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LEARNING CENTER

CANINE

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Wellness exams are often also referred to as 'general examinations' or ‘check-ups’. These examinations provide a detailed medical check-up of your pet who appears to be healthy, rather than when they are ill. Wellness exams help to achieve your pet’s optimal health, while diagnosing common diseases which are more easily treatable if diagnosed early on. Not only does treating a disease or medical issue at an early stage typically cost far less than once it has become more advanced, but early treatment also usually increases the chance of a successful outcome for your pet.

There’s no definite answer to this question as it really depends on your pet’s current health status and age. However, we recommend that during the early stages of life when they are most susceptible to illness, kittens and puppies should be checked on a monthly basis. Once they have reached adulthood, wellness exams should then take place on an annual basis and become more frequent as they become older (generally twice-yearly). These check-ups play a vital role in the ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, so we really do encourage you to visit us regularly even if your pet appears to be fit and healthy to you.

During a wellness exam, your vet will begin with asking you questions about your pet’s general health, specifically to do with diet, behaviour, litterbox routine, and day to day living habits. They will also ask you whether you’ve noticed anything out of the ordinary, that you’d like us to provide guidance on. The veterinary team will then carry out a full physical examination of your pet, including conducting diagnostic tests (such as urine and faecal testing, blood work, and tick-borne testing).

Once assessed, the vet will present the relevant findings with you. If the vet has detected any signs of ill health or injuries, then they may recommend carrying out more extensive diagnostic tests, while also presenting any potential treatment options. This may include preventative medicine, such as vaccinations, parasite control (for both external parasites such as fleas, ticks and ear mites, and internal parasites such as worms or heartworm), nutrition, skin and coat care, joint health, weight management, or dental care. For healthy pets, your vet will still provide you with advice to ensure that this condition continues, including guidance on their diet, regular exercise routines, future vaccination info, and suitable parasite prevention.

Wellness exams help to prevent commonly treatable diseases and play a huge part in the 'prevention is better than cure' approach. Not only is the cost of prevention generally far less than dealing with a problem once it has developed further, but early treatment generally increases the likelihood of a successful outcome. That’s why we recommend carrying out regular examinations with our expert medical teams.

Emergency Care refers to any life-threatening conditions, such as when a pet is having a seizure, or they've had an accident resulting in major wounds or uncontrollable bleeding, and which requires immediate medical attention / hospitalization.

Here are some situations that would require emergency treatment:

• Loss of consciousness

• Cannot breathe / choking

• Excessive bleeding

• Penetrating wounds

• Allergic reactions

• Cardiac arrest

• Serious trauma (i.e. hit by a car)

Please contact our chat facility via our mobile app immediately, so that our emergency team can await your arrival at our clinic. If your pet requires emergency treatment outside of our opening hours, we advise you visit your closest 24hr emergency veterinary hospital.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether your pet is experiencing a medical emergency. If you are ever unsure about any symptoms your pet is displaying, please contact us via our mobile app, so that we can help you to decide whether your pet needs to be seen immediately.

Urgent care refers to any illness or injury which requires urgent medical attention but is non-life threatening.

Here are some situations that would require urgent care:

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Constipation / bloating

• Flu symptoms (runny nose, coughing or sneezing)

• Minor wound treatment (bites, cuts, abrasions etc.)

• Dehydration

• Itchy skin / rashes

• Pain or limping

• Loss of appetite

• Eye / ear infections issues (tearing, redness, discharge)

• Urinary changes (irregular or bloody)

• Hair loss

For urgent care treatment, we generally advise our customers to book a same-day appointment at our clinic.

Nobody knows your pet like you do, so if you observe alterations in their behavior or sense that they are experiencing discomfort, we always advise that you contact us at the earliest opportunity. The sooner you do so, the quicker we can help ensure your pet receives the medical attention they need.

Seeing your pet become injured or sick suddenly can be a very worrying time. In the case of an obvious emergency, please contact us immediately via the chat facility on our mobile app so that we can await your arrival at our clinic. In the case of urgent care issues, please schedule a same or next day appointment. If you’re unsure which next steps to take, drop us a message via our app so that we can advise you further.

For kittens or puppies, the first round of vaccinations (which usually consists of two or three vaccines), are generally administered from the age of around eight weeks old onwards. They will then usually be vaccinated three times in a period of six months, and after that, it could be yearly or even triennially top ups. Once at an adult age though, it is generally accepted that pets are vaccinated on an annual basis, although recent studies have shown that certain vaccinations are effective for over a year. Indeed, for the core vaccines, your vet may recommend that these are administered only once every three years, but this will depend on the pet’s condition and also the environment they reside within.

