Preventative Healthcare
At one time this amounted only to vaccinations and perhaps the occasional worm tablet. Now we offer a variety of health clinics run by our qualified veterinary nurses. These are for growing puppies and kittens, older animals, and then for specific concerns such as weight control. Vaccinations remain the cornerstone of preventative medicine and are available for the prevention of a number of potentially fatal diseases. We strongly recommend that all pets are vaccinated in a way which is appropriate to their individual requirements. Additionally there are a number of other measures which can provide great benefits for minimal cost and effort, as outlined below.
Vaccinations are available for dogs, cats and rabbits. They can be started from 6 weeks of age in dogs, 9 weeks in cats, and 6 weeks in rabbits, with a booster required a few weeks later (timing depends on age and species). Usually an annual booster vaccination and health check is recommended afterwards, but this depends on an animal’s individual circumstances. The recommended timing and frequency of providing vaccinations has changed over recent years, and the situation will continue to evolve in future. Some vaccinations are given less often than was common in the past. Please see the more detailed section below or feel free to ask us for more information about this.
Worms are common in dogs and cats of all ages. They can affect the health of your pet, and occasionally people too. Regular worming is simple to perform and we can supply effective, easy-to-use products for every situation. It is recommended that dogs and cats are wormed at least twice a year, more often if they are in regular contact with children. For more information please see below.
Fleas were at one time difficult to control. Nowadays there are products which are highly effective, simple to apply, and extremely safe for animals and their owners. Contact us to find out which product best suits your situation. Please note that many of the products sold in pet shops appear similar, but are in fact totally different, from ones bought from veterinary practices. They are rarely as effective, often not as safe to use, and frequently much less cost-effective than the licensed veterinary products. For more information click here.
Good quality and appropriate diets, sensible weight control and regular exercise link together to have a massive impact on general health. It is possible to book an appointment with one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses or one of the Veterinary Surgeons to discus and assess these things in relation to your own pet. Our knowledge and experience is likely to be far greater than anything the vast majority of pet owners might achieve. We see and assess more animals every week than any owner is likely to do in a lifetime. It makes good sense to use this knowledge where possible. So many of the animals we see suffer a variety of problems in later life which could have been prevented or reduced, if things had been done differently when they were young. Puppies and Kittens can benefit from being periodically while growing up, then at least annually throughout life. Annual vaccinations then provide a very valuable opportunity for a veterinary check-up. (Remember that one year to a dog or cat is approximately equivalent to 7 of our years. A lot can change in that time!)
Vaccination Information
Vaccinations for Dogs
Several serious viral diseases have been common in the past but are now rare in our area because of the effectiveness of vaccination. We recommend that all puppies are vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo virus, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus. Puppies should receive a course of two injections, given 2 – 4 weeks apart. These can be started from 6 weeks of age and finished at or after 10 weeks of age. We like to vaccinate puppies as soon as possible so that they can go outside more safely and meet the world at large while they are still young. It is extremely important that puppies experience meeting people they do not know, other dogs and animals, and go to unfamiliar areas repeatedly while they are still very young. This should be a gradual process starting at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Once they get over the age of about 16 weeks they will have lost much of their ability to learn how to deal with unfamiliar situations. Hence the dog which has not had these experiences may be nervous and unpredictable throughout life when they happen. This is discussed further in a separate article.
An annual booster vaccination for Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus is required to maintain protection against these diseases. Immunity against the other diseases is known to last much longer and we recommend that adult dogs are boosted every 3 years against these viruses.
Vaccinations for Cats
We recommend that all cats are vaccinated against Cat "Flu" and Feline Infectious Enteritis. These diseases are much less common than they used to be but are still seen. (Vaccination is mandatory for admission to most boarding catteries.) For the vast majority of cats we recommend vaccination against the Feline Leukaemia virus as well. However for cats that are confined permanently indoors it is usually safe not to give this vaccine. (It is not required by most boarding catteries as it can only be transmitted by direct contact with an infected cat.)
