Caring For Your Pet
Vaccinations
Vaccinations play a vital role in protecting your pet from deadly diseases as well as greatly reducing the severity of illness such as cat flu and canine cough. By vaccinating your pet, you not only safeguard their health, but you also ensure that these nasty infectious diseases are controlled in the general population.
All cats should receive a core vaccination that provides protection against feline enteritis (panleukopenia), as well as calicivirus and herpesvirus (cat flu). This is typically referred to as an F3 vaccination. There has been a nationwide shortage of F3 vaccinations over the past several months but luckily we are starting to get vaccines back in stock! To keep your cat safe from disease while awaiting vaccination, we recommend keeping them indoors until they can be fully vaccinated.
All dogs should receive a core vaccination that provides protection against the most deadly diseases: canine parvovirus, distemper, and hepatitis. Dogs and puppies that meet other dogs are at risk of contracting canine cough, therefore we always recommend vaccinating against Parainfluenza and Bordetella as well. This combination vaccination is typically referred to as C5, and this is what we provide at The Vet Project.
Kittens and puppies should have their first vaccinations at 6-8 weeks of age, with boosters every 4 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age to be fully protected. All adult cats and dogs should have a yearly vaccination booster to keep their immunity strong throughout life.
Desexing
Desexing is the single best way to prevent pregnancy in our pets, which reduces the number of dogs and cats being euthanised in shelters or homeless on the streets. Surgical desexing is a safe, routine surgery where the reproductive organs are removed under anaesthesia. Most importantly, pets that are desexed live longer, healthier lives with fewer behavioural problems.
Desexing your pet before they are sexually mature is ideal and it offers a range of benefits including:
- less desire to roam looking for mates, which reduces chances of being injured
- eliminates disruptive reproductive behaviours
- less likely to scent mark by urine spraying
- eliminate the risks of pregnancy and uterine infections
- less likely to develop breast cancer
- less likely to show aggression
Click Here to read more about the many benefits of desexing!
Microchipping
A microchip is the most effective way to ensure your pet is reunited with you if they are ever lost. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted in between your pet's shoulder blades. The chip can be scanned to retrieve your contact details if they are turned in to a vet clinic, council pound or shelter. Please keep in mind that a microchip is NOT a GPS tracker, so keeping your personal contact details up to date on Central Animal Records is vital to being reunited with your pet. Click Here to visit the CAR website.
If you need help
If you are currently unable to look after your pet and need assistance, The Vet Project will endeavour to assist where possible and/or provide additional information regarding where you can get help. Email us at info@thevetproject.com.au