Caring for your pet

Does my pet need vaccinations?

The simple answer to this is yes - most pets will require some vaccinations. If you are at all concerned with the vaccination status of your pet, get in touch. It’s never too late to be vaccinated!

Dogs

Dogs should be vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Parainfluenza and Leptopirosis.

Puppies need to be vaccinated twice at about eight and ten weeks, and then they should have a first year booster. After that, full vaccination is done every three years for most diseases. Leptopirosis and Parainfluenza need to be done once a year.

Cats

Cats should be vaccinated against Flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia. Some cats who are older or will be only living indoors can cope without the Leukaemia vaccination.

Kittens are usually vaccinated against all three of these conditions at nine and twelve weeks. Adult cats need to be vaccinated again each year.

Rabbits

Rabbits should be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease).

We recommend that the vaccination against Myxomatosis should be done annually each spring. VHD is lower risk in our area, but is usually still given annually.

Travel

All species should be vaccinated against Rabies if they are travelling to an infected country. All countries vaccination requirements are different, so please check with us before taking your pet abroad. You may find the information about the Pet Travel Scheme (from Defra) useful.

Does my pet need worming?

The majority of owners will be aware that regular worming of dogs and cats is important. New puppies and kittens should be wormed frequently from two weeks of age until six months old. This is because puppies aquire roundworms from their mothers during pregnancy and both puppies and kittens can aquire roundworms from their mothers whilst nursing.

Regular worming is recommended throughout a dog and cat’s life to prevent the common roundworm toxacara, which can also affect children; and tapeworms which they catch from fleas, raw meat or wildlife.

There are now a variety of worming products available, some are even in a spot on preparation for the pet who is more difficult to tablet.
As a general indication we recomend that dogs and cats who live with children are wormed at least every three months. If your pet does not have contact with children then usually worming every four months is sufficient. However the frequency your pet needs to be wormed varies with each individual’s lifestyle. Please contact us to discuss your pet’s worming needs.

Dog and cat owners who travel abroad with their pets on the Pet Passport scheme will probably have heard of parasitic infections which can be contracted in Europe. These include Dirofilaria immitis, a mosquito-transmitted heartworm which is common in continental Europe but absent from the UK and Echinococcus multilocularis, which led to the mandatory worming treatment of dogs and cats before they re-enter the UK.

Treating your Dog for Lungworm

A previously uncommon but serious worm infestation has become more prevalent in Surrey recently.
There is a form of heart worm called Angiostrongylus vasorum or French Heartworm‚ which is found in the UK. It has been present in parts of the UK for the last 30 years, but until 1999 this was considered to be a rare problem, only really seen in Ireland and the South West of England. However over the last 5 years many more cases have been seen in the South East and Surrey, and this infection can be serious or fatal.
Certain breeds appear to be more susceptible, especially, Retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and all spaniel breeds, including Cavaliers. Foxes can also carry the infection, and probably play an important part in its spread, especially as slugs and snails are an important part of their diet.

What is Angiostrongylus vasorum?

Angiostrongylus is a parasitic worm that lives in the heart and arteries of the lungs of the dog, fox and other animals that are affected by it. The worm has a double lifecycle in slugs and snails and in the final host, dogs and foxes.

Infection happens when a dog eats an infected slug or snail that harbours the larval form of the worm. Mature larvae in the snail migrate through the dog’s body from the intestine to the heart and lungs, and develop into adult worms. The adults lay eggs, which hatch into immature larvae. These move from the blood vessels into the air sacs of the lungs, from where they are coughed up, swallowed, and passed in the faeces. They will then infect another snail or slug and the cycle starts again.

Can my dog catch the worm directly from an infected dog or fox?

No, the only route of infection is from eating snails and worms.

Signs of infection

The commonest sign of infection is due to the inflammation caused to the lungs, and shows as rapid breathing and coughing, sometimes with blood. This can be similar to the signs seen with kennel cough or heart conditions, but especially in young dogs lungworm is another possible cause. The parasite can also interfere with blood clotting and cause damage to blood vessels, and symptoms can include any signs connected to bleeding. These can include anaemia, gastro-enteritis with blood, and sudden haematomas. The most worrying is bleeding into the brain, which causes neurological signs. These can range from behaviour changes to weakness, paralysis, and loss of consciousness. Unfortunately the signs may develop rapidly and the outcome can be fatal.

