Health Checks

Our 20 minute appointments ensure your pet gets all the attention and fuss they deserve

If you had the opportunity to help your pet avoid any nasty diseases or painful conditions, you would take it, wouldn’t you? We call this approach ‘preventative healthcare’ – the idea that preventing a problem is more effective than trying to treat it once it has taken hold.

In order for us to make sure that your pet is always fit and well, it is really important that they visit us regularly for a thorough health check. In their first few months of life this should be fairly frequent, around once a month, but once they are 6 months old they will only need a check-up every year.

Health checks allow our experienced vets to give your pet a thorough examination to make sure there are no early signs of any problems. During a health check your pet will have their eyes, ears, mouth, skin, coat, paws and claws examined. Your vet will also listen to their heart and lungs and gently feel their abdomen, checking for any unusual lumps.

These appointments are often an ideal opportunity for you to ask your vet about any concerns or observations you may have made about your pet. They will also take the time to thoroughly explain any findings they might have made, as well as all possible treatment options if this is necessary.

Vaccinations & parasite treatment

Regular preventative healthcare will keep your pet safe from nasty diseases and parasities

Vaccinations
Dogs, cats and rabbits all require vaccinations to protect them from a variety of illnesses and diseases that they are particularly susceptible to. Small doses of each disease will be injected into your pet to allow their immune system to produce the necessary defences against these conditions.

Your pet will require a set of initial injections, at around 8-10 weeks of age, and then another set 2-4 weeks later. After this, it is extremely important that your pet has annual booster vaccinations to ensure that their immunity remains high.

Puppies should receive their first vaccination at 8 weeks of age. They should then have their second 2-4 weeks later.

Puppies can be vaccinated against the following:

• Canine Parvovirus
• Leptospirosis
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis
• Parainfluenza
• Canine Herpes Virus
• Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough vaccine is given as a separate injection and is not compulsory. However, we highly recommend that they are protected against this condition which can be easily spread between dogs at the park or in kennels, for example.

Kittens should receive their first vaccination around 9 weeks of age, and their second 3 weeks later.

Kittens can be vaccinated against the following:

• Infectious Enteritis
• Cat Flu Viruses
• Feline Leukaemia Virus

Kits (baby rabbits) should be vaccinated at 5 weeks of age against the following:

• Myxomatosis
• Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD

Parasite treatments
Fleas and worms are common types of parasite that can affect your pet. They cause pain and discomfort, and can even be fatal if an infestation is left untreated. What’s more, fleas can even be passed from your pet to you and your family.
Fortunately, both fleas and worms can be treated and even prevented with a variety of preventative treatment options available. However, the type of treatment you give your pet depends on their species, breed, size and weight. For that reason, you are strongly advised to speak with a member of our team before administering any treatment, to ensure that it will be safe and effective.
If you ever have any questions regarding parasites, are worried your pet may have fleas or worms or need advice regarding treatments, our friendly team will always be happy to speak with you