Dog Care

We recommend a physical examination once a year on all dogs for the administration of vaccinations and other preventative healthcare. If your pet is older than 8 years our recommendation increases to every 6 months so we can spot any changes associated with getting older at an early stage.

The diseases which we vaccinate against are very serious and some can potentially be fatal. Vaccination minimises the risk, and incidence, of these disease.
Proof of vaccination is also a requirement of any reputable kennels.

Dogs require an initial course of two injections and these are given 2-4 weeks apart.

ANNUAL BOOSTERS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IMMUNITY

Adult dogs who have not had a booster within the preceding 15 months will need to restart their vaccinations with the course of two injections.

We recommend neutering of pets that you do not intend to breed from. This is for a number of reasons including avoiding unwanted pregnancies, preventing some behavioral tendencies and reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancers in later life.

WE RECOMMEND THIS FROM 6 MONTHS OF AGE

Micro-chipping is a safe and permanent means of identifying your pet. A microchip is a small implant slightly larger than a grain of rice, which is injected under the skin of the animal. The microchip does not cause any pain or harm to your pet once implanted and the animal is totally unaware of its presence. The microchip number is specific to that chip and once registered with the national database it is registered for life. Most vets and animal welfare organisations have microchip scanners to assist the reunion of you and your pet.

Fleas are small, dark brown insects which live and breed mainly in the environment – 95% of the flea population will be in carpets, bedding, under skirting boards, jumping onto your pet, or you, to feed. Warning signs include black specks of flea dirt in the coat or bedding, frequent scratching or nibbling the fur and even small insect bites on your own body. An effective flea control program involves not only killing the adult flea but eradicating other stages of the flea cycle. In dogs that have a skin hypersensitivity one bite from a flea could cause a major skin problem. It is also essential that the environment is treated if there is already a heavy burden.

We recommend strategic worming for your pet. Strategic worming makes the assumption that your pet has been exposed to parasites thus causing a health risk to your pet, your family and the environment. We suggest that dogs are wormed every 3 months, however, if the dog is in contact with children or is a scavenger then we recommend monthly worming.

We recommend a good quality, complete diet suitable for your dog’s age and lifestyle.

We recommend insuring your pet against disease, accident and third party damage. When looking at insurance policies please read the small print. Cheaper policies do not always provide the best value in the long term. It is also important to get a policy which covers your pet for each condition for a lifetime, not just the first 12 months.

We know you care about your pet, and it would be difficult for you if treatment decisions had to be made just because you couldn’t afford to pay.

Although we recommend regular home cleaning of your pets teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste, regular check ups are also important. Like humans, the development of periodontal disease will depend on the individual, the diet and the frequency of cleaning. We recommend an annual dental inspection at our surgery to assess for signs of disease. Early detection means that we can address it before extractions are necessary, and before the bacteria from a diseased mouth leads to major organs being affected.

DESCALE AND PERIODONTAL TREATMENT: A dental de-scale and periodontal treatment is an important part of general health care and we recommend that this procedure is performed every 3 years.

DENTAL BRUSHING: Brushing your pets teeth is just as important as brushing your own. Ideally your pet should get used to having his/her teeth cleaned from an early age, but it’s never too late to begin. Start by rubbing your finger gently around the gums to get your pet used to the idea. You can then move on to a pet toothbrush. There are toothpastes and gels which can help reduce plaque and deposits and fights infection. You cannot use human toothpaste as it froths and often causes vomiting in animals.

WELLNESS BLOOD PROFILE

A blood test is a window into the body to determine the internal function of the organs that cannot be seen or felt during a physical examination. This test is recommended in healthy pets to help us identify any disease process that may be occurring at an early stage before clinical signs appear making the problem then harder to treat. In addition the routine blood test is recommended prior to any anaesthetic procedure.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

The biochemical properties of the urine are tested by urinalysis, and can help determine the cause of a urinary tract disorder.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

Electrocardiogram: The ECG, or electrocardiogram monitors the electrical activity of the heart. It can help determine the reason for irregular heartbeats and abnormal heart sounds, and determine heart dysfunction in pets that have no external signs of heart disease.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

Elevated blood pressure is a very serious complication of heart and kidney disease. Blood pressure measurement is easy with new, high technology Doppler equipment and can be completed with no discomfort to your pet. Heart disease, kidney disease, anaesthesia, fluid administration and fluid losses can all affect your pets blood pressure.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

Behaviour concerns are common with pets. Most behavioural problems can be diagnosed and treated when the proper care and knowledge are applied to the issues.

Socialisation is one of the most important aspects of a dogs’ early development. This means mixing with other dogs, animals, children and adults, as well as experiencing lots of sights, sounds and smells. Some toys can be dangerous as your dog can chew and swallow them. Kongs and Buster Cubes are good non-destructive toys which we recommend.

We recommend that you groom your pet on a daily basis, especially if it is a long haired. Daily grooming at an early age ensures that it becomes a part of their life and not something for them to get upset about. We recommend a Zoom Groom for most pets. They are available in different sizes and most animals enjoy them because it feels as if they are being stroked.