Veterinary professionals will often use the terms ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ to describe pet vaccines. Generally speaking, core vaccines are considered vital for your pet’s health, whereas non-core vaccines are recommended dependant on your pet’s lifestyle. For example, if your pet is frequently outdoors and mixing with other dogs, we may advise some non-core vaccines to provide your dog with additional immunity due to their particular environment.

Ensuring your dog is vaccinated can help prevent them from catching the following diseases (amongst others):

Canine distemper – a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. Puppies and young dogs are more susceptible to this virus.

Canine parvovirus – an often-deadly viral disease that commonly causes acute gastrointestinal illness in puppies. The disease most often strikes in puppies between six and 20 weeks old, but older animals are sometimes also affected.

Parainfluenza virus – A mild respiratory infection which is highly contagious and usually transmitted by nasal secretion. It is not fatal but being vaccinated against this disease can prevent your dog catching other more dangerous related infections.

Canine adenovirus (hepatitis) – can lead to a decreased appetite, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, edema (fluid swelling under the skin) of the head and neck, and possibly jaundice. Such cases are often fatal.

Bordetella bronchiseptica (more commonly known as kennel cough) – highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs which causes inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. If your dog is in close contact with other dogs, or is very young or very old, it will be more at risk of infection if not vaccinated.

Canine leptospirosis – an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira. The disease causes serious damage to the kidney and liver, and may be fatal in severe cases.

Canine Coronavirus – a highly contagious intestinal infection seen mostly in young puppies. Symptoms are generally vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and diarrhea, and can be especially dangerous for puppies and young dogs.

Rabies – this highly dangerous disease can be fatal to both dogs and humans. There is no known cure and infected dogs act as carriers, spreading the disease through their saliva when biting or scratching another animal or human. Generally, puppies receive their first rabies vaccine between 12 to 16 weeks of age, which stimulates the immune system to make antibodies.

Ensuring your cat is vaccinated can help prevent them from catching the following diseases (amongst others):

Feline Parvovirus – This viral illness, also known as feline distemper, is known to harm blood cells in the body that divides quickly, including the cells in the cat’s digestive tract and bone marrow. This causes the cat to develop a feline version of anemia, leaving it susceptible to bacterial or viral infections in the future.

Feline Calicivirus – This illness is a typical respiratory condition that affects the mouth, nose, lungs and possibly the intestines and musculoskeletal system in felines.

Feline Herpesvirus – A most frequent respiratory infection in cats and can result in congestion, watery eyes and sneezing.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus – Your cat's immune system is compromised by this virus, making them more susceptible to other diseases. This virus is slow acting, but once the disease takes hold, it can lead to a severely impaired immune system. It is like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in that it can be present without symptoms for many years after the original infection.

Feline Leukaemia Virus – This retrovirus can cause astrophic conditions including blood cancer and is spread through the nasal or salivary secretions. Since this vaccination is optional, you and your veterinarian can decide whether your cat needs it based on your cat’s daily activities and environment.

Chlamydia Felis – A Gram-negative bacterium that is an obligate intracellular parasite of cats. Chlamydiosis typically affects young cats under 9 months of age and does not survive outside of the host so close contact between cats is required for transmission, usually via ocular discharges.

Bordetella Bronchiseptica – A bacterium that lives in mammals' respiratory tracts and is thought to be the main pathogen of domestic cats. It makes sense to think of Bordetella Bronchiseptica as an extremely uncommon source of zoonotic infections.

The last thing we want to see is our pets become ill, and as caring pet parents, our main responsibility is to ensure their welfare and good health. Vaccines provide essential immunity from a wide range of infectious diseases and keeping vaccinations up-to-date is crucial in maintaining your pet’s good health. Schedule a visit at our clinic today and our expert vets will recommend the specific vaccination programme best suited for your pet.

Sterilization, often also referred to as neutering for females and spaying for males, is a common surgical procedure that prevents pets from being able to reproduce.

For males, sterilization involves a routine surgical procedure in which a dog’s or cat’s testicles are removed, thus making the animal sterile. For females, sterilization is a more complex surgical procedure in which the vet will make a small incision in the abdomen and then remove the ovaries and uterus are removed, all under anaesthesia.

