FAQs
Welcome to our FAQs page! Here, you’ll find answers to common questions about our services, policies, and how we care for your pets. Whether you’re a new client or a long-time visitor, this resource is designed to provide you with quick and helpful information.
Vaccinations
At what age do I start to vaccinate my puppy or kitten?
Is it necessary to vaccinate my pet every year, and is it necessary to vaccinate senior pets?
Puppy and kitten vaccinations are of utmost importance to prevent contracting and spreading of potentially fatal viral diseases.
Puppy and kitten vaccinations should be given from the ages of 6-8 weeks old every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Rabies vaccinations are only done from 12 weeks onwards, with a booster at 1 year and yearly thereafter.
Please take note that if your pets travel by air within South Africa, their vaccinations must be done 2 weeks or longer before the date of travel.
The answer to both of those questions is yes in South Africa. Unless you have a pet that lives indoors 100% of the time, every second or third year should be sufficient. Travel to rabies areas like KZN is only allowed if a pet’s rabies vaccination was done more than 30 days (and less than a year) prior to the date of travel.
Vaccinations
At what age do I start to vaccinate my puppy or kitten?
Puppy and kitten vaccinations are of utmost importance to prevent contracting and spreading of potentially fatal viral diseases.
Puppy and kitten vaccinations should be given from the ages of 6-8 weeks old every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Rabies vaccinations are only done from 12 weeks onwards, with a booster at 1 year and yearly thereafter.
Please take note that if your pets travel by air within South Africa, their vaccinations must be done 2 weeks or longer before the date of travel.
Is it necessary to vaccinate my pet every year, and is it necessary to vaccinate senior pets?
The answer to both of those questions is yes in South Africa. Unless you have a pet that lives indoors 100% of the time, every second or third year should be sufficient. Travel to rabies areas like KZN is only allowed if a pet’s rabies vaccination was done more than 30 days (and less than a year) prior to the date of travel.
Deworming
My puppy/kitten vomited after giving him/her a deworming tablet – can I give another dewormer, and when can I do this?
How often should I deworm, do I need to bring my pet to the Clinic for this?
If your puppy or kitten vomits after deworming don’t be alarmed, but please give the clinic a call and one of our vets will dispense a different dewormer to