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| Home | About Us | The Team | Newsletter | Client Information | Internet Resources | Contact Us | |
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| Home | About Us | The Team | Newsletter | Client Information | Internet Resources | Contact Us | |
Welcome to the Linden House Veterinary Centre Website - Client Information
We can offer the following services to your pet:
Flea Life Cycle Fleas live on a variety of pets and are most commonly noticed on dogs and cats. Fleas bite the animal, feed off their blood and spend most of their lives on the animal. However, fleas tend to lay their eggs elsewhere - for example on your carpets, bedding and furniture. When the flea eggs hatch, the larvae (immature fleas) emerge and find a nearby pet, the larvae grow into adult fleas and so the cycle continues. In just one year a single flea can lay many thousands of eggs, which in 3 weeks can grow into adults themselves. Flea Treatment for your House Treating your pet only deals with part of the problem - it is essential to treat the environment too. This is best achieved by using an aerosol spray. This treatment lasts between 6-12 months . Comprehensive flea control means treating both the animal and the environment and frequently enough to break the lifecycle. A full range of flea control products are available from your Veterinary Surgeon - please ask at reception for details. Important Points to Remember
Looking after your pregnant bitch It is very important to ensure that your dog is fit and well before mating her in order for her to have a trouble free pregnancy and whelping. Do not over feed your pregnant dog, a fat dog will be unfit and less likely to be able to whelp normally. She needs to be fit and active during her pregnancy. Do not increase her feed intake until the sixth week of pregnancy. Up to the time of the birth gradually increase the food intake, as a rough guide, by 50 - 100% depending on the size of the bitch/number of puppies. Later in pregnancy as the puppies and uterus increase in size she will need more frequent small meals rather than once daily feeding. Fresh water must always be available. By the time the pups are 4 weeks old the amount you are feeding your bitch should be doubled/tripled depending on the size of the litter. Do not over supplement with calcium especially in early pregnancy, as you will stop her normal mechanisms releasing her stored calcium and actually increase the likelihood of eclampsia (milk fever). Calcium supplementation can begin from the seventh week of pregnancy, but may not be necessary if the bitch is on a balanced diet until after the puppies are born. You should thoroughly worm your dog during mid to late pregnancy to reduce the likelihood of her passing on roundworms to her puppies. Ensure the product you use is safe in pregnant bitches. Your vet will advise you of a suitable wormer. Keep your bitch active while pregnant but avoid excessive or severe exercise (eg jumping) later in pregnancy. You must decide where you would like her to whelp ensuring it is a quiet, clean, draught free area where she will not be disturbed. Provide a whelping box and plenty of newspapers as bedding so she can make a nest and it will be easy to clean. Get her used to her whelping box well before the puppies are due possibly by using it as her sleeping area so she is happy to whelp there. Usually the pregnancy lasts 63 days. If you have any worries regarding her pregnancy or any other problem please contact the surgery. Usually the puppies will be born after 63 days although 2 or 3 days either way is not unusual. These notes are only a guide as to what to expect as all dogs are different and if you are in any way concerned please contact the surgery. We do have a 24-hour emergency service. Especially for her first litter your bitch may be bewildered by the experience and seem not to know what to do, but do remember most dogs whelp without any difficulty and too much interference, even if well meaning, may stop her whelping normally. Before she is due you should have provided a whelping box with plenty of newspaper in a secluded, warm, draught free place for her to have her puppies. Products (e.g. Vetbed) can be purchased to provide a more comfort and warmth whilst still being clean and hygienic. A heat lamp may be required if the room is not very warm. Up to 24 hours before giving birth she may refuse food and act in a peculiar way, hiding away, refusing attention, and being restless. At this stage her temperature also falls. This is called FIRST STAGE LABOUR. Eventually she will seem more unsettled and you may see minor contractions running over her abdomen. These will become more frequent and more forceful and finally actual straining is seen. During this stage panting is quite normal. A bottle green fluid lies in the placenta and if this is seen it means the