Frequently Asked Questions

We really do appreciate the loving care you took when looking after our Lucky.

Why should I get my pet vaccinated?

There are many diseases that dogs and cats can pick up from other animals when they are out and about. In dogs these include leptospirosis, parvo, distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and parainfluenza. These are all very serious diseases which can potentially be fatal; however they can all be prevented by vaccination. Vaccination is the only proven method of protecting against these diseases.

Cats get vaccinated against cat flu and leukaemia, which can be transmitted amongst cats by fighting, and again have the potential to be fatal in severe cases. Rabbits are vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD). Both of these diseases can be transmitted from wild rabbits and birds and can potentially be fatal.

How often should my pet be vaccinated?

Puppies get their first vaccination between 8 and 10 weeks of age, with a second dose 2 weeks later. Kittens have their first vaccination at 9 weeks of age with the second dose 3 weeks later. Both dogs and cats are then given boosters every year. This is because the protection vaccines provide only lasts on average 12 months.

Rabbits can be vaccinated from 12 weeks of age. The vaccines for myxomatosis and VHD need to be given at least 2 weeks apart. Here at Village Vets we recommend you vaccinate your rabbit every 12 months. However if there is an outbreak of myxomatosis or you live in an area where it is very common we recommend 6 monthly vaccination.

How often do I need to worm and flea treat my pet?

Here at Village Vets and Meadowbank we recommend you worm your cat or dog monthly until they are 6 months old. Then we recommend worming every three months.

We recommend you treat your dog for fleas every 2 months and your cat every month.

What is microchipping and when can I get it done?

Microchipping is where a small implant is inserted under your pet’s skin. This can be read with a hand held device which reads the chip’s unique identification code. This code is placed on a register with your details. If your pet goes missing, when they are found they will be checked for a microchip. If they have one, your details will be located and they can be reunited with you. This can often make the difference between finding your pet again or not. We can microchip your dog or cat at any time, it is not a surgical procedure and can be done in a routine consultation with a vet. However it is a relatively large needle therefore we may ask you to wait for a couple of weeks if you have or very small puppy or if you prefer we can do it at the time of neutering or any other procedure when your pet is under anaesthetic.

How often will my pet come into season?

In female animals their reproductive hormones mean that there are certain times when they can get pregnant – in animals this is called ‘coming into season’.

The age at which bitches have their first season varies with different breeds however it ranges from between 8/9 months and 18 months. Bitches come into season roughly every 6 months.

Cats are peculiar in that they can be ‘brought into season’ if there is a male about – therefore they can get pregnant at virtually any time.

When can I get my pet neutered?

Bitches:
With bitches there is the old wives tale that says you should let them have a season or a litter before neutering – however this is incorrect. In fact neutering a bitch before her first season reduces the risk of breast cancer by almost 100%. If your bitch has already started having seasons then you need to wait until approximately three months after her last season to neuter. This is because when a bitch comes into season the uterus and it’s blood supply swells – therefore making it a much more invasive and riskier operation.

Dogs:
Male dogs can be neutered at any time after they are 6 months old.

Cats:
Cats can be neutered at any time from 6 months of age. Although if your cat has recently had kittens please ring the surgery for advice.

Rabbits:
Rabbits can be neutered from 6 months of age.

Why Should I get my Pet neutered?

Neutering male dogs eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and in addition it significantly reduces the risk of prostate cancer in later life. Neutering male cats also has these advantages however it also reduces the spraying of urine.

Neutering bitches obviously prevents uterine cancer but it also has the benefit of reducing the risk of breast cancer. If you neuter you bitch before her first season the risk of breast cancer is reduced by almost 100%. In addition there is a condition called ‘pyometra’ – which literally translates as ‘pus in the womb’, it is a severe life-threatening infection of the uterus which affects approximately 25% of older entire bitches.

Neutering rabbits helps to reduce rabbit: rabbit aggression. In females neutering prevents uterine cancer, which can affect up to 85% of entire rabbits over the age of 5.

What happens when my pet comes in for an operation?

