Fleas
Here in the South West our climate allows fleas to breed all year
round, so we recommend regular flea treatment to prevent infestation
in both dogs and cats. Our staff will be happy to help you select
the treatment most suitable for your pet.
Worming
Worms come in all shapes and sizes but the main groups we see in our
pets are usually one of two types:
Tapeworms; very long segmented worms. We normally only see
the segments passed by our pets. The segments are the size of rice
grains and are mobile, wriggling sacks of worm eggs! Animals are most
commonly affected by swallowing fleas when grooming or eating prey
such as mice.
Roundworm; very long thin worms which have the appearance of
strands of string. They are very numerous in puppies and kittens,
which can be infected in the womb and from their mother's milk. Infested
animals only shed microscopic worm eggs which are not visible to the
naked eye, so don't expect to see worms in your pet's stools.
All pets carry worms, some of which are potentially harmful to children
which is why we recommend worming dogs and cats every 3-4 months.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a very simple procedure which brings great piece
of mind. An injection over the shoulder blades implants a small chip,
which can be read by a scanner. This permanently identifies your pet
even if its collar is lost thereby offering protection against straying
and deliberate theft of your animal. Scanners are used by most veterinary
surgeries, animal charities and police stations, and so the chance
of recovering a lost pet is much improved by microchipping.
Feeding
We stock a large range of pet foods to suit all animals from rabbits
and guinea pigs to puppies and geriatric cats. Our regular diets are
designed to suit your pet's needs depending on breed, size, weight
and age. All pets are individuals and often have varied dietary requirements,
and we also have a range of prescription diets to cater for specific
medical conditions. You are always welcome to visit the practice during
opening hours to have your pet weighed and discuss diet and nutrition
with our nurses.
Neutering
In most cases we recommend neutering both male and female dogs and
cats. There are significant social and medical advantages to the procedure
and minimal disadvantages. It is a complex subject and we recommend
that you discuss your individual pet with one of our veterinary surgeons.
lnsurance
We strongly recommend insurance for all pets. Veterinary cover gives
peace of mind to you and allows us to give the very best veterinary
care in the case of an emergency or complicated medical condition.
Advances in veterinary medicine enable us to perform more advanced
treatments, but these tend to be expensive! We recommend policies
which offer lifelong protection for your animal, rather than those
that only cover each claim for the period of a year. Advice on insurance
is available at both our centres, where we keep leaflets supplied
by various companies.
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