Whichever vaccines are used, kittens require a course of 2 injections given 3 weeks apart from the age of 9 weeks. A single annual booster is given to maintain adequate immune levels.
Are vaccines necessary?
Some people are concerned that vaccines can be the cause of health problems and might not be needed anyway. In actual fact vaccines are extremely safe and contribute hugely to the improved health of our pets. There has been much debate about this issue recently, in both the human and animal world. The evidence is that our current vaccines are on balance extremely beneficial, and not vaccinating often involves a significant risk. All of our vets are happy to discus the relevant pros and cons in person if asked.
Parasite control (worms, fleas, ticks, lice and mites)
Roundworms and Human Health
Roundworms are extremely common in puppies and kittens. Worm larvae can be transferred from the mother before birth and then in the milk. These larvae migrate around the body in microscopic form before arriving in the gut where they develop into adult worms. Sometimes their numbers will build up greatly and cause significant problems for the growing animal. Worm treatments tend to kill off adults in the gut but are much less effective against the developing larvae, hence it is important to treat young animals several times (we recommend monthly) while they are growing. Once a puppy or kitten gets to about 6 or 7 months of age, it develops quite a good immunity to worms. This means that any larvae which might be present are prevented from developing into adult worms. They can however live in microscopic form in the muscles and other tissues of the animal’s body. Here they can remain for years, perhaps becoming active during pregnancy to infect the next generation. These dormant larvae will not be affected by worming treatments. It seems however that the immunity which adult dogs and cats develop is not complete, so that a few worms will on occasions make it to the gut and develop. They might live in the gut in low numbers, causing no apparent ill-effects to the animal at all. They will however be producing eggs which are passed in the faeces. These eggs can remain in the environment for years and cause infection to dogs, cats and occasionally people if accidentally ingested. The roundworms which come from dogs and cats (Toxocara species) are not able to properly complete there development in people. They “try” to do so, but get it “wrong”. The larvae can migrate around the body for a while before they die. As far as is known, most people suffer no ill effect from these microscopic invaders. However they can occasionally cause trouble, especially in children. The most widely known is a problem which causes partial or complete blindness, usually in children around the age of 8 - 10 years. Thankfully this is very rare, but it is believed to affect a small number of children every year in this country.
Worming a dog or cat with an effective product every month will prevent any eggs from being shed at all. It is for this reason that we recommend treatment at this frequency. Worming less frequently (or even not at all) might make no noticeable difference for the dog or cat concerned. However, regular worming is part of responsible pet ownership in the interests of general public health, and has to be recommended.
At one time this amounted only to vaccinations and perhaps the occasional worm tablet. Now we offer a variety of health clinics run by our qualified veterinary nurses. These are for growing puppies and kittens, older animals, and then for specific concerns such as weight control. Vaccinations remain the cornerstone of preventative medicine and are available for the prevention of a number of potentially fatal diseases. We strongly recommend that all pets are vaccinated in a way which is appropriate to their individual requirements. Additionally there are a number of other measures which can provide great benefits for minimal cost and effort, as outlined below.
Vaccinations are available for dogs, cats and rabbits. They can be started from 6 weeks of age in dogs, 9 weeks in cats, and 6 weeks in rabbits, with a booster required a few weeks later (timing depends on age and species). Usually an annual booster vaccination and health check is recommended afterwards, but this depends on an animal’s individual circumstances. The recommended timing and frequency of providing vaccinations has changed over recent years, and the situation will continue to evolve in future. Some vaccinations are given less often than was common in the past. Please see the more detailed section below or feel free to ask us for more information about this.
Worms are common in dogs and cats of all ages. They can affect the health of your pet, and occasionally people too. Regular worming is simple to perform and we can supply effective, easy-to-use products for every situation. It is recommended that dogs and cats are wormed at least twice a year, more often if they are in regular contact with children. For more information please see below.
