Dogs and Puppies

Puppy Checks

To get you and your pup off to a good start we offer free monthly youth checks throughout puppyhood to help you establish great healthcare routines and ensure all dogs grow up enjoying visits to the vet.

8 Year Old Dog Checks

Although the life expectancy of your dog far exceeds this, from this point some diseases of old age can begin to appear, although the changes may be too subtle to see with the eye. These include arthritis, diabetes, kidney and liver damage and heart conditions. Whilst some of these conditions can be life threatening, with early identification, through careful diagnosis and treatment much can be done to ensure your dog has a long and active old age.

Dental Checks

Sadly, many dogs have poor oral health.  Have you ever noticed that your dog has bad breath? We are now much more aware of the long term damage caused by dental disease and this can affect the well being whole dog, not just their mouth.  Many dog owners report how much livelier their dog is after dental treatment! Come along to have your dog’s mouth examined and to get some good advice on how to make their teeth last a lifetime.

Weight Checks

Like ourselves, many of our dogs are carrying a few extra pounds which may eventually lead to obesity. Overweight animals (like this poor overweight dachshund on the right) are more prone to a number of diseases and so helping them regain their waistline is very important. Come along for regular free weigh-ins and advice to achieve safe but effective weight loss for your dog.

Elms Vets can help you keep your dog healthy and fit !

The following sections outline all the routine things you need to do to maintain good canine health.

The Good Dog Care Checklist:

Vaccination
Your puppy will require a primary vaccination course to protect him or her against the major infectious diseases that can be life threatening. This consists of two injections two weeks apart and can be started from 8 weeks of age. This primary course also applies to adult dogs who have never been vaccinated or whose vaccination schedule has lapsed. Dogs will then require some elements of the vaccine to be boosted annually and other aspects every 3 years. We will advise you what your dog requires each year and also discuss whether your puppy or dog would benefit from vaccination against kennel cough. We send annual reminders to jog your memory so if your dog has not been vaccinated by us in the past, let us know when their booster is due and we can ensure they are entered onto out reminder system.
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Good Diet
Puppies cannot manage to digest and absorb all the food and nutrition they require in one meal. They need at least 3-4 smaller meals a day for the first 4-6 months of their life when their growth rate is very rapid. It is essential that you feed a balanced diet that meets his or her needs during this vital period and we strongly recommend complete diets designed specifically for puppies. All-in-one ‘life stage’ diets are then available to ensure your dog’s nutritional needs are met whatever his/her age. These diets have been carefully formulated to have the best possible balance of carbohydrates and proteins and all the minerals and vitamins for their varying needs. Dry food is much better in the long term for dog’s teeth however some owners like to add in a little wet food too. Try to ensure that over 50% of food is in a dry format.
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Worming
The problems associated with heavy worm burdens can be very serious for dogs, particularly young puppies, and can include vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and even death.
SOME WORMS CAN ALSO BE PASSED ONTO YOUNG CHILDREN AND CAUSE SERIOUS DISEASE INCLUDING BLINDNESS.
For these reasons regular worming is very important. Puppies require worming fortnightly until 12 weeks of age and then monthly until they are 6 months old. After this point worming is based on risk but should be at least every 3 months. If you have young children or if your dog has access to slugs and snails (and therefore lung worm) you should continue to worm monthly. It is important that you ensure the wormer you use provides protection against all the parasites your pup or dog is likely to encounter. All wormers are not the same!! Discuss this with our staff who will advise you.
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Flea Treatment
Fleas are a year round problem and we therefore recommend year round treatment with a spot-on application. This offers longer term, more effective prevention than other forms of treatment.
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Microchips
Microchips are an ideal way of permanently identifying your pet and therefore decreasing the chances of loss, straying or theft. They are a compulsory part of the Pet Passport Scheme otherwise known as the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), should you wish to take your pet abroad. We advise micro chipping at the time of second vaccination or at neutering but they can be implanted at any time. The procedure takes less than a minute and requires no sedation.
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Dental Care
PLEASE DO NOT FEED BONES TO YOUR DOG!
We see a large number of dogs every year with damaged mouths or teeth where bones have shattered or obstructed guts where bones have got stuck. These problems often result in major surgery, large bills and can prove fatal. If you feel you must give bones please ensure they are raw and large beef marrow bones.

NEVER FEED COOKED BONES OR CHICKEN BONES.
The best way to ensure your dog keeps his beautiful teeth and sociable breath is to brush his teeth. We will advise you on special dog toothbrushes and toothpastes and will show you how to use them. Second best are dental chews and dental diets – they really do keep teeth cleaner.

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Neutering         
We advise neutering of all dogs not intended for breeding. We firmly believe that the health and behavioural benefits far out way any potential side effects or risks. Please ask us if you have any questions or queries regarding neutering and we will be happy to discuss the pros and cons. Generally speaking males (castration) and females (spay) can be neutered from 6 months of age.

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Insurance
Unfortunately many pets require visits to the vet each other for reasons other than their annual vaccination. Illness and accidents do happen and full investigation and the best treatment options can lead to large bills. To allow us to give your puppy or dog the best treatment and chance of recovery we do advise pet insurance to remove the inevitable worries about decisions concerning costs and payment of fees. There are hundreds of policies available on the market – please read the small print and consider that many of the diseases people struggle to afford are lifelong and require many years of treatment. We are always happy to discuss the options open to you.

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We look forward to meeting you and your pet. Kate Dixon Principal Vet BSc. MSc. MA Vet MB MRCVS Elms Veterinary Surgery Monmouth Tel: 01600 711511

PUPPIES & DOGS

Pet owner's
Health Check List

Vaccination

Good Diet

Worming

Flea Treatment

Microchips

Dental Care

Neutering 

Insurance