Tag Archives: puppy vaccinations

Covid – 19 – Has It Affected Your Pet?

Covid – 19 – Has It Affected Your Pet?

 

Covid – 19 – Has It Affected Your Pet?

The early experiences a puppy or kitten has with people and their surroundings has a huge impact on their behaviour and personality for the rest of their lives. Our Spring News Blog talks through how a rescue centre or good breeder can help the socialisation process with your pet. If Covid has effected your pets socialisation, do not hesitate to seek help from a vet or qualified behaviourist.

 

Socialising your puppy - What Is The Right Age Of Puppy To Get?

How the heart pumps

Our Spring news explains how a healthy heart  works and the different heart conditions that can effect your pet. Older cats are at an increased risk of developing a condition where the heart muscle excessively enlarges in size. The signs of heart disease are explained in our Spring News Blog, the good news is both our Ealing and Hounslow surgeries have the facilities to offer ultrasound scans of your pets heart to help diagnose a condition. Contact our team if you have concerns about the articles mentioned and your pet.

 

 healthcheck_image_vet_0

 

Lungworm awareness!

The warmer Spring weather provides the perfect opportunity for parasites to start spreading onto your pet and into your home. Lungworm is a parasite effecting dogs and foxes, it can cause significant disease and in some cases, it can be fatal. Our Spring News discusses how your dog can become infected, and more importantly how simple prevention can be. The good news is Lungworm protection is automatically included in our Dog Pet Healthcare Club, find out more here.

 

lungworm

We hope you have enjoyed reading our Spring News Blog, if you have a question on any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to discuss it further with one of our vets at your pets next appointment or drop us an email on admin@youngvets.co.uk

We are passionate about pets – almost all of our vets, nurses and receptionists are pet owners – we love them too! If you and your pet are not yet registered with our surgery, please click here to register online we can’t wait to meet you and your pet soon.

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Socialising your puppy – What Is The Right Age Of Puppy To Get?

Socialising your puppy – What Is The Right Age?

 

There is a special period of development in dogs, often called the “sensitive” or “puppy socialisation” period, which starts at 3 weeks of age and ends at 3 months. During this period pups need to pack in a lot of experience so that they become confident with all the things that they will encounter in normal daily life; meeting different kinds of strangers including children, meeting unfamiliar dogs, going on public transport or travelling in the car, and going to open spaces like the park or town center. Any gap in experience during this period can lead to problems later on. For example, a pup that has no positive experience with children during the puppy socialisation period is more likely to become frightened or aggressive with them as an adult.

Ideally, some of the ground work should be done by the breeder, but pups that have been reared in kennels or sheds won’t get much of the experience that they need. This leaves more for you to do as the new owner, so ideally you should get a home reared 8-week pup from a breeder who has put some work into puppy socialisation. However, don’t be tempted to get a pup that is younger than 8 weeks old, because puppies homed too young are prone to health and behaviour problems (and it is also illegal for pups to be homed at less than 8 weeks of age in the UK).

 

Socialising your puppy - What Is The Right Age Of Puppy To Get?

 

Noises

A dog’s hearing acts like an early warning system that detects any approaching threat. This is why noises are part of many of the fears and anxieties that dogs develop, such as fireworks, traffic and the vacuum cleaner. By exposing puppies to a wide range of noises while they are still young can prevent problems developing. For example, pups are seven times less likely to become afraid of fireworks if they are played recordings of fireworks just once at around 8 weeks of age. You can download a complete set of sounds to play to your puppy on the Dogs Trust website, just search for “Sounds Sociable”. Better still, ask your breeder to start playing these sounds to their pups regularly from 3 weeks onward. A free booklet is also included with the download, which provides information about how to use the sounds, as well as information on house training, settling your pup at night, play-biting and car travel.

 

Signs of stress

For a puppy, every first impression really matters, so we want to make sure that each new experience goes well and your pup grows in confidence. It is important to understand how your pup feels, and to be able to tell when he/she is stressed.

Common signs of stress and anxiety that most people recognise in their dogs include trembling and shaking, crying and whining, and restlessness and agitation. However, if a puppy, or dog, is showing these signs then stress is already quite intense. It is important to look out for more subtle signs like panting, lip-licking, yawning that show a pup is beginning to feel uneasy. If you are holding your puppy, it is harder to see some of these signs of stress, but you may be able to feel tension in your puppy’s body, or feel increases in heart rate and breathing rate that you wouldn’t be aware of if your pup was on the ground. When pups are worried or stressed, they also try to get reassurance from people and other animals. So, your pup may jump up at you to try to get reassurance and attention when he/she is stressed.

