Dogs

Q. When should I start my puppy’s vaccinations?
Q. Why are my puppy’s vaccinations so important?
Q. I have heard that it is bad for your dog to be vaccinated every single year. Is this true?
Q. When should I worm my puppy?
Q. How do I know if my puppy has fleas?
Q. What can I use to safely treat my puppy for fleas?
Q. What should I feed my puppy?
Q. When should I start to train my puppy?
Q. I am having trouble house-training and controlling my puppy. What should I do?
Q. How important is it for my puppy to meet other puppies?
Q. What is a MICROCHIP or IDENTICHIP?
Q. Should I have my puppy or kitten microchipped?
Q. Who has microchip readers?
Q. How much does microchip implantation cost?
Q. When will my bitch go into season?
Q. What are the benefits of Insuring my pet?
Q. Are Microchips safe?

Q. When should I start my puppy’s vaccinations?
We recommend that you bring your puppy to us for its first vaccination at 8 weeks old. He can then come back for his second vaccination at 10 weeks and will be protected from 11 weeks old and can go into public places. This early vaccination regime will allow you to “socialise” your puppy as much as possible before 16 weeks old, which is beneficial for your puppy’s future sociability.

Q. Why are my puppy’s vaccinations so important?
They protect him against contagious and potentially fatal diseases which can be caught from other infected dogs or, in the case of leptospirosis, from rat’s urine when swimming. These vaccines are so effective that the levels of these diseases in dogs have dropped to a very low level. However, if people op out of having their pets vaccinated, epidemics of these diseases will return to Scotland with a vengeance.

Q. I have heard that it is bad for your dog to be vaccinated every single year. Is this true?
There is an ongoing debate at present on this issue, involving vets, pet owners, vaccine companies, Universities and research institutions. At Championvet.com, we keep up to date with the latest thinking on this and other issues. Currently we adhere to the recommendations of NOAH (the National Organisation of Animal Health) who recommend that we vaccinate against Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza every year, and Parvo, Distemper and Hepatitis every second year. Our veterinary staff are more than happy to discuss this contentious issue with you should you wish, as we are sure you wish to do the best for your animal.

Q. When should I worm my puppy?
We recommend that you worm your puppy using Drontal Puppy Suspension at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, and then at 4, 5 and 6 months. We find this product highly suitable for this purpose, since the dose can easily be adjusted to the puppy’s weight, and because it effectively kills puppy roundworms. After six months you should switch to Drontal Plus tablets which are also effective against tapeworms, which your puppy may acquire whilst “dining out”! We are more than happy to weigh your puppy for you whenever you like and to advice you on his body condition and growth rate.

Q. How do I know if my puppy has fleas?
It is important to check your puppy for fleas regularly. He is likely to be scratching. A flea comb or a “nit comb” from the chemists can be used to gently comb through the coat. You may see the fleas themselves (which are red/brown, about 2mm long and “hop”!) or the flea dirts, which are like specs of dirt. If in doubt, squeeze a piece of suspected flea dirt in a piece of wet cotton roll. If it is a flea dirt, a red ring of your dog’s blood will encircle the dirt on the cotton wool. Uuuck! Sometimes we find that puppies scratch even though no fleas or lice or mites can be found on them. This often subsides by about the 12th to 14th week of age and may be due to a change in temperature or humidity or food compared to what he has been used to.

Q. What can I use to safely treat my puppy for fleas?
We find Frontline Spray the best. It can be used from 2 days of age and protection lasts for up to 3 months. It also protects against sheep ticks. The dose is calculated from the approximate age and coat length of your dog (which is explained in the instructions attached to the bottle). We recommend that it is applied in a well ventilated area and rubbed well into the coat using rubber gloves. Our nurses will be happy to show you how to do this and to advice you on dosage requirements.

Q. What should I feed my puppy?
We recommend that you feed you puppy on the dry complete food, Hills Puppy. If the adult weight of your dog will be greater than 25kg, you should feed Hills Large Breed Puppy. If you have bred the puppies yourself, then the bitch should be on a puppy food herself during pregnancy and lactation, so the puppies will start to eat some of hers. Feed the food in a wide, shallow bowl and if necessary, try wetting with a little Welpi (synthetic bitches milk) to make it easier to eat for them. Do not feed your puppy cows milk, as it is likely to make him ill!

