Annual Health Checks
Dogs, cats and rabbits are susceptible to a range of dangerous infectious diseases.
Fortunately, we can vaccinate our pets against some of them in order to improve their immunity and to minimise the spread of disease among the pet population.
We are dedicated to the maintenance of your pet’s health and well-being. One simple way of helping them is to ensure that they are regularly vaccinated against disease.
Before any vaccinations take place, it is our policy to carry out a thorough health exam on your animal, during which we also review worm and flea control status.
Neutering
Early neutering of your pet is recommended for two main reasons – to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to reduce health risks in later life.
Cat neutering.
In cats, we can perform neutering at a young age (from 4 months of age) without harm to them and this often helps to reduce unwanted behaviours such as spraying, calling and going awol. For the females, it also prevents unplanned pregnancies arising (which can also be damaging to a young kitten not yet fully mature) and for males can reduce involvement and injury in fights.
Rabbit neutering.
Rabbits can be neutered from the age of 6 months; if you have any pet rabbits of differing sexes, you are advised to keep them separate in the weeks prior to the procedure to ensure they do not mate.
Dog neutering.
Dog castration can be undertaken from the age of 7/8 months depending on breed. It is usually a straightforward procedure and as long as your dog is not permitted to interfere with the wound, they should recover swiftly.
A bitch spay is a more lengthy procedure comprising a full ovario-hysterectomy. Bitch spays can be performed from 8 months of age; however, if your dog has had a season, you will need to allow a 3 month gap between the end of the season and the appointment to spay.
You should expect your dog to be kept very quiet for several days after the operation, as she will be feeling out of sorts and you will need to reduce exercise for a week or so while she convalesces.
What is the procedure?
All neutering procedures take place with the pet under General Anaesthetic so that they are fully asleep. They will be admitted to kennels or cattery by our nurse in the morning and then prepared for the operation: being given a pre-med to help them become sleepy before being fully anaesthetised and cleaning and clipping the wound site.
Once the procedure has been completed and your pet is recovering from the anaesthetic, one of the team will call you to let you know, and to arrange a discharge appointment for later in the afternoon. At this appointment, the nurse will give you advice regarding post-operative care and any pain relief medication prescribed.