Unless you actively want your pet to have a litter, then the only responsible option is to arrange for them to be sterilised by a vet. This applies to both female and male animals. Alongside removing the risk of unwanted pregnancy, sterilization also has a number of health and behavioural benefits for your pet:

These advantages include:

Eliminating heat cycles (menstruation) in female cats and dogs, thereby lowering their stress levels.
Reducing the occurrence of mammary (breast) cancer and pyometra (infection of the uterus) in female animals.
Preventing both testicular cancer and prostate disease such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) in male pets.
Decreasing aggression towards other animals and humans.
Being less prone to ‘roam’ (where pets wander off in search of a mating partner), and urine marking, especially in male pets.

We always recommend you consult with your veterinarian about the most suitable time for you to sterilise your pet, which will be dependent on his/her age, breed and physical condition. However, it is generally recommended that dog spays and neuters are performed between the age of 6 and 9 months. For large breed dogs, it is often worth waiting a little longer, to give them more time to grow and for their bones to mature. In terms of cats, we generally suggest that spays and neuters should be carried out around the age of 6 months. It is important to note though that affective sterilization procedures can be completed at any stage of an animal’s life. Please speak to one of our veterinarian team who will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Your vet will give you detailed instructions before your pet’s procedure, but here are some things to expect before your cat or dog’s spaying appointment.

Your pet will need to fast before their procedure.
No food should be given to your cat or dog after 10pm on the night prior to surgery.
On the day of the surgery, no water should be given after 8am. Please ensure that everyone in your house is aware of this.
Before the procedure, the vet will conduct a comprehensive medication examination on your pet to ensure they are in good health.
This will generally include a blood test, to make vital organs are functioning properly and that your pet is fit enough to carry out surgery.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, and some cats and dogs might require intravenous fluid support during their surgery.

Generally speaking, most pets recover fairly quickly from the anaesthesia, although some post-anaesthesia fussiness and sleepiness is completely normal. This usually wears off within 48 hours. Following the surgery, you will be instructed to keep your pet calm and reduce their activity to allow the incision to heal. Give your pet water and food in moderation. Check the incision at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disturbance, such as bleeding, swelling, redness, or discharge, and make sure your pet takes any post-surgical medications prescribed by the vet. Try to avoid letting your pet lick or chew on the stitches, and at the required time, please return to the clinic to have the pet’s stiches removed and for a post-surgery check-up.

Pets have dental disease just like humans do. In fact, studies have shown that over the age of three, an astounding 85% of dogs and 50% of cats experience dental issues that call for specialized care. If left untreated, dental problems can often result in larger health problems in your pet, because the oral germs and bacteria from your pet’s mouth can enter their bloodstream and cause serious damage to their heart, kidneys and liver. That’s why it is vital to ensure you pet receives regular dental check-ups and treatment, to maintain not only their fresh breath (and pearly white smile!) but also to protect their long-term health and wellbeing.

As pet owners, we are often unaware that our pets require dental treatment, because they may endure pain for extended periods of time without showing any obvious signs of oral discomfort until the problem has progressed significantly. Tell-tell signs to look out for include:

Bad breath
Loss of appetite or eating more slowly than usual
Refraining from chewing on food or toys
Frequent pawing at the face or mouth
Bleeding when eating
Red and swollen gums
Drooling or excessive licking
Decreased grooming

Because pets often show no obvious signs of oral discomfort, we highly recommend regular dentistry examinations, where one of our veterinarian experts can spot the following common problems before they deteriorate further:

Baby teeth that have not properly fallen out

Pet dogs and cats are at risk for painful malocclusion (crooked teeth), excessive tooth crowding, and increased plaque and calculus buildup if baby teeth that haven't fallen out aren't pulled (tartar). Baby teeth must be extracted since they are weaker and more likely to shatter.

Plaque and tartar build-up

Early tartar treatment can stop gum disease and the need for tooth extractions. Regular dog teeth cleaning can significantly contribute to keeping your loved one in good health.

Palatal defects

Puppies and kittens may have a cleft palate before birth or may get one after trauma. Early detection allows us to act and surgically seal the mouth's roof.

Severe periodontal disease

By having these teeth removed, we can stop the jawbone from deteriorating, which, if left untreated and severe, can result in pathologic jaw fracture.

Discoloured teeth

When your pet’s tooth is discovered to be discolored, a root canal can be done to save the tooth before it becomes infected.