Here at Village Vets we operate 7 days a week at our Buckley Branch. Meadowbank operate Monday to Friday only. On average at both branches there will be 6-10 operations per day and we operate between the hours of 11.00am and 3.00pm.

On the day of your pet’s operation we ask that you do not feed them any breakfast – this is because the drugs we use can cause them to feel sick and we do not want them to vomit whilst under anaesthetic.

When you arrive with your pet you will see a nurse who will admit your pet. The nurse will check some details with you, weigh your pet and ask you to sign a consent form. This will take approximately 10 minutes.

After admission, your pet will taken into kennels and settled in, their drugs will be prepared and they will be given a pre-anaesthetic sedative to help relax them.

According to the surgery schedule they will be taken through to theatre and anaesthetised. During their operation they will be monitored constantly by a nurse. Once they are awake we settle them back into kennels and will give you a ring with how they are and what time you can come to collect them. Most days this will be sometime after 4.00pm.

We will send your pet home with pain relief and if required a short course of antibiotics. Included in the cost of your pet’s operation are at least 2 checks at 2 and 10 days post operatively, these enable us to assess your pet’s progress.

When they get home your pet is likely to be a little sleepy – this is completely normal and they will probably sleep it off over the rest of the day. In addition the anaesthetic drugs can make them feel a little nauseous so it might be best to offer them their dinner quite late. They will have been given pain relief at the time of their operation which will last until the next day so they will be comfortable over night.

What are horses vaccinated against?

Horses are routinely vaccinated against influenza and tetanus. Influenza is a viral infection causing high fever, runny nose and a cough. Although it is rarely fatal it can be a very debilitating disease. Tetanus is a bacterial infection that can penetrate any wound and is rapidly fatal. It is very difficult to treat.

What is the vaccination schedule for horses?

Equine Influenza:
For your horse to produce an effective immunity against influenza it must have an initial primary course of three vaccines. To provide ongoing immunity a booster vaccination must be given every year.

The timings for the booster vaccinations must be adhered to exactly and are listed below:
1st Vaccination: This can be given to any horse over the age of 5 months
2nd Vaccination: This needs to be given between 21 and 92 days after the first vaccine. If you are vaccinating against tetanus at the same time the minimum period between first and second vaccines is extended to 28 days. A rule of thumb is to time the second vaccine 4-6 weeks after the first vaccine.
3rd Vaccination: This is to be given between 150 and 215 days after the second vaccination. A rule of thumb is to time the third vaccination 6 months after the second vaccine.
Annual booster: To be given within 1 calendar year following the third vaccination.
It is your responsibility to have the vaccinations at the correct time. We will try our absolute best to remind you when your horse is due it’s vaccinations, however this system is not infallible and it remains your responsibility.

If your horse does not receive it’s annual booster within the calendar year it may affect your ability to compete your horse. The Jockey Club and FEI organisations dictate that a horse must be vaccinated against influenza to compete in competitions held under their rules.

Tetanus:
Effective immunity against tetanus requires a primary course of 2 vaccinations. Following this course a booster vaccination is given every 2 years.
1st Vaccination: This can be given to any horse over the age of 5 months.
2nd Vaccination: To be given between 28 and 90 days after the first vaccination.
Booster Vaccination: To be given within 2 calendar years of the second vaccination.

Do I need a passport for my horse?

Since June 2004 it has been a legal requirement for all horses and ponies to have a passport. All owners must obtain an individual passport for every horse owned.

Any animal passported since July 2009 also requires a microchip by law. Animals with a passport prior to this date however are not obliged to conform to this rule.

I’ve found an injured/abandoned wild bird or animal – what do I do?

Initially the best advice is to leave it where it is unless it is in immediate danger. More often than not a seemingly injured animal is simply stunned and will get up and find shelter if left alone. In particular do not move baby birds or animals unless you are sure they have been abandoned – most of the time the mother will return for her young.

If an uninjured animal looks to be abandoned the best port of call is the RSPCA (see our links page for a link to their website)– they are trained to deal with wild animals and they will find it a home – either back in the wild somewhere more appropriate or in an animal shelter until the animal can be released.

If the bird or animal is severely injured you can telephone us for advice.