Veterinary advice & FAQ's
I have a new puppy, what does it need?
We recommend a health check once it has settled in and then vaccinations for 8 weeks old. You need two vaccines, given 2 weeks apart. We vaccinate against the major dog killer diseases such as parvo virus and distemper. At out Practice we also routinely give “ kennel cough” – since most pups need to socialise and meet lots of other dogs in parks and puppy classes. Other considerations are to microchip your pet. You must of course worm it.
What does worming mean?
Any dog or cat, but particularly young pups and kittens can carry worms. These can come from the mother or be picked up from the environment - faeces not picked up, hunting and so forth. Worming your pet means using a good quality wormer to rid them of these parasites. There are two types to consider – round and tape worms -
Risks are to pet health and also to people especially youngsters or the infirm. As a practice we favour a complete wormer and recommend pups and kittens are wormed every month until 6 months old, then as a routine every 3 months.
My cat was fighting in the night. It won’t eat this morning and cried when stroked.
We often look for a cat bite abscess here – injuries when they run away are often on your cats tail base. You need to take it to your vet to look for an abscess and treat it. Remember there is a risk of contracting feline leukaemia and feline aids from fights, so ask your vet about prevention.
Travel Sickness a problem??
Ask the Vets about a recently launched tablet to prevent motion sickness in dogs. The tablet can be given 1 hour before travel and has a proven track record. The other big bonus is it is non- sedating, unlike other drugs used in the past. As it is a prescription only drug, your dog will need to have been recently checked over before it can be prescribed.
