General Services.

Why vaccinate?

Just like human diseases, viral dog and cat diseases are highly contagious and can be fatal. Treatment for such diseases is often lengthy and expensive, and there is no guarantee that it will be successful. Prevention in the form of vaccination is essential to protect your pet from serious and life threatening diseases.

When to vaccinate your pet

We recommend puppies and kittens be given an initial course of three vaccinations followed by continued annual vaccinations to maintain immunity against disease.

The physical examination

As part of our vaccination service we also perform a thorough physical examination and health assessment to ensure your pet is in good health. Pets can’t tell us when something is wrong and they are often good at hiding when they are in pain or discomfort. The physical examination is a very important component of the vaccination appointment as it provides an opportunity to detect any serious problems, allowing for early intervention and treatment.

What we check for during the physical examination:

The vet conducts a distant examination as soon as your pet walks through the door, examining coat, gate, posture, body condition, breathing and demeanor.

The vet will then move on to the hands on exam which involves a nose to tail approach, examining each component of your pet’s body.

Starting with the head, the veterinarian will observe any abnormalities in the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin, followed by an examination of the lymph nodes and glands under the jaw. Next the vet will assess your pet’s front limbs and listen to their heart and lungs to detect any abnormal sounds. Palpation of the abdomen will assess for swelling and pain of internal organs. The vet will also palpate the femoral pulses in the lymph nodes inside the thighs before checking the popliteal lymph nodes at the back of the legs. The hind legs are then examined for common diseases, focusing on the hips and knees.

The vet will then examine the genital area for abnormalities before taking your pet’s temperature. In some situations, the vet might also perform a rectal examination which will evaluate the consistency of faeces, the anal glands and check for any obstructions.

 

 

Protecting your pet and your family from nasty parasites

Did you know that some parasites are Zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to humans? That’s right, you and your family could catch some nasty parasites from your pet if they’re not properly protected!

Having a parasite free pet will ensure your family remains parasite free too! This means ensuring your pet is on a good quality wormer to prevent instetinal worms, flea and tick prevention and also heartworm prevention. We have a comprehensive range of preventative products in clinic, please speak to our friendly team about the most suitable options for your pet.

 

It is a Council requirement that all cats and dogs are microchipped and registered.

We recommend that both cats and dogs are microchipped so that should your pet ever go missing, the Council or veterinary clinic can contact you to ensure your pet returns home safely.

How does microchipping work?

A microchip is the most effective form of identification for your pet. It is as tiny as a grain of rice and holds a number that is exclusive to your pet. The microchip is implanted under the skin in between your pet’s shoulder blades and remains there for life. It’s as simple as getting any other injection, it only takes a few minutes.

The unique microchip identification number is recorded on a database registry along with your contact details. This database operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so your pet can be reunited with you at any time of the day or night should they go missing.

How to update my pet’s microchip details?

If you change address or telephone number, it is your responsibility to contact the appropriate registry to update your contact details.

Central Animal records
Phone 1800 333 202
www.car.com.au

Petsafe
Phone 02 8850 6800
www.petsafe.com.au

Australasian Animal Registry
02 9704 1450 or 1800 025 461
www.aar.org.au

Important Note!

Have you moved from NSW? If your pet is registered with the NSW Companion Animal Registry (www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au), it’s very important to update your pet’s details, as this register is not part of the national database and is not open on weekends. We have had lots of trouble trying to reunite missing pets with their owners due to this database. Come in to one of our clinics and we can help you update your details.

To book your pet in to be microchipped or if you need advice on updating your pet’s microchip details, please contact us today.

 

Faster results and treatment for your pet

At The Vet Lounge, we offer both in-house and laboratory pathology services. Each of our clinics are fitted with a blood analysis machine as well as a microscope to examine urine, skin scrapings, ear swabs and more. This quality in-house equipment allows us to analyse samples from your pet within our very own hospital, enabling faster results and treatment when you pet needs it most.

If more in depth testing is required, we will send your pet’s sample on to a specialist laboratory. We will discuss the results with you once they return from the specialist lab.

Digital xray & ultrasound

At The Vet Lounge, your pet’s health is our top priority. All of our clinics are fitted with digital X-Ray technology allowing us to investigate injuries and illness in house.

The Vet Lounge also offer ulstrasound. This non-invasive equipment allows us to examine the internal organs (e.g. liver, kidneys, bladder, uterus, intestines, heart etc.), ensuring we can provide prompt diagnosis and the most appropriate medical treatment for your pet.

Our experienced veterinarians will always discuss the results of your pet’s medical images as well as any relevant procedures and treatments that may be required. Should your pet require more in-depth imaging, we will refer you to a local specialist.

More than 80% of cats and dogs have some form of dental disease!

Dental problems are by far the single most common condition we deal with in practice. Bacteria play a major role in the formation of plaque, without treatment, tartar and calculus build up on your pet’s teeth which can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss and pain.

Not only is dental disease painful for your pet, weakened gums also allow bacteria to cross into the bloodstream which can result in other health conditions in your pet’s vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.

FREE teeth assessments

You can prevent the serious effects of dental disease by taking advantage of our FREE Teeth Assessments.

We recommended that you have your pet’s teeth checked regularly to identify problems early and to avoid the need for extractions. The longer you leave teeth issues, the worse they will become and the more it will cost to fix!

Veterinary dental procedures

Based on your pet’s Teeth Assessment findings, we may recommend a scale and polish to clean their teeth. All Vet Lounge practices use professional scalers and drills to clean the teeth. The scalers we use are the same as scalers human dentists use, they’re very gentle and allow us to remove bacteria without damaging the teeth and gums.

Should your pet require any dental extractions for retained puppy teeth, fractured or infected teeth, this can also be performed during the dental procedure.

A price estimate and outline of what will be involved will be provided prior to the procedure.

What you can do to keep your pet’s teeth healthy at home

There are a number of ways to keep pets teeth clean for longer. We stock a range of products including dental diets, chews, toothbrushes, pastes and water additives to help keep your pet’s teeth cleaner for longer. Our trained staff will advise you on which options are best for your pet’s breed and your lifestyle.

Simply contact your nearest Vet Lounge practice to book in your FREE Teeth Assessment with one of our trained nurses.

For more information about desexing click here