Dog Health

Keeping your dog up to date with their vaccinations is vital to provide immunisation and protection against many life-threatening diseases, for which there may be no cure.

Vaccinations are also essential if you wish to place your pet in a kennel as they will not accept them unless you have an up to date vaccination certificate.

We generally start puppy vaccinations at 8 weeks old to provide them with immunity against life threatening disease such as:

• Parvovirus
• Distemper Virus
• Hepatitis Virus
• Leptospirosis

Fleas are quite common in pets and we advise regular treatments to prevent fleas. Flea infestations can lead to significant skin irritation and predispose to “Flea Allergic Dermatitis”.

Fleas also play an important part in the transmission of tapeworms, which is another reason to maintain good flea and worm control.

Ticks are most prevalent during Spring to Autumn in Wales. They are important to protect against as they can pass on serious diseases to your dog such as Lymes Disease.

Regular worming treatment is very important in puppies. We recommend worming puppies once a month until they are 6 months old and then once every three months after that for life.

Worming is not only important for your dog it is also important for people as children, in particular, can become infected with dog roundworms, which in serious cases can result in blindness.

We recommend using products that are effective against:

• eggs
• larvae and adult round worms
• hookworms
• tapeworms
• whipworms

We have prescription products that are effective against Lungworm, if given monthly. Lungworm can be fatal, so treatment is vital.

We consider Pet Insurance to be an essential part of routine pet care these days to ensure that you and your pets are safeguarded against facing large vet bills in financially tough times.

We usually advise our clients to look at a “cover for life policy” and also advise that they do not change insurance companies mid life. Ask us for advice.

Dog owners are encouraged to have their dog identichipped. An identification disc on a collar makes it easy to see where a lost dog has come from but a collar can also be easily removed, particularly from a stolen dog.

Losing your dog is very distressing and without reliable identification, it can be difficult to reunite a lost dog with its owner.

Microchipping is a simple way of permanent identification for your dog, and all dogs in Wales must be identichipped by law or face a £500 fine.

Reasons to Neuter

Bitches

Spaying within the first two years of life greatly reduces the risk of your dog getting mammary cancers. If you want to breed from your dog then wait until later but spaying also prevents a potentially fatal uterine infection called pyometra as well as ovarian and uterine cancers.

Another advantage of spaying a dog is it stops seasons which carry the risk of misalliance or bitches running off in search of mates.

Generally we spay bitches at 6 months of age; that is before their first season. In the case of more mature bitches we advise spaying three months after the end of a season. Operating on bitches at this period after a season minimises the risk of “false pregnancy” signs occurring after spaying.

Dogs

Castration is another routine procedure and there are medical and behavioural reasons to castrate a dog.

Most owners tend to get dogs castrated for behavioural reasons as it does tend to calm them down and if performed within the first three years will tend to stop territory marking behaviour.

Medical reasons to castrate a dog are to prevent prostatic problems which are common in dogs over 7 years of age.

Do you have a new addition to your family?

It is so easy to protect them here at Haven from some of the fatal viruses they can come into contact with in their daily life.

Our primary puppy vaccination programmes include the following:

• Full primary vaccination course consisting of two vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart
• Vet health check to make sure your bundle of fun is in tip top condition
• Frontline combo flea treatment
• Milbemax worming treatment
• Advice on neutering, microchipping, diet or any other concerns
• Insurance advice with 4 weeks free no obligation pet insurance
• Repeated health check at your puppy’s 2nd vaccination
• Complimentary dental check at 6 months old

Find out how to save money and budget for your pet’s care.

We developed a Pet Health Plan to provide you with an option to spread the cost of routine primary care. This ensures our clients receive the very best veterinary treatment with continued monitoring at an affordable price including added benefits. Massive savings to be made throughout the year!