Broken teeth

Broken or shattered teeth hurt. They might also result in tooth-root abscesses or infections. Infections in the teeth can cause excruciating face swelling. Early detection of a damaged tooth may allow for root canal therapy to salvage the tooth rather than extraction.

Regular dental care does more than just keep your pet’s breath fresh and clean. With proper dental care, it’s possible to add years to your pet’s life and protect their health and wellbeing. Book in an appointment with our dentistry experts, and we will provide you with a complete understanding of your pet’s oral condition, including a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to match your pet’s particular requirements.

Prior to any surgery being performed, we will always assess your pet’s health condition and carry out a pre-operative consultation. This will include both a physical examination as well as blood tests, to make sure your pet is fit enough to carry out surgery.

On the night before the date of surgery, it is important that your pet does not eat after midnight but they can drink water. Please ensure that everyone in your house is aware of this.

We will perform a complete pre-anaesthetic evaluation to identify any potential dangers related to anaesthesia. Please be aware that each pet has a unique anaesthetic schedule and is constantly monitored during their stay at the clinic.

With every surgery we perform, we strictly adhere to sterilizing procedures. The majority of surgical procedures are performed in a sterile theatre with gloves, gowns, hats and masks. Our medical teams are trained to deal with the different aspects of care during anaesthesia from induction right through to recovery.

When undertaking surgery, we will always provide regular updates throughout the day, so you know how things are progressing. We’ll contact you once surgery has been completed and let you know when you are able to take them back home from our clinic.

The time it takes for your pet to recover, and their specific care requirements will largely depend on the type of surgery they’ve undertaken. Generally speaking, most pets recover fairly quickly from the anaesthesia, although some post-anaesthesia fussiness and sleepiness is completely normal. This usually wears off within 48 hours. During this time, it’s best to keep cats indoors nearby to their litter tray, and take dogs out on a leash when they need to go to the toilet. Your pet’s bedding should be clean and dry to prevent the risk of infection, and you should remove any toys that encourage your pets to play. It’s also best to ensure your pet’s surroundings are quiet and calm, so they can be as relaxed and stress-free as possible while the initial recovery phase. If you have other pets or children, it can be a good idea to keep them away from your pet while they are recovering.

For the first few days after surgery, it is best to provide your pet with small but regular amounts of light food to avoid any potential stomach problems – our vets will be able to recommend an appropriate post-surgery diet. If your pet has undertaken dental surgery, we will advise you on the most suitable soft food for your pet until their gums heal. We may also advise you to help your pet by feeding them via a syringe, until they are feeling adequately recovered to eat well on their own again.

If you notice anything unusual or deterioration in your pet's overall condition in the following few days after surgery, please contact our medical team immediately so we can best assess the situation.

Identifying that your pet is sick and discovering the underlying cause of their illness is often a very complicated process, that takes into account many different factors. Health problems often cause internal changes to things such as your pet’s blood, urine or internal organs. Performing diagnostic testing allows us to identify these changes, and to have a much clearer understanding of why your pet may be suffering from particular health issues.

There are several categories of diagnostic tests that may be performed to help your veterinarian determine the cause of your pet’s illness.

Bloodwork Bloodwork provides an overview of an animal’s health and is done in both healthy pets and sick pets. Bloodwork is highly important testing which includes a Complete Blood cell Count (CBC), and chemistry values. A CBC will give our vets vital information on your pet’s Red Blood Cells and White Blood Cells, and can help to detect signs of many diseases and infections. Chemistry values will determine how your pet’s organs such as their kidneys, liver, and pancreas are performing. Faecal testing

Examination of faeces can be helpful in investigation of gastrointestinal disease and internal parasites such as worms. Sometimes, your cat or dog may not display any symptoms initially. The faecal sample will also be checked for consistency and colour, as well as for irregularities. We recommend faecal testing at least once per year. Urinalysis

Urinalysis is mainly used to assess the health of the kidneys and urinary system including urinary tract infections (UTIs), but it can also reveal problems in other organ systems and issues such as diabetes, amongst others. Urine samples can also tell us if there is any evidence of pH imbalance, glucose issues, or crystals.

Tick-borne and Heartworm testing Tick-borne diseases are important to check for routinely because these diseases can cause many health issues. Therefore, we generally recommend tick-borne and heartworm testing is carried out annually, in addition to monthly preventatives. Cytology

This type of testing is most often used to diagnose the nature of 'lumps and bumps' found on the surface of the body. It can tell us is whether a problem is caused by inflammation or by neoplasia (abnormal growth of tissue).

