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neutering your pet

Neutering your pet

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Neutering your pet – what you need to know.

The benefits of neutering can be applied to most species.

Neutering your pet can be done from as young as 4 months of age in rabbits and ferrets.

Cats – most cats are neutered around 5 months of age.

Dogs – we normally advise puppies wait until they are at least 6 months old. Most small and medium sized female dogs are neutered around 6 months of age ( before they have their first season). Most small and medium sized dogs are neutered between 6-9 months of age.

Large and giant breed dogs such as Dobermanns , Rottweilers, Great Danes, may be better neutered at an older age of around 12-15months between first and second seasons for females or when fully grown for male dogs.

Neutering your female will stop her coming into season or heat, this can be messy time and last for up to 3 weeks. It can also prevent unwanted male attention, phantom and actual pregnancy. It can also dramatically reduce the risk of mammary cancer developing when they are older, and prevents ovarian cancer and pyometra’s (uterine infections) – which can be fatal.

Timing of neutering                                                                   Mammary Tumour risk

Before first season

0.50%

After first season

8.00%

After second season

26.00%

After third season or over 2.5 years age

40.00%

Neutering your male can reduce: Urine spraying and marking, dominant behaviour, humping, testicular cancer and in cats can reduce them straying too far from home, which results in a much lower risk of road traffic accidents. 

Neutering your pet

Owners have a responsibility to care for their animals needs, pregnant and nursing animals need extra food, care and attention. When the babies are old enough you will need to find homes for each and every one and ensure that they are wormed, flea treated and all puppies over 8 weeks old legally have to be micro-chipped. We also recommend vaccinations as soon as your animal is old enough (8-9 weeks), to protect them against potentially fatal infections. 

Neutering pets, is something we perform on a regular basis here at Young Veterinary Partnership and we always recommend neutering your pet unless you plan to breed. It is a day surgery procedure (they are dropped off in the morning for the procedure and go home the same afternoon). 

  1. The morning of the surgery we ask that you do NOT give your kitten or puppy (this rule does NOT apply to rabbits). An empty stomach reduces the risk of vomiting under anaesthetic.

  2. Firstly we will book you a ‘Pre Op’ appointment, the morning of the surgery your pet will have a full health check with one of our experienced vets.

  3. Your pet will then be transferred to our kennels area and given a pre anaesthetic injection by our nursing team, to keep your pet calm and stress free.

  4. The surgery will usually takes less than 1 hour.

  5. Once fully awake and recovered your pet will be able to go home the same day.

  6. We ask than once home your pet is given a ‘light’ meal as they may feel slightly nauseous – we recommend a ‘recovery pack’ this is specially formulated easily digested tinned food for pets following surgery. Alternatively you can feed boiled chicken and rice.

  7. Then 7 – 10 days following surgery we ask that your pet returns for his or her stitches to be removed (please note male cats do not have stitches so do not need to return).

 

Your pet may be quiet for a day or so but should bounce back to normal, within a few days. Contact us today if you would like to book your pets neutering surgery.

  1. neutering your pet

Did You Know the UK cat adoption centres are facing a crisis due to the current overpopulation of cats!

Did You Know an un neutered female cat can produce 18 kittens per year, which can end up with 20,000 descendants in just 5 years!

Did You Know female cats can get pregnant from 4 months of age!

Almost 50,000 pet dogs are being dumped in Britain every year!

Did You Know neutering your rabbit can reduce cancer and urinary tract infections.

We hope the above has helped you decide to neuter your pet, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask any of our friendly team.

Autumn Newsletter.

Read our Autumn Newsletter here!

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Our Autumn Newsletter has arrived, read it here!

 

Do fireworks put your pet in a fizz?

Does your pet get stressed by fireworks? Or is your pet a real worrier? Sadly fireworks is more of a ‘season’ than a night so being prepared before they start is key to having a stress free home during fireworks. Read our NEWSLETTER for some top tips to help settle your pet and feel free to contact our team if you would like to discuss this further or get help for your pet.

 

Arthritis alert – Is your pet affected?

Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition caused by inflammation of the joints. It is more common in older pets, but can strike any breed or species. Read our NEWSLETTER to understand more about this condition and learn the signs to watch our for in your pet. There are many different treatments available for arthritis and every patient and joint is different so there is no set protocol. If you suspect your pet has arthritis contact our veterinary team for further advice.

 

Feeling ticked off?

Pets should be monitored daily for ticks, and if any are found these should be removed with a specially designed tick remover. Ticks can spread Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Erlichiosis. The latter two conditions are particularly prevalent abroad, so if you take your dog abroad on holiday, it is essential to protect them against ticks.

A German Shepherd

What to do if your pet suffers a seizure (fit).

