At Hitchin Vets we recommend getting female dogs spayed from 6 months of age, although there is some evidence to suggest that some breeds would benefit from delayed surgery. We offer a pre-op check to all clients, free of charge, to discuss individual pet needs and when the best time would be to book in for surgery. 

 

The surgical procedure involves a general anaesthetic whereby we remove your pet’s ovaries, known as Ovariectomy (OVE). If, however we find any abnormalities with the womb during surgery we will undertake a full Ovariohysterectomy (OVH), which possibly has an increased risk with older animals. Both methods of surgery ensure that your bitch will no longer be able to have puppies, or come into season. 

 

This procedure is carried out at the surgery as a day procedure, whereby we would admit your pet on the morning of the surgery, between 9 – 9.20am, and complete a full discharge appointment later that same day. You are also welcomed to one free of charge post op check for us to check the wound, roughly around the 7 – 10 day mark after surgery. 

 

If you would prefer to wait until after your dog has had a season to spay, we would recommend waiting 3 months from the first signs of the start of the season to get this booked in. If your dog has not been spayed they are likely to come ‘into heat’ usually around every 6 months. At this point, we would recommend keeping her away from male dogs and on a lead while allowing her to exercise as male dogs will be attracted to her for a period of 7-10 days. 

The health benefits of spaying your dog; 

 

 

After spaying it is indicated that they will be more likely to increase their weight due to the hormone change, which can be more common in some breeds. We would therefore recommend monitoring your pets’ weight after surgery to ensure that the weight does not creep up, as if so, we would need to revisit the daily food intake. All anaesthetics carry an element of risk; however, we can offer a pre-anaesthetic blood test to see if there are any underlying health concerns which could compromise the anaesthetic, which would be run before we go ahead with surgery. 

Dental disease if left untreated can lead to gum disease and rotting teeth, and it is one of the most common conditions found in cats and dogs at veterinary health checks. Smelly breath, plaque build up and discoloration of the teeth are some of the main indications, but it can unfortunately due to the bacteria within the mouth, also cause issues to the heart, kidneys and liver. 

 

The most effective way to prevent this disease is by regular brushing of your pets’ teeth. Of course, we understand that with some pets this is easier said than done which is why we recommend good dental hygiene from an early age. There are different varieties of dental kits on the market, including the use of special toothpaste that does not contain Fluroide. Pet specific toothpaste ….? Unfortunately, this could cause possible issues to the liver as it is unable to be metabolised by your pet. The recommendations to get the best results are to brush the teeth daily, so it is very important that at an early age all pets get used to having their mouth and teeth examined to make it a smoother transition to introduce the toothbrush at a later date. If your pet does not tolerate brushing, there are some other options available however they will be less effective as they will not give the same physical effect as brushing, or it will be limited to the same areas of the mouth in the case of dental chews and toys. 

 

Another option for when dental brushing will not be tolerated is considering giving a dental diet which can help in the prevention of the build up of plaque. The Hill’s Vet Essential range that we stock at the surgery… In some cases, your pet may need a dental scale and polish to remove the build up of tartar and to hopefully reduce the risk of the likelihood of needing to perform any extractions. Outline of a dental procedure… 

Fleas – The most common external parasite found on pets is fleas, with a female flea being able to lay up to 50 eggs per day. An infestation of fleas is not only an unpleasant experience for both pet and owner, but can also cause potential illness amongst pets too. A flea’s life cycle can range from a few weeks to a month, although given the right conditions this time period can be much longer. The pet spreads the flea eggs wherever it goes, which can result in an infestation within the home environment. 

 

Ticks – ticks are often found in long grass, meadows, woodland, and even sometimes within the home. They attach themselves to our pets and feed on their blood. Ticks not only can be uncomfortable for you pet but can transmit potentially serious diseases, which can also harm us too. 

 

Tapeworm ? 

 

Roundworm ? 

 

Lungworm – Lungworm in dogs is unfortunately becoming more common within the UK and pets can be at risk by coming into contact with snails and slugs, or drinking from infected puddles. Symptoms can include moderate, dry coughing with a slightly increased respiratory rate, to severe coughing and respiratory distress or failure. Using preventative treatment for all of the above help keep your pets healthy, so if you would lie more information on any of the above, please do call us at the surgery to speak with one of our team. 

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Here at Hitchin Veterinary Surgery we vaccine against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus (with the three being known as DHP) and Leptospirosis. Vaccines are recommended by our surgery to prevent serious and sometimes life-threatening conditions. All of the above as described as ‘core vaccines’ which is described as one that all dogs should have regardless of individual circumstances, and that they can protect animals from severe, life threating diseases. Our vaccination protocol is as follows; 

 

Kennel cough vaccines are also recommended to be given alongside the booster however these do not form part of the ‘core vaccines’. Kennel cough is a highly contagious airborne disease which can cause respiratory infections, and can be transmitted when dogs come into close or direct contact with one another. 

 

Distemper virus can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected dogs’ saliva, urine or blood which can cause potentially fatal conditions including seizures and brain damage. Hepatitis is spread via faeces, blood, saliva and nasal discharge from infected animals, and can result in kidney or eye damage. Parvovirus is easily transferred via infected faeces either via direct contact with another dog or via transmission on clothing. It can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhoea and it can often be fatal in young puppies. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which is spread via infected urine. Infection generally occurs when dogs are exposed to contaminated soil, water or urine. If infected, it can cause severe damage to the liver and kidneys, and can also affect the heart and eyes potentially leading to organ failure and in fatal cases, death. 

Differences between Lepto 2 and Lepto 4?