HELPFUL TIPS FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHLY DOG:

Worming:

PUPS: should be wormed every 2 or 3 weeks up until they are 12 weeks of age. Make sure the product is specifically designed for young pups and produced by a reputable manufacturer eg. Drontal or Paragard.

ADULT DOGS/ADOLENCENTS: from 3 months of age onwards, should be wormed every 3 or 4 months.

Remember, being the cheapest or the dearest product on the market doesn’t necessarily make it the best! Some monthly heartworm and flea products will also control intestinal worms. These products, will not however, treat tapeworms. If using such a product, you will also need to treat your dog for tapeworms separately every 3 months. If in doubt about any of these matters – check with your vet for advice.

Fleas:

Fleas are a problem here on the Sunshine Coast for 12 months of the year. They spend a considerable amount of their life cycle off your pet. They are opportunists – they hop onto your pet to feed then hop off into your carpets or yard to lay eggs and start the cycle over again. A single female flea can lay thousands of eggs in her short life span. The cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 18 months in ideal conditions. Your vet has several products for flea control. Products such as Frontline, Advantix, Revolution or Sentinel are well regarded. Frontline and Advantix should be your first choice if you live in a tick prone area.

If your pet spends time inside your house then regular vacuuming of floors and carpets is essential to control fleas.

Heartworm:

Queensland is considered ENDEMIC with regards to heartworm. Dogs and cats living in this area will be exposed to heartworm carrying mosquitoes throughout the year. Any dog that is not on heartworm preventative medication will almost certainly become infected with heartworm within 12 months of exposure.

Time taken between becoming infected and showing symptoms can vary depending on the level of infection, but in some cases the symptoms can be evident within the first 2 or 3 years of the dog’s life.

Treatment once the dog has heartworm can be expensive, lengthy and more importantly, it can be debilitating to the health of the dog.

Fast and inexpensive blood tests are now available that can be performed during a veterinary consultation to determine the heartworm status of your pets.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes – so just because your pet doesn’t mix with other pets, doesn’t mean it will be safe without preventative medication.

Your vet can advise you on several options for preventing heartworm infection.  Some of the available treatments are:

Heartgard – once a month tablet. Does not treat common intestinal worms and an additional worming treatment is necessary.

Proheart – SR 12 injection – this is a once a year injection that protects against heartworm. Does not treat for intestinal worms and an additional worming treatment is necessary.

Interceptor – once a month tablet preventing heartworm and intestinal worms. Except tapeworms. An additional treatment for tapeworms is required every 3 months.

Sentinel – same as with Interceptor but it also sterilizes fleas and prevent flea eggs hatching in your yard.

Whatever your requirements seek advice from your vet as to what will best suit your lifestyle and your pet.

DOES MY PET NEED A CHIROPRACTOR?

 Does your pet …..

Appear lethargic?

Have trouble getting up or lying down?

Tire more easily than it used to?

Play less than it used to?

Yelp or whimper sometimes?

Put off going to the toilet for as long as possible?

Avoid you grooming part of its body?

Have trouble getting comfortable at rest?

Have trouble sitting “square” or sits with legs to one side?

Limp?

Lick or chew a particular area of its body?

Have a skin allergy problem?

Has your pet stopped stretching front and back when it gets up?

Is your pet reluctant to jump up or down, in / out of the car, on / off furniture etc.

If you answered yes to any of these questions … then it would be worth having your pet examined by an animal chiropractor.

We are happy to recommend a veterinary chiropractor that has worked with our dogs and achieved great success. Please contact us for details and a referral.