01962 841001 / 840505
St Cross Road, WINCHESTER, SO23 9PR
Vaccinations
Dogs are routinely vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis. These are all very unpleasant and potentially fatal diseases and the vaccines used provide a safe and effective protection.
The routine schedule for puppies is a course consisting of:
- 1st Vaccination – from 8 weeks of age
- 2nd Vaccination at 11 weeks of age
To ensure your pet’s continued safety against these diseases, we strongly recommend an annual booster vaccination. We endeavour to send out reminders but ask that you also add the date to your diaries. At the time of your pet’s vaccinations we will give them a general health examination.
We are relying, more and more, on regular health checks to keep pets well and to detect health problems as early as possible.
Worms
Dogs should be wormed on a regular basis against both roundworm and tapeworm with a combined wormer. In general we advise puppies are wormed on purchase and then at monthly intervals until 6 months of age. Thereafter, we suggest worming every 3 months. The products we recommend are Panacur Paste for puppies followed by Milbemax or Drontal Plus. Some worms that affect dogs also affect people so worming is essential for both your dogs and family’s health. This is of special importance where children are involved, since Toxocara (roundworm) can occasionally pose a health risk, especially in young children, where hygiene may be less particular than with older children and adults. Our staff can provide further information on worming.
Fleas
Fleas are common throughout the year, not just in summer. Fleas spend their adult life on your pets, feeding on blood and then laying eggs. Everywhere your pet goes in your house, eggs will be dropped from the coat to hatch and develop in your carpets, furniture and bedding. Therefore, it is essential to treat your house for developing fleas, as well as your pets. There are many safe, effective and easy to use products to control fleas in dogs. Advocate, applied monthly to the back of the neck is our treatment of choice. It is also effective against Lungworm (see below). If ticks are a problem, then consider Advantix or Effipro. Have a chat to one of our team about the best flea control regime for your dog.
Lungworm
Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is a parasite that can infect dogs. It has a wide range of symptoms in dogs, which can make it difficult to diagnose. The lungworm parasite spends part of its lifecycle in slugs, snails or even frogs. The danger to dogs arises when small slugs or snails are either purposefully or accidentally eaten while rummaging through undergrowth, eating grass, or taken up when drinking from puddles or an outdoor water bowl, dogs do not have to actually eat the slugs to become infected. The adult of this particular lungworm lives in the heart and major blood vessels supplying the lungs, where it can cause a host of problems, including coughing, reluctance to exercise, depression, weight loss, fits, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and paralysis, or persistent bleeding from minor cuts due to blood-clotting problems. Owners who notice any of these symptoms or whose dogs might eat slugs or snails, should contact us for an immediate consultation. The sooner the disease is spotted, the easier it is to treat and the more likely the dog will go on to make a full recovery. Left untreated, the infection can often be fatal. As signs are non-specific, diagnosis can be challenging. Larvae can be found in the faeces, but often several samples are needed and the test is time consuming.
Lungworm is not treated by using conventional worming tablets, but rather a monthly topical application of Advocate. It also controls other worms, fleas and mites, which means you can address lungworm and a number of common parasites in one application.
Neutering
It is of benefit to both your pet and yourself to have female dogs surgically neutered (spayed). If they are neutered after the first season and before the second season bitches have a 50% less chance of developing mammary cancer in later life. Neutering also removes the risks of infected wombs (pyometra) and false pregnancies in later life. Neutered bitches do not come into season and are therefore less likely to stray. The neutering operation is carried out on a day patient basis, not requiring an overnight stay. Neutering of bitches or dogs does not, as commonly held, cause obesity, but it is important to realise that neutered animals have a lower metabolic rate and therefore do not require as much food after neutering as they did before.
Castration of male dogs can bring several behavioural and health benefits. It reduces aggression towards other dogs and humans and also reduces antisocial mating and territory behaviour. It also reduces the risk of prostrate disease in older male dogs.
Microchipping
Microchipping / Identichip system for electronic identification of your pet is available at the surgery. It involves the injection of a small microchip under the skin of the neck, It is normally carried out by prior appointment as a consultation or at the time of neutering and provides peace of mind if your pet is lost.
Operating Theatres
We have a fully equipped operating theatre routinely used for sterile operations, the most common of which are neutering operations (spays and castrations). Other sterile operations that are performed include orthopaedic and abdominal surgery and the removal of tumours. Another preparation room is used for non-sterile work, which includes dentistry, and the treatment of bite wounds, abscesses and skin diseases.
Referrals
Where necessary we are always prepared to refer difficult cases to specialists in a particular field. We are fortunate to have access to local referral centres.
House Visits
We are able to attend your pet at home if necessary. For house visits we ask that you phone between 8.30 and 9.30a.m. However, you should appreciate that it is often not possible to examine the patient as thoroughly at home or administer all the treatments that would be possible in the surgery.
Please also remember that there is an additional charge made for visits.
Repeat Prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions for animals on long term medication may be obtained at the surgery. Please allow 24 hours notice for the repeat prescription to be prepared. This also applies to animals on special prescription diets where, if possible, we ask for 48 hours notice. Since certain medicines are legally controlled, it will be necessary from time to time (normally every 4-6 months) for your pet to see the Vet before further medication is prescribed. We will advise you of this when you telephone. In these cases, please make an appointment, as not doing so will delay the preparation of the next prescription.
Pet Health Insurance
The provision of medical, surgical and nursing care for your pet can be expensive. Pet health insurance can be an affordable way to provide quality pet health care at an economical rate so that veterinary fees can be reclaimed. Insurance company leaflets are available at the surgery.
Diets
The Practice stocks the range of Royal Canin for maintenance feeding and also both canned and dry special prescription diets, which are used in conjunction with medicines to cure or control a range of diagnosed conditions from bladder stones and kidney disease to cardiac problems, as well as obesity. A trained nurse is available to give advice on feeding.
Final Care
In the event of your pet being put to sleep, or if your pet dies, a range of facilities for burial or cremation is available to you. This can be done on a personal and individual basis with the return of the ashes in a small casket if required. Our staff will help and advise you during this difficult time. A home visit on such an occasion can be provided. We will endeavour to help you with such sad decisions to help ease your grief and come to terms with your loss.