-
Dogs
Why is vaccination important
Vaccination is vital in protecting your pet from key infectious diseases that cause pain, distress and can be life-threatening.
Annual preventative healthcare and vaccination appointments provide an opportunity for regular health checks for your pet and an understanding of their needs.
Vaccinations for cats and dogs usually consist of a primary course of two or three vaccinations to stimulate an immune response, followed by annual boosters to maintain immunity as the initial immune response gradually fades over time.
Vaccinations for dogs
For dogs, their first vaccination is generally done at around eight weeks old, with the second vaccination given two to four weeks later.
Core vaccinations for dogs include cover against distemper, parvovirus, canine infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis.
The practice team will advise on when it is safe for your puppy to start going out for walks, meeting other dogs and starting puppy training classes.
All dogs should have an annual booster to keep them fully protected. It is important to ensure that booster injections are given each year and do not lapse, otherwise your dog may need to restart a full course to ensure they have adequate protection.
What is microchipping?
Microchipping is a safe and permanent way of identifying your pet and is the best way to ensure that they can be returned to you if they are lost or stolen.
Many pets can be microchipped, including dogs, cats, rabbits and a variety of other species.
It is a legal requirement for all dogs over the age of eight weeks old to be microchipped and for you to keep your and their details up to date on the database. You can be fined if you do not ensure this is done.
While collars and tags can be lost or removed, microchips are a more reliable and permanent form of identification.
However, they will only work if you keep your contact details, such as your address and phone number, updated and accurate.
What does the process involve?
Having your pet microchipped is both quick and safe.
The microchip is implanted beneath the skin of your pet, commonly at the back of their neck, in a procedure that causes minimal discomfort. Microchipping is carried out by your vet or another trained member of the team.
The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and will last for the duration of your pet’s life. Once it is implanted it is painless and your pet will not know it is there.
We will help you to register the microchip with the correct database to ensure your contact details are linked to the chip number for future use.
It is really important that these details are kept up to date if your contact information changes – we will show you how to do this if necessary.
How does microchipping work?
If your pet is found by anyone, a professional such as a vet or a dog warden will scan the microchip and be given a 15-digit code.
This code can then be searched on the microchip database, who will run security checks before supplying your contact details so you can be notified.
Providing you have kept your contact details up to date, this will enable you to be reunited with your pet!
When it comes to fleas, worms and ticks, prevention is better than cure. Speak to our team so we can help you work out your pet’s individual needs.
Preventing fleas
Fleas are small, brown insects that feed on the blood of your pet.
They are picked up by contact with other animals or from visiting an environment where fleas are present.
While only the adult fleas are found on your pet, their eggs, pupae and larvae live in your house, for example on your pet’s bedding.
Therefore, if adult fleas are found, it is important to treat for all stages of the flea lifecycle to prevent re-infestation.
There are a variety of products available. Some just treat adult fleas while others also work against other stages of the lifecycle. Your practice team will be able to advise you on the most effective products for your pet’s specific situation.
Many owners think that fleas are just a summer problem when the temperatures are warmer. However, fleas can be a year-round problem and maintaining flea protection throughout the year is advised.
Fleas can cause itchiness and skin disease and, in severe cases in very small or young animals, can cause blood loss anaemia. Fleas can also transmit diseases and tapeworm.
Preventing ticks
Ticks are small, eight-legged oval-shaped insects which attach themselves to a host animal to feed on their blood. They are greyish-brown in colour and can sometimes be mistaken for a wart or skin tag.
They can be picked up by your pet when they are moving through undergrowth or long grass and will crawl into the haircoat and find a place to attach on the skin.
When feeding, the tick will embed its mouth parts into your pet’s skin. Careful removal is required as accidentally leaving the mouthparts behind may cause local irritation or infection. A tick removal tool can be used to assist with this.
Contact us if you require help removing a tick or if you need advice on preventative tick treatments.
Preventing worms
There are two common types of worm that can infect cats and dogs and live within their digestive tract – roundworms and tapeworms.
