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FLEA CONTROL | WORM CONTROL | VACCINATIONS | DESEXING

Puppies are like babies and require special care.  We hope that this information sheet will assist you with some of the information you need to know.

Feeding:         Feed 3-4 times daily. At Remuera vet we recommend you feed a balanced premium diet developed especially for different breeds such as Eukanuba small, medium and large breed puppy or Hill’s growth and large breed formulas. These brands are the leading premium diets worldwide. They are nutritionally superior to supermarket jellimeats, dog roll and biscuits and cheaper on a daily basis. They reduce the incidence of some bone diseases common in young dogs.

Vaccination:   Very important indeed. First vaccination at 6 weeks of age then 9 and 12 weeks of age followed by a booster 12 months later. Vaccination conveys protection against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Adenovirus ,a new disease Leptospirosis and  Bordatella .A new “vaccine” is also available against the most important bacteria that cause tooth loss and we would recommend this in breeds that more commonly develop severe dental disease.

Microchipping: Microchipping provides proof positive identification  where collars are lost and pets are, injured ,stolen or end up in the pound. Auckland City requires all newly registered dogs to be micro chipped from 1 July 2006 .It is easiest to do this at de-sexing but it can be done at anytime.

Fleas:              Fleas are common in Auckland due to our moderate climate and high humidity. Theoretically 10 female fleas can increase to 250,000 within 30 days. Adult flea and egg killing preparation such as “Frontline Plus” can be used in pups over 8 weeks of age. Advantage Multi can be used in pups from 7 weeks of age. These products are safe, easy to apply and very efficient

Worming:        Worm pups every 2-3 weeks until 5 months of age. Thereafter every 4 months (or use Advantage Multi that will kill worms as well). We have tablets for your puppy’s requirements if you do not wish to use Advantage Multi.

Desexing:      Best carried out around 5 ½ months of age. Very early surgery is not desirable and despite much debate little benefit can be found with later spaying

Behaviour:     The first 16 weeks in a pup’s life is equivalent to the first few years in a toddler’s and some behaviour/attitudes are formed that tend to persist throughout life. Therefore we recommend puppy preschool to assist with socialization.  We are now running puppy socialisation classes for young puppies contact Jolene on 529-2091.  We have a booklet “Good Puppy “ on training strategies for puppies and control of the common behaviour problems e.g. toileting, chewing things etc. We recommend you have a resource like this on hand.

PS We are here to help. For any further information you require on this or any other subject please phone 529-2091.

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FLEA CONTROL

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q What is the best treatment for fleas on my cat or dog?

A This depends on your situation but currently one of the topical drop on the back of the insecticides that we have available would be best .Some will treat worms as well. Formulations are changing all the time but our staff will advise you on which are the best products.

Be careful as some of the older formulations available from non veterinary outlets contain insecticides that the fleas have resistance to and are no longer effective. At Remuera Veterinary Medical Centre we stock only the newer, more effective (and safer) effective ingredients.

They however do rely on owners remembering to put them on monthly and so if we forget and put them on late some fleas will get a chance to lay eggs that fall onto the carpet .These will hatch at some point so you will see live fleas on your pet for a while, as they hatch out and hop onto your pet .However they will live form hours to a day or two .A telltale sign is seeing fleas that are more sluggish (i.e. dying)

Q Are there flea treatments that I don’t have to put on monthly?

A We have foggers that will last up to 12 months on carpet and rugs. These brands are not degraded by sunlight as some others are .They kill adult fleas for only a week or so after release but eggs are killed for up to 12 months which breaks the flea life cycle. Fleas have a similar life cycle to butterflies!

Eggs hatch into caterpillars which form cocoons then hatch into the adult flea-95% of the life cycle is the pre adult stage which happens off the pet in the environment. Mostly on indoor flooring!

There is also an injection for cats that lasts 6 months and sterilises all fleas feeding on that cat.

Foggers and the injection  do not really target adult fleas .They will prevent bad infestations but are best supplemented by an occasional adult killing treatment such as the topical drops above. They are very useful if you are a bit forgetful with regular treatment as an insurance policy .

Q I’ve used flea collars and powder but my pet still has fleas?

A The insecticides in those products have been around for decades although brand names and packaging changes. Although good in their time they were less effective to start with than the modern products and resistance to them is widespread now. They are also more toxic then modern products. We don’t recommend or stock any of them because of this.

Q. Is it safe to put flea control on my young pup or kitten?

A Yes. We have safe and effective treatments for very young pets.