Fleas were at one time difficult to control. Nowadays there are products which are highly effective, simple to apply, and extremely safe for animals and their owners. Contact us to find out which product best suits your situation. Please note that many of the products sold in pet shops appear similar, but are in fact totally different, from ones bought from veterinary practices. They are rarely as effective, often not as safe to use, and frequently much less cost-effective than the licensed veterinary products. For more information click here.
Good quality and appropriate diets, sensible weight control and regular exercise link together to have a massive impact on general health. It is possible to book an appointment with one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses or one of the Veterinary Surgeons to discus and assess these things in relation to your own pet. Our knowledge and experience is likely to be far greater than anything the vast majority of pet owners might achieve. We see and assess more animals every week than any owner is likely to do in a lifetime. It makes good sense to use this knowledge where possible. So many of the animals we see suffer a variety of problems in later life which could have been prevented or reduced, if things had been done differently when they were young. Puppies and Kittens can benefit from being periodically while growing up, then at least annually throughout life. Annual vaccinations then provide a very valuable opportunity for a veterinary check-up. (Remember that one year to a dog or cat is approximately equivalent to 7 of our years. A lot can change in that time!)
Vaccination Information
Vaccinations for Dogs
Several serious viral diseases have been common in the past but are now rare in our area because of the effectiveness of vaccination. We recommend that all puppies are vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo virus, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus. Puppies should receive a course of two injections, given 2 – 4 weeks apart. These can be started from 6 weeks of age and finished at or after 10 weeks of age. We like to vaccinate puppies as soon as possible so that they can go outside more safely and meet the world at large while they are still young. It is extremely important that puppies experience meeting people they do not know, other dogs and animals, and go to unfamiliar areas repeatedly while they are still very young. This should be a gradual process starting at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Once they get over the age of about 16 weeks they will have lost much of their ability to learn how to deal with unfamiliar situations. Hence the dog which has not had these experiences may be nervous and unpredictable throughout life when they happen. This is discussed further in a separate article.
An annual booster vaccination for Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus is required to maintain protection against these diseases. Immunity against the other diseases is known to last much longer and we recommend that adult dogs are boosted every 3 years against these viruses.
Vaccinations for Cats
We recommend that all cats are vaccinated against Cat "Flu" and Feline Infectious Enteritis. These diseases are much less common than they used to be but are still seen. (Vaccination is mandatory for admission to most boarding catteries.) For the vast majority of cats we recommend vaccination against the Feline Leukaemia virus as well. However for cats that are confined permanently indoors it is usually safe not to give this vaccine. (It is not required by most boarding catteries as it can only be transmitted by direct contact with an infected cat.)
Whichever vaccines are used, kittens require a course of 2 injections given 3 weeks apart from the age of 9 weeks. A single annual booster is given to maintain adequate immune levels.
Are vaccines necessary?
Some people are concerned that vaccines can be the cause of health problems and might not be needed anyway. In actual fact vaccines are extremely safe and contribute hugely to the improved health of our pets. There has been much debate about this issue recently, in both the human and animal world. The evidence is that our current vaccines are on balance extremely beneficial, and not vaccinating often involves a significant risk. All of our vets are happy to discus the relevant pros and cons in person if asked.
Parasite control (worms, fleas, ticks, lice and mites)
- Roundworms - We recommend worming monthly for puppies and kittens until 6 months of age. For animals which are in contact with children, monthly worming throughout life is best. For others, worming every three to six months is generally acceptable. The reasons for this advice will be explained at the end of this section.
- Tapeworms - Most dogs in this area probably never become infected with tapeworms. They are seen more often in cats but are still not common. Precautionary treatment once a year is acceptable for most individuals. These worms can usually be seen if they are present, so regular, frequent treatment of all dogs and cats might not be required. (Segments of tapeworms emerge from the anus and can be seen moving over the fur under the tail and on the back of the hind legs. They are flattened, creamy in colour and up to 1cm or so in length. They soon dry out to resemble a grain of rice.)
- Fleas - Regular routine use throughout the year is recommended. Frequency depends on the product used, but often this needs to be monthly to avoid any problems.
