Small Animals

Dog Vaccinations

Dog Vaccinations

At Border Veterinary Surgery we recommend C5 vaccinations. These protect against Parvovirus, Canine Distemper virus, Canine Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Bordatella bronchiseptica (kennel cough).

We recommend that all puppies commence their vaccination course at 6-8weeks of age and be vaccinated every 4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age. Puppies need to be isolated from unvaccinated dogs, public places, or somewhere parvovirus might be until 2 weeks after their final vaccination. In this area we recommend vaccinations be given each year to adult dogs in order to maintain adequate immunity.

A big concern in our area is parvovirus. This is a severe, infectious gastroenteritis that can be fatal even with treatment. The live vaccination provides strong protection against this so it is very important to make sure your dog is up to date with vaccination.

All good kennels will require that your dog is fully vaccinated before boarding. We can provide you with a certificate to enable you to do this.

Some dogs can be a bit lethargic, off their food and feverish following their vaccination. This usually resolves within 24 hours. Access to food and water and a comfortable area to rest are usually all that is required for a quick recovery. However, if the response seems more severe, you should contact us for advice.

Cat Vaccinations

At Border Veterinary Surgery we recommend all cats be vaccinated with an F5 vaccination and FIV vaccination. These vaccinations protect against cat flu (feline calicivirus, feline herpes virus, chlamydia), feline parvovirus, feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS). In this area we have a much higher prevalence of feline AIDS and feline leukemia virus than the national prevalence. That is why we offer a more comprehensive vaccination schedule than may be seen elsewhere.

Microchipping

At Border Veterinary Surgery we recommend all dogs and cats be microchipped. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected under your pet’s skin, usually on their back near the shoulders. It can be done during a normal consultation. The microchip is embedded with a code unique to your pet and is the most effective form of permanent identification. We offer microchipping in conjunction with the Australasian Animal Registry. Your animals’ details are matched with the microchip at your appointment via their online database. Microchipping ensures that if anything was to happen to your pet, you can be contacted and you can be reunited. They can also assist if ownership of the animal is under dispute

Preventative Health Care

Our team at Border Vets can discuss with you the most appropriate regime of preventative health care for your pet. There are options for worming, flea prevention, tick prevention and heartworm prevention.

Dogs and cats can be infected with round, hook, whip, and tape worms, all of which can cause severe damage to the digestive system.

Worms can also affect people. Hookworm larvae can cause dermatitis. Roundworm larvae can infect children and migrate to the eye. Hydatid tapeworms are a great danger to people causing cysts throughout the body.

We stock a wide range of wormers that are good products and convenient for everybody. Depending on you and your pet there are chewable preparations, tablets, and spot on treatments. Some products do more than worming so talk to us about your options.

Heartworm used to be quite prevalent in this area. Heartworm is a parasite, the adult of which lives in the heart and the major blood vessels which supply the lungs. The adults can live for 5 to 7 years and once mature produce tiny microfilariae which circulate throughout the bloodstream. These are sucked up by mosquitoes. The microfilariae moult and change form in the mosquito’s salivary glands, so that when it feeds again it injects these infective larvae into the dog’s skin. The heartworm larvae live and moult in the dog’s skin for a couple of months before entering the blood vessels and migrating to the heart. Here the parasites interfere with circulation to the lungs causing inability to exercise, shortness of breath, and coughing; eventually it will prove fatal. If your dog has heartworm it can be treated but this is expensive and can be dangerous if the disease is advanced. Prevention is better than cure. There has been a reduction in incidence of heartworm with the new preventative products available, however people are not seeing it as much so the uptake in prevention is reducing. There have been cases in other western regions, so we are encouraging people to start preventing. If you are travelling to northern Queensland or to the coast, the incidence is higher, so prevention is strongly recommended.

Ticks in this area are mostly just a nuisance, unless there is a heavy burden. However if there will be any travel to a coastal area, make sure your pet is covered for paralysis ticks. These ticks release a toxin that causes an ascending paralysis and pets may even die with treatment.

Fleas are tiny insects, but they have the ability to drive pets and owners crazy. They use their biting mouthparts to suck blood from your pet. Saliva is injected into your pet when fleas feed and it is this saliva which causes irritation to your pet which may then scratch and bite at itself. Fleas cause many problems including transmission of the dog tapeworm, anaemia due to blood loss, flea allergy dermatitis (skin problems) and hot spots (moist dermatitis) which are very frustrating.

The flea life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Under normal conditions the entire life cycle may be completed in as little as 20-35 days, depending on temperature and moisture conditions. Under less favourable conditions the life cycle may take from several months to a year to complete. Because of their life cycle, all stages of fleas are not confined to your pet, but are in the environment as well. Therefore, flea control is very complicated and involves treating your pet plus the environment including the yard, house, and bedding. Treating your pet plus regularly washing bedding and vacuuming the house especially rugs and carpets will help to control the flea population.

Many products are available for treatment of all life stages. Products include spot-on treatments, sprays, tablets, collars, shampoos, rinses, and washes. Some products kill adult fleas and some interfere with their life cycle. Some provide long-lasting control while other products kill fleas on your pet but offer no long-lasting control. Make sure the product you use on your puppy is safe to use as many washes are toxic to young animals. It is best to speak to your vet before using any products.

