The first developmental check takes place when your pet is 4 months old.  At this point your pet will have had all of their vaccinations for their first year. It will be approximately one month since we have seen your pet so it is very important that we weigh them when they arrive to monitor how much they have grown in that time.

During their check up our veterinary nurse will:

• Examine your pet from nose to tail
• Check that their teeth, ears and coat are all in good condition
• Check that their microchip is registered with your details
• Give you a parasite prevention plan specifically tailored to your pet’s needs
• Discuss your pet’s diet and increase/decrease the amount to feed
• Give you an appointment for your pet’s next developmental check

The second developmental check takes place once your pet has reached 6 months of age. Your pet will have grown a lot since their last check and they are now old enough to be neutered. They will be weighed again and this will be used to help monitor their growth.

During their check up our veterinary nurse will:

• Examine your pet from nose to tail
• Check that your pet has lost all of their puppy/kitten teeth
• Talk about behaviour
• Discuss your pet’s diet and increase/decrease the amount to feed
• Check that they are up to date on their parasite treatment
• Discuss neutering and book an appointment for your pet

Developmental checks can be booked Monday – Friday. To book your pet’s appointment you can call us on 01 6237044.

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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

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Bringing your kitten home:

A new addition to the family is a very exciting and rewarding time for everyone. You should prepare your home for the new kitten in advance so that it makes it easier for him or her to settle in to the new home. The new kitten may be nervous as this is completely new to them so expect that it may take some time for them to settle in to their new home. A few tips to help the transition include:

• Have a space in the house that is just for the kitten. He/she may be quite nervous when first entering the new house so will need somewhere to hide. Give the kitten time to get used to their own surroundings and in time they will come out to play. It is a good idea to keep the kitten confined to this area until he/she is more confident and then let the kitten explore the rest of its surroundings. Leaving the cat box that the kitten came home in in the room for a day or two is a good idea as it provides a good hiding place for the kitten is he/she is nervous. Make sure the room provides a comfortable sleeping place
• Have lots of toys available as kittens are very playful. A scratching post in a good idea as kittens love to scratch and also it will stop them going for the furniture.
• Make sure the kitten has its own food and water bowl and litter tray. Cats prefer shallow bowls so it is an idea to get bowls specially designed for cats. Also make sure the litter tray is cleaned out after every use as some cats won’t use it twice and will go elsewhere in the house.
• Most importantly provide lots of time affection to the new addition and enjoy your time with you new pet but don’t force it if the kitten is nervous at first. It may take some time for him/her to adjust.

The First Year:

In the first year of your kittens’ life there are a few things which you will encounter. Out staff in Anicare will be happy to help with any questions or problems you may have.

• Vaccinating your kitten is very important as it provides protection against many diseases. A kitten’s first vaccination will be from 9 weeks of age and its second vaccination will be three weeks after this. Following this your kitten will need a yearly booster to stay fully protected. Our team in any of our Dublin Veterinary Hospitals will be happy to advise
• Micro chipping can be done at any age and this is very important especially if your cat is going to be going outdoors.
• Worming is very important for the kitten. Up to 12 weeks of age the kitten should be wormed every two weeks, from then it will be monthly till six months and from six months at least every three months. A spot on called Advocate can be given monthly which will combine flea and roundworm treatment.
• Neutering can take place from six months of age and is important to stop unwanted kittens as well as providing health benefits to the cat.

Our team at Anicare are always available to provide advice and listen to any queries that you may have. We also have nurse clinics which provide free kitten checks so don’t hesitate to call us and make an appointment.