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Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. It causes fits (seizures) in affected dogs, which often occur when they are resting.

 

  What to do if your pet suffers a seizure:

The fits usually last a few minutes only, and dogs may be confused for 5-15 minutes afterwards.  If your dog has a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes you should call your vet and arrange to take your pet immediately to the surgery.  We recommend if your dog has a seizure, they are left quietly with the lights off, ensuring they cannot fall down any steps or stairs. As they can be confused afterwards there is a risk of being bitten, so they should be left to recover alone. Occasionally a dog will have one seizure,  and will never have  another one, but in most cases the seizures will recur. Epilepsy usually starts in younger dogs.

 

 

 

Lola a chihuahua

 

  • Cats may also have seizures, due to epilepsy although it is much less common than in dogs. Older cats may also have seizures, but this is more commonly due to other medical problems. If your cat has a seizure they should be left alone to recover, with the lights turned out, ensuring that they cannot fall . A seizure will generally only last a minute or two.

  • Diagnosis of epilepsy-  there is no single test for epilepsy so we rely on ruling out other potential causes of seizures.  It is most helpful to take a video clip with your mobile phone of the fit so that the vet can see exactly what happens during the seizure.  Diagnosis of epilepsy  generally involves blood tests, and may include urine tests, x-rays and spinal fluid analysis. MRI scans may be performed to rule out brain tumours (although rare in younger dogs and cats).

 

  • Treatment of epilepsy is generally recommended if your pet has more than 1 seizure per month, or if your pet has cluster seizures  (one immediately after another). Once treatment is started it is usually lifelong. Happily most pets with epilepsy will live fairly normal lifespans with medical treatment.

 

If your pet suffers a seizure or your are concerned that your pet may suffer with epilepsy, please contact us to speak to one of our experienced vets.

NiNi

Has your older cat gone off their food?

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Looking after your golden oldies.

Did you know that by the time your kitten reaches 1 year of age it is the equivalent of around 15 human years! With improvements in nutrition, veterinary care, medicine and knowledge from the public cats, like most pets are living longer healthier lives but can still suffer the effects of old age. Read on to find out the signs to watch out for and how to help your older feline friend.

What to watch out for:

  • – They may meow more loudly than before this could be due to hearing loss. Bad breath, drooling and or change in eating habits, portion size and/or dropping food can be a sign of dental disease, don’t forget to keep an eye on the amount they are drinking too.

  • – Sensitivity to bright lights can be due to a decline in your cats vision.

  • – Your feline friend may also become less active due to arthritis so keep an eye out for sharper claws, we can easily clip your cats nails in a consultation and show you how to do it at home too.

  • – Just like humans, they can loose their sense of taste and smell which can cause them to go off their food which is why it is important to visit us at least once a year to keep an eye on their weight and general body condition.

  • – As we all know cats are the King’s and Queens of the Household and we are just their servants, this means they are extremely self reliant and masters of hiding their pain. Sadly this can mean that conditions like dental disease and arthritis can go unnoticed for a period of time. If your cat is slowing down or losing their appetite don’t ignore the signs, give our friendly team a call for some advice and to book a check up.

How to help your cat into old age 

If their favourite sunshine spot is on a high window ledge, make them a half way step to help their joints perhaps a chair or coffee table to help them up?

In winter time make sure their bed is extra cosy and warm for them to snuggle into,

Cold bones = Old bones.

Make sure they have regular weight and health checks.

If you have a multi cat household make sure the golden oldies have a quiet space to hide in.

Keep your pets microchip details up to date if something happens whilst they are out & about is your mobile number up to date on the records?

If you think your cat may be loosing her sense of smell try warming up the wet food, this can make it more appealing.

Grooming (particularly long haired coats) your cat will help strengthen your bond and older cats generally enjoy a gentle groom with a soft brush or comb.

Regular nail clips to ensure brittle nails do not get caught in furniture.

Try buying the smellier food such as salmon or tuna to help tempt their appetite.

If you have any concerns no matter how small do not hesitate to mention them to one of our team so we can help you care for your golden oldie.

Does your dog suffer with car sickness?

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Taking a trip to the vets . . .

