well. Our quick at-home check walks you through the subtle signs in dogs and cats. Try the pain check Think your pet ate something? The common household and garden dangers, the signs to watch for, and how to act fast. Poison & toxins guide A picture is worth a thousand words A short video of your pet at home — how they move, how they hesitate — tells us more than a description. Send it securely before your visit. Send a video or photo