Q. When should I start to train my puppy?
As soon as possible. Puppies are extremely quick to learn - the sooner you start the easier it will be in the long term. Many puppies will learn to sit, stay and recall within a few days. Come to a Puppy Party at Championvet.com, and you can found out ways to make training your puppy easier. The more time you put in training your puppy right at the start, the easier it will be in the long term.

Q. I am having trouble house-training and controlling my puppy. What should I do?
Don’t suffer in silence! Please ask us for help and advice and come to one of our puppy parties so that you can share your woes with others. For more intractable problems, you may wish to seek the help and advice of one of our behaviourists.

Q. How important is it for my puppy to meet other puppies?
Extremely important. Badly socialised dogs can develop many behaviour problems with other dogs and people. Make sure that you avoid these problems by coming to a Championvet.com Puppy Party and letting your puppy mingle with the other puppies there! One week after your puppy’s second injection, take in around the neighbourhood on his lead and let him meet plenty of other dogs.

Q. What is a MICROCHIP or IDENTICHIP?
A microchip is a tiny device which can be inserted under the skin of your pet as a permanent form of identification. It is a human surgical quality quartz glass implant, which, when sent a message from an Identichip reader, will modify that message, sending back a unique signal which the reader converts into a unique 10 (or more) figure alpha numeric identification code. When this number is relayed to a central computer, the operator will be informed of the name, telephone number and address of the registered owner of that animal.

Q. Should I have my puppy or kitten microchipped?
Whatever your pet, it is very difficult to identify an animal permanently so that if it becomes lost or stolen it will find its way back to you. Collars are often not tolerated by cats and even if tolerated can be danger to them, and equally collars can be removed. Likewise with a dog which has a collar and identity disc, or a bird with a closed ring; if stolen, these forms of identification can be removed. How could you prove that it is your dog or, if he is discovered in the middle of the Highlands having been stolen, how will anyone know where he comes from?

Q. Who has microchip readers?
All local vets, each police force and many animal rescue centres have an Identichip reader. So if your animal is lost, stolen or injured in an accident, whoever the pet is taken to, they should be able to identify your pet and inform you of the situation, so that you may be reunited.

Q. How much does microchip implantation cost?
At Championvet.com, we believe in the importance of permanently identifying our pet animals for the reasons described above. We currently run offers to allow you to chip and register your pet very cheaply. Please see our offers section for our great deals or call one of the surgeries, should you require more advice. You are not required to pay any other or additional fees and, as there are no working parts inside, it lasts for the animal’s life.

Q. When will my bitch go into season?
Most bitches go into season for the first time when they reach puberty at 6 to 12 months of age, depending on the size and breed. Bitches usually come into season twice yearly (6 months apart) in the Spring and Autumn although this is very variable. The season can last anything from a few days to three weeks, the average being about 14 days. If you wish to have your bitch spayed, we recommend to book the operation for 3 months after the last season has finished.

Q. What are the benefits of Insuring my pet?
At Championvet.com, we strive to offer you the best level of veterinary care which is available to pet animals. Although these marvellous treatments are available, and the likely outcome of serious injuries and disease is greatly improved, such treatments are inevitably more expensive than many options previously used. We will continue to make available the best possible levels of veterinary care, however, we do appreciate that sadly many owners are unable to meet the costs of unexpected and large veterinary fees. Where possible we will advise owners of the potential options for treatment, which may carry different chances of recovery at different costs. We acknowledge that it is very difficult for owners to select treatment options which are anything less than the best for their much loved pets. We would therefore respectfully suggest that you should seriously consider taking out pet insurance to cover the eventuality of unexpected large veterinary costs which might well arise at some stage of your pets life. Please remember that insurance must be taken out before the injury occurs, otherwise the insurance company will not provide cover for the complaint. It is not possible to take out pet insurance for animals once they attain the age of 8 years. We would therefore suggest that you take out pet insurance as soon as you acquire a pet, and certainly before it reaches the age of 8 years. Please remember that pet insurance will not cover items such as vaccination, flea treatment, shampoos and wormers. If you object to giving money to an insurance company, for cover which you may never require, an alternative is to pay sums of money into a separate bank or building society account of your own set aside for your pets needs. Please consider this matter seriously and ensure that you never have to make decisions based on money which govern the level of care which you can give to your pet.

Q. Are Microchips safe?
If the correct chips are used, implanted by qualified personnel, there is no risk. They remain in situ, they do not cause any reaction, nor do they migrate.

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