placenta is beginning to separate and a puppy should be born within 15 minutes. This is only a guide for the first puppy. Sometimes you may see a water bag protruding from the vulva and again birth is imminent although often the bitch bites through this while licking the vulva and so it is not seen. Once she is straining hard it should not be more than 1 hour before a puppy is born, so if she is straining excessively do telephone the surgery for advice. Usually there should not be more than 1 hour's gap between puppies. Puppies may be born in the bag but usually the bitch breaks this quickly and begins licking the puppy. If she does not do this you need to break the bag and clean the membranes from the puppy's nose and mouth. Do take care, as even the most devoted dog can be unpredictable when protecting her puppies. Usually she will also tear the umbilical cord. If necessary you can do this by tying 2 pieces of thick cotton tightly around it 2 inches from the puppy and breaking between the ties. The mother will lick the puppy vigorously to stimulate breathing and to clean and dry it. If she ignores it you may need to rub the puppy repeatedly with a clean flannel. Do not be too keen to interfere at this stage as you may unsettle the bitch and make her less likely to mother the puppies properly. Each puppy has its own placenta but you may not see each one as often the bitch eats them quickly, licking them away from the vulva before they are totally passed. If you are unsure as to whether all the placental material is passed a vet should check the bitch after whelping. Some bitches will not allow puppies to suckle until she has finished whelping. After the last puppy the bitch is usually much more settled, may go out to pass urine and may take some fluids. It may be difficult to know if she has finished but the panting and straining should stop and she should appear settled. Sometimes the bitch may rest for an hour or two after several pups have been born. You can only be sure some bitches have finished whelping by scanning the bitch to check for more puppies. The mother should be eating by the next day and appear bright and alert and passing urine and faeces. The puppies should sleep a lot and not cry persistently, as this is often a sign of an inadequate milk supply. The mother may continue to have a greenish or blood tinged discharge for up to a week but this should not smell or cause irritation. Please remember even a devoted pet will fiercely protect her puppies and so her temperament cannot be totally trusted, and do not interfere with the puppies any more than is totally necessary. Remember we are here to he if you are worried about either the mother or the puppies. Five good reasons to Neuter your Male Dog Neutering a Male Dog:
Neutering also:
Disadvantages of Neutering a Male: The only disadvantage of neutering a male dog is that you can no longer use your pet for breeding. Neutering does not normally change a pets character, nor does it make a pet fat. What the Operation Involves In a male dog the testicles are removed from the scrotum, which is left intact, there will be a few stitches in this area. Your dog need only be at Linden House Veterinary Centre from approximately 9am to 5 pm. He will be sedated shortly after he arrives, have a general anaesthetic for the short operation and spend the afternoon recovering. Within 2 - 3 days he will be back to his usual lively self. Your dog will need to return for a short consultation to have the stitches removed after 10 days. NEUTERED MALE DOGS LIVE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER
LIVES Five good reasons to Neuter your Female Dog Neutering a Bitch
Neutering a bitch also: Eliminates the risk of many common 'Female' Diseases. The following conditions are practically unknown in neutered females:
Disadvantages of Neutering a Female: The only disadvantage of neutering a female is that you can no longer use your pet for breeding. Neutering should NOT change a pets character, nor should it make them fat, although they do require less food once they have been spayed. What the Operation Involves: Unlike with humans both the ovaries and uterus of the bitch are removed.... this is necessary to gain the benefits outlined above. We will ask you to bring your dog to the surgery for 8:30 am, she will be sedated shortly after her arrival. She will have a general anaesthetic for the operation during the morning, and spend the afternoon waking up. One of our nursing staff will advise you of postoperative care when you come to collect your dog. Your bitch will need to return for a short consultation after 10 days to have the stitches removed. NEUTERED FEMALE DOGS LIVE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER
LIVES
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| 70 Mission Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4HX Telelphone: Diss (01379) 651183 |
