Congratulations on your new pet. Together you and your dog will embark on a wonderful journey.

Having a new dog or puppy can be a little overwhelming at the beginning: we are here to help you with any queries and to give advice on puppy training, toilet training, biting behaviour, puppy discipline etc.

There can be so many things to take on board when you get a new dog so Anicare vets have compiled a 9 point checklist to get you started.

Susan Barry, our vet in Palmerstown veterinary hospital, Dublin recently adopted a new dog and used the checklist to ensure Peggy is fit and healthy:

HEALTH AND WELL BEING CHECKLIST:

1. Vet examination- your dog will be examined from nose to tail to ensure they are perfectly healthy.
2. Vaccinations- necessary to prevent your dog from contracting a fatal disease. Boosters need to be given yearly for the rest of the dog’s life. Ensure your dog is also vaccinated against Canine cough- you vet will explain the importance of this.
3. Flea and worm treatment- many products available- always get your products from your vet. Combined flea and worm treatments, which are liquids applied to the back of the neck every month are now very popular. Flea and worm treatments keep your pet healthy and your house and family free of parasites!
4. Microchip and dog license. All dogs must be microchipped- your vet will do this. The dog license can be purchased at your local post office. Dog licenses are renewed yearly.
5. Pet health insurance- highly recommended by all of the vets and vet nurses in Palmerstown, who all have insurance for their own pets:  “it allows you to avail of all of the diagnostics and treatments without the financial constraints” says Paula Sanfey, vet nurse, Palmerstown.
6. Food- try and stick to a dry dog food, no table food, and minimal treats. Feed puppy food to puppies, adult food to adult dogs and low fat food to neutered adults. Our vet hospital receptionist and nurses are trained in pet nutrition and are delighted to advise you on the optimal diet for your new puppy / dog.
7. Neutering- although not done until 6 months of age onwards, it is good to be aware of it and its many health benefits now. Your vet will explain why this is so important.
8. Training and puppy classes. Here at Palmerstown veterinary hospital our vet nurse. Catriona Higgins. runs puppy preschool where puppies up to 18 weeks old and their owners will learn the basic commands, how to socialise with other dogs and people and all about disciplinary procedures! There are various other adult dog training courses around Dublin which we would be happy to recommend

SHOPPING CHECKLIST:

1. Dog bed, something that can be washed in the machine/ wipes clean is ideal- some people like to buy a crate for their puppy to help with the toilet training and confine them at night/ while out.
2. Dog bowls- one for water and one for food
3. Chew toys- puppies love to chew so having plenty of toys (suitable for puppy/ adult dogs) will save your house and belongings!
4. Wipes and disinfectant! – There will be plenty of accidents in the early days while and puppy is being toilet trained/ adult dog is getting used to their new surroundings.

Remember also to dog proof your house. Keep remote controls, phone chargers, electrical cables etc out of reach. You can use a baby gate to confine your dog to certain rooms/ stop them going up or down stairs.

We are always available at Palmerstown veterinary hospital to take a call and answer any queries you have. Just call us on 01 6237044

You can also pick our brains on FACEBOOK!

Love is in the air this February at Palmerstown Veterinary Hospital and we have put together our 6 TOP TIPS on how to show your pet the love by keeping them healthy.

1. Make sure you are up to date with your VACCINATIONS. Your pet will need a yearly booster to ensure that they are fully protected. We send out text reminders but if you are unsure as to when your pet is due, call us on 01 6237044 and we can check your file.
2. Your pet should be treated with FLEA & WORM TREATMENT regularly. There are a variety of products available so why not pop in to us with your pet so we can weigh them and advise you on the best treatment for your pet.
3. MICROCHIPPING is a simple procedure and the quickest way to ensure you are reunited with your pet should they go missing. We are currently offering this at a discounted price of €20!
4. Is your pet NEUTERED? The benefits of neutering are numerous and include the prevention of unwanted litters, prevention of testicular tumours in males, the prevention of mammary tumours in females…to name but a few. If your pet is not neutered, please call us and we can discuss the procedure with you.
5. Does your pet have HEALTH INSURANCE? Pet health insurance helps cover the cost of veterinary bills when your pet becomes ill or injured. There are numerous health insurers on the market so if you need more information, you can call us.
6. NUTRITION is another important way of keeping your pet healthy. At Palmerstown Veterinary Hospital we recommend feeding Hills Science Plan/Vet Essentials or a Prescription diet depending on what your pets needs are. We can advise you on the best diet for your pet if you are unsure.

We hope you found our tips useful but if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01 6237044.

Fleas thrive in warm, moist environments and climates- In Ireland fleas are more common in spring, summer and Autumn- however fleas can live indoors during the winter. Fleas have four main stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult and of these 4 life stages only the adult stage lives on the animal- the remainder occur in the surrounding environment- which could be our house!  The adult female flea lays up to 50 eggs per day. The main flea food is blood from the host animal. Host animals are many species for example – cats, dogs, rabbits.

It is very important that we treat our pets every month to stop them from getting fleas. There are many topical flea preparations available at all of our Anicare branches which are very effective at killing and preventing fleas. They come in the form of pipettes of fluid (no more than 2ml in each pipette) that are dropped onto the skin on the back of your pet’s neck. We also have environmental treatments to deal with the intermediate stages of the fleas’ lifecycle.

The entire life cycle of the flea is quite variable( depending on the environmental conditions) and can be as short as two weeks or as long as two years. That is why it is so important to remain vigilant with your flea treatment even when a flea problem is thought to be under control!