Adult Dogs

Adult Dog Advice

Regular health check-ups are the cornerstone of a preventative health program for your adult dog. We aim to see our patients once yearly. Regular check-ups allow us to catch potential problems early and inform you of the newest and best options in pet medicine pertinent to your individual situation. In the latter years of life these increase in frequency as age related problems become more likely. Every year that passes is five or seven years for your four-legged friend.

Vaccinations

Core vaccinations are very important and protect your dog against three infectious and potentially fatal diseases; Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Parvovirus. They also cover the serious respiratory infection, Canine Cough. Dogs are vaccinated every 12 months to maintain immunity throughout life. Some components of the vaccine give immunity for 3 years, others for only one year. Each program is tailored to the individual dog.

Parasite Control

Our staff will tailor make a parasite control program for your pet. We recommend a range of modern products and will select the most appropriate treatment to suit your pet, depending on his/her lifestyle. The following paragraphs provide general guidelines on parasite control.

Intestinal Worms 

Gastrointestinal worms can affect dogs, cats and humans. Unlike fleas they are not easily seen on a pet. Worms can infect your dog in many ways, including uncooked meats, rodents, through the skin or by ingesting eggs via grooming or eating the wrong things (e.g. grass, faeces). By worming your dog on a regular basis, you can prevent infection of worms for the whole family. Tapeworm treatment may be required more frequently for dogs going to regional areas or eating raw pet meat and offal. Worming preparations are calculated on weight, so feel free to use our scales to check your dog's weight. Do no hesitate to ask us for a recommended treatment that is suitable for your pet. Tapeworm treatment may be required more frequently for dogs going to regional areas or eating raw pet meat and offal.

Ticks 

See our tick treatment advice

Fleas

Somehow, fleas always seem to find their bothersome way onto our dogs' coats and are a major source of skin problems. Fleas come from any environment where dogs and cats have previously been. Flea eggs are deposited and hatch over a period of time and jump onto the next passing ‘meal ticket' (dog, cat, or even us).

Fortunately, there are now some excellent flea control products available which are safe, effective and easy to use. They come in a variety of forms, such as spot-ons that are water resistant and oral flavoured chews..

Feeding

To maintain your dog's health and well being he/she must have a balanced diet. An all meat diet can cause nutritional deficiencies, therefore the most reliable and convenient way to provide a balanced and palatable diet is to feed a high quality-commercially prepared dog food. We recommend feeding premium dog food. Feeding dogs twice daily is recommended as it aids with digestion, avoids weight gain and makes for a positive experience when you leave home for work.

Bathing

Dog skin is very different to ours, and generally do not require much bathing. However, if this becomes necessary, use a mild dog shampoo. We recommend that your dog is bathed no more than once a week. Ask us about caring for your dog's skin and coat.

Socialisation and Training 

A well-trained dog will become a well-adjusted and well-behaved family pet. Like children, dogs need to be taught manners and rules around the house.

Dogs love to please us and enjoy being set challenges, therefore, by training and teaching your dog tricks you will keep him/her happy. Their mind will be active, and as a result they will be a pleasure for you to have around the house and when out and about.

It is important to have a range of toys available for your dog to play with during the day and even more important that they receive regular exercise. A bored dog can easily develop a behavioural problem.

It is never too late to take your dog to training lessons. If your dog is misbehaving, the sooner you start training the better. Ask our friendly team for advice as there are many options available including professional trainers and dog behaviourists. In some cases, your vet may recommend anxiolytic medications to help your dog with training and adjustment.