thevets@meadowsvets.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions Vaccinations : What are they for and are they really necessary? Neutering : What are the benefits and when should it be done? ID Chipping : How does it work? After an Operation : What can I expect? When a pet is put to sleep : What happens? Pet Travel Scheme : What do I have to do? Worming : Which worms can my pet catch & how do they get them? Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing : Why should they be done? Vaccinations: What are they for and are they really necessary? Top   We recommend prevention of the major infectious diseases of cats, dogs and rabbits by vaccination. Vaccines are available that are both safe and highly effective in preventing diseases that, while less common nowadays (thanks to vaccination), can still be found in most areas of the UK, and which in unvaccinated animals, are often fatal. An annual booster is required to keep the level of antibodies your pet has to these diseases, at a protective level. Only by annually vaccinating, can we be confident that your pet will be protected. We will send you a reminder that your pet is due his or her booster each year. The vaccines we recommend are as follows: Cats: The standard (Tricat) vaccination for cats, prevents against the two cat flu viruses and also against feline enteritis. In addition, we can protect against feline leukaemia with a 4-in-1 vaccine called 'Katavak Eclipse'. A primary course of either of these vaccines may be given from 9 weeks of age. Two innoculations will be given at an interval of 3-4 weeks. Dogs: Routine vaccination for your dog covers distemper, hepatitis, parvo virus, parainfluenza virus and leptospirosis. A primary course may be given from 9 weeks of age. 2 innoculations will be given at an interval of 2-3 weeks. Kennel Cough: Some boarding kennels insist that in addition to the standard vaccine that your dog is protected against kennel cough - a highly infectious condition spread from one dog to another - before going into kennels. This vaccine is ideally given 1-2 weeks prior to going into kennels. This vaccine will last for 6 months from the date of administration. Rabbits: Your rabbit can be vaccinated against myxomatosis from 6 weeks of age and only one injection is required. If you live in a high risk area, it is advised to repeat the vaccine every 6 months, otherwise an annual booster will be sufficient. We can also protect your rabbit against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease from 10-12 weeks of age. One single injection, with an annual booster will be required. It is important to note that these two rabbit vaccines cannot be given within 2 weeks of each other. If you have further questions regarding vaccines, please contact us for more information. Neutering: What are the benefits, and when should it be done? Top   We recommend neutering any pet not intended to be used for breeding. Cats: Cats can be neutered from 6 months of age. In tom cats, castration will reduce wandering and fighting and avoid most spray marking. In queens, spaying will prevent your cat having potentially more than a hundred kittens in her lifetime! Dogs: Males can be neutered from 6 months of age. This will stop roaming, mounting and aggressive behaviour - particularly towards other dogs. Bitches can be spayed (ovariohysterectomy) after their first season. Having their first season allows them to mature properly and reduces the risk of your dog becoming incontinent later in life. Spaying your bitch will prevent womb infections (a relatively common problem in entire bitches) and if this is carried out before she is two years old, will reduce the risk of her developing mammary tumours (breast cancer) later in life. Rabbits: Males can be neutered from around 4 months of age. Neutered males live longer and are less aggressive making them better companions to both you and any other pets you might have. Females can be neutered from around 6 months of age. As up to 85% of females develop reproductive cancers (breast, ovarian, uterine) by the age of four or five, this will help your rabbit to live longer.