Q My child has some flea bites. What do I use?  I can’t see fleas in the carpet or one my pet.

A There will be flea faeces on your pet .Always look for these rather than adult fleas to confirm the presence of fleas. Fleas actually prefer cats and dogs so will only attack humans if very hungry .This is either because there is a very large number of them or the pets are not around .This classically happens when our pets haven’t been on flea control in spring and we go away at Christmas and board our pets .As we arrive back home we are the first blood meal those fleas will have seen for a while!

What all this means is that you need to kill the fleas in the flooring with foggers and use an effective topical insecticide on them as well. 

Q Do you have treatments for rabbits with fleas?

A Yes we have safe treatments for rabbits –they will also deal with mites as well.

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WORM CONTROL

Round Worm | Tape Worm | Whip Worm

Round Worm

These intestinal parasites can often be found in young puppies and kittens. They measure two to six inches in length and look like very thin pieces of spaghetti. Roundworm infections often cause puppies to appear pot-bellied or bloated, anemic, have diarrhea, weight loss and vomit. The puppies are often less lively and do not grow as well as uninfected puppies. Coughing is also an occasional symptom of roundworm infections.

Since the parasites can travel from the mother to the unborn, puppies are usually born with roundworms.

Young puppies can also become infected while nursing. (Roundworm larvae are passed in the mother's milk.) In fact about 95% of pups at 6 weeks of age that have not been dewormed have roundworms!!

Adult dogs become infected by ingesting material contaminated by feces. After hatching in the dog's intestine, roundworm larva are carried by the bloodstream to the lungs. From the lungs, the larvae crawl up the windpipe and are swallowed. Once the larvae are in the intestine, they grow to adulthood. Coughing may occur when the larvae are in the throat in some very severe infestations.

Accurate diagnosis of roundworms is important since they can cause serious problems. Puppies can die from severe roundworm infections. As a precautionary measure, most veterinarians routinely treat young puppies for roundworm infections.

Anytime a dog has a digestive tract problem, a stool exam can detect or rule out the presence of internal parasites or alternatively they can just be dewormed.

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Tape Worm

Tapeworm Infection in dogs and cats

Tapeworms are common parasites that live in the small intestine of dogs, cats and other animals. Dipylidium caninum, the most common tapeworm of dogs and cats, is transmitted by fleas. They cannot have this parasite unless they have fleas. Dogs and cats become infected with this tapeworm by ingesting fleas (during self grooming and licking.

The adult tapeworm consists of a head and a very long body. The body is made up of many segments. Some of the segments (called proglottids) break off and are passed in the feces. The proglottids are cream colored and are often seen attached to fur around the animal's anus.

The proglottids (segments) of Dipylidium caninum are very mobile and crawl around the animal's anal area. This produces an itching sensation and may cause the animal to "scoot" across the floor. However this is more commonly a symptom of anal gland impaction. 

Tapeworms are diagnosed by identifying the proglottids (segments). These segments are about the size of a grain of rice and are found in the pet's bedding, attached to the fur around the anus, or in the feces.

Tapeworm infection rarely causes noticeable clinical symptoms. A voracious appetite is sometimes observed as well as a slight decline in body condition. Sometimes a small amount of blood in the faeces may be noticed in cats

Medication is available for treating tapeworm infection. The medication kills the adult worm. After successful treatment, segments are no longer seen in the feces.

Flea prevention is an excellent method of stopping Dipylidium caninum infection.

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Whip Worm

(Trichuriasis)

Whipworms are small thread-like parasites that embed deep within the lining of the colon (large intestine) and cecum. Trichuris vulpis, the canine whipworm, is a common parasite and is a major cause of diarrhea in the dog.

Many outlets sell medications that do not kill all worms especially whipworms .This is unfortunately extremely common so it is important to use the right medications in worm treatment.

Whipworms infect dogs of all ages. Clinical symptoms often depend upon the number of parasites embedded in the colon and cecum. Symptoms can range from slight diarrhea to massive rectal bleeding. In most dogs, a mucoid-like diarrhea is generally observed.

The diagnosis of whipworm infection is made by observing the characteristic parasite eggs under a microscopic. These eggs are not shed every day in the faeces so may be difficult to find.

Medication is available for the treatment of whipworm infection. Pets may need multiple treatments in order to eliminate the parasite. We can discuss the method of treatment that is best suited for your pet.

Whipworm is extremely difficult to eliminate from infected soil. Dogs that have access to these areas often re infect continuously. A specific treatment protocol is usually required for these dogs.

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