If your pup is stressed, you should offer some reassurance but don’t overdo it because you could encourage neediness and dependence. Rather than keep trying to reassure a stressed pup, it is better to take him/her to somewhere calm and quiet to relax for a while.

Try to work out what it was that your pup was worried by and then reintroduce your pup to that situation again more gradually.

socialising your puppy .. zoetis

 

How to handle new experiences

Although your pup’s vaccinations will not be complete until after 12 weeks of age, it is essential that your pup starts to meet new people and well behaved dogs from the moment you get him/her.

You can do a lot of this at home, but it is also fine to take your pup to public places as long as he/she isn’t allowed to walk around on the ground or mix with unvaccinated dogs until his/her own vaccination course is complete.

Here are some tips on getting your pup used to new situations:

  • Household machinery (vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher, hairdryer etc). Let your pup hear these things being used in another room a few times before seeing them closer. Keep exposure short until you can see that your pup isn’t worried.
  • Unfamiliar people and children. Let your pup get used to people sitting calmly at a distance a few times before allowing them to approach, touch, offer treats or play with the pup. Let your pup choose how much he/she wants to interact with the person. If you pup is unsure – Don’t rush them.

 

  • Unfamiliar dogs. Let your pup get used to meeting calm adult dogs first. Only introduce bouncier, more playful dogs when you can see that your pup is confident enough to cope. Again, don’t ever be afraid to ask an owner, before the dogs meet, to ensure the other dog is friendly.

 

  • Travelling in buses, cars, and trains. Walk your pup on and off the bus or train several times before going on a short trip (one stop). Likewise, get your pup used to sitting and having treats in the car before going on a real trip. Build up the duration of journeys gradually.

 

  • Open spaces, parks, busy town centers with traffic, bus and train stations, the vet clinic. Take your pup to these places, but start by a quieter part of the location and allow your pup to settle before going further. Walking in a car park when it is safe to do is a gives your new pup the chance to meet vehicles at a slower, less intimidating pace.

 

  • Treats. Treats really help pups to accept new situations, so find some that your pup really likes and don’t skimp on using them but save your pups favourite treats for training time so they don’t become boring.

 

All of our surgeries offer free weight checks for pets, why not pop in. Regular visits to a vet will have many benefits for your pup, from socialisation to ensuring they are growing at a healthy weight, plus our team love meeting your new family members! Contact us today & arrange your pup’s free weight check.

 

Blog and images supplied from Zoetis.

Written by Jon Bowen BVETMED MRCVS DIPAS(CABC)

Your Winter Survival Guide Has Arrived – Read It Here

Your Winter Survival Guide Has Arrived – Read It Here

 

Your Winter Survival Guide Has Arrived – Read It Here

The weather is getting colder and wetter and your pet may decide to spend more time inside by the fire than running round outside! To help keep your pet in tip top condition we’ve out together a Winter Survival Guide read it here. 

 

Ear Ear! Watch out for ear disease!

Unlike humans who commonly get middle ear infections, the vast majority of ear problems in pets occur in the external ear canal. Our Winter Survival Guide explains the different causes if ear infections and the signs to watch our for in your pet.

 

Ear Ear! Watch out for ear disease!

 

Should I have my pet neutered?

Did you know neutered pets are likely to live longer, healthier lives thanks to surgical procedures which are safe, quick and will allow you pets to be home with you the very same evening. Our Winter Survival Guide explains the benefits of neutering for both dogs, cats and rabbits. If you would like to discuss neutering your pet, please contact our experienced team for further advice.

 

Veterinary Nurse

 

Booster Alert!

Puppies, kittens and rabbits will require a course of initial vaccinations when you bring them home, followed by regular boosters throughout their lives to keep their immune systems ‘toped up.’ Everyone talks about vaccinations and how beneifical they are to your pet, but do you know what diseases they actually protect your pet from – Our Winter News explains the different diseases that we vaccinate against.

 

Contact Us

 

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Winter Survival Guide – If you have any questions about the articles mentioned or about your pet don’t hesiate to contact our friendly team for more advice.

