Must Do's For a Pet
Your Pet’s Health Calendar:
1. Make sure that your pet has an annual health check.
2. Vaccinate your pet annually.
3. Worm your pet a minimum of every 3 months
( it is important for human and animal health )
4. Flea/Tick Control.
5. Pet Health Insurance.
6. Feed your pet a well balanced diet (we recommend Hills Diets)
7. Exercise your pet regularly
8. Companionship is very important for your pet.
9. Neuter.
10. Groom, regularly if necessary
11. Look after your pet's teeth
12. Control your pet's weight.
Vaccinations:
Puppies
1st at 8 weeks old
2nd 2-4 weeks later. We recommend at not less than 12 weeks old.
What for? Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Coronovirus, Parainfluenza, Viral hepatitis.
Adult Dogs: Annually (with health check)
What for? Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospriosis, Coronovirus, Parainfluenza, Viral Hepatitis.
Other vaccinations:
Kennel cough (Infectious bronchitis)
When? For Kennelling
How often? Annually
Rabies
Why? For travelling abroad with pet passport
Kittens
1st vaccination at 8 weeks
2nd vaccination 2-4 weeks later. We recommend at not less than 12 weeks old
What for? Cat flu (two types), Chlamydia
Panleucopenia (feline Leukaemia)
Adult cats: Annually (with health check)
What for? Cat flu (two types), Chlamydia
Panleucopenia (feline leukaemia)
Worming:
Why? Very important for human and pet health
When? As a puppy or kitten every 2 weeks for 4 times then every 3 months for life.
With what? We recommend Milbemax tablets
Dogs: easy to worm dogs
Cats:
* Many cats will take the specially coated milbemax tablet. It is also much smaller than other tablets for cats.
* 2nd options – profender – a new spot on liquid for cats.
Adult dog/cat:
When? A minimum of every 3 months
Can be more frequent if risk of worms is high. This can be discussed by ringing Primrose Hill.
Also, always worm you pet after kennelling. A constant dog population which is present in kennels, increases risk of worms
Tip – always make sure that the wormer you use covers all the necessary worms – some wormers do not. Ask at reception.
Flea/Tick control:
Why? Cause skin irritations/allergies
Can carry disease.
When? Best policy is all year round
Fleas survive in your house over winter.
What does the treatment do?
1. It kills adult fleas
2. Shed skin, which is a normal bodily process contains active ingredient which on falling to the ground is eaten by flea larvae, hence killing them.
Where to? Skin of neck ( see instructions on package)
Ask at reception
Neutering:
Female:
Why?
To prevent coming in season/heat
To prevent unwanted pregnancy
To prevent tumours
To stop roaming
To help avoid cat viruses transmitted through mating.
Male:
Why?
To stop roaming after females in season/heat
To prevent prostate disease
To prevent testicular tumours
Disadvantage: More easily put on weight but this is controlled by controlling diet.
A low risk of urinary incontinence in females dogs – it is treatable.
When? Dogs and cats at six months old.
Your pet comes in, in the morning around 9am and goes home between 5-6.30pm that same evening. All our surgical cases go home with pain relief. We check all our surgical cases at 48 hours and 10 days – these checks are included in the operation fee.
For prices – ask at reception.
Dental Care:
As a puppy/kitten –
Your pets teeth will be checked at first vaccination.
At 6 months – this is the time temporary teeth may remain too long in the mouth and disrupt the new permanent adult teeth.
Rule – if 2 teeth of the same type are in the mouth together the extra temporary tooth needs to be removed.
Brushing – Teach your pet at a young age. Can brush with special animal toothpaste daily. Our nurses will show you how. Book a free appointment at a nurse clinic.
Diets – Can help dental care considerably. Ask our nurses for advice. Special oral hygiene bars can also help.
For many pets annual descale and polish can be required to maintain optimal teeth and gum health.
This requires a light general anaesthetic as your pet would not otherwise permit a proper procedure to be carried out.
Ask at reception.