Worm larvae can often be detected in faecal samples, although they are not passed all the time and more than one sample may need to be tested to find the parasite.

Treatment

If Angiostrongylus is identified early in the course of the infection anti-parasitic drugs can be used to treat it effectively. If complications have already occurred then treatment is less likely to be successful. If your dog is coughing please make an appointment to speak to a vet. Obviously there are many common causes of coughing, however if you have a young dog that is coughing or generally unwell, do let us know if he is fascinated by snails and slugs, especially if he mouths or eats them.

Prevention

Regular worming with an appropriate wormer will help prevent problems. Not all of the wormers we dispense routinely are active against Angiostrongylus. So if you know your dog eats snails let us know, as it could influence the choice of wormer used. If you would like to discuss your dog’s worming needs with a vet please call us.

Worming for Rabbits


Rabbits can suffer from worms and parasites such as E.cuniculi. Infection with E.cuniculi can lead to brain and kidney diseases. The parasite is spread either from mother to baby or in infected urine.

More then half of all pet rabbits have been exposed to E.cuniculi and can carry it without showing any signs for months to years. Unfortunately after symptoms have developed treatment is not always successful.

By worming your rabbit regularly you can help prevent your rabbit from developing these dangerous illnesses. To book an appointment for this treatment please call us.

As well as worming your rabbit frequently you should also follow good hygiene principles:

  • Avoid collecting fresh greens from areas where there are wild rabbits or rodents
  • Frequently disinfect food bowls and water dispensers
  • Use feed racks and drinking bottles to prevent contamination of food and water with urine
  • Use separate rather than tiered housing to help prevent urine splash
  • Minimise contact between pet rabbits and wild rabbits and rodents

We recommend that you worm your rabbit 2-4 times a year and at times of increased stress, such as when they first come home, when mixing with other rabbits for the first time and prior to surgery.

Does My Pet Need Neutering?

We recommend neutering dogs. Neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies, so reduces the number of unwanted dogs in rescue centres. It reduces or prevents disease and cancer of the genital tract in older age in both sexes. Neutering can help with specific behavioural problems. However it can make certain behavioural situations worse, so do always discuss any behavioural problems with your vet prior to deciding on neutering.
We advise neutering male dogs after 8 months of age. Female dogs we prefer to have had their first season prior to neutering. However we do understand that all individual’s circumstances are different so please discuss any issues with us prior to arranging the date for your pet to be neutered.
When your dog comes in to be neutered we administer a general anaesthetic, males have the tesitcles surgically removed through 1 incision in front of the scrotum. Females have the ovaries and uterus removed from a wound on the tummy. Both males and females are usually fine to go home the same day and have stitches which will need removing after 10 days.
We recommend neutering all cats. Neutering cats will prevent accidental pregnancies, which will reduce the numbers of unwanted kittens. It also has health benefits and makes them better companions. By neutering male cats, it reduces their tendency to fight which reduces the risk of several viruses, including Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) both of which are fatal. Entire male cats roam long distances, are more aggressive to other males and scent mark their territory, often this includes the inside of your house, by spraying urine. Female cats are in season “calling” approximately every 3 weeks once they reach sexual maturity. This is a very noisy affair and can be difficult to live with. Neutering females also prevents the risk of cancer of the genital tract as they get older. Neutering both sexes prevents sexually transmitted diseases.
We can neuter kittens from five – six months of age. For male kittens we administer a general anaesthetic and remove the testicles surgically through 2 small incisions in the scrotum. For female kittens they also have a general anaesthetic and we surgically remove the uterus and ovaries from a wound in the flank. Usually both male and female kittens can go home the same day. The females will have stitches which will need removing after 10 days.