 

Booster time!

 

Your pet’s yearly check – up and vaccinations and VERY important! These health checks are vital to keeping your pet is fit, healthy and protected from deadly diseases. Both cat, dog and rabbit vaccinations protect from many diseases that your pet can pick up – some of which are fatal.

 

Matthew Wilson giving a kitten a health check

 

Don’t forget rabbits! 

Rabbits are becoming highly popular pets. They are social animals who like to live in pairs and groups meaning that neutering your rabbit is essential to preventing pregnancy, fighting and some types of cancers. The benefits of neutering can be applied to most species, if your are un decided whether to neuter your pet read more about the benefits of neutering here.

 

Parasite alert :

Summer is prime time for your pet to collect hitch hikers – fleas and ticks. Flea problems can quickly multiply, particularly in households with more than one pet. Did you know a single female tick can lay up to 10,000 eggs. Our summer news gives you lots of helpful advice on some of the problems that summer can bring to your pets.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Summer News, if you have any questions on the articles featured, do not hesitate to contact our team for further information.

 

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube for more free pet advice!

 

Puppy care- feeding, vaccinating, worming, and training

Cavalier King Charles puppies

 How to care for your puppy:

 

Make sure that you have suitable transport for your new puppy.  Puppies may be put in a collapsible cage in your car, which ensures they are safe during a journey. Be sure to have them on a lead/harness so that they can’t run away. Also before your puppy has its first vaccinations it is imperative that your puppy does not touch the floor outside (other than your garden) and is only introduced to dogs that are vaccinated.

 

  • Night Time:

     

    Your puppy may whine about being left alone for the first few nights. Soft toys can be good company. If you are planning to train them to use a crate you can cover the crate to make them feel more secure. Leaving a radio station on (eg. Classic FM) quietly in the background can also help them to feel more secure. Sometimes a ticking clock can provide some company. A covered hot water bottle may also be a very warm friend (care though- it should be hand hot only – any hotter can cause burns).

 

 

  • Training:

     

    Make sure to train and handle your puppy from an early age. Plenty of handling will make them comfortable with human contact. Reinforcing good play behaviours with treats is also recommended. When doing any training always give verbal praise first, and immediately after give a little treat. Eventually your puppy will be happy to receive the verbal praise alone. Get the puppy used to being checked over (like at the vets). Lift and handle the ears, try getting a dog toothpaste and brushing their teeth, with a finger brush. Lift and handle the paws. Be sure to expose your puppy to as many different people as possible whilst it is developing. This can include a person in uniform (eg. A postman), someone wearing a hat, someone with a beard even! Puppy classes are a great way to socialise them. Other puppies will help to teach your puppy how to behave in social situations.

 

 

For further tips on training your puppy see our other puppy and dog training blog post here

 

 

  • 1st Vaccinations

     

    This can be done on the first vet check between 8-10 weeks of age. The 2nd vaccination is 2-4 weeks after. Until a week after the 2nd vaccination it is imperative that you keep the puppy away from un-vaccinated dogs and do not place him/her on the floor in public spaces where viruses could be on the ground.

 

 

  • Worming and parasite control

     

    Puppies will need to be wormed as most will have picked up worms from their mother. This can be done with either tablets, or with a spot on treatment, which will treat other parasites such as fleas and lungworm. Your vet will advise on the most appropriate treatment.

 

 

  • Exercise:

     

    Puppies do not need long walks – they only have little legs! Puppies aren’t considered fully grown until 6-18 months of age (larger breeds mature more slowly). It is then that a good exercise plan can be implemented. Larger breeds especially may be prone to bone and joint problems, and should not be over exercised, when growing.

 

 

  • Food:

     

    Little and often. A puppy’s tummy is very small and so their food intake needs to be split between 3-4 meal times. Find out what your puppy has been fed on at the breeder’s and try to maintain that regime for continuity. If your puppy has diarrhoea, give them boiled chicken and rice. Introduce any new puppy foods gradually over 3 days, as a sudden change in food will often cause a digestive upset.

 

 

  • Play: 

 

Puppies like to chew a lot especially during teething between the ages of 3 and 6 months, when they will lose all of their milk teeth.  Provide rubber Kongs or rope chews. Avoid bones as they can crack their milk teeth on these.  Play is an important way of learning for your new puppy and can be a lot of fun too!

