WELLINGTON POINT VETERINARY SURGERY 

STANDARDS OF CARE

 

 

 

The standards of care outlined here have been designed to keep our patients in the best possible state of health. The aim is that by following these protocols, your pet will be seen here for routine health care procedures such as vaccinations, health checks or parasite control, but will hopefully avoid the need to be treated for accident or sickness.

 

We achieve this through a combination of premium quality dog food, parasite control, Annual Health Check's and Dental Hygene.  

 

Should your pet become unwell, our standards of care are aimed at reaching a diagnosis and commencing the most effective medical or surgical treatment as soon as possible.

 

  ANNUAL HEALTH CHECKS

It is important that a annual health check for your pet up to the age of six years, and twice annual health checks for older pets (See “Senior Pet Health Care”) is performed each year. It has often been communicated in years gone by that Vaccinations are annually, with a health check included. Times have changed and we now know early detection and wellness programs are viatally important to a long life and wellness. By performing a annual health check the wellness of the patient is the primary reason for the visit. A review of the vaccination history will be performed during the annual health check, and the relevant vaccinations given.

 
  
 

DIET

 

Feed premium quality dry food;   Hills Science, Hills Prescription Diet etc.

 

VACCINATIONS FOR DOGS

 

6 weeks of age                     Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo (DHP)

12 weeks of age                   DHP + Parainfluenza + Bordetella

16 weeks of age                   DHP + Parainfluenza + Bordetella

Yearly thereafter                   DHP + Parainfluenza + Bordetella   

 

VACCINATIONS FOR CATS

 

We vaccinate cats with the F3 vaccine:

 

6 weeks of age                    {  F3 vaccine  } 

12 weeks of age                   { F3 vaccine  } 

Annually thereafter               { F3 vaccine  }  

 

Reminders are mailed or emailed to you shortly before the next injection is due, and again if your pet becomes overdue.

 

 

THREE YEARLY VACCINATION

 

• Any drug may have a potential adverse effect

• The risk of an adverse effect after vaccination is small

• The risk of severe adverse effect is very small

• There are two vaccines for dogs in Australia registered to last for three years

• There is no three year vaccine in Australia for cats

• Three year vaccine only covers Parvo virus, Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Distemper

• Dogs still need to be vaccinated for the major kennel coughs in the intervening two years

• The cost to the client of using three yearly vaccines will be greater than the cost of our current vaccine schedule

The risk of not vaccinating at all is far greater

At this time, our policy on vaccines is that we will happily use the three year vaccine when we are convinced that, in doing so, we are not placing your dog at increased risk of catching Parvo, Hepatitis or Distemper. At this time we are not convinced that this is so

SENIOR PATIENT CARE

 

• One year in a dog or cat’s life is seven years in a human’s life

• From the age of 6-7 years we should be examining cats and dog’s twice a year (twice for life)

• One visit for physical exam and vaccination

• A second visit for physical exam and perform blood and urine tests that may pick up the onset of disease before it progresses far.

Early diagnosis means improved outcome

HEARTWORM CONTROL

 

·        Dogs: Proheart SR-12 annual injection

·        Cats: Revolution applied to the back of the neck once a month

 

 

 INTESTINAL WORM CONTROL

 

DOGS: Drontal

 

CATS: Popantel All wormer OR Revolution monthly on the back of the neck and Popantel Tapewormer every three months

 

·        Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old

·        Once a month until 6 months old

·        Thereafter, every 3 months (dose on the first day of Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring)

 

Reminders for intestinal worming are sent by SMS.

       

FLEA CONTROL

 

·        Comfortis tablet once a month for dogs

·        Revolution applied to the back of the neck once a month for cats

 

  

            TICK CONTROL

 

Small dogs: Proban tablets every 2nd day, one tablet per 10kg

 

Dogs > 15kg: Kiltix collar, replace every 6 weeks

 

Frontline Topspot and Advantix claim 2 weeks protection against ticks.

 

Frontline spray has a claim of 3 weeks tick control in cats

 

 

 

            DENTAL CARE

 

Do:

·        Monthly check by vet until 6 months of age

·        Use appropriate prevention

·        Have your pet’s teeth cleaned this year rather than being extracted next year.   ie: prevention, not cure.

 

Do not:

·        Give bones before 8 months of age as the teeth are too fragile and may break

·        Feed chicken necks, lamb shanks, brisket bones as we see dogs with potentially fatal conditions as a result of these bones

·        Feed canned food or meat loaf as these contribute to dental disease

·        Give smoked bones, dried tendons and other dog chews available in pet shops as these may fracture teeth or cause intestinal obstruction

 

It is recommended by Australian Veterinary Dental Society that a dental prophylaxis (basic scale and polish) should be given every 12 months.This is in line with our policy of; we would rather clean the teeth this year than extract them next year.

      

SKIN & COAT CARE

 

Our recommendation: Dermcare Natural Shampoo for routine bathing. Sometimes medicated shampoos such as Malaseb may be required.

 

HOW OFTEN do I bath my dog? If your dog is clean, shiny, not greasy or smelly, there is no need for a bath. But if he/she is any of the above, he/she needs a bath. Feed a premium quality diet.

 

 

              ANAESTHESIA

 

·        Pre-anaesthetic check up and, when appropriate, blood testing

·        The most appropriate mix of the safest, short acting anaesthetic drugs is used

·        State of the art anaesthetic machine

·        Anaesthetic monitor so that we can be as sure as possible that we have the anaesthetic ‘just right”

·        Intra-venous fluids as needed

·        Anaesthetic nurse is present during surgery at all times

            

 

          SURGERY

 

In order to achieve the best possible result we:

·        Maintain our professional education

·        Consult with specialist surgeons as required

·        Absorbable suture material

·        Antibiotics and intravenous fluids when required

·        >Anaesthesia monitoring

·        Post-operative pain relief

·        Heated recovery cage

·        Referral to a specialist surgeon if required

Elective surgery is performed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

 

           

         TREATMENT OF MEDICAL CASES

 

·        Collect an accurate history

·        Thorough examination

·        In house laboratory. We perform many blood and urine tests in our surgery, and also use our microscope quite extensively

·        Referral of pathology samples to a Brisbane Veterinary Laboratory department.

·        Digital X-rays

·        Referral to Veterinary Specialist Services to have tests such as an ultrasound or MRI.

·        Maintain excellent communication with client.

·        Once we establish a diagnosis, we are then able to suggest an appropriate treatment. There may be several possible treatment options available.

 

TRAINING AND SOCIALISATION

 

Attend puppy pre-school with CLEAR Dog Training by 10-12 weeks of age. Puppy pre-school is one of the most important things that you can do for your puppy.

CLEAR Dog Training   3390 4272  

Sunday mornings, 8am Wondall Road, Manly West. Located just on the Wynnum side of Moreton Bay College.

 

 

 

REFERRAL TO SPECIALIST & 

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY CENTRE

 

VETERINARY SPECIALIST SERVICES:

Hometown, Lexington Street, Underwood.  Telephone 3841 7011

ANIMAL EMERGENCY SERVICES: 3423 1888

 The phone number for AES is available on our machine after hours.

VSS/AES is fully staffed at all times by specialists in various branches of veterinary medicine and surgery 

or by a team of “emergency care veterinarians.

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