Caring for your puppy
Your new puppy should be vaccinated against five main diseases: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis. Protection against these diseases is given together in one injection.
Puppies need one vaccination at 6-8 weeks old and then a second vaccination between 10-12 weeks old.
These must be at least two weeks apart and your puppy must be at least 10 weeks old to have the second vaccination.
Puppies can go out for normal walks 5-7 days after the second vaccination is given.
We also recommend that your puppy is vaccinated against contagious canine cough. This vaccine in administered into your pup’s nasal passage.
Thereafter, your dog will need annual booster vaccinations every year.
Puppies can pick up worms from their mother and from their littermates.
It is important to treat your pup with regular worming treatments to prevent weight loss, diarrhoea and ill-thrift which can be caused by worms.
Pups should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old. Monthly treatments are required after this.
We recommend coming in to the clinic monthly to weigh your pup as they grow and pick up your monthly worming treatments – you don’t need an appointment for weight checks.
Keeping on top of worm treatments is extremely important. Our dogs and cats are nowadays more social and are in our houses (in our beds/ on couches etc) alot more than in previous years; for this reason we recommend that all our clients keep on top of worming.
Please speak to a member of the Naas Vet Clinic team and they can best recommend when you need to treat for fleas.
There are many products on the market and some worm treatments now contain flea treatment also. For this reason we recommend that you keep a record of any treatments you have already given so we can advise best on what is needed.
In females a neuter is called a ‘spay’, in males it is called ‘castration’.
A spay is removal of the ovaries and the uterus, a castration is removal of the testicles.
Recent studies show that neutered dogs live longer, are less prone to developing certain types of cancers, and are less likely to develop infections directly related to the reproductive tract, such as pyometra in females – which can be fatal.
We recommend neutering from 6 months of age onwards (later in large breeds).
One of our team of vets or nurses will advise you on the best plan for neutering or spaying your pet.
It is a legal requirement in Ireland for all dogs to be microchipped.
Some dogs are microchipped with the breeder. If not, we can easily microchip your pet here in the clinic at the time of first vaccination.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under the skin. The procedure is very quick and can be performed by a vet or a nurse.
It is vitally important to register your contact details to your pets microchip number so that you can be contacted in case your pet goes missing.
If you are unsure if your pets microchip is registered correctly you can contact us at the clinic and we can help check this for you.
It is important to feed your puppy a high quality food.
Puppy foods contain essential nutrients necessary for growth.
Initially feed your puppy four meals a day until about 3 months old, then reduce to three meals a day until 6 months old, then further reduce to two meals daily.
We stock food specially designed for your puppy’s nutritional needs. We can arrange a Nurse consult to ensure you get the right food for your puppy.
Caring for an older pet
Older animals often sleep more than younger ones as a normal feature of ageing – and making the most of their retirement. Ensuring they have a comfortable area to sleep with good support will aid their joints which often become arthritic as they get older. Other reasons that they may spend more time sleeping include feeling unwell, feeling lethargic or being in pain.
One of the more common causes of these signs in elderly cats is hyperthyroidism. It is diagnosed after an initial clinical exam and blood tests. The condition can be managed with medication, or sometimes surgery, to reduce the excessive levels of thyroid hormone produced by this condition.
Your dog may have an underlying health complaint. Some causes of reduced ability to exercise include overgrown or ingrown nails, joint pain, heart disease, respiratory disease, an under-active thyroid and anaemia.
Contact us at Naas Vet Clinic and we can book a pet health check.
Cats and dogs can be thirstier in warm weather, after exercise or salty treats, just like us. However, if their daily water intake has increased significantly then they could have an underlying health concern. Some causes of increased thirstiness in older pets include kidney disease, liver disease, infections such as urinary tract or uterine infections, and hormonal disorders such as diabetes and hyperadrenocorticism. Your pet should be examined by a vet, who may also test your pet’s blood and urine to figure out what is going on.
Cats get arthritis too, but sometimes it’s harder to spot. There are foods, supplements and medications to improve their mobility and comfort.
There are many ways to help a pet with arthritis. The team at Naas Veterinary Clinic would be happy to discuss the options with you. We focus on weight, exercise, food and treatment. There are some exciting and excellent new medications to assist arthritic dogs.
Bring your pet for a check-up. They may have dental or oral disease. Animals will often continue to eat even if their mouth is painful, or in time they may become less enthusiastic about meals, opting for softer food instead of harder diets. They may drool or paw at the side of their face if they have toothache. Other causes of bad breath include diet, dehydration, food or fur trapped between the teeth, and systemic illnesses such as kidney dysfunction.
If your ageing pet’s behaviour or habits have changed they should come in for a check-up with a member of our team. We will weigh your pet, take a full history and perform an in-depth clinical examination. We may recommend tests such as blood tests, urinalysis or X-rays based on what we find in the examination. Your pet may be simply ageing normally, or they may have an emerging health problem which we can help you manage to ensure your pet continues to have a good quality of life into old age.