There is no easy way to control fleas. Please talk to your vet for a flea control program which will suit you and your pet. A great range of products suitable for most situations is available.

Desexing

Our small animal desexing service offers surgical neutering of dogs, cats and pocket pets. These are generally day procedures in young, healthy animals. In males it is commonly referred to as castration. In females it is commonly known as speying. The procedure involves the surgical removal of the pet’s reproductive organs. We recommend that animals that are not intended for breeding be desexed. There are lots of factors that determine whether this surgery is appropriate for your pet and the age at which we would recommend getting it done. Please feel free to contact the clinic to discuss this with one of our vets.

There are many benefits to desexing your animal. They include:

Preventing unwanted litters
Prevention of testicular cancer and prostate disease in males, and it can help prevent pyometra (infection of the uterus) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) in females
Stopping the “heat” cycle in females
Decreasing aggression towards humans and other animals, especially in males
Being less prone to wander, especially in males
Reduction of council registration fees

After Surgery:

Your pet has had surgery and so needs care for some time after the event. Unfortunately pets do not always understand that they must rest so we need you to assist us with your pet’s recovery.

Immediately After

When you pick your pet up from our hospital they may be a little drowsy. This is quite normal following an anaesthetic and surgery. The drowsiness should reduce over the next 12 – 24 hours. There will be some bruising, the same as humans, so she should not be expected to be completely normal for a few days. Keep your pet in a quiet, warm place and give only small amounts to eat and drink. They will be back to normal in a couple of days.

Take care

Most pets have recovered fully within a few days. Unfortunately this does have some disadvantages in that your pet may start jumping, running around and generally trying to do everything that they can to upset the surgery and/or sutures. Please try to keep your pet as quiet as possible until the post surgery checkup. This is usually 10days post surgery.

Problems

Generally there are very few complications after the operation, however, there are some signs to watch for that may indicate a problem.

1. Dull and listless (especially after the first 24 hours)

2. Red or irritated around the surgery site

3. Swelling or lumpiness around the surgery site

If you notice any of these signs or have any concerns please do not hesitate to call us.

Health Checks

Dogs and cats age on average, five to eight times faster than humans. By age two, most pets have already reached adulthood. At age four, many are entering middle age. By age seven, many cats and dogs, particularly larger breed dogs, are entering their senior years.

Because pets age so rapidly, major health changes can occur in a short amount of time. The risk of heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and other serious conditions all increase with age. Early detection is important and annual health checks can help your veterinarian diagnose and treat problems early, or even prevent problems occurring altogether, therefore enabling the best possible outcome for your pet.

Annual health checks also offer you a great opportunity to ask us about nutrition, behaviour or any other topics.

Soft tissue

Soft tissue and Orthopedic Surgery

Our clinic has the team and equipment which enables us to perform multiple soft tissue and orthopedic procedures. If there is a procedure that your pet needs that we don’t offer we are able to refer to a group of excellent specialist surgeons that we have great rapport with.

Dental

Dental Procedures

A healthy mouth is essential to your pet’s wellbeing. 80% of pets over the age of 3 have some kind of dental disease. Pets get a build of tartar/calculus on their teeth. This leads to inflammation of the gum, called gingivitis. If this isn’t corrected there can be irreversible damage to the teeth, known as periodontal disease.

We are able to perform an oral examination and assess whether an ultrasonic scale/polish are required to remove tartar/calculus and whether any extractions are needed. We can also discuss a good preventative regime for your pet from nutrition to tooth brushing, chew toys, rinses, water additives and dental treats.

Imaging

Border Veterinary Surgery is equipped with ultrasound and digital radiography machines. Our veterinarians will discuss your pet’s case and conduct a thorough physical examination to determine if your pet requires an ultrasound or radiograph.

Radiographs are a very important tool to help us diagnose diseases in animals, particularly for conditions involving bones, the chest or abdomen. Radiographs involve using radiation to image the internal structures. Your pet will be placed on a table and the image will be taken and interpreted by one of our vets.

An ultrasound scan is a very important tool to help us diagnose diseases in animals, particularly for conditions involving soft tissues, such as those found in the abdomen, or the heart. It involves clipping of the hair on your pet, the application of gel and the placement of a probe onto your pet. The probe uses soundwaves to convert structures into an image which our vets interpret. Our vets have further training in ultrasound scanning.

In House Laboratory

In house laboratory testing

Border Vet surgery is equipped with an in-house laboratory suite that allows our veterinarians to quickly perform diagnostic tests to achieve an accurate and rapid diagnosis. This is especially important in very sick animals and those requiring immediate or emergency treatment. Some more specialised tests are able to be sent to an external laboratory with next day results.

Hospitalisation

Border Veterinary Surgery is able to hospitalise your pets for diagnostic testing, monitoring, treatments and fluid therapy. We have a team of caring veterinarians and nurses that will attend to your pet’s needs and keep you updated on their progress.

Grooming

Grooming is an important part of pet care. Depending on the breed, age and health of your pet, grooming may even need to be a part of you and your pet’s daily routine. Many breeds require less grooming than this, but regular grooming always helps to keep your pet healthy and comfortable. Grooming includes bathing, nail clipping, coat brushing and clipping.

We offer a hydrobath and blow dry. We can do nail clipping and teach you how to do it at home. We can perform clipping by appointment. Contact the clinic to discuss the grooming needs of your pet.