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Pet Advice

Our best advice to take care of your pet

  • Microchipping
  • Vaccinations
  • Flea prevention
  • Worm prevention
  • Pet passport

Microchipping

Microchipping your pet gives them the best chance of being correctly identified and reunited with you if they were to become lost or stolen. Dogs, cats and rabbits can all be microchipped.

Since April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped with the owner’s details, up to date, at all times.

What is a pet microchip?

The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is injected through the skin with a sterile needle. The chip is encased in a bio-compatible glass (the same material found in human pace-makers). The implantation of the chip is very quick and hurts no more than a routine vaccination.

How does it work?

When the microchip scanner is passed over the animal’s back, radio waves from the scanner activate the microchip, allowing its unique number to be read. This unique identification number is registered alongside all of your details on the national computer database.

What are the benefits of microchipping?

It is the most effective and secure way to permanently identify your pet. All stray pets are routinely scanned for microchips by Vets, Dog wardens, RSPCA officers etc. The presence of a chip ensures their quick return home.

Microchipping is a requirement of the Pets Travel Scheme and is mandatory before a rabies vaccine or passport can be given.

Vaccinations

Cats and dogs are at risk from a number of nasty infectious diseases, thankfully it is possible to protect our pets by giving them regular vaccinations.

It is important to note that not all vaccinations on the market are not of the same quality. We regularly perform a review of our vaccination protocols, to ensure that our patients receive only the safest and most effective vaccines. We are also able to offer annual titre testing of your pets’ immunity levels by taking a blood sample.

Cats

Cats are vaccinated against cat flu, enteritis and leukaemia. Adult cats require an annual booster vaccination to maintain an adequate level of immunity. For indoor cats that will not go outdoors and mix with other cats, we can vaccinate against cat flu and enteritis only.

Dogs

Vaccinations are recommended for all dogs against Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza (the viral part of kennel cough) and Leptospirosis. Adult dogs require an annual booster vaccination to maintain an adequate level of immunity. An extra vaccination for Bordetella (the bacterial part of kennel cough) can be given in addition to the standard annual vaccination.

Rabbits

Rabbits should be vaccinated annually against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD Strain 1 and VHD Strain 2). It is important to point out that these diseases can be spread between rabbits but also by insects, so house rabbits should also receive these vaccinations.

Flea prevention

Fleas are the most common of all external parasites found on our domestic pets. They cause many problems, spreading worms and other diseases and causing our pets to itch and suffer allergic reactions.

One flea product is not right for all - we take care to tailor a flea prevention program to the individual pet. This requires consideration of age, lifestyle and the number of animals in your house. We stock a variety of prescription only flea treatments that are far more effective than those available in the shops. Most of these are applied to the back of the neck on a monthly basis. For convenience, we can give cats a 6-month long-acting injection to do the same job.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a flea infestation on your pet and in your home, we will give you thorough advice how to quickly and safely eliminate the problem.

Worm prevention

Worms are internal parasites that can pose a serious health risk to our pets and sometimes to people as well. The current expert recommendation from the BSAVA and ESCCAP is that all domestic pets should be wormed at least 4 times a year. However, young and higher risk animals will need worming more regularly.

We stock a wide range of prescription only worming treatments supplied in different formulations including: tablets, spot-ons, granules and pastes. For further information and to have a worming prevention program organised for your pet, please make an appointment at the nurse clinic, or discuss this with the vet at your next appointment.

Pet passport

We can provide your pet with an EU-Pet Passport as part of the Pet Travel Scheme. This allows UK residents to take their dogs, cats, and ferrets to other countries and territories, and return with them to the UK without the need for quarantine.

Before we can issue your animal with a Pet Passport, the pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. 

We would hasten to add, that these are frequently changing requirements, so we would always advise that you contact DEFRA for fully up to date information regarding the Pet Travel Scheme.  

If your travel will take you and your pet outside of the EU, you should contact the embassy of the country you will be visiting for further advice.

The rules for pet travel are changing from January 2021.

Please make sure you follow up-to-date guidance and plan well in advance if you do intend to travel with your pet. Find out more: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad.

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