Healthcare

Vaccination of your pet is very important to provide protection against some of the most lethal diseases affecting our pet population. These diseases are now rare in Australia thanks to the high use of these vaccinations. The vaccination protocols we use in the clinic are in line with the international Vaccine Guidelines Group commissioned by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Please select the relavent pet for more information regarding vaccination

Cats   Dogs   Rabbits

Treating the disease once contracted can be life-threatening, so it is our recommendation to start heartworm prevention early as:-

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Prevention of heartworm can be discussed at puppy vaccinations and generally preventative treatment is started at this stage.

A blood test is required before starting on any preventative treatment if your dog is older than 6 months of age or if he/she has missed treatments.

There are several options for heartworm prevention available today, from daily tablets, monthly spot ons and tablets, and even a yearly injection.

Please follow the links to read more about each option.

Daily tablets   Monthly spot-ons  Monthly tablets Yearly injection

The recommended age for desexing is around 6 months of age for both males and females, but the procedure can be done younger if necessary.

Please follow the links below to read more about the relevent procedures.

Castration(males)  Spay(females)

If your pet presents to a pound or vet, he or she will be scanned and the details of the chip used to contact you and return your pet. It is important to keep all microchipping details current, please contact the records company if you have moved or changed phone number.

The microchipping procedure is similar to giving a vaccination, with the rice-sized chip placed between the shoulder blades. An anaesthetic is not necessary, but many people choose to microchip at the time of desexing so that it is not felt by the pet.

Pups and kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, monthly until 6 months of age, then worm every 3 months.

Fleas can also be passed on to the newborns from the mother, and flea prevention is important to prevent a serious infestation. Fleas lay eggs in the pet's environment, these hatch into larvae that feed on dust in carpets, bedding, etc... It is said that the number of fleas on your pet only represents 5% of the population in your house. This phenomenon explains why some flea treatments can apparently fail:- whilst the fleas on your pet are killed by collars, washes, etc, the continuing population in the environment will cause continuous reinfection. Treating the environment or using longer acting preventatives is required to tackle the whole flea population.

 Monthly treatment with a good flea product is recommended.

Flea allergies are common in small animals and it is important to stress that allergic reactions do not need a flea infestation. A single bite is sufficient to start a reaction and some pets that have no visible fleas on them can still have allergic skin problems.

There are various products available for the prevention of intestinal parasites and fleas. Please keep in mind the age of your animal as a lot of products are not suitable for neonates (very young animals)

Tablets   Spot ons

Choosing an insurance policy that suits you is as important as when choosing a house or car insurance. Certain policies may exclude breeds or diseases that these breeds are predisposed to such as heart problems in Cavaliers. Other insurance companies will increase their premiums once the pet reaches a certain age, as the likelihood of disease increases. When choosing the right insurance, please consider your pet specifically rather than going for the cheapest option- it may be a false economy.

Please check our links  page for a selection of insurance companies and associated websites.

What can be done?

Unfortunately no cure exists for arthritis, but there are options to manage pain and reduce the rate of disease progression, allowing pets to enjoy a happier, fuller life.

• Weight loss: The single most effective, natural, and cost-effective way of making your pet feel better. The less weight per joint that your pet carries, the less pain endured, and the happier your pet will be. As with humans, weight loss also has other health benefits in relation to respiratory problems, diabetes, blood pressure, etc.
• Pentosan/cartrophen injections: These injections bind to damaged cartilage and stimulates repair of the joint. It also inhibits enzymes which can be responsible for further breakdown of cartilage. These injections run as a course over 4 weeks, followed by boosters every 3 months or as often as required.
• Glucosamine/chondroitin: Similar to human preparations which help support healthy cartilage. It generally comes in a powder form which gets added to food daily.
• Essential omega oils: A good balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and manage joint damage.
• Green lipped muscle extract: Another natural support of cartilage.
• Joint EZR: A convenient combination of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM (increases former's uptake into the body), essential oils and green lipped muscle extract, available at the clinic. Single dosing daily to maximise joint support.
• Anti-inflammatories: Used to manage both inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. These drugs have the potential risk of affecting older kidneys and causing stomach upsets, so are usually reserved for bad days or when other therapy is no longer working. Cats now have an anti-inflammatory registered for long-term use.
• Physiotherapy: Another natural way of helping your pet is to encourage low-impact exercise such as swimming. With chronic pain, muscles that are not used much begin to waste away, resulting in more forces being transmitted through the joint and more pain generated. The longer your pet can support joints with their own muscle the better off he/she will be.