Cleaning your pet’s teeth is the most effective way to prevent them from developing oral health problems. Brushing their teeth lowers the risk of them developing gum disease, dental disease, and many more dental-related illnesses. We recommend brushing your pet’s teeth about 2-4 times per week. There are pet specific toothpastes that should be used. Don’t use human toothpastes as there may be additives that are toxic to your pet.
Regular brushing will not only help to keep your pet’s mouth clean and healthy and by taking preventative action you could also save money in the long run.
Regular tooth brushing helps to remove plaque and combat bad breath. When plaque builds up on your pet’s teeth it will need to be removed here at the clinic.
Alongside regular brushing, to maintain healthy teeth and gums you should feed your pet a nutritious balanced diet. Here are three diet tips that will keep your pet smiling.
Use a dental diet: Some dry pet foods are specially designed to keep your pet’s teeth clean by scraping away plaque as they eat. Speak to us about the best and most reliable dental diets for your pet.
Dental chews and treats: These also work by scraping plaque from your pet’s teeth – most chews and treats contain lots of calories so it’s best to use them sparingly. Talk to one of the team at Naas Vets to get some good tips on treats that will help.
Avoid too many sugary snacks: Human treats are meant for humans, not pets (and we should avoid them too!!!! By all means reward your pet with the occasional treat, but be careful not to overdo it.
Caring for your kitten
Your new kitten should be vaccinated against three main diseases: Feline Herpesvirus, Feline Calicivirus (collectively known as cat flu) and Feline Panleukopenia (also known as ‘feline parvo’). We give all of these together in one injection.
Another vaccination which we offer is Feline Leukaemia virus (FeLV) – which can be combined with the above.
They need one vaccination at 8-9 weeks old and then a second vaccination after 12 weeks old.
These must be at least 3-4 weeks apart and your kitten must be at least 12 weeks old to have the second vaccination.
Your cat will then need annual booster vaccinations every year thereafter.
Kittens can pick up worms from their mother and from their litter-mates.
It is important to treat your kitten with regular worming treatments to prevent weight loss, diarrhoea and ill-thrift which can be caused by parasites.
Kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old, then every month until 6 months old, and then every month ongoing for the rest of their lives.
Please be aware that guidelines due change depending on worm treatments but we at Naas Vet Clinic are here to answer any questions you may have.
We do advise more regular worming and advise clients to keep on top of worming as our cats are nowadays allowed into our beds/onto couches etc and for this reason we recommend monthly treatments.
Please contact a member of Naas Vet Clinic for advice on flea treatments for your Kitten. Some worm treatments contain anti flea treatments also so please keep a good record of what you have given previously.
Fleas are a problem in cats, and can lead to a severe skin condition called Flea Allergy Dermatitis – so prevention is very important.
The cat flea can also be passed onto dogs.
In females a neuter is called a ‘spay’, in males it is called ‘castration’.
A spay is removal of the ovaries and the womb, a castration is removal of the testicles.
We recommend spaying or neutering your cat as this will prevent unwanted pregnancies, reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and can reduce undesirable behaviour such as wandering & urine spraying in males.
We recommend neutering from 6 months of age onwards
One of our team will advise you on the best plan for neutering or spaying your pet.
We highly recommend microchipping your cat.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under the skin.
It is important to register your contact details to your pet’s microchip number so that you can be contacted in case your pet goes missing.
It is important to feed your cat high quality food.
Kitten foods contain a higher level of nutrients necessary for growth. Cats can become deficient in Taurine as a result of poor quality food which can result in ill health.
We stock specialised food for kittens.
Travelling abroad with your pet & pet passports
In recent years there have been many changes to the regulations regarding international travel with your pet, the most important of which is the elimination of quarantine requirements for most pet travel. This is great news for owners wanting to relocate to different countries, and also for owners who want to take their pet on holiday with them.
Travel within Europe has been harmonised, and is relatively straight forward:
- You will require a Pet Passport, which we here at Naas Veterinary Clinic can supply for you within a few days (However we would advise you do this in plenty of time incase you need to update vaccinations etc.)
- Your pet will also require a rabies vaccination at least 3 weeks before travel. Your pet must be at least 12weeks old in order to receive the rabies vaccine.
- Your pet must also have a microchip before any of the above can happen (this is now a legal requirement for your dog in Ireland, even if you don’t intend on travelling abroad ).
There are some strict regulations to be adhered to before you return to Ireland from abroad, but our staff can advise you of the exact requirements for each country before you travel. Please check out the details on www.pettravel.gov.ie
For owners travelling further afield with their pet such as Australia or South Africa, the rules, regulations & requirements can be a lot more complex, but we can aid clients through these protocols to allow their pets to travel with them. This can be a lengthy process so please ensure you don’t leave this until the last minute.
