Yes, we now operate by appointment only. You can make an appointment online here, via phone on (01) 6714303 – (01) 4784348 or by email ”charlemontvets@gmail.com”. Of course, if you have an emergency we will do our best to see you as soon as possible, we advise that you phone on our way to us so that we can be ready for you. If you wish to be seen by a particular vet it is advisable to call ahead and check when they will be available for consultations
What vaccinations does my dog need?
We recommend puppies begin their vaccinations from 8 weeks of age with a second dose given 2-4 weeks later. Some pups may require an extra vaccination if presented at a young age or if the gap between the initial vaccines exceeds 4 weeks.
Adult dogs should be vaccinated annually to maintain levels of protective immunity.
Vaccination is generally required if you intend sending your dog to a boarding kennel at least a week beforehand. Kennel cough vaccines provide immunity for one year.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious condition causing a harsh, uncomfortable cough which can lead on to more serious respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Traditionally associated with kennelled dogs it can also be contracted by dogs mixing in parks, dog shows and breeding establishments.
Cats require vaccination against the following diseases:
We recommend kittens should receive 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart starting from 9 weeks of age against cat flu and feline enteritis. If the kitten will have access to the outdoors or shares the home with other cats that have ever had outdoor access we recommend vaccination against feline leukaemia at these visits as well.
Adult cats require annual re-vaccination with a single dose to maintain levels of immunity even in indoor cats. Feline leukaemia vaccination is also recommended annually.
Living indoors does not remove the risks of infection for feline enteritis and cat flu as the viruses causing them can be transported on the soles of our feet and on shopping bags when we return home.
Feline leukaemia virus is an increasingly common cancer causing virus of cats that can be transmitted via blood and saliva (through fights and grooming) or via close contact with an infected cat. We recommend vaccination in cats that have any access to outdoors as they are then at risk from contact with infected cats.
Dogs and cats commonly carry roundworms from the time they are born. As roundworms reproduce, microscopic eggs are then excreted by your pet and can be harmful to you, your pet, and your children it is vital to regularly and effectively treat against them. A variety of other worms including tapeworm and lungworm can also cause harm to your pet and require regular control.
We advise that puppies and kittens be treated every 2 weeks from birth to 12 weeks and then every 4 weeks until they reach 6 months of age. As adults, dogs and cats should be dewormed every 1-2 months. In the case of a pregnant dog or cat they should be dewormed 3 weeks before and again 3 weeks after giving birth.
In the case of a pregnant dog or cat they should be dewormed 3 weeks before and again 3 weeks after giving birth.
Lungworm has become an increasingly common problem for dogs and is often contracted through ingesting slugs and snails. They can lead to serious health problems which are often not recognised until quite late, so it is important to use worm treatments that are effective against them.
It is vital to choose an appropriate, effective worm treatment and our vets can advise you which is most suitable for your pet.
If your pet has been examined within the last 12 months at the practice and we are confident we have an accurate weight for your pet we can supply the most effective worm treatments to you without having to bring the pet in. Otherwise it is necessary for us to examine the pet to allow us comply with legislation as most of these products are “prescription only medicines” (POM).
We recommend that you treat your pet once a month with either a topical ( “spot on”) which typically lasts for 1 month or an oral treatment which can last 1-3 months depending on the product. This is particularly important during the warmer months of the year but if your pet regularly meets other pets while on walks or in parks or in the case of cats if they have access to the outdoors where they may encounter wildlife or feral cats it is advisable to treat them monthly year round.
There are many treatments available to control fleas either as “spot on” pipettes, sprays, tablets, washes, collars and powders. We advise only the use of prescription anti parasitics as over the counter products may not be as effective. Our veterinary and nursing staff can advise you on the most appropriate products for your pet and if you wish we can apply them for you. All of the flea products that we use are prescription only thus ensuring that they are very effective at rapidly controlling any flea infestation.
Yes, fleas are a very mobile parasite and will transfer easily from one pet to another in a home either through direct contact or through shared bedding or even a shared environment such as carpets and furniture. Thus it is essential to treat every pet in the home to remove a flea problem even if some of the pets never venture outdoors.
