Newtown Veterinary Clinic is excited to offer Therapeutic Laser therapy. Laser therapy is a safe, gentle, and non-invasive treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve mobility. It can be used as part of a treatment plan for a wide range of conditions and is suitable for pets of all ages. Our rehabilitation practitioner, Vet Nurse Georgie, provides laser therapy treatments tailored to your pet’s individual needs.
How Can Laser Therapy Help?
Laser therapy may benefit pets experiencing:
Arthritis and age-related joint pain
Mobility and stiffness issues
Soft tissue injuries
Muscle strains and sprains
Post-operative recovery
Wound healing
Chronic pain conditions
Rehabilitation following injury or surgery
Many pets find treatments relaxing and comfortable, with sessions typically taking only a few minutes.
Why Choose Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy can help:
Reduce pain and inflammation
Improve circulation
Accelerate healing
Enhance mobility and comfort
Support recovery after surgery or injury
Improve quality of life for senior pets
Laser Therapy in conjunction with Physical Therapy
Veterinary Nurse Georgie has a special interest in pet rehabilitation and physical therapy and works closely with our veterinary team to develop treatment plans that support your pet’s recovery, mobility, and long-term wellbeing. If you’d like to find out whether laser therapy may benefit your pet, please contact our team to discuss your pet’s needs or book a laser therapy consultation, call us on (03) 5221 5333 or book online.
As our pets grow older, their needs change both physically and behaviourally. Newtown Veterinary Clinic’s Senior Pet Planning Program is designed to help you and your pet navigate those changes with clarity, compassion, and confidence. This isn’t about saying goodbye – it’s about planning for more good days, understanding what your pet needs now and in the years to come, and knowing how to recognise when comfort or quality of life begins to change. Through gentle, ongoing guidance, we help you build a long-term care plan that balances proactive health monitoring with emotional readiness for the future. Our goal is to help every senior pet live comfortably and happily for as long as possible. We do this by:
Supporting preventive and early-intervention care through regular check-ups
Educating owners about the signs of age-related change – the small red flags that matter
Providing tools to help families understand and plan for quality-of-life decisions
Creating a calm, caring space to discuss the years ahead – before emotions run high
Ongoing Care and Health Monitoring Senior pets benefit most from proactive, twice-yearly health checks. These visits allow us to detect subtle changes early, and support well-being before problems escalate. Twice a year, we’ll assess:
Overall physical health — full body exam, weight, muscle tone, mobility, and comfort
Dental, vision, and hearing
Heart, kidney, liver, and thyroid function via annual blood and urine screening
Arthritis and joint health, including pain management, supplements, and physio referrals
Nutrition and weight management, ensuring diets match changing needs
Behaviour and cognitive function, monitoring for confusion, anxiety, or disorientation
Our aim is to extend life, and enhance quality – keeping senior pets active, engaged and pain-free for as long as possible.
Planning for the Future During your Senior Pet Planning consultations, we take time to:
Talk through your pet’s daily habits, routines and joys
Explore what a good life and a peaceful goodbye might mean to you
Introduce our “What Matters Most” Worksheet and Quality of Life Tracker
Help you recognise the early signs that comfort may be declining, such as changes in appetite, mobility, mood, or social behaviour
Offer emotional and practical guidance on how to prepare gently and confidently for the future
This process allows you to feel informed rather than anxious, prepared rather than pressured, and always supported by a team that understands both the medical and emotional aspects of ageing pets.
Who This Program Is For
Pet owners with dogs or cats aged 7 years and older
Families wanting to stay ahead of health changes and plan for longevity
Those who want to feel clear and supported when difficult decisions arise
Anyone who wants to ensure their pet’s golden years are truly golden
Start the Conversation Early The best time to plan is when your pet is still feeling well. By starting early, you create calm, confident decisions for later. We’re here to walk beside you – through every stage of your pet’s life.
Vets Love Pets’ 2025 guide to the best dog food brands in Australia provides expert-backed recommendations to help you choose the right nutrition for your dog. The guide categorizes top brands based on various needs, such as age, breed, and specific health concerns. Have a look at the highlights from their recommendations: https://vetslovepets.com.au/blogs/dog/best-dog-food-australia-2025
If you own a French Bulldog, Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier or Pekingese, you know these dogs are full of personality. However, due to a condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) many flat-faced breeds often face challenges when it comes to breathing. Newtown Veterinary Clinic offer expert diagnosis and surgical treatment for BOAS to help your pet breathe easier, feel better and lead a more active life.
Signs & Symptoms BOAS is often displayed by signs such as:
Noisy breathing (especially when excited or exercising)
Gagging, retching, or coughing
Poor exercise tolerance or excessive panting
Trouble cooling down in warm or humid weather
Restlessness, especially at night
Over time, this condition can be associated with further health challenges.
Diagnosis A BOAS diagnosis is typically identified with a thorough physical examination. The main features our experienced Veteriarian is looking for are:
Elongated soft palate – Excess tissue at the back of the throat that partially blocks airflow
Narrow (Stenotic) nostrils – Small or inward-turned nostrils that make it difficult to breathe
Everted laryngeal saccules – Tissue near the vocal cords that gets pulled into the airway, creating further obstruction
A thorough diagnostic assessment is key to successful treatment. In addition to a physical examination and airway evaluation under general anaesthesia, we may also perform chest radiographs (X-rays) to assess the tracheal inlet to tracheal diameter ratio. This measurement helps us evaluate the relative size of the windpipe, which is especially important in breeds prone to narrowed tracheas. It allows us to better understand the full extent of your pet’s airway obstruction and plan surgical treatment accordingly.
Treatment Surgical intervention is recommended when symptoms are impacting the pet’s comfort, safety, or daily function. At Newtown Veterinary Clinic, we understand the unique needs of brachycephalic breeds. Our experienced team performs BOAS surgery with gentle techniques, advanced monitoring, and personalised care, all in a calm, fear-free environment. Where possible, multiple corrections are performed during the same anaesthetic to optimise the outcome. The most common procedures include:
Laryngeal sacculectomy – removing obstructive tissue near the vocal cords
Soft palate resection – shortening the palate to prevent airway obstruction
Nares widening – to improve nasal airflow
What to Expect Your pet’s safety and comfort are our priority. Many pets are noticeably more comfortable, active, and better able to cope with warm weather after BOAS surgery. Our team is here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and ensure your pet receives the best possible care.
Before surgery: You will receive a pre-operative pack and medication to begin two days before the procedure.
During surgery: Your pet is carefully monitored using advanced equipment and gentle handling techniques.
After surgery: Most pets are discharged the same day with a tailored recovery plan typically involving rest, soft food, and medication to manage inflammation and discomfort. In some cases, we recommend overnight monitoring at the Geelong Animal Emergency Centre (GAEC) for added safety and peace of mind.
If you suspect your French Bulldog, Pug, or other flat-faced pet may benefit from BOAS surgery, our team is here to help. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent long-term damage and transform your pet’s quality of life.
