Wellness & Prevention

Vaccinations pay an important role in the long-term wellness of your pet. They prevent our pet from falling ill and provide immunity from a range of infectious diseases. It important to know that vaccines do not work as a cure for diseases, but rather as a prevention. Vaccinations can be administered under the skin, orally or intranasal (in the nose).

Keeping your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. It is also crucial to protect puppies and kittens from lift threating diseases. 

Dogs
Core vaccines are:

• Canine Distemper Virus

• Canine Hepatitis Virus

• Canine Parvovirus Virus

These vaccines are commonly combined into one injection called a C3.

Non-core vaccines are:

• Parainfluenza Virus

• Bordetella Bronchiseptica

These two vaccines protect what’s called “Canine Kennel Cough” (a contagious respiratory disease commonly found in dog parks and boarding kennels). When the C3 vaccine is combined with the two non-core it is called a C5.  

First vaccination from 6 to 8 weeks of age
Second vaccination from 10 to 12 weeks of age
Third vaccination from 14 to 16 weeks of age.

First adult booster from 7 to 9 months
Every year after for an Annual Booster

Cats
Core vaccines are:

• Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus

• Feline Calicivirus

• Feline Panleukopenia Virus

These vaccines are commonly combined into one injection called a F3.

Non-core vaccines are:

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

If you plan to allow your kitten outdoors and to socialise with other cats, we recommend including the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccine in their vaccination program.

First vaccination from 6 to 8 weeks of age
Second vaccination from 10 to 12 weeks of age
Third vaccination from 14 to 16 weeks of age.
Every year after for an Annual Booster

Microchipping is a safe, permanent way to identify your pet in case they become lost. A microchip, which is a tiny device about the size and shape of a grain of rice, is placed just under the loose skin at the back of the neck. When a lost pet without an ID tag is found, a veterinarian or veterinary nurse will use a handheld microchip scanner to check for a chip.

If the pet has one, it will transmit its ID number to the scanner. The veterinary clinic then searches the chip number on a database retrieving the pet owner’s contact information, and calls the owner.  

We recommend that a microchip is placed from the age of 8 weeks old. It is also law that all pets are microchipped before given away or sold. With a microchip, your pet will have a much better chance of being identified and returned to you.

Congratulations on your new family member!

The first few months are a critical period in your puppy or kitten's development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help them grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog or cat, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behaviour, and socialisation.

Your puppy or kitten's first exam should be scheduled around 6-8 weeks. Until your new pet has received a series of vaccines, they are susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will ensure your new pet is protected against preventable disease. Your pet will also need to be treated for parasites, which are extremely common in baby dogs and cats.

We look forward to meeting your new friend!

Bringing your pet in for an annual wellness check-up can help reassure that your pet is healthy and help detect any underlying diseases or conditions early.During your pet’s wellness exam, we will perform a physical assessment, checking your pet from nose to tail. We will also make sure your pet receives appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We can perform a diagnostic workup, which may include blood, faecal, and urine tests to check for parasites and underlying diseases. We may also recommend that your pet receive dental care. When your pet is nearing their senior years, we will recommend a baseline exam and diagnostic workup so we’ll know what’s normal for your pet. This will enable us to keep track of any changes.

Jumping up, pulling and lunging, digging, garbage raiding, stealing, chewing, barking, house soiling, and even some forms of aggression such as possessiveness and territorial guarding may all be normal for a dog or cat, but are unacceptable behaviours to most owners. Treatment of these problems will focus on environmental management and behaviour modification, although there may be limits to what can be achieved depending on the problem, the pet, and the household. The prognosis in these cases varies with the breed, the pet, its background, the problem, the ability of the family to implement the necessary changes, and the expectations of the family.

Abnormal behaviours for a species might include states of panic, phobias, anxiety disorders, compulsive disorders, and certain forms of aggression. These behaviours might be more difficult to control through behaviour modification alone, and the prognosis may be more guarded. Regardless of cause, if the pet’s fear, anxiety, or level of arousal is sufficiently intense, it will be necessary to find a protocol that will calm the pet so that behaviour modification can be effectively implemented.

Because medical problems can be the cause or a contributing factor to behaviour problems, these should be entirely ruled out before beginning treatment.

It’s easy to get confused or overwhelmed by all the pet foods on the market. We can help you weed through the choices and find a pet food that will meet your growing pet’s specific nutritional needs. We only carry nutritionally balanced, veterinary-approved brands in our clinic.

As our pets get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior wellness program can help your pet remain fit and healthy as they age and help us catch any potential problems earlier, when they’re easier to treat or manage. We suggest this check-up when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age.Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your pet enters their senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. Before your pet reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes.

Fleas, ticks, heartworm and worms are all nasty endo and ecto parasites that can harm your pet.

Fleas
Fleas can cause problems for pets ranging from minor to life-threatening. Not only can these parasites cause severe itching, irritation, and allergies, but they can also transmit tapeworms and diseases. Fleas can infest dogs, cats, mice, and rats. And fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can bite people, too.

You don’t want these blood-sucking parasites on your pet or in your home. We can help keep them away or help you get rid of them if they’ve already found their way inside.

Ticks
Ticks are commonly found on the east coast of Australia. They prefer bushland, scrubby areas and need humidity and warm temperatures to develop.

These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious—and sometimes deadly—disease such as tick paralysis. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur, so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside. Don’t panic if you find a tick on your pet please call us straight away for our instruction.

The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your pet on a tick preventive. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry.

Heartworm
Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection when they bite your pet. These parasites can severely and can fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection. Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering monthly heartworm preventives or an annual injection.

Worms
There are several types of internal parasites that can cause problems in your pets. These include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. It is important for your pets to be treated for intestinal worms not only to help prevent an infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Worms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your pet is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe. Puppies and kittens must be treated for worm infestation. A Hookworms infestation can be fatal in puppies.