Puppies and kittens can be infected with roundworms at birth, so require frequent treatment in their first few months of life.
Adult cats and dogs may also pick up worms in their day-to-day life, so regular treatment is required also.
The frequency of this treatment will depend on your pet’s lifestyle.
For example, dogs in regular contact with young children should be wormed more frequently, as roundworms transmitted via infected dog poo may cause serious health issues such as blindness in people.
Another parasite to be aware of is lungworm, which can cause coughing and in some cases, potentially life-threatening clotting problems.
Lungworm can be contracted from eating infected slugs and snails or from contact with their slime. Where needed, lungworm prevention can be incorporated into your pet’s usual preventative treatment plan and you should speak to the team about your pet’s individual level of risk.
Please speak to our vets or nurses if you would like advice on how often to worm your pet, and which product would be best for them.
What is neutering?
Neutering is a surgical procedure which takes away a pet’s ability to reproduce. It is known as spaying in females and castration in males.
Spaying, sometimes spelt speying, involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus (womb). Castration is the removal of the testes (testicles).
Neutering pets can be beneficial for their health and wellbeing, as well as preventing unplanned litters.
Neutering dogs
The question of when to neuter your dog can be a complex one. Some dogs can be neutered from six months of age, but for some dogs it may be more appropriate to delay neutering until they are older.
If you are unsure if or when to neuter your dog, please call our practice and speak to one of our vets or nurses for advice that is personal to your pet.
Castrating dogs
Castration in male dogs may help to prevent unacceptable sexual behaviour, reduce hormonally induced aggression and prevents unplanned breeding.
The medical benefits of performing this procedure include eliminating the possibility of testicular cancer and possibly altering their risk of prostatic disease and perianal tumours and hernias.
However, the behavioural effects of castrating dogs are complicated and in certain instances neutering can exacerbate certain behavioural issues. It is therefore important to discuss this with your vet in advance and consider referral to a certified pet behaviourist if required.
Spaying dogs
There are many medical and behavioural advantages to having your bitch spayed:
The timing we recommend for spaying your dog varies and we will discuss this with you. For bitches who have already had a season, it is generally recommended to book their spay two to three months after a season as this is when the surgery is safest.
Why is dental care so important?
Dental disease is commonly seen in dogs, cats, rabbits and other species.
When your pets visit us we will routinely undergo a full clinical examination, which includes looking inside their mouths and at their teeth.
This is often when dental disease is discovered.
Pets often do not express pain in the way we expect them to and therefore dental disease often goes undetected at home and may be present for some time before it is discovered.
Some cats and dogs with dental pain may be quiet or irritable, rub or paw at their mouths, cease to groom themselves, avoid chewing hard foods or selectively eat on one side of their mouth.
You should always contact your vet for advice if you notice any changes that are not normal for your pet.
How do I find out if my pet has a dental problem?
If you have noticed any changes in your pet’s health or believe they are unwell, please book in for an appointment.
Annual vaccination appointments include a full health check and offer a great opportunity to have your pet’s mouth and teeth checked so that any signs of dental disease can be caught early.
What sort of dental problems can my pet get?
Below is a list of some of the common dental problems we encounter:
In between check-ups, you can help to take care of your cat or dog’s oral health by brushing their teeth regularly with a pet safe toothpaste.
If you want to learn more about how to start brushing your pet’s teeth, are having problems brushing or want any more information on how best to care for your pet’s dental health, please do contact a member of our team.
Key Points
How important is proper nutrition?
Poor nutrition accounts for a remarkably high percentage of the health problems we see. These include vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, obesity, dental problems, growth deformities, heart, kidney and skin problems.
What type of diet should I feed?
Is tinned or dry food better?
Dry food is more cost effective and helps to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Tinned food has a much higher water content which means that more is required to satisfy your pet’s appetite. However some pets find tinned food more palatable and easier to digest.
Which brand should I choose?
There are several good diets for kittens and is designed to provide the extra nutrients needed by growing kittens yet avoiding the excesses that often lead to obesity.
