PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE
The ideal situation would be to keep all our pets healthy so that there would not be a need for any true medical or surgical intervention. This is unrealistic BUT we can help reduce the incidence or severity of certain conditions and keep your pet as fit as possible with a preventative health care programme.
Some aspects are covered routinely by our Veterinary team whilst a great deal of this advice and information can be gained in our Nurse Clinics. These are often free consultations, from feeding your pet to help through the ‘teenage years’ on through Wellness Clinics to our later stage, After 8’s Club.
The following are some of the areas that we would suggest that we can help and support:
VACCINATION – The policy of Moor Cottage is that prevention is better than cure, and as such we recommend routine vaccination for all pets where possible, (unless a specific medical history precludes it).
We aim to use the minimum vaccination needed whilst providing the maximum cover. We regularly review our protocols as new vaccines are developed or as more information becomes available as research is carried out. The results are the following recommendations:
DOGS:
The Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza vaccinations need annual injections to provide full immunity whilst the remainder need only one injection every three years in most cases. This system can only be applied once full immunity is provided with the first primary course of vaccination as puppies or adults. This latter course involves two injections 2-4 weeks apart which can be started at 8 weeks of age for the earliest full protection for puppies.
The diseases we protect against routinely are-
Distemper Virus (D)
Viral Hepatitis (H)
Parvo Virus (P)
Leptospirosis Bacteria (L)
Parainfluenza Virus (Pi)IMPORTANT NOTE
We can blood test an individual to see if they currently have sufficient protection against Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvo virus and thus allow us to reduce the frequency of booster vaccinations for these diseases where an individual's immunity is sufficient.Other diseases we can protect against include:
Kennel Cough – The Parainfluenza virus is already covered in the annual vaccinations. The bacteria Bordetella now needs only annual vaccination to give protection whereas it used to be needed every 6 months. It is still administered by way of nasal drops.Rabies – primarily for individuals travelling abroad and for the new Pet Passport scheme.
Herpes Virus – this is of particular interest when a bitch is pregnant to help reduce the incidence of ‘fading puppy syndrome'.
For more detail on our approach please feel free to request our vaccine information letter.
CATS
Ideally we recommend vaccination against:
Cat Flu
Feline Infectious Enteritis
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)
The former two are combined as one injection which can be given with the FeLV vaccination or independently. Kittens need to be 9 weeks of age or over to start the primary course which involves two injections at a 2-3 week interval. Once an individual has been fully protected annual single booster injections are necessary to maintain protection.When kittens or adult cats of unknown history are introduced into a household already with a cat or cats we strongly recommend testing the new individual for FeLV to protect those already present.
We do not routinely vaccinate for Chlamydia although this can be arranged.
RABBITS
Two almost inevitably lethal and incurable diseases can be protected against by specific vaccination:
Myxomatosis - the vaccine can be given to young rabbits over 6 weeks of age or adults not vaccinated within the last six months.
We recommend vaccination every six months with no winter break (there is a strain of myxomatosis that seems unaffected by the milder winter weather.).
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease - this vaccine can be given to young rabbits over three months of age or adults not vaccinated within the last year.
We recommend annual revaccination for VHD.PLEASE NOTE
The two vaccines should not be given at the same time. We need to leave a gap of at least two weeks between the two.
PARASITE CONTROL –
Two general types of parasite need to be controlled for our pets’ sakes as well as for public health concerns:
Endoparasites - the internal ‘worms’ including various roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms. Each has a different life-cycle and can cause a variety of problems.
Ectoparasites – live on or near the skin surface and cause problems such as skin irritation and allergies or can carry diseases and other infections. Control is thus vital for the well being of our pets.
DEWORMING
DOGS
Recent research has changed our recommendations on the frequency of de-worming.
The individual’s life-style along with its age will greatly influence how often they need to be treated. The most recent recommendations from the BSAVA suggest monthly de-worming is ideal particularly with current public health concerns and the possibility of human infection.A variety of medications can be recommended depending on how easy your pet is to medicate and what would be best suited to its individual circumstances. Our Vets and Nurses can advise you.
CATS
The worming programme is also ideally each month but also depends on an individual’s life-style and what flea control is used. Veterinary advice is always available.FLEA CONTROL
A number of excellent products are now available to control these most irritating of unwelcome visitors! Some drugs will also contribute to the control of other ectoparasites (e.g. ticks, mites) and some help control endoparasites (e.g. roundworms). Looking at the individual’s life style, temperament and risk level helps us decide on which product best suits that pet. We have a range of possible products including: sprays, drops onto the skin, injections, tablets and effective collars. Thus, with central heating and mild winters making fleas very much a year-round problem, treatment is needed throughout an animal’s life. Please call in or book an appointment to discuss which method would best suit you and your pet.