 

 

Finally enjoy playing with your puppy – they grow up much  too fast, and send your cute pictures to our facebook page here !

 

Dog and Puppy care

How to care for your new puppy

Cavalier King Charles puppies

How to care for your puppy:

Make sure that you have suitable transport for your new puppy.  Puppies may be put in a collapsible cage in your car, which ensures they are safe during a journey. Be sure to have them on a lead/harness so that they can’t run away. Also before your puppy has its first vaccinations it is imperative that your puppy does not touch the floor outside (other than your garden) and is only introduced to dogs that are vaccinated.

  • Night Time: Your puppy may whine about being left alone for the first few nights. Soft toys can be good company. If you are planning to train them to use a crate you can cover the crate to make them feel more secure. Leaving a radio station on (eg. Classic FM) quietly in the background can also help them to feel more secure. Sometimes a ticking clock could provide some company. A covered hot water bottle may also be a very warm friend.

  • Training:Make sure to train and handle your puppy from an early age. Plenty of handling will make them comfortable with human contact. Reinforcing good play behaviours with treats is also recommended. When doing any training always give verbal praise first, and immediately after give a little treat. Eventually your puppy will be happy to receive the verbal praise alone. Get the puppy used to being checked over (like at the vets). Lift and handle the ears, try getting a dog toothpaste and brushing their teeth, with a finger brush. Lift and handle the paws. Be sure to expose your puppy to a number of things whilst it is developing. This can include a person in uniform (eg. A postman), someone wearing a hat, someone with a beard even! Puppy classes are a great way to socialise them. Other puppies will help to teach your puppy how to behave in social situations.

  • 1stVaccinationsThis can be done on the first vet check between 8-10weeks of age. The 2ndvaccination is 2-4weeks after. Until a week after the 2ndvaccination it is imperative that you keep the puppy away from unvaccinated dogs and do not place him/her on the floor in public spaces where viruses could be on the ground.

  • Worming and parasite control– Puppies will need to be wormed as most will have picked up worms from their mother. This can be done with either tablets, or with a spot on treatment, which will treat other parasites such as fleas and lungworm.

  • Exercise: Puppies do not need long walks – they only have little legs! Puppies aren’t considered fully grown until 6-18 months of age (larger breeds mature more slowly). It is then that a good exercise plan can be implemented. Larger breeds especially may be prone to bone and joint problems, and should not be over exercised, when growing.

  • Food:Little and often. A puppy’s tummy is very small and so their food intake needs to be split between 3-4 meal times. Find out what your puppy has been fed on at the breeder’s and try to maintain that regime for continuity. If your puppy has diarrhoea, give them boiled chicken and rice. Introduce any new puppy foods gradually over 3 days, as a sudden change in food will often cause a digestive upset.

  • Play: Puppies like to chew a lot especially during teething between the ages of 3 and 6 months, when they will lose all of their milk teeth.  Provide rubber Kongs or rope chews. Avoid bones as they can crack their milk teeth on these.  Play is an important way of learning for your new puppy and can be a lot of fun too!

Finally enjoy playing with your puppy – they grow up much  too fast !

 

Tips on – How to choose a puppy

puppies-labrador-retriever west london vet

Dogs are a man’s best friend”

Getting a puppy is a very important and exciting decision. A puppy can add so much joy and companionship to your life. We love seeing puppies here at Young Veterinary Partnership and enjoy, even more so, helping you to look after them as best as possible. When you decide to get a puppy you have to be sure that you can commit time towards exercising it, keeping it company and socialising/training it so it becomes a well-mannered adult dog.

Choosing your puppy:

The Breed: Choosing the appropriate breed for you is critical. A smaller dog breed may be more appropriate for your lifestyle. Seeing both parents of the puppy can help you assess possible future temperament (and future size). Some breeds may be more ‘highly strung” than others, some need more exercise, some need more coat care and grooming than others.  Although most puppies are healthy, certain breeds may have  an increased incidence of specific medical problems. This information is readily available these days on sites such as Wikipedia, specific breed websites and the kennel club. Taking out insurance at as soon as you get your puppy is a good idea.

