Nurse Consultations

Make an appointment with one of our nurses if your animal needs their nails trimming. You should check your pet’s nails on a regular basis to prevent them from growing too long and causing discomfort to your pet. During a short consultation for a small fee we can trim your pet’s nails without causing any pain or distress.

How important is proper nutrition?
The right diet is vital to keep your dog fit and healthy. 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?

• Home-made diets – very rarely are these nutritionally balanced or complete. They are relatively difficult to prepare and expensive.
• Commercial diets – these are convenient and unlikely to have deficiencies.

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 puppies and is designed to provide the extra nutrients needed by growing puppies 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 particularly 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

• Poor nutrition may lead to health problems
• Different life stages have different nutritional requirements
• Always make fresh water available

How important is proper nutrition?
The right diet is vital to keep your cat fit and healthy. 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?

• Home-made diets – very rarely are these nutritionally balanced or complete. They are relatively difficult to prepare and expensive.
• Commercial diets – these are convenient and unlikely to have deficiencies.

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 kittens is designed to provide the extra nutrients needed by growing kittens yet avoiding the excesses that often lead to obesity.

Adult Stage
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 and for those prone to hairballs. 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
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

• Poor nutrition may lead to health problems
• Different life stages have different nutritional requirements
• Always make fresh water available

What can fleas do to my pet?

• Flea bites cause discomfort and irritation.
• Many pets become sensitised to flea bites which leads to intense itchiness, and severe self-inflicted trauma.
• Fleas are responsible for transmitting some tapeworms to our pets.

How can I control the flea problem?

• Please consult us – we have found that many non-prescription preparations simply do not work well enough to achieve effective flea control.
• It is practically impossible to prevent your pet coming into contact with fleas so regular treatments are necessary to control the problem and prevent a build up within the home.
• An effective flea control programme may involve the use of a combination of our products. These attack both the adult flea stage on our pets AND the immature stage within the home.

Flea Control Fleas breed throughout the year in centrally heated homes. It is therefore important to maintain a flea control programme throughout the year. Pet Treatments

• Spot on applications: These are applied on to the skin in the neck region and kill fleas. Some of the preparations have the added benefit of treating worms.
• By Mouth – Preparations can be given monthly to sterilise fleas. Others will kill fleas rapidly, especially if a heavy burden is present but these may be short lasting. Some of these preparations are combined with effective wormers.

Environmental Control Where there has been a lapse in flea treatment that has allowed a flea infestation to develop, it is important to treat the home environment to remove the existing flea population. Many of these products last 12 months. Do not use these products if you keep aquarium fish within the house and use them with caution if a family member suffers from asthma.

Key Points

• Almost all dogs and cats pick up fleas
• Fleas are present all year round
• Your house may provide a supply of developing fleas to attack your pet
• Fleas are a health hazard to you and your pets
• Effective control involves the use of a combination of products

What can fleas do to my pet?

• Flea bites cause discomfort and irritation.
• Many pets become sensitised to flea bites which leads to intense itchiness, and severe self-inflicted trauma.
• Fleas are responsible for transmitting some tapeworms to our pets.

How can I control the flea problem?

• Please consult us – we have found that many non-prescription preparations simply do not work well enough to achieve effective flea control.
• It is practically impossible to prevent your pet coming into contact with fleas so regular treatments are necessary to control the problem and prevent a build-up within the home.
• An effective flea control programme may involve the use of a combination of products. These attack both the adult flea stage on our pets AND the immature stage within your home.

Flea Control Fleas breed throughout the year in centrally heated homes. It is therefore important to treat all cats, dogs and rabbits within a household and to maintain a flea control programme throughout the year. Pet Treatments

• Spot on Applications: These are applied on to the skin in the neck region and kill fleas. Some of these preparations have the added benefit of treating worms.
• By Injection: This injection sterilises fleas and thus ‘breaks’ the breeding cycle. This lasts six months and so twice yearly injections provide all year round flea control.
• By Mouth: Preparations can be given monthly to sterilise fleas. Others will kill fleas rapidly, especially if a heavy burden is present. There may be short lasting.

Environmental Control Where there has been a lapse in flea treatment that has allowed a flea infestation to develop, it is important to treat the home environment to remove the existing flea population. Many of these products last 12 months. Do not use these products if you keep aquarium fish within the house and use them with caution if a family member suffers from asthma.

Key Points

• Almost all dogs and cats pick up fleas.
• Fleas are present all year round.
• Your house may provide a supply of developing fleas to attack your pet.
• Fleas are a health hazard to you and your pets.
• Effective control involves the use of a combination of products.

What are worms?

Worms are parasites found within the gut of your dog. Roundworms look like pieces of string. Tapeworms are long and flat with segments, which look like grains of rice and can be mobile. They can occasionally be seen on the hair around the bottom. Worm eggs remain infective in the environment for years.

What can worms do to my dog?

Heavy infestations can result in vomiting and severe diarrhoea and cause a loss of blood, weight and condition. Worms weaken the immune system, and by migration through major organs can cause eg Pneumonia. Whilst pets with lighter infestations may show no external signs, they are still a possible source of infection to others, including humans, especially children.

