Ask the Vet
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See our previous questions answered
Are anaesthetics safe nowadays?
Peter
We have a good safety record for anaesthesia. We use modern, safe, fast-recovery anaesthetics - Propofol and isoflurane, plus good analgesia (pain relief) for the best recovery.
No anaesthetic is 100% safe, which is why we ask for signed consent, but for a normal healthy pet, even healthy older pets, the risks are normally very small.
Risk increases for ill pets, older ill pets, and especially older/ill pets such as rabbits/mice/guinea pigs. Talk to us if you have any concerns.
Vet
Can I give my pet ordinary cows milk?
Mrs Jones
Yes and no! A small amount is fine for most dogs, but most will develop diarrhoea if given too much, as they are unable to digest lactose. A few pets are allergic to milk and will get diarrhoea, sickness, or skin rashes with even small amounts. If in doubt, water is more natural, and safer!
How do I keep my young pet's teeth healthy?
Martha
Firstly, get your puppy or kitten used to having their mouth and teeth handled from a young age. The next step is that you can then get them used to having their teeth brushed. Use toothpaste formulated specially for dogs or cats,not human toothpaste. We use a fish flavoured one for cats and a chicken flavoured one for dogs. Kits are available with instructions. Ask a nurse or vet to demonstrate brushing.
Secondly, encourage the use of chews for dogs. These may be rawhide chews, Dentastix, Nylabones or pigs ears for instance. These all help clean a dogs teeth 'naturally'.
For cats and dogs, encourage feeding on dental cleaning biscuits-we use Hills Oral Care biscuits for dogs and cats, although there is an even more effective version called Hills T/d that we recommend for many dogs and cats.
Why does my dog's urine make the lawn go brown?
Billy
When your dog squats everyday on your lawn, this urine scald can leave ugly yellow stains scattered all over your carefully manicured lawn. Being a nation of gardeners AND pet lovers, the combination is not good.
The damage is said to be caused by the acid in the dog's urine.
Dalmatians as a breed can suffer with too much uric acid in the urine and they can really burn holes in your lawn. Humans suffer with gout in the same way as some Dalmatians can get urate crystals forming in their bladder due to their genes and a diet high in purines as found in liver and other proteins. After an initial diagnosis by us, they need a carefully controlled prescription diet .
There IS a solution for all the other breeds out there to prevent yellow patches on your lawn. They are called Dog Rocks and come from Australia but are available in the UK. They are completely natural and are placed in your dog's water bowl. We can also order them for you if you ring us.
When do vaccinations start?
In cats, we give a course of 2 injections, 3-4 weeks apart, to kittens who are 9 weeks of age or older.
The vaccine protects against cat 'flu, Feline Infectious Enteritis, Feline Leukaemia Virus, and Chlamydia. Annual boosters are needed.
In dogs, the normal puppy vaccination course is two injections 2 weeks apart, with the first one given at 8 weeks of age or over, and the second at 12 weeks of age or over. In reality this means we usually give the first at 8-10 weeks, and the second at 12 weeks of age. This is a slight move from earlier vaccinating, which is now thought to be not as effective in protection. Indeed with some breeds, such as Rottweilers and Dobermanns, a 3rd vaccination at age 16 weeks is also advised.
The vaccine protects against Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, and Parainfluenza virus. Annual boosters are needed.
When should we neuter?
Joe
We normally advise neutering male dogs at 6-9 months of age and female dogs at about 6 months of age, before their first season/heat. The exception is some large breed bitches who we prefer to neuter 2-3 months after their first season. The veterinary surgeon is happy to discuss the ins and outs of neutering for your individual pet.
We normally advise neutering male and female cats at 5-6 months of age.
My pet needs dental work - is it necessary?
Sue
You may have been advised dental work for a particular problem, eg a tooth root infection, or gingivitis or dental 'caries', in which case this is important and urgent for your pet's wellbeing.
Sometimes a dental ultrasonic scale and polish are advised. This is for teeth that have heavy deposits of plaque and tartar which will get worse if left, causing more severe problems and pain.
Once clean (this is done under anaesthetic), then preventative measures can be used eg brushing or a tooth cleaning diet like Hills T/d. If left, the teeth will deteriorate, and lead to pain, health issues, and bigger expenses.