Radiology Our clinics include both digital x-ray and ultrasound machines for advanced imaging. Radiology is a vital in help our vets to determine what’s going on inside your pet’s body – for example helping to understand the effect an illness is having on your pet’s internal organs, checking to see if your pet has broken a bone, or checking on the health of kittens or puppies in a pregnant pet.

Yes, even if there are no obvious signs of ill-health, we would always recommend you bring your pet to our clinic for annual bloodwork, faecal testing, and heartworm and tick-borne testing. By testing annually, we can detect health issues that are still in the early stages, and so before they become more serious. Early detection will ensure that treatment is quicker, generally less expensive, and has a higher chance of success.

Understanding your pet’s health needs is a complex thing. Diagnostic tests both help detect illnesses, and give our vets a much clearer picture of why your pet may be encountering particular health problems. The more detailed our understanding, the higher chance our vets have of being able to provide the best treatment for your pet. Whether your pet is currently healthy or showing signs of illness, book an appointment with our veterinary teams today, and we will give you a complete understanding of your pet’s health.

As is the case with humans, allergies in pets are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. The three main causes of allergies are:

Flea Allergy: A common allergen is flea saliva, which comes into contact with your pet when a flea bites it to consume blood. This can often lead to a disease known as flea allergy dermatitis.

Environmental Allergy: These allergens include pollen (from trees, grasses, or weeds), dust mites, mould spores, or other inhaled allergens. The list of potential environmental allergens is very long, and varies depending on your surroundings.

Food Allergy: Of pet food supplies, the most frequent allergy culprit is protein, usually beef or chicken.But animals can also be allergic to carbohydrates, preservatives and certain food dyes, in the same way that humans can be.

Allergies can often lead to itching, hair loss, and a number of skin problems such as dermatitis which often affects the face, paws, and lower belly. Allergies also often leads to problems such as infections, asthma and other respiratory problems, and ringworm.Ringworm is especially common and results in red, scaly and cracked skin causing discomfort, which can easily be transmitted to humans through close contact with their pets.Unfortunately, because pets will then often scratch and lick areas of discomfort, they can then pick up secondary infections when bacteria and saliva come into contact with irritated skin.

During an allergy appointment with one of our expert vets, we will discuss your pet’s diet and medical history. Generally speaking, the first step is to make sure the possibility of flea allergy has been eliminated. To do this, we will check your pet has effective flea control. You may notice that your pet only suffers from allergies in certain environment or times of the year, which is likely to indicate that an environmental allergen is the reason. For environmental allergies, we may prescribe medications to help keep them comfortable and prevent secondary infections. If it appears that your pet may be suffering from food allergies, we will oversee a food elimination diet so we can determine the exact allergens affecting your pet, and then devise an effective treatment plan.

Nutrition plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of our pets. Like with humans, low quality, nutritionally poor diets, can lead to a number of health issues in animals. Conversely, diets packed with nutrients and high-quality ingredients, can help prevent and manage diseases, thereby helping to increase the longevity of our pet’s lives. Yet with so many pet food brands and a multitude of dietary choices and ingredients, it is often difficult to know which the best option is for our pets. Such confusion can mean that unwittingly we are often providing our pets with a diet that is far from optimal, and that over time can actually lead to a number of health problems. Therefore, it can be very beneficial to seek guidance regarding your pet’s nutritional intake.

Our expertise vets can help you to make more informed choices, taking into account your pet’s existing health condition, size, age, and checking for any allergies that may have, so that your pet is obtaining the optimal nutrition on a daily basis. We will advise you on which food brands and ingredients are most suited to your pet’s need, and work with you to formulate a diet that is balanced and complete. If your pet has weight issues such as obesity or being underweight for their age, we will be able to provide you with a full treatment schedule, with specific recommendations on the type and amount of food they should consume, alongside recommending potential dietary supplements. We can also help you to create a viable exercise program for your pet to follow, so that they can work towards reaching a healthy weight and then sustaining this long term.

Many pet owners are also interested in producing their own food for their pets. While we will generally recommend commercial pet food products, we listen to the concerns of our customers and can provide advice on home prepared diets. We can provide recipes that are grain-free, gluten-free, and that can be safely used when your pets have specific allergies which makes it more difficult to buy commercially available pet food. Please speak to our vets about your exact requirements, and we will be able to help you design a detailed and nutritionally balanced diet to meet your pet’s exact needs.