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A Guide To Puppies
VACCINATIONS : Puppies should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks and again at 10 weeks. These vaccinations will protect your puppy from potentially fatal diseases – parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, adenovirus. The vaccine provides your puppy with antibodies to help fight the diseases. Yearly boosters throughout the life of your dog will be required to keep the level of antibodies at a protective level. WORMING : Should be done with Advocate spot on every month until your puppy is 6 months old. Then ask us for further advice. Worms (roundworm and tapeworm) can be picked up by your puppy when sniffing and walking where other dogs have been. The dog will then clean itself and ingest worm eggs and larvae which remain alive for months and sometimes years after they have been passed. Worms are not always obvious unless the animal has a heavy worm burden so remember – just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean that they’re not there! FLEAS : Treat every 4 weeks with Advocate and use Indorex (an environmental spray) as required around the home. This will protect your puppy from adult fleas and your home against flea eggs and larvae. Remember, fleas are not only unpleasant for you and your puppy but can also cause potentially serious health problems in some cases eg anaemia, and fleas also carry tapeworm. NEUTERING :Females – 3 months after the end of the 1st season. Having your bitch spayed will reduce the risk of mammary tumours and prevent womb infections. Males– Between 6 and 24 months. Prevents testicular cancer, prostate cancer and other associated illnesses and also helps reduce undesirable behaviour. If you wish to discuss the procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

MICROCHIPPING : A small microchip, about the size of a grain of rice is implanted under the skin of the neck. In the event of the animal going missing, and being rescued, the animal can be scanned by the dog warden, at veterinary surgeries, RSPCA or other rescue centres and you will then be contacted. For example – 1) Dog goes missing 2) Picked up by dog warden or handed in to vets or rescue centre 3) Scanned 4) Ring database 5) Call you to collect your dog. FEEDING : Always feed a good quality brand of complete puppy food, well balanced with the correct nutrition your puppy needs. We recommend Hills Vet Essentials, as it provides a full range of life stage foods from puppy to adult, to senior. INSURANCE : We recommend that you insure your puppy with Pet Plan. You will find some information in your record file which you will be given at first vaccination. If you have any queries, please speak to Sharon , our insurance administrator. PREMIER HEALTH PLAN : The Premier Health Plan allows you to spread the cost of routine treatment not covered by insurance (eg vaccinations, worming, flea treatment) at a discount of up to 40% plus you will also receive discounts on other items and services. Please see our Premier Health Plan web page for details. The first 16 weeks are a very important “formative period” in your puppy’s life. Try and devote as much time as possible in this period to developing the human-pet bond. Do this by handling (including feet, ears, grooming and teeth brushing) , play, training and socialisation.

PUPPY CHECKLIST 6-8 WEEKS * First vaccination * Worming * Flea Treatment * Ring and arrange puppy Classes. * Toilet Training * Insurance * Weight 10 WEEKS : * Second vaccination (make a note that booster will be required before 1 year from today) * Worming * Microchip * Weight 12 WEEKS (2 weeks after second vaccination) * Preparing to take puppy outside * Puppy training classes * Weekly checking of your pet’s eyes, ears, teeth, body condition * Weight * Flea treatment 4 MONTHS : * Worming *Weigh * Flea treatment 5 MONTHS: * Worming *Weigh * Flea treatment 6 MONTHS : * Worming *Weigh * Flea treatment * Ensure weekly checks are going well * Neutering pro’s & con’s Bring your puppy for a free monthly health check with Michele our practice nurse where you will be able to discuss any queries you may have.