Growth stage
This is a diet for small-medium breed puppies and another for large breed puppies (adult over 25kg). These are designed to provide the extra nutrients needed by growing puppies yet avoiding the excesses that often lead to obesity as well as bone and cartilage deformities that larger breed dogs are particular prone to.
Adult stage
These diets provide all the nutritional requirements of an adult pet while reducing the risk of obesity dental and kidney disease later on in life. They also come in an ‘Adult light’ formulation for obesity prone individuals. Variations are also available for pets with sensitive skin or stomachs. For pets prone to dental problems there is an ‘Oral Care’ diet which uses unique fibre technology to ‘clean’ the teeth while eating equivalent to once weekly brushing.
Senior Stage
These diets are designed for pets over 8. They cater for the more relaxed lifestyle of the older pet helping them to remain in good shape while keeping the skin, coat and internal organs in good health.
Key Points
Behaviour and training advice
A well-behaved dog is a joy to have around. To ensure good behaviour throughout its life, training should start as early as possible, and your dog should be fully socialised. We can put you in touch with various local trainers to assist in the process. There are many great books that give more in-depth advice if required.
The key to successfully training your dog is to make it fun. The kindest and most effective is known as ‘positive reinforcement’ or ‘reward based’ training.
How does reward based training work?
The underlying theory is simple: if a dog behaves in a certain way e.g. sits then receives a reward, the dog will want to be rewarded again so by repeating this several times there is a high chance he/she will behave that way again.
Rewards are
With time the reward will need to be given less frequently. The reward you offer needs to be something high value so as a favourite toy or treat. The reward must be given once the command has been completed. Don’t make the sessions too long or your dog will loose interest. Keep the training fun and positive and end on a high point each day e.g. when a pet had learnt a new signal. Try to teach one signal at a time. If they make a mistake remember not to reward until he/she gets it correct the next time .Never punish for making the mistake as this causes anxiety, pain and fear. Never scold or shout.
Discourage inappropriate behaviour by ignoring it or directing them to a more appropriate behaviour. It’s never too late to train your puppy but the sooner the better. Remember puppies learn by the response they get from you. Never scold or shout at your dog.
Socialisation
Dogs have a socialisation window up until 16 weeks when they are open to new situation and the environment. After this age anything new they haven’t come across before will be met with apprehension. Therefore it is important to socialise your puppy from a young age. Expose them to sights and sounds (e.g. cars, bikes, pushchairs, hoovers, hairdryers) meet other dogs (that are vaccinated and healthy), adults and children.
Chewing
If you catch your dog chewing something they shouldn’t you need to interrupt the behaviour and offer them an acceptable chew or toy instead and praise them for exchanging it. Don’t leave things lying around so your dog is less likely to get hold of inappropriate things. Supply appropriate toys, chews and puzzle games to keep your dog entertained.
House training
Puppies should be let out every 2 hours, after waking and if you see them sniffing about. They should be rewarded for toileting outside but ignored when they foul inside. Telling them off will cause anxiety and delay learning. Expect accidents in the first few weeks.
Play Biting
This is normal dog behaviour but it is important to teach a puppy that it is not acceptable. When bitten say ‘ow’ and most puppies will loosen their grip. Praise them when they do. If it doesn’t work then walk away from you puppy and ignore the behaviour or isolate them for a short while for him/her to calm down. Don’t encourage and chewing or the hands or feet as this may not seem much a problem when they are small but can be difficult to discourage when the puppy is bigger and the behaviour becomes unacceptable.
Handling your dog
It is important to get your puppy used to being handled. Try and get your puppy used to opening the mouth, touching the face, gums and teeth and feeling the ears, paws and claws. Start by only doing it for a few seconds and give praise if they accept it. Then extend the time. Doing this will reduce the stress of being examined and will also help in recognising what is normal for your dog and to pick up problems early.
By clicking "Agree" you accept the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site experience, analyse site usage and enhance our marketing efforts. To find out more please read our cookies policy.
