Routine Health Care
The General Medicine Service at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sydney provides excellent preventative health care and information to its clients. Clients are encouraged to make an appointment with one of our veterinarians so that a specific health care regime can be developed for their pet. Please contact us if you would like any further information about our routine health services.
Vaccinations
Vaccinating your animal is important in preventing many fatal diseases. There are core vaccines which are essential for your pet's health and non-core vaccines which are optional depending on the lifestyle of your pet.
We encourage you to contact us so that a veterinarian may discuss a suitable vaccination regime for your pet.
Core Vaccinations for dogs include;
- Parvovirus which causes fatal diarrhoea and fatal bone marrow suppression.
- Distemper Virus which causes fatal neurological and respiratory disease.
- Adenovirus which causes hepatitis, inflammation of the liver.
Non-core vaccinations for dogs include;
- Kennel Cough is an optional vaccine that is given to protect your dog if they require regular boarding in kennels. the vaccine aims to reduce clinical disease but does not provide absolute protection.
Routine Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs
| Age | Protection Against |
|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks | Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus |
| 10-12 weeks | Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Kennel Cough |
Core Vaccinations for cats include;
- Parvovirus.
- Herpesvirus which is part of the ‘cat-flu’ complex.
- Calicivirus which is also part of the ‘cat-flu’ complex.
Non-core vaccinations for cats include;
- Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV).
Routine Vaccination Recommendations for Cats
| Age | Protection Against |
|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks | Feline Enteritis, Feline Herpes Virus and Feline Calicivirus (Cat Flu) |
| 10-12 weeks | Feline Enteritis, Feline Herpes Virus and Feline Calicivirus (Cat Flu) |
| 14-16 weeks | Feline Enteritis, Feline Herpes Virus and Feline Calicivirus (Cat Flu) |
Vaccinations are then boosted 1 year after their last puppy or kitten vaccine. The veterinarian that you see will be able to advised you on a vaccination regime that best fit the lifestyle of your pet.
Annual health checks are very important, particularly as the animal gets on in years. After a thorough check up a veterinarian will decide if your pet is in need of a vaccinaton booster to protect your animal against viruses capable of causing severe illness and suffering. During your pet's health check, you will have the opportunity to talk to the veterinarian about diet, worming, dental health, disease prevention and any other concerns you may be having about your pet's health.
Please contact us if you would like to book an appointment for your pet.
Intestinal Worming
Intestinal worming aids in the prevention of tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms in companion cats and dogs. Dogs also have an additional worm called whipworm which is also treatable. Intestinal worms can cause weight loss, chronic diarrhoea, vomiting and blood loss from the gut.
Worming is very simple and easy to do. Often 1 tablet is necessary to treat all the worms. Flavoured chewies and topical drops are available for animals that are difficult to tablet.
Please contact us for more information or drop by and our friendly staff can advise you further.
Worming Recommendations for Dogs and Cats
Once every 2 weeks until the animal is 3 months of age, then every month until 6 months of age.
After this, animals should be wormed every 3-6 months depending on diet, lifestyle and the presence of fleas.
Tick Paralysis
In Sydney, our pets can also pick up paralysis ticks. These ticks, once attached to the animal release a toxin which causes paralysis of the muscles usually starting from the back legs and continues to quickly ascend up the body. Some animals will develop breathing difficulties from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Paralysis ticks can cause death if not treated promptly.
It is recommended that you check your animal twice daily for paralysis ticks. Animals should be checked more frequently if you live in, or are travelling to coastal areas. If you see a a paralysis tick on your pet, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Your veterinarian will be able to advise you further on tick prevention for your pet.
Flea Prevention
Fleas can cause your pet to develop severe itch, allergies, and skin infections. Fleas also carry blood parasites that are transmitted to cats and dogs when they feed. The tapeworm has part of its life cycle in the common flea and is one of the many parasites that your pet can contract from the flea.
It is common belief that fleas only need to be treated in the summer months, however, the flea life cycle persists all through the seasons and if animals are not treated all year round, large infestations can result. An effective flea prevention program will also consist of cleaning the pet's living environment.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is caused by a long spaghetti like worm that lives in the right side of the heart in infected animals. The worm obstructs the right side of the heart and can cause heart failure. The larvae worm is transmitted by mosquitoes. Treatment of heartworm disease can be complicated, thus, a stringent prevention program is strongly recommended.
Heartworm prevention comes in tablet form and topical application. Puppies are usually started on heartworm prevention at 6 weeks of age and this is continued monthly. Dogs over the age of one may receive a yearly injection.
Heartworm prevention for cats is usually in the form of a monthly topical application.
Desexing
Desexing your pet prevents unplanned litters and can also prevent diseases such as cancer.
In male dogs, desexing reduces the risk of prostatic cancer, testicular cancer and testosterone induced aggression. The dogs character is unchanged after desexing. In male cats, desexing can reduce urine spraying and territorial urine marking.
Some animals will occasionally have 1 testicle retained within the abdomen, it is strongly recommended that these dogs and cats are desexed.
In females that will not be bred, spaying is recommendded as it can significantly reduce her chances of developing mammary (breast) cancer. It can also remove the possibility of uterine cancer or severe uterine infections which are common in undesexed female animals.
The desexing procedure requires a general anaesthesic and most animals will remain in hospital overnight for pain relief and observation. All animals that are desexed will also be scheduled for a recheck appointment 10 days after the procedure.
Please contact us for further information on the procedure, or click on the link below to download a printer-friendly version of our desexing information sheet.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is now available for our beloved pets. Many different companies now provide this service. In the event of illness or accident, depending on your premium paid, most pet insurance companies will cover up to 80% of treatment costs, hospital fees and diagnostic tests. Some companies will even subsidise routine health care and dental prevention for your pet. Please enquire at our reception area for more information or visit the following websites for more information.