A Guide To Kittens
VACCINATIONS : Kittens should be vaccinated at 8-9 weeks and again at 12 weeks. These vaccinations will protect your kitten from potentially fatal diseases – Flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia. The vaccine provides your kitten with antibodies to help fight the diseases. Yearly boosters throughout the life of your cat will be required to keep the level of antibodies at a protective level. WORMING : Should be done monthly with Stronghold spot on until your kitten is 6 months old. Then ask us for further advice.Worms (roundworm and tapeworm) can be picked up by your kitten when sniffing and walking where other cats have been. The cat will then clean itself and ingest worm eggs and larvae which remain alive for months and sometimes years after they have been passed. Worms are not always obvious unless the animal has a heavy worm burden so remember – just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean that they’re not there! FLEAS: Treat every 4 weeks with Stronghold spot on and use Indorex spray as required around the home. This will protect your kitten from adult fleas and your home against flea eggs and larvae. Remember, fleas are not only unpleasant for you and your kitten but can also cause potentially serious health problems in some cases eg anaemia, and fleas also carry tapeworm. NEUTERING : It is advisable to arrange for your kitten to be neutered at 6 months of age. If you wish to discuss the procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us. MICROCHIPPING : A small microchip, about the size of a grain of rice is implanted under the skin at the back of the neck. In the event of the animal going missing, and being picked up, the animal can be scanned at veterinary surgeries, RSPCA or other rescue centres and you will then be contacted. For example – 1) Cat goes missing 2) Picked up by or handed in to vets or rescue centre 3) Scanned 4) Ring database 5) Call you to collect your cat. FEEDING : Always feed a good quality brand of complete kitten food, well balanced with the correct nutrition your kitten's needs. We recommend Hills Vet Essentials as it provides a full range of life stage foods from kitten to adult, to senior.

INSURANCE : We recommend that you insure your kitten with Pet Plan. You will find some information in your record file which you will be given at first vaccination. PREMIER HEALTH PLAN : With the Premier Health Plan you can spread the cost of routine treatment not covered by insurance (eg vaccinations, worming, flea treatment) at a discount plus you will also receive discounts on other items and services. See our Premier Health Plan page for more information. The first 20 weeks are an important “formative period” in your kitten’s life. Try and devote as much time as possible in this period to developing the human-pet bond. Do this by handling, play, socialisation, grooming and teeth brushing.

KITTEN CHECKLIST 8-9 WEEKS * First Vaccination * Worming * Flea Treatment * Insurance * Weight 12 WEEKS * Second vaccination (make a note that booster will be required before 1 year from today) *Worming * Microchip * Weight 14 WEEKS (2 weeks after second vaccination) * Preparing to let kitten outside (The first few times, it is advisable that you let your kitten out, supervised and on an empty stomach and recall them with food). WEEKLY - * Checking of your pet’s eyes, ears, teeth, body condition* Weight 4 MONTHS Weigh * Worming * Flea treatment 5 MONTHS Weigh* Worming * Flea treatment * Neutering 6 MONTHS Weigh * Worming * Flea treatment * Neuter. Ensure weekly checks are going well Bring your kitten for a free monthly visit to see Michele, our practice nurse, where the all the above will be checked.

Fireworks!
In the lead up to ‘firework’ season, the excitement can sometimes overshadow the effect it can have on our pets. Many animals can show signs of distress when frightened. However, there are measures you can take to make this time of year as stress free as possible for your pet. In mild cases, simply closing the curtains, placing your pet in the centre of the house and switching on the TV or radio will be enough to calm them down. Try to remain in the same room. Avoid fussing, stay calm and don’t get angry. Provide a ‘safe place’ for them to retreat to and try to distract dogs with an activity such as playing. Some cats prefer to be left on their own to deal with the stress. Lock the cat flap and put down a litter tray for them. Fear can make your pet act out of character and ignore any jumping, pacing or aggression. Do not punish any bad behaviour. Take dogs out in daylight, reducing the risk of them running from an actual firework. Microchipping is helpful so if this does happen, you can be easily reunited. Sound desensitisation is the treatment of choice and works by exposing your pet to stressful sounds in a controlled setting. This teaches them to respond in a positive way. This is a longer term solution and the process can take weeks or even months to be successful. Other options are pheromone sprays/plug ins, calming capsules or sometimes tranquilisers- please ring for advice. With rabbits and guinea pigs, the advice is tailored to the individual. Some can stay indoors overnight, some for a few hours and for others, not at all, as this can be more stressful than the fireworks themselves. Age, temperament and any ongoing health issues need to be taken into consideration. For any advice or to discuss any treatments, please give us a call or drop in to see us!

