Caring For Your Dog

VACCINATIONS

The diseases that vaccinations protect against are serious and oft en fatal (sometimes despite treatment), so vaccinations are VERY important. Complete protection can only
be achieved if all vaccines are given and your dog is kept away from public areas such as parks and shops until after the 14 week vaccine.

6-7 weeks Distemper, Measles & Parvovirus
10 weeks Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza & Bordatella
14 weeks Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza & Bordatella

ADULTS Annual boosters are required to maintain immunity.

WORMING

Puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 weeks), then every month until 6 months of age (4, 5 & 6 months), then every 3 months
routinely. Worming should be performed regardless of whether worms are seen in droppings or not, as many worms are too small to be seen with the naked eye. A thorough all wormer should be used, these are available in both tablet and chewable forms.

HEARTWORM PREVENTION

This can be started at 3-6 months of age, increasing the dose as your dog gets heavier. Heartworm prevention is available in several forms. Once yearly injections or monthly tablets are easiest. Dogs over 6 months of age must have a blood test for heartworm before commencing prevention medications. If your dog misses its medication for any period of time, please phone the clinic for advice.

ONCE YEARLY HEARTWORM INJECTIONS give you the security and "peace of mind" of knowing it's done. This can be started at 6 months of age.

FLEA CONTROL

All pets will be exposed to fleas at some stage so rather than letting an infestation develop, it is better to use a regular prevention treatment. Newer products that are very safe and easy to use are the SPOT-ON drops applied to the skin once monthly and can be used on your pups at any age. There are several options available. Please discuss with your veterinarian which option is best for your pet.

All pets in the household must be treated.

Environment - If the flea numbers are large, FOGGERS inside the house and BAYTEX spray outside will help reduce numbers quickly, but fleas on pets must also be killed so eggs are not produced.

PARALYSIS TICK CONTROL

Paralysis ticks are found in or near bush, scrubland and riverbanks. The main tick season is August to January. If your pet is in a tick area, you should search him/her daily for ticks. Prevention can be difficult so ask your veterinarian for more information as treatment may vary depending on your pet's level of exposure. No method of tick prevention is 100% effective, so you still need to manually search your pet.

CONGENITAL ISSUES

Certain breeds are predisposed to various congenital conditions that may become apparent as your pet grows into adulthood. You can this with your vet on your next visit.

COAT CARE

Regular brushing is important - daily brushing is best particularly with long-haired dogs. Shampoo only when necessary using a good quality dog shampoo (your veterinarian can advise which is most suitable for your dog). Medicated shampoos should only be used if prescribed by your veterinarian and to prevent a skin reaction, please take care when applying any product to your pet's skin or fur.

DIET

Correct nutrition is important, particularly during rapid growth time of the first 1-2 years.

TYPES OF DIETS INCLUDE:

Commercial canned or dried formulated diets. We stock a variety of premium foods for dogs which are high quality premium foods that feature distinct advantages over supermarket type foods. Different types of food are required dependent on your pet's age and lifestyle. Frequency of feeding also changed with age and medical conditions.
Homemade diets of fresh meat, rice, pasta, vegetables, etc. It is very hard to achieve a ‘balanced' diet when formulating at home.

Please ask our healthcare team for advice on feeding your dog, as a balanced diet is essential for along and healthy life.

TEETH & DENTAL CARE

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is very common in pets. It is a slow, progressive and painful condition caused by the build up of tartar (food, bacteria and mineral deposits)
around the base of the teeth. Bad breath is usually the first sign noticed. The infected gums become red and swollen, and eventually recede from the teeth. This causes infection in the bone and tooth loss. The infection can spread into the bloodstream and damage the heart, kidneys and other body systems.

Prevention and treatment of dental disease involves appropriate diet, dental scaling (cleaning) by the vet, and dental hygiene. (Regular health checks allow prevention or early treatment of problems.) Raw bones or fibrous, "chewy" meat (raw chicken wings, strips of skirt steak, brisket flaps of beef shins for dogs) give good ‘dental exercise' and helps keep teeth clean of tartar.

Most dogs will need a teeth scale and polish regularly throughout their life.

DESEXING

All pets should be desexed between 4 and 6 months of age. Desexed pets are healthier, and less likely to roam, fight or cause nuisance to neighbours. Many behavioural problems can be prevented with desexing. Plus unwanted litters are avoided. There is no advantage in allowing females to have a heat or litter first. Desexed pets are also significantly cheaper to register.

EARS

Healthy ears are clean and dry. Signs of ear problems include shaking the head, scratching at the ears, odour or discharge from the ears and holding the head on one side. Ear problems should be checked by a Vet. Home remedies and supermarket bought drops will do more harm than good.

HUMAN MEDICATIONS

DO NOT give unprescribed medications to your dog without checking with a vet first. Even aspirin and paracetamol can be dangerous if given incorrectly, especially if your pet is on medication or has a medical condition.

IDENTICATION - MICROCHIP

All dogs should wear a collar with a name and phone number on it so you can be contacted if your pet is lost or injured. They should also be kept in their own yard and
walked on a lead. Microchip identification is a totally safe and permanent way of identifying your pet.

The microchip is painlessly injected under the skin and can be read by a special scanner. Your pet's details are kept on a central computer only a phone call away, so you can be contacted and re-united with your pet.