Yes. Fleas are a very prolific parasite and can lay a large number of eggs which in turn can hatch over a period of time ensuring an ongoing problem once they are introduced to the home.
Fleas are also very mobile and jump large distances relative to their size leading to infestations commonly in carpets, bedding and furniture. It is essential to wash any bedding or fabrics that the pet has had contact with and to vacuum your carpets. Bedding that cannot be properly washed should be destroyed. It is often necessary to use a spray to eliminate fleas where there are large areas of carpet or bedding that may have become infested. These sprays provide residual protection against hatching flea eggs for up to a year. Our staff can provide details on how best to use these products.
We advise that dogs and cats be neutered early in their lives unless it is definitely intended for them to breed. Many thousands of puppies and kittens are taken in by animal shelters across the country each year as a result of unplanned breeding and only a small percentage of these animals are ever re-homed with the others sadly being euthanized . As pet owners, it is our responsibility to reduce this problem of overpopulation by spaying our female dogs and cats.
We advise that female dogs and cats be spayed at between 5 and 6 months of age prior to their first heat (oestrus) as this significantly reduces the risk of them ever developing breast cancer later in their lives. It also eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers and other reproductive problems such as false pregnancy and pyometra (womb infection) which are common conditions in dogs.
Male dogs and cats should be neutered at 6 months of age as this removes the possibility of developing testicular cancer later in life and drastically reduces the incidence of prostate diseases and other disorders of the reproductive tract. It reduces their tendency to wander, meaning less injuries from traffic accidents. Male cats also benefit from neutering as they will fight less, reducing their chances of contracting viral diseases such as Feline AIDS and Feline Leukemia.
Lastly any tendency to urine spray (commonly done to mark territory by dogs and cats) should reduce greatly or cease after neutering.
Your pets personality should be unaffected by neutering but some undesirable traits such as aggression toward other dogs and cats; urine marking and straying should be eliminated or greatly reduced when they are neutered at an early age before behaviour patterns become established.
No. There is no reason for your pet to become obese after neutering so long as you regulate their diet and exercise properly. We recommend a slight reduction in calorie intake of about 10% after neutering. Overfeeding and under-exercising are the commonest reasons for pets becoming obese.
A microchip is a small implant (about 7mm long) with a unique 15-digit number which reliably identifies your pet should they become lost and be brought to a dog pound or veterinary surgery. It is injected under your pets skin with little or no discomfort while they are awake although we commonly implant microchips when pets are already under anaesthetics for other reasons. We recommend that all pets be microchipped to give you the peace of mind should they become lost or escape accidentally, this gives the best chance possible of them being returned safely and quickly.
Remember to ensure that your details and those of your pet are registered with a reliable microchip database and that they are correct, if not, the microchip is useless. Our staff will advise you on how to do this at the time of implantation.
In the case of a previously microchipped pet that you have purchased or re-homed, it is vital to ensure the microchip is re-registered with your details. This is commonly overlooked leading to great difficulty reuniting a lost pet with it’s owner. Please check with your vet.
A microchip is not a tracking device. It needs to be scanned for someone to read it’s details and trace the owner. These scanners are used in all veterinary practices, rescue shelters and dog pounds.
We strongly recommend that owners should consider insuring their pets. Veterinary medicine and surgery has seen major advancements in recent years meaning that treatments and investigations are now available for our pets that were previously only available to human medicine such as joint replacements for arthritis, MRI scanning, cataract surgery and chemotherapy for cancer cases. These treatments do however often come with a considerable cost attached and often arise unexpectedly. Pet insurance offers peace of mind that you can provide the best possible care for your pet when required without the financial burden.
It is now possible for your dog or cat to travel abroad to certain qualifying countries and return to Ireland without having to go through the quarantine process under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) once certain conditions are met. The countries include most of Western Europe, Scandinavia, USA, Australia and South America (see link for full list).
Importantly, for countries outside of the EU it can take up to 8 months to have all paperwork in order and you should consider this when making your travel plans.
