Long Term Care 

The Village Vet staff have a special fondness towards the senior pets we see.  This is a special time of our pet’s lives and as pets move into their geriatric years, you will notice all the common signs of aging that they share with their human companions:  Your pet’s hair may turn grey, body and reflexes are dulled, hearing, eyesight and sense of smell deteriorates and energy levels decline.  While behavioural changes include longer, deeper sleeping habits, reduced activity and a greater need for affection.

Bi-Annual Health Checks

The Village Vet highly recommends increasing your pet’s health checks to twice a year as the best place to start when it comes to looking out for your elderly pet. 

A proactive preventative care program for your pet will enhance their lives and reduce the risk of them having to undergo more extensive and costly treatments.

At The Village Vet we believe you know your pet best.  If you notice anything out of the ordinary, give us a call so we can advise you on the best health care plan. Together, we can ensure we keep your senior pets happy and healthy to the very end of their beautiful lives.

Your senior pet’s health check will include:

• Diagnostic screening & pathology checks
• Vaccinations
• Parasite prevention medications
• Pain management 
• Osteoarthritis (arthritis), joint health & mobility support
• Temperature regulation monitoring
• Dental
• Prostate/mammary gland checks
• Hair, skin and nail check
• Cognitive, behavioural and emotional check
• Food, nutrition and water consumption review
• Weight management and exercise review 

Palliative Care / Veterinary Palliative Medicine

Palliative care is used to treat a life-limiting condition when a cure is not possible. We provide medication to manage the symptoms of that illness for the remainder of your pet’s life.  

Palliative care provides your pet relief from a wide variety of symptoms that they will experience when living with this life-limiting prognosis.  

We recognize the importance of maintaining your pet’s quality of life, even during difficult health circumstances or old age. Our experienced and empathetic team collaborates with you to develop a personalised palliative care plan tailored to your pet’s unique needs. This approach focuses on pain management, symptom relief and emotional support to enhance your pet’s well-being during their final stages.  Our veterinarians will regularly monitor and adjust their care plan as required. 

The Village Vet team are trained and experienced to work with your senior pets until the very end stages of their beautiful lives.  Our caring staff are here to help your pet and you with these difficult medical and life decisions.  

Euthanasia

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the most challenging decisions pet owners face. Our veterinarians approach euthanasia with the utmost compassion, ensuring your pet’s peaceful transition surrounded by love and care. We provide a calm and stress-free environment, allowing you and your pet to share those final moments together. 

We are here for you when an end-of-life decision needs to be made.  This may be due to terminal illness, old age, senility, accidents, behaviour problems or a long-term chronic illness prognosis.  Bereavement is a difficult emotion and we are here to help you.

The option of at-home euthanasia is available to all our clients and our staff are trained to assist you with after-life care decisions.

Understanding how euthanasia is performed will help an owner in this decision.  Call us at the Pymble Clinic on 9499 4010 or Killara Hospital on 8350 5678 prior to making these decisions.  We will talk you through the procedure so you know what to expect.  We will help you best cope with your choices and make you feel confident in your decision – whatever that may be.  

Support for Pet Owners

We understand the emotional toll that comes with palliative care and euthanasia decisions. Our staff are here to offer support and guidance throughout the process. Whether you need information, assistance with making decisions, or emotional support, we are committed to being there for you and your pet.

For out of hours support please reach out to your GP, or 24/7 Lifeline support services on 13 11 14.