- Ticks - These are usually picked up from long grass and thick undergrowth in the Spring and Autumn. Sheep and a variety of wild animals can carry them, including hedgehogs.
- Lice and mites - Routine treatment of all dogs is not necessary because they are relatively uncommon.
- Stronghold is the product we recommend for routine, monthly use. This is effective against a variety of parasites including roundworms, fleas and mites. It is dosed as a small volume of liquid applied to the back of the animal’s neck – for most animals this is all that needs to be done for controlling parasites of all kinds. “Stronghold” is not effective however against tapeworms. Additional treatment against these is necessary for animals at risk, and treatment once a year as a precaution might be sensible.
- Droncit is the wormer used specifically to control tapeworms (available by tablet or injection).
- Panacur is available as granules or liquid to mix in food. It is very effective against roundworms, but is not fully effective against tapeworms. It is most suitable for animals which are not receiving Stronghold for flea control (because Stronghold is effective against roundworms too). It is our recommended treatment for puppies if they are not receiving Stronghold.
- Milbemax is a multi-wormer available as a small tablet and is effective against all worms likely to be encountered in this country.
- Frontline is very effective against fleas and other surface living parasites such as lice and some types of mites. It has some activity against ticks unlike “Stronghold” but it does not control worms at all and so is best combined with “Panacur” or “Milbemax”. It is available as a spray or as a “spot-on” to be applied to the back of the animal’s neck. The spray is effective against fleas for up to 3 months on dogs, 2 months on cats. Activity against ticks is about 1 month. The spot-on is effective against fleas for 2 months on dogs, one month on cats. It has activity against ticks for up to a month but is probably less effective than the spray.
- Acclaim is a spray which is used on carpets, bedding and other areas around the house to control developing flea larvae. It is estimated that for every adult flea found on a pet, there can be 100 eggs and larvae living in the tiny nooks and crannies around the home. These develop and provide a “reservoir” of fleas, ready to leap onto unsuspecting pets and sometimes people! Regular treatment of dogs and cats in a household will usually prevent significant numbers building up in the house. However it is important to treat the house as well if a flea problem does develop.
Roundworms and Human Health
Roundworms are extremely common in puppies and kittens. Worm larvae can be transferred from the mother before birth and then in the milk. These larvae migrate around the body in microscopic form before arriving in the gut where they develop into adult worms. Sometimes their numbers will build up greatly and cause significant problems for the growing animal. Worm treatments tend to kill off adults in the gut but are much less effective against the developing larvae, hence it is important to treat young animals several times (we recommend monthly) while they are growing. Once a puppy or kitten gets to about 6 or 7 months of age, it develops quite a good immunity to worms. This means that any larvae which might be present are prevented from developing into adult worms. They can however live in microscopic form in the muscles and other tissues of the animal’s body. Here they can remain for years, perhaps becoming active during pregnancy to infect the next generation. These dormant larvae will not be affected by worming treatments. It seems however that the immunity which adult dogs and cats develop is not complete, so that a few worms will on occasions make it to the gut and develop. They might live in the gut in low numbers, causing no apparent ill-effects to the animal at all. They will however be producing eggs which are passed in the faeces. These eggs can remain in the environment for years and cause infection to dogs, cats and occasionally people if accidentally ingested. The roundworms which come from dogs and cats (Toxocara species) are not able to properly complete there development in people. They “try” to do so, but get it “wrong”. The larvae can migrate around the body for a while before they die. As far as is known, most people suffer no ill effect from these microscopic invaders. However they can occasionally cause trouble, especially in children. The most widely known is a problem which causes partial or complete blindness, usually in children around the age of 8 - 10 years. Thankfully this is very rare, but it is believed to affect a small number of children every year in this country.
Worming a dog or cat with an effective product every month will prevent any eggs from being shed at all. It is for this reason that we recommend treatment at this frequency. Worming less frequently (or even not at all) might make no noticeable difference for the dog or cat concerned. However, regular worming is part of responsible pet ownership in the interests of general public health, and has to be recommended.