What can worms do to my family?

The greatest threat to human health is the eggs from the roundworm Toxocara. They may be picked up from the environment by children chewing dirty fingernails. Although serious consequences are rare, these worms can cause blindness, heart problems and epilepsy. Also, the tapeworm Echinococcus can be fatal to humans if ingested.

How would my pet get worms? 

Puppies may be born with worms or they may pick them up through their mother’s milk. Worm eggs are left behind on the ground when infected animals pass faeces, then picked up on the fur of the muzzle and paws. These eggs may then be swallowed when grooming. Pets that hunt can pick up worms by eating rats and mice or raw meat. Some worms can get into the body through the skin. Tapeworms can be picked up when pets groom and swallow fleas that are infected with tapeworm eggs.

How can I control the problem?

You are best to choose a wormer that suits your needs and your pet’s lifestyle. There are a number of different forms available so even if administering medication is difficult, there will be a solution for you. Some are even available combined with flea preparations providing an all-in-one treatment! We have found that some over-the-counter wormers simply lack the efficacy of the prescription wormers.

How often should I treat my dog?

Pups should be treated every 2 weeks until 3 months of age and then monthly up to 6 months. Treating your adult pet every 3 months will minimise the risk to them, your family and the general public.

Key Points

• Worms are a threat to the health of your family and your pet.
• Regular worming is necessary to control infestations.

What are worms?

Worms are parasites found in the gut of your cat. Roundworms look like pieces of string. Tapeworms are long and flat with segments, which look like grains of rice and can be mobile. They can occasionally be seen on the hair around the bottom. Worm eggs remain infective in the environment for years.

What can worms do to my cat?

With mild infestation your cat may still appear healthy, however, a heavy worm burden can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, weight loss and can weaken your cat’s immune system making it more susceptible to infection. It is also a little embarrassing to find a tapeworm segment on the clothes of a visitor who has been making a fuss of your cat.

What can worms do to my family? 

The greatest threat to human health is the eggs from the roundworm Toxocara. Children chewing dirty fingernails may pick them up from the environment and although serious consequences are rare, these worms can cause blindness, heart problems and epilepsy. Also, the Tapeworm Echinococcus can be fatal to humans if ingested.

How would my cat get worms?

Worm eggs and larvae are picked up from the ground where infected faeces have been left. During grooming your cat ingests these eggs or larvae. Tapeworms can be picked up when pets groom and swallow fleas that are infected with tapeworm eggs. Hunting cats are particularly at risk – small mammals and birds are a major source of tapeworms.

How can I control the problem?

You are best to choose a wormer that suits your needs and your pet’s lifestyle. There are a number of different forms available so even if administering medication is difficult, there will be a solution for you! Some are even available combined with flea preparations providing an all-in-one treatment! We have found that some over-the-counter wormers simply lack the efficacy of the prescription wormers.

How often should I treat my cat?

At the moment there is no wormer that will prevent re-infestation. Therefore kittens should be treated every 2 weeks until 3 months of age and then monthly up to 6 months. Treating your adult pet every 3 months will minimise the risk to them, your family, and the general public. Hunting cats will often need to be wormed at least every 3 months.

Key Points

• Worms are a threat to the health of your family and your pet.
• Worms are very common in our pets.
• Regular worming is necessary to control infestations.

All of our nurses are fully trained in microchipping cats and dogs. Microchipping ensures that if your pet were missing, all authorities (e.g police, dog wardens, vets, cats and dog shelters) will scan animals that are found for a microchip and hopefully reunite you with your pet as soon as possible.

Why should I have my pet micro-chipped?

• The microchip is a permanent means of identifying your pet. Collars and tags, however useful, can easily be lost.
• Should your pet get lost, the microchip system will help to return him/her to you with the minimum of delay before being re-homed or even destroyed. This is particularly important if your pet is seriously injured.
• Pets travelling abroad are required to be micro-chipped as part of the Pet Travel Scheme.

How can I be traced if my pet is found?

Your information is kept for life on our practice computer system and a National Database and the fee for this is included in the cost of implantation. If your pet is found and its chip number identified, it is a relatively easy matter to reunite you with your pet. The chips comply with the international standard (ISO) and so can be recognised by scanners abroad.

What if my personal details changed?

Whilst the microchip with its unique number will remain with your pet for life, it is possible to update your personal details on the National Database as and when required.

Can microchips have side effects?

A European reporting system which monitors reactions to microchip implantation has failed to identify any significant problems in the last 10 years.

Key Points

• Microchips are the best method of permanently identifying your pet.
• They are safe, practical and effective.
• There is 1 database for all microchips.
• They can be implanted at any age.
• Implantation takes a few minutes and does not require sedation or anaesthesia.
• Microchips are required as part of the Pet Travel Scheme.

Micro-chipping is a quick and easy one-off injection which places a tiny microchip under the skin of the scruff of the neck. Each microchip carries a unique number which can be read by a portable scanner and will allow the authorities to contact you should your dog get lost.