We recommend that all rabbits are neutered; this improves their behaviour and allows house rabbits to be litter trained. Both male and female rabbits can become aggressive after reaching puberty. Neutering prevents health problems, female rabbits are at risk of developing cancer of the uterus (womb) and males risk testicular cancer. It also prevents accidental breeding.
Male rabbits can be neutered from three months of age and female rabbits from five months of age. Neutered males should not be placed with un-neutered females until four weeks post surgery to ensure no accidental pregnancies.
To neuter either sex rabbit we administer a general anaesthetic, the males then have the testicles surgically removed through an incision just above the scrotum. The females have the ovaries and uterus removed through a wound on their tummies. Both will stay with us until they are eating and defaecating normally, usually this takes 24 hours post surgery.

We do not routinely neuter other species of animals, but we can do so if an individual’s circumstances indicate that it is necessary.

What is microchipping?

Microchipping is a very useful way of ensuring that your pet is identifiable - a more high-tech collar tag. If your pet is lost and has a microchip, any vet or council dog pound will be able to scan the pet, get the associated details and then contact you, the owner.

Having a chip installed is painless as the chip itself is tiny and sits just under the skin. The unique identifier number is then associated in a national database with your pets details and address. Any vet, dog warden or the police in the UK will be able to read the microchip wirelessly.

Having a lost pet is very distressing and a microchip is a way of vastly improving the chances of your pet returning home safely and quickly.

If you would like to have your pet microchipped or have its details checked, please contact us.

Coping with Fireworks


Although most pets only have to cope with fireworks once or twice a year, as a responsible pet owner there are some things that you can do to help them.

If you know your pet is afraid of fireworks it is worth contacting us for advice several months before Fireworks Night or New Year.

A very successful approach is desensitisation. CDs with the sounds of bangs and other distracting or scary noises are available, which can be played for your pet over several weeks or months, gradually increasing the volume. At the same time, you can play with or train your pet, or give it toys to distract it from the noises.

You can also get a pheromone device, which is like an air freshener that disperses calming pheromones into the air - ask us if you would like more information about these.

Dogs and cats should always be kept inside during fireworks season. Make sure you don’t take your dog out for a walk if there might be fireworks - go for a walk earlier in the day. If your dog does need to go outside, ensure it has a collar tag and keep it on a lead at all times. If your pet is not microchipped, you might want to consider this.

Prepare a den that is the most isolated place from the fireworks, and can be darkened to prevent flashes. Make sure that your pet is comfortable there and can come and go; take it there a few times before fireworks start.

We can provide sedation, but please understand that this doesn’t necessarily prevent the animal from being scared by fireworks. We would recommend this only as a last resort.

More advice can be found at these pages:

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body with needles. These points have the ability to alter various chemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effects. It has been used successfully for nearly 4000 years on animals as well as humans. It is not a cure-all but can work well where it is indicated. Approximately 10% of animals treated with acupuncture will not respond.

We mainly use acupuncture to treat muscle and bone problems, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease. It can also be used to treat certain skin, neurological and respiratory problems.

Acupuncture works mainly through the central nervous system affecting the musculoskeletal, hormonal and cardiovascular systems. It increases circulation, causes a release of endorphins (the bodies natural painkilling hormones), relieves muscle spasm, stimulates nerves and stimulates the immune system as well as numerous other beneficial effects.

Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies around if practised by a competent acupuncturist. The needles used for acupuncture are sterilised thin stainless steel, they are never re-used. Occasionally a brief moment of sensitivity occurs as the needle is placed, once the needles are in place most animals relax some may even fall asleep. It is very rare to have side effects to acupuncture, but occasionally an animal’s condition may temporarily deteriorate before it improves.

Treatments last between 10 seconds and 30 minutes, the time depends on the condition being treated and the practitioner. Usually an individual will have a weekly treatment for 3-4 weeks, then at longer intervals depending on the response.

Acupuncture on animals is legally classified as “an act of veterinary surgery” and so must always be carried out by an appropriately qualified veterinary surgeon. It is important that the animal has a full clinical examination to determine the exact problem or problems, the practioner can then make an informed decision on the appropriate points to use in order to treat them.

Further information about acupuncture and the vets who practice it can be obtained from the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists, or please contact us to discuss your pets needs in more detail