VACCINATIONS

Dogs require vaccination against Distemper (Hardpad), Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Leptospirosis.

Distemper is now fortunately rare in Dorset. Parvovirus is still endemic in some areas in the south and appears occasionally when dogs visit us from other areas. Leptospirosis is common throughout the practice area. 50% of rats in country areas excrete the bug in their urine.

1st puppy shot - 8 weeks of age
2nd puppy shot - 10 weeks of age

Although the manufacturer's recommend that puppies should be kept away from other dogs until two weeks after the second shot, we are now of the opinion that this is overly cautious advice. Modern vaccines work so well that a very high percentage of dogs will be protected by their first vaccination at 8 weeks of age. We thus recommend that they can be taken out and their socialisation started immediately after the second shot. After the puppy vaccinations, dogs should have their immunity boosted every year.

IDENTIFYING YOUR PET

It is a good idea to identify your pet so that he or she can be returned to you in case they wander off or are stolen. All pets should have a collar with a contact phone number but pet collars can be lost. The best way to identify your pet is with a tiny microchip placed under the skin of the scruff. The microchip produces a unique number that is registered to you. Microchips are now all on a common standard, so that your pet can be returned to you from anywhere in the world.

We normally microchip puppies at the time of second vaccination (10 wks) but pets can be microchipped at any time and the fee includes life-time support from the central registry.

WORMING

All puppies are born carrying roundworm larvae (Toxocara) that develop in the gut in large numbers. Worm eggs can be passed out in the faeces and are  found  glued to the hairs of the coat at the back end. These  eggs  can re-infect the pup or infect the dam and humans.Children are most at risk. Toxocara can cause serious health problems in children including blindness - so ensure your puppy is thoroughly wormed.

Normally, we recommend a gentle liquid wormer that is given in the puppie's food for 3 consecutive days.

After the puppy stage, dogs should be wormed four times yearly in accordance with guidelines laid down by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association to protect human health. Dogs carrying   roundworms  are not  ill  and   do  not  pass   worms in the faeces.Female dogs need two wormings after whelping as they often excrete worm eggs at this time. For adult dogs we can supply wormers that treat many varieties of worm, including tapeworm, with a single dose. A "spot on" flea treatment (Advocate) is also available which is a very effective wormer but which does not require to give your dog a tablet.

WARNING - Wormers that are available across the counter in pet shops and supermarkets often need repeated daily dosing. They are rarely as effective as modern prescription only wormers. Also, the roundworm component of over the counter wormers is usually Piperazine citrate. This is a very old-fashioned product that is thought capable of inducing an asthma attack when handled by susceptible people. Don't waste your money on pet shop wormers.

NEUTERING

We recommend that, unless you are going to breed from your pet, you have him or her neutered.

In male dogs, neutering does away with unwelcome male behavior such as aggressiveness, wandering off and unwanted  sexuality. Neutering in male dogs (castration) is normally done at 6 months of age.. However, neutering male dogs can be done at any age. The operation is relatively simple and most dogs make a very quick recovery. Castration involves removing both the dog's testicles that produce the male hormone.

Although neutered male dogs are usually much better behaved, the operation is performed under general anaesthetic and does involve a slight risk. Drawbacks are that some male dogs may put on weight afterwards and some breeds, such as spaniels and setters, can develop a woolly coat.

If a female dog is not neutered, she will usually come in season every 7 months and will be attractive to male dogs for a period of 3 weeks during each heat. Many owners find this a big problem. Neutering (spaying) female dogs eliminates the seasons and avoids unwanted pregnancy. Also, if done early in the dog's life it confers protection against breast cancer in later life. Spaying also eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer and greatly lessens the risk that your dog will develop diabetes in middle age.

Spaying involves removing both the ovaries and the uterus. It is a serious operation, although with modern techniques it is now very safe and routine. The drawbacks of spaying are that your dog may gain weight afterwards and, if the operation is performed before the first season, incontinace problems can occur later. If a dog is to be spayed before their first heat it is probably best if only the ovaries are removed.