Seasonal Update
With the colder weather upon us, now is a time when we can start to feel aches and pains – and our pets are no exception! Look out for limps and difficulty when rising after a rest – both can indicate joint stiffness, which can be exacerbated by wintry weather. When out walking, be aware of hazards such as frozen ponds and use reflective collars and leads to improve visibility. As it’s the time of year when people top up the fluids to their cars, anti-freeze poisoning is a possibility. Many brands are highly palatable to pets, but if consumed can cause serious kidney failure or possibly death. Also try to prevent access to fallen fruits, acorns and conkers, all of which can cause illness. A christmas favourite is chocolate, but this can be lethal to dogs. The higher the cocoa content, the more toxic it is. Chocolate formulated especially for pets is a good alternative, in limited amounts. Decorations can also be attractive to mischievous pets. Tinsel, ribbons and string can cause blockages if swallowed. Over the festive period, it’s all too easy for pets to expand their waistlines. Carrying too much weight can have adverse effects on the body and dealing with it sooner means it is easier to do something about it, especially as colder weather can mean being less active. Outside animals can find the winter especially challenging. Rabbits and guinea pigs are very susceptible to the cold, damp weather. Ensure hutches are warm, dry and in a sheltered position. Extra bedding should be given and water bottles need to be regularly checked to ensure they do not freeze. Covering the hutch with a blanket at night can also help to keep out the cold. And lastly, we would like to wish all our clients and their pets a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

A christmas favourite is chocolate, but this can be lethal to dogs. The higher the cocoa content, the more toxic it is. Chocolate formulated especially for pets is a good alternative, in limited amounts. Decorations can also be attractive to mischievous pets. Tinsel, ribbons and string can cause blockages if swallowed.

Over the festive period, it’s all too easy for pets to expand their waistlines. Carrying too much weight can have adverse effects on the body and dealing with it sooner means it is easier to do something about it, especially as colder weather can mean being less active. Outside animals can find the winter especially challenging. Rabbits and guinea pigs are very susceptible to the cold, damp weather. Ensure hutches are warm, dry and in a sheltered position. Extra bedding should be given and water bottles need to be regularly checked to ensure they do not freeze. Covering the hutch with a blanket at night can also help to keep out the cold. And lastly, we would like to wish all our clients and their pets a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

LUNGWORM ALERT
Chandlers Ford and the surrounding areas are a high risk area for lungworm in dogs, with several confirmed cases, and many other suspected cases. The lung worms are caught by the dog eating the intermediate hosts which are slugs, snails and frogs. For dog owners this can be a problem, since it is difficult to detect whether your pet has had contact with slugs or snails. Slugs and snails are very small in infancy and hide on plant leaves, grass or animal's toys; this leads to dogs accidentally eating infected slugs and snails or contacting infected slime.

Infected dogs may appear healthy, or may develop a cough, reluctance to exercise, weight loss, depression, vomiting or diarrhoea or more serious (and life-threatening) problems such as bleeding disorders or fitting.

The only product available to prevent this serious disease is ADVOCATE SPOT ON, which is applied monthly. It also kills fleas, ear and skin mites and all worms except tapeworm. It has limited efficacy against ticks. Please contact us for further information.

New outbreak of Kennel Cough in the area
Infectious bronchitis (commonly called "kennel cough") is a highly infectious cough that can be picked up wherever dogs meet - on walks, at training classes, dog shows and of course in boarding kennels. AND THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OUTBREAK IN THE AREA. Local dogs who regularly walk around especially Valley park have been recently diagnosed with the illness.

Affected dogs typically develop a harsh dry hacking cough that can cause retching and can last several weeks and requires antibiotic treatment. The disease is caused by a complex mixture of viruses and a bacterium - Bordetella bronchiseptica. We can fully protect your dog for a year with intranasal vaccines that can offer protection against Bordetella and Parainfluenza virus..

Don’t take any chances with kennel cough - contact us now to ensure your dog is adequately vaccinated.

Does my pet have worms?
Dogs and cats commonly play host to two major types of worms – roundworms and tapeworms. Roundworms are spaghetti like in appearance and live in the small intestines. They shed thousands of tiny eggs which pass out in the faeces and infect the environment. As well as re-infecting our pets, the eggs – if swallowed – can also pose a serious risk to children.

Tapeworms are long and flat and have a segmented body. Segments (containing eggs) are shed in the faeces and break down releasing the eggs into the environment.. The eggs are then ingested by an intermediate host – these include fleas and mice. Both cats and dogs swallow fleas when grooming, and in doing so, re-infect themselves with the tapeworms.

To keep your pet worm free, worm your pet regularly (we recommend every three months), use regular flea control and clear up faeces. If you would like a FREE worm consultation with Michele, our practice nurse, please give us a call on 023 8026 8001