We want your pet to be as happy to see us as we are to see them! 
Have a read through the below and make your trip to the vets as stress free as possible for your and your pets.
  • One of the first things to help create this trust is to drop in, particularly when your pet is young if you need a reason, our nurses and reception team love cuddles with your puppies and kittens and usually have a spare treat or two for them but we also offer free weight checks. This allows us to keep a record ensuring they’re growing up and gaining weight as they should be.
  • If you are nervous about the visit – don’t be! Our staff are highly experienced and have seen and heard it all. If it concerns you then please ask us , no question is too silly. Remain calm and ‘normal’ as your pet will pick up on any anxiety you may be feeling.
  • When visiting with cats we strongly recommend travelling your cat in a secure carrier not in your arms, even the calmest of cats can get stressed. If you have time, leave your carrier out a few days before your appointment, so your cat can climb in without being rushed. Try leaving a few treats and toys inside to tempt an investigation! Placing a towel over your carrier in the waiting room can help anxious cats – if you need one just ask us.
  • When travelling with dogs Invest in a doggie ‘seat belt’ or secure caged area of your car. If your dog suffers car sickness travel them on an empty stomach. Allow plenty of travel time so you are not rushed or late. Please keep your dog by your side in the waiting room. A vet practice can be a stressful place for pets and your laid back family dog could become stressed and snappy towards other dogs.
  • Practice ‘vet checks’ at home. Your pet is never to young or old to do this training: Gently look inside your pets eyes and ears, teeth and mouth, practice lifting each paw in turn and nail clipping this is something that can be done at home, check out our free guide> Cats and Dogs. Feel your pet all over from toe to tail. Spend 5 minutes a day practising the ‘all over’ handling and your pet will find an examination ‘normal’, when they come to us.
  • If you are coming in for a specific problem i.e. behaviour or tummy troubles write a diary of events and problems. Try to include what foods they’ve eaten, treats, where they have been park , swimming etc, times of day all of these things may be useful when finding a diagnosis.
  • Please ask our vets to write notes for you to take home if you are concerned you may not remember something that was mentioned or bring a friend or family member for help and support.
We do our very best to ensure that you are seen on time at you appointment time but emergencies and unpredictable cases can happen so please bear with us, our reception team will endeavour to keep your updated if the consultations are running a few minutes late.
Top tips to keep your pet safe this summer.

Summer Newsletter 2017.

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Our Summer 2017 Newsletter has arrived!

Things are hotting up!

Guinea pigs and rabbits need an area of shade so they do not overheat – guinea pigs in particular are unable to regulate their body temperature and both they and rabbits are vulnerable to sunburn. Flystrike in rabbits is a very serious problem during the warmer months, their rear ends become damp and this can attract flies and maggots. Call us immediately if you suspect your rabbit is showing signs of this deadly disease.

Just like us pets suffer with sunburn, particularly white/pale coloured animals. Cats are natural sunbathers, do you know how to reduce the risk  of sunburn to your cat? Find out in our summer newsletter.

 

Booster alert!

Kennel cough – is your dog vaccinated? As the weather warms up – so does the risk of Kennel Cough. It is very contagious and it is named Kennel cough because it can quickly spread through a kennel and infect every dog. It can be transmitted when sick animals share contaminated objects and transmitted by aerosols when they cough. Read our newsletter to learn the signs to watch out for.

 

Summer itches.

Harvest mites can cause itching issues in the summer and are picked up in the woodland and grassland where they swarm onto passing pets. They are very irritating, causing small crusty lesions, but they can be difficult to spot as they are so small. Our newsletter explains the signs to look out for if your pet is scratching more than usual during the summer months.

 

Read our Summer Newsletter here.

Pets with glasses.

Does your pet need glasses ?

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Does your pet ever suffer with bad eyesight or need glasses?

 

As dogs and cats get older (usually over 9 years old) they may develop a blue-grey cloudiness to the eyes , which is due to ageing changes in the lens (called nuclear sclerosis). This does not cause a loss of sight, and does not require any treatment. It tends to be more noticeable in dogs, perhaps because of their bigger eyes.  Many people confuse the appearance with cataracts (which can cause blindness), and examination by a vet will be needed to differentiate these conditions.

 

Things to watch out for, if you suspect your pets eyesight is not what it used to be.

Have you noticed your dogs behaviour pattern changing? Including bumping into things, becoming more ‘jumpy’ when touched and sometimes aggression to other dogs. These could be the start of a vision problem. Make notes of things that you notice, where it happened, if it was in bright light or darkness. As with any condition prompt attention and early diagnosis can be key to help treating conditions.

 

Pets can suffer with Cataracts too, just like humans.

 

Cataracts can be hereditary, which tend to occur earlier in life, or age related occurring in later life. Diabetic dogs (not cats though) are predisposed to cataract formation also. Typical causes for Cataracts in canines can include genetic abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, old age, eye inflammation, trauma and chronic eye infections.

Cataracts usually start small and in the first stages will be unlikely to cause vision problems, but Cataracts can grow so it is important to monitor its growth and check both eyes, as they can be found in one or both eyes.

 

If your pet has a cataract, then cataract removal may be possible to restore vision. It is similar to people needing glasses as they get older. We can’t provide them with glasses yet but who knows in the future !!!