Lungworm – what is it and how to prevent it?
There are a range of different lungworms in Ireland - the Fox Lungworm (Crenosoma vulpis), the Cat Lungworm (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) and the Dog Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum). However, it is the Dog Lungworm that is the most dangerous, and that’s the one we’ll be talking about in this blog. Does it live in the dog’s lungs? Actually, no - the adult worms live inside the large blood vessels leading to the lungs and in the right side of the heart. It’s other name is the French Heartworm, but don’t get it mixed up with the “true” Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) which is [...]
Why Sign Up To Our Pet Healthcare Plan?
Do you find it difficult to keep up to date with your pet’s healthcare needs? With yearly vaccinations required and an overwhelming selection of parasitic products to choose from, it is easy for owners to fall behind on their pet’s preventative treatments. Our Pet Healthcare Plan can make preventative healthcare easy for all dog and cat owners. We can provide you with all the treatments you need each year to keep your beloved pet fully covered, so they never miss a booster vaccination or worming treatment again. What is preventative healthcare? To keep our dogs and cats healthy, they require [...]
Helping your pet lose weight
As we enter February, many of us may be putting our New Year’s resolutions to the back of our minds. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to share the weight loss motivation with your pet? In fact, actually forming a team with your pet, to both lose weight together may help - the extra walkies will have dual purpose! Obesity is a serious disease which can be avoided, unlike many other diseases. It affects both humans and animals in a very similar way. Obesity is caused when a pet’s intake of calories (Kcal) is more than the energy they are [...]
Winter Hazards
As the weather gets colder, we need to think about how we can help our pets stay healthy throughout winter. We also need to provide our elderly or unwell pets with extra care, as they are more vulnerable to the effects of cold and icy conditions. To keep our pets safe there are several small changes that we can make that will allow us all to enjoy winter. Antifreeze Poisoning Ethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze products, such as screen wash. It is a highly toxic substance so it only takes a small amount to poison an animal. Unfortunately, [...]
Which vaccines do my cat and dog need?
Vaccines are essential to preventing life threatening illnesses in both humans and animals. We strongly recommend that all pets in our care receive vaccinations. The length of immunity provided by the vaccine varies between different vaccine brands, and for different diseases - it isn’t a “one size fits all”! What is a vaccine? A vaccine is a substance which contains weakened or genetically manipulated disease cells to make them harmless. Vaccines are made in many different ways but they all have the same effect - the vaccine is similar enough to the actual disease that it makes the body [...]
Contagious Cough Vaccine – what is it and does my dog need it?
Contagious Cough is a new name for the disease previously known as Kennel Cough. The old name suggested that it was only a problem for dogs in kennels. Unfortunately, as the disease is airborne and highly infectious, this is not the case. Any contact with other dogs can result in your dog becoming infected. Transmission of the disease is either by breathing in airborne particles, or when your dog encounters objects such as food bowls or beds that have been coughed on by infected dogs. Therefore, it is possible for a dog to pick it up in any area where [...]