The Breeder: Make sure your puppy comes from a reputable breeder where the mother is up to date with her vaccinations. The puppy should have also been wormed regularly throughout their first few weeks and may have had a flea treatment before being re-homed. Ideally the puppy should be around 8 weeks old before bringing them home. Keeping mother and puppies together upto 8 weeks, has been shown to reduce the risks of behavioural problems developing later. From April 2016 all puppies should be microchipped.

Charities: A great way of you re-homing a puppy. As a policy the puppy has usually had its first vaccinations and is microchipped for you. The charity may even have neutered them, if he/she is old enough. Charities often ask for a small donation towards adopting the puppy. Dogs Trust and Battersea dogs home may have suitable puppies or young dogs for rehoming.

Make sure that your puppy is fit and healthy when you choose it:

Hips/Elbows/Eyes: The parents of some pedigree litters have to undergo compulsory scoring of their hips (for hip dysplasia), elbows (for elbow dysplasia) or eyes (for cataracts and retinal problems). This reduces the risk of the puppies developing these problems (but doesn’t eliminate the risk), by only using parents with good scores for breeding. Make sure that the parents’ scores are of an acceptable standard for their breed. Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk for more information.

Eyes: Bright wide eyes. No discharge.

Nose: Wet nose. No discharge.

Mouth & Teeth: No teeth out of place. Fully erupted. Milk teeth are usually bright white and look shiny.

Weight: A healthy weight where you can feel the ribs but not see them. Make sure the puppy doesn’t have a pot-belly as this could indicate a worm burden. This can be easily rectified by a wormer from a vet.

Appetite: A good appetite indicates a healthy puppy.

Toileting: Normal urination and defecation. This should be normally formed, no blood in it and not watery. Sometimes you can see evidence of worms in the faeces, if this is the case he will need worming by a vet.

 

 

 

Further information about different dog breeds can be found at www.dogstrust.org.uk

How to choose a puppy

puppies-labrador-retriever west london vet

Dogs are a man’s best friend”

Getting a puppy is a very important and exciting decision. A puppy can add so much joy and companionship to your life. We love seeing puppies here at Young Veterinary Partnership and enjoy, even more so, helping you to look after them as best as possible. When you decide to get a puppy you have to be sure that you can commit time towards exercising it, keeping it company and socialising/training it so it becomes a well-mannered adult dog.

Choosing your puppy:

The Breed: Choosing the appropriate breed for you is critical. A smaller dog breed may be more appropriate for your lifestyle. Seeing both parents of the puppy can help you assess possible future temperament (and future size). Some breeds may be more ‘highly strung” than others, some need more exercise, some need more coat care and grooming than others.

The Breeder: Make sure your puppy comes from a reputable breeder where the mother is up to date with her vaccinations. The puppy should have also been wormed regularly throughout their first few weeks and even had a flea treatment before being re-homed. Ideally the puppy should be around 8 weeks old before bringing them home. Keeping mother and puppies together upto 8 weeks, has been shown to reduce the risks of behavioural problems developing later. Some breeders may even do a first vaccination and a microchip.

Charities: A great way of you re-homing a puppy. As a policy the puppy has usually had its first vaccinations and is microchipped for you. The charity may even have neutered them, if he/she is old enough. Charities often ask for a small donation towards adopting the puppy.

Make sure that your puppy is fit and healthy when you choose it:

Hips/Elbows/Eyes: The parents of some pedigree litters have to undergo compulsory scoring of their hips (for hip dysplasia), elbows (for elbow dysplasia) or eyes (for cataracts and retinal problems). This reduces the risk of the puppies developing these problems, by only using parents with good scores for breeding. Make sure that the parents’ scores are of an acceptable standard for their breed. Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk for more information.

Eyes: Bright wide eyes. No discharge.

Nose: Wet nose. No discharge.

Mouth & Teeth: No teeth out of place. Fully erupted. Milk teeth are usually bright white and look shiny.

Weight: A healthy weight where you can feel the ribs but not see them. Make sure the puppy doesn’t have a pot-belly as this could indicate a worm burden. This can be easily rectified by a wormer from a vet.

Appetite: A good appetite indicates a healthy puppy.

Toileting: Normal urination and defecation. This should be normally formed, no blood in it and not watery. Sometimes you can see evidence of worms in the faeces, if this is the case he will need worming by a vet.

Further information about different dog breeds can be found at www.dogstrust.org.uk