Take a look at some Frequently Asked Questions
So you are wondering what you need to do to make sure they have the best start in life?
You have come to the right place. Here at All Paws we will advise you about the usual things (vaccinations, flea, worming) but also about nutrition and how to give them the best start in life.
Please make sure that when you buy your puppy that you meet both the mother and father and check out how and where they are being kept. Make sure the mother looks healthy.
Kennel club registered puppies must have IKC paperwork, be microchipped by law on the IKC database- make sure you get the paperwork for this. A good breeder will want to make sure their puppies are healthy and going to good homes so be wary of breeders who want to meet you at car parks etc.
Your pet needs to have as an adult a vaccination every year for their whole life in order to keep them fully protected. MYTH: as they get older they will develop their own immunity and do not need any more vaccinations. Vaccinations only give 1 year of protection no matter how many years previously your pet has gotten them. Puppies need 2 injections- call us for more information.
Unless your four legged friend has skin problems, then there is no need to bathe your pet except to clean them if they decide to go for a mud bath or get a bit smelly! In fact, frequent washing can take away from the coats natural oils. Regular brushing is more important especially on longer haired pets.
Get your dog to sit calmly with his bum either against a wall or in the corner of a room. Gently grasp the upper jaw just behind the canine teeth with your thumb and forefinger. Tilt your dogs head back. With the pill in the other hand, use this hand to open the lower jaw down, then drop/place the pill on the tongue at the back of the mouth. Close your dogs mouth and wait until you see them swallow. Normally they will lick their lips after swallowing a tablet. Keep an eye on them for about a minute just in case they are hiding it in their mouth. Give them a treat afterwards.
Hide pills in tasty treats (cheese, peanut butter, bread)
Ask us as some medications are safe to crush so that you can mix it in with their favourite foods- always check with us first as some tablets can’t be made into a powder as it will affect their absorption)
Always give the full course of medications- if you are having difficulties then get in touch with us.
Cats can be a little tricky to give tablets to so we recommend using a pill popper (available in clinic)
Wrap your cat in a towel like a burrito with just the head sticking out and tuck them under your arm. Use one hand to open the mouth and use the other hand to place the pill popper into the mouth. Quickly push the plunger to release the tablet into the mouth. Close your cats mouth and wait for them to swallow. Keep an eye on them for about a minute just in case they still have it in their mouth. Hopefully you will win first time around!
Hold the upper jaw with one hand as you wound when giving a pill. Do not tilt their head back. Squirt the syringe filled with liquid into the side of the mouth slowly to give them a chance to swallow it. Close their mouth until they have swallowed it all.
Puppies and kittens will invariably come in more often for vaccinations, weight checks, neutering etc. We will go through with you how often they need to come in on your first visit to us
Adult dogs as long as they are fit and healthy often see the vet 1-2 times per year. This is most commonly for a health check and vaccination and a dental procedure.
Mature dogs (8 Years plus). we recommend a twice yearly check for this age group as they will now start to develop health conditions that are better to spot sooner rather than later. They may need to have blood test/xrays if a problem is detected. We can then come up with a treatment plan to treat/manage any issues we diagnose.