Puppy and Dog Care
Puppies
Starting out? – check out our ‘PUPPY PACK’ in which we have put together what we feel are the key factors to give your pet the best possible start to life.
INCLUDED ARE:-
- Full health check including advice regarding feeding, exercise & neutering.
- Full course of vaccinations (two injections) against all the major infectious diseases that are found in the UK and that can be vaccinated against (Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Canine Parainfluenza)
- Kennel Cough Vaccine (intranasal)
- Initial worming course & flea treatment, followed by selection of the most suitable ongoing parasite control regime for your pup to prevent tapeworm, roundworm, lungworm, fleas and mange.
- A starter pack with information regarding dental care, puppy socialising, discount vouchers for Hills puppy food and free toy.
- Free health check when your pet is 6 months old.
** By purchasing the Puppy Pack you will receive a discounted price for these key items to provide the best start for your puppy **
Additional factors to consider
1. We recommend that you consider Pet Insurance for your pet and to research carefully to ensure you are getting the best cover for you pet.
2. Neutering. Speak to one of our Vets to discuss the benefits of having your pet neutered and help you to make the right decision for you and your pet.
3. Ongoing preventative care – see our affordable Pet Healthcare Plan
4. Life- stage diets – formulated for optimal growth in puppies, active adulthood and maintaining good health into senior years.
Dogs & Puppies
1. Annual vaccination and health check.
2. Appropriate preventative parasite control to suit your pets lifestyle.
3. Annual dental and weight check-ups with either a Vet or Nurse.
SEE OUR PET HEALTHCARE PLAN WHICH WILL PROVIDE ALL THE ABOVE FOR AFFORDABLE MONTHLY PAYMENTS
VACCINATION
Puppies require two initial vaccinations to protect them against Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis & Parainfluenza.
We would also recommend an intranasal Kennel Cough Vaccination.
Dogs then require boosters every year to maintain immunity. At the time of their yearly vaccination, we will give your dog a health check. Regular checks will pick up any problems early, when they can be more easily treated.
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Distemper
Distemper is a viral infection that results in a wide variety of symptoms in infected dogs - these include a cough, nasal discharge, diarrhoea, neurological symptoms such a seizures and over time a thickening of foot pads and nose.
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Parvovirus
Parvovirus is widespread in the dog population, it is also a very resistant virus and can survive in the environment (eg. In dog faeces) for long periods. Infection in dogs causes a severe hemorrhagic diarrhoea which is rapidly fatal if not treated. Young pups that recover from infection may develop heart failure as a result.
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Infectious Canine Hepatits
Infection with Canine Adenovirus results in liver failure and jaundice.
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Leptospirosis
There are two forms of Leptospirosis that regularly affected domestic dogs. Both are spread by contact with infected urine from dogs or rats. L.canicola causes kidney damage while L.icterohaemorrhagiae causes liver damage.<br> <span style="color: #ff4880;">** The annual booster vaccination will protect against Distemper, Parvo , Adenovirus and Leptospirosis **</span>
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Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a hacking cough, which is spread by droplets from an infected dog during close contact and is highly contagious amongst dogs. There is a five day incubation period, after infection, before the cough starts. Following recovery, dogs remain infectious for at least 3 weeks. We recommend annual vaccination, this can be done at the same time as the booster injection.
PARASITE CONTROL
With all the different options available on the market for preventative parasite control for our pets it is sometimes hard to know if we are covering all our bases. Speak to one of our Vets to work out a tailored preventative regime that works for you and your pet’s lifestyle.
Internal Parasites – Worms
There are three main types of worm that we are concerned about and aim to cover with any treatment we recommend.
Roundworms
Roundworms are a human health risk. The dog is infected by swallowing worm eggs passed by another dog. Puppies can be infected directly from their mother while in the womb or through their mother’s milk.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms have an intermediate host. The dog becomes infected by eating the intermediate host. The commonest dog tapeworm has the flea as an intermediate host. The dog becomes infected by swallowing a flea when grooming itself. To control tapeworms you must worm the dog and eliminate (or control exposure to) the intermediate host.
Lungworm
Dogs become infected with canine lungworm (Angiostsrongylus) after swallowing slugs or snails. Lungworm infection can result in several clinical syndromes including coughing, paralysis or uncontrolled bleeding. Infection can be fatal if not rapidly treated.
External Parasites
Fleas
Fleas are a very common problem & cause irritation, allergy & anaemia.
Where a flea infestation is established, the flea population is largely made up of eggs, larvae and pupae, which are microscopic and live off the pet (for example in the carpet ). Therefore treating the pet will NOT deal with these juvenile stages.
Mange
Sarcoptic mange is a very common & highly contagious skin condition which causes extreme skin irritation & is contracted by contact with foxes. Mange causes severe itching and subsequent self harming in dogs.
We also regularly see ear mites (Otodectes), especially in puppies. Infestation causes severe irritation in the ears usually noticed as head shaking and the development of a dark waxy discharge in the ears .
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO NON-PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS (ie. Pet shop products) AVAILABLE TO CONTROL MANGE IN DOGS.
Ticks
We don’t see large numbers of ticks in this area. Tick infestation also tends to be seasonal peaking in late Spring/early Summer and again in Autumn. Even when we do find them on a pet they are usually present in low numbers. In Barnet the incidence of tick transmitted diseases such as Lymes disease is very low. For this reason Tick control is not part of our core parasite control. However, if you are travelling to higher risk areas of the UK such as New Forest, Thetford Forest, Scotland etc or travelling abroad with your pet, then tick control is vital. We have a specific prevention package designed for pets travelling abroad.
NEUTERING ( Females - Spaying , Males - Castration )
The ideal time to neuter female dogs is at 6 months of age, PRIOR TO THE FIRST SEASON. This minimises the risk of developing Mammary tumours in later life and eliminates the risk of Pyometra, a womb infection that can be fatal without emergency surgery. Spaying at 6 months of age also ensures that there is no risk of pregnancy occurring after the first season. At this stage young bitches are usually nice and slim which makes the surgery easier and safer.
For male dogs we also recommend neutering at 6 months of age which ensures that any behavioural problems have not yet become established.
IDENTICHIP
By Law all dogs in the UK should be Identichipped
From 6th April 2016 it became compulsory for dogs in the UK to be microchipped and registered with correct up to date details on the microchip database. From this date all dogs must be microchipped and all puppies must be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks and prior to transfer from the breeder to the first keeper.
For further information surrounding the legislation please visit the Government Website
The chip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted through a needle as an injection in the scruff of the neck. The procedure takes a few seconds and the mild discomfort of the injection is quickly forgotten. The chip carries a number that is specific to your pet. Your contact details are then entered on a national database and linked to the chip number. The chip itself does not hold any of your details (otherwise we would need to remove it surgically each time you changed your mobile phone number), however it is vital that the information on the database is updated if you do change any of your contact information.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you consider pet insurance cover.
As veterinary medicine progresses we can give patients a good quality of life and treat a range of injuries and diseases that were previously untreatable. However, some conditions do require prolonged hospitalisation and treatment and at such times pet insurance removes the financial worry from an already often stressful situation.
FEEDING
We stock a large range of lifestyle diets from premium companies such as Hill’s. Our nurses have received training to ensure that they can help you choose the optimum diet for each stage of your pet s life.
DENTAL CARE
Regular home care reduces the frequency of essential treatment at the surgery under anaesthetic. One of our nurses runs free dental clinics for advice and assessment of your pet s dental health.
