Preventative healthcare is the best healthcare: bring your pet to see us regularly
When it comes to your furry friend, you naturally want them to be healthy, happy and able to enjoy their life for as long as possible. The key to this is preventative healthcare – making sure your pet is examined by one of our professional vets on a regular basis. This ensures that any problems that may occur are spotted early and can be treated before they develop into potentially serious conditions.
If your pet is very young, it’s best that you bring them to see us for a health check every month until they are six months old; after this we can give them a check-up every six months. This is particularly important whilst they’re young so we can monitor their development during a period when they’re not only growing fast, but are also vulnerable to particular diseases that affect young animals.
During a health check your pet will be examined from nose to tail. One of our friendly vets will look over their eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, skin, coat, paws and tail, as well as listening to their heart and lungs and feeling their abdomen to check for any abnormal lumps or bumps. Your pet will receive lots of fuss and attention.
You’ll also be able to ask your vet any questions that you have about your pet’s health, including any changes you might have noticed in their behaviour or appearance.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are another essential aspect of preventative healthcare for your pet. Just like humans, puppies, kittens and kits (baby rabbits) can be given injections to protect them against certain diseases to which they are susceptible. Kittens and puppies, in particular, should not go outside or mix with other animals until they have completed their course of initial vaccines.
Puppies should receive their first vaccinations at around 8-9 weeks of age, with a second set around two weeks later.
Kittens should be vaccinated at approximately 7 weeks of age, with additional injections three weeks later. Following this they will then need booster vaccines every year, to ensure that their immunity levels remain high enough to protect them from infection.
Dogs are vaccinated against:
- Canine Distemper
- Canine Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis
All of these can be fatal if untreated. In addition, if your dog is likely to be travelling abroad with you, or spending time in kennels or daycare, rabies and kennel cough vaccines can also be administered.
Cats are vaccinated against:
- Feline leukaemia virus
- Feline influenza
- Infectious enteritis
Rabbits receive protection against:
- Myxomatosis
- Viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) – Strains 1 & 2
When you bring your pet in to see us for their booster vaccinations, a member of our team will also give them a thorough check-up to ensure that they are still healthy and developing well.