We, at Heathlands, recommend that you neuter your pet as it provides a permanent cure to many problems.

FLEA CONTROL FOR DOGS AND CATS

All cats will bring fleas into the house at some time - the more animals you have, the more likely this is to happen.The life cycle of the flea is dependant on temperature. Flea eggs can develop into adults in as little as 14 days in very warm conditions. In cold climates the life cycle may be ten times as long. Fleas are much more of a problem in the warmer southern areas of the country. Eggs are laid and fall from the animal, mainly during the night. The bed and other chosen  areas of the house that the pet (s) sleep in become contaminated by flea eggs. Each flea that feeds produces enormous numbers of eggs - 50 eggs are laid per day with each adult producing up to a thousand eggs in its lifetime of 20 days. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on flea dirts (flea faeces) that drop from the pet into the bedding. Fleas larvae avoid light and burrow deep into the carpets and bedding to feed. Flea larvae rarely survive outdoor, but survive well in the protected environment of the home.

SIGNS OF FLEA INFESTATION

Usually the dog will  groom excessively and gnaw the hair on the lower  back or base of tail.  If your  pet turns   round  very quickly and chews the base of their tail,   they  have fleas. Often no fleas will be seen, as the dog  eats them when they nibble their fur in the affected area.

WHY FLEA CONTROL MEASURES FAIL

It would seem that use of an appropriate insecticide on the household pet would completely control fleas by killing each flea as they feed. However adult fleas may feed within a few seconds of climbing on a pet. No currently available insecticide can stop all fleas from feeding. Some fleas will feed and some flea eggs will be laid. Flea eggs and larvae are much more resistant to insecticides than adult fleas and, because adult fleas lay so many eggs, flea eggs and larvae represent by far the biggest flea population in the house. It has been said that fleas are a parasite of houses, not pets! Flea populations develop resistance to insecticides quite rapidly and older flea treatments are noticeably less effective at controlling fleas. In particular, pyrethoid (permethrin) or organophosphorus flea treatments are rarely effective against adult fleas and are, in addition, much more toxic than modern flea treatments.



THE ANSWER - INTEGRATED FLEA CONTROL =  INSECTICIDE ON PET + FLEA GROWTH REGULATOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT


MODERN INSECTICIDES - ADVOCATE.

Advocate is an exceptionally safe product that is very effective against fleas and lasts a long time. Advocate also contains a compound that penetrates through the skin and also controls intestinal worms. In fact, Advocate controls the following infections
Fleas
Ear Mites
Mange- both Fox Mange (Sarcops) and Demodectic mange
Heartworm disease
Intestinal round and Hookworms and Whipworms

Advocate should not be used in puppies of less than 7 weeks  of age or in animals under one kilo bodyweight.


FLEA GROWTH REGULATORS

Integrated flea control requires the use of an insecticide preparation on all pets in the household and the use of flea growth regulators to limit the development of the eggs and larvae. Integrated flea control has been found to be the absolutely best way of controlling fleas in the house.

FRONTLINE COMBO/ACCLAIM AEROSOL
Both contain the flea growth regulator methoprene. Frontline Combo should be used monthly on  all pets all year round. If fleas have been allowed to build up to high levels, the Acclaim aerosol should be used every 3 months after vacuuming the carpet. Please note: vacuuming alone is poorly effective as pupated flea larvae glue themselves to the carpet fibres. 

PROGRAM
Contains the flea growth regulator luferunon. This can be used as a monthly tablet and this  alone can provide very good flea control in some cases. For integrated flea control it should be used with an appropriate insecticide. 

DON'T  TRUST

Flea powders  - last for only a very short time and are ineffective
Flea shampoos -- Shampoos also remove essential oils from the coat and cause the skin to become dry and itchy. Dogs often scratch more after being given an insecticidal shampoo. We never recommend such products.
Flea comb - Of use in very mild infestations. Simple!
Herbal Collars - in our experience, are completely ineffective.
Garlic - works as a flea repellant, but may have to be given 4 to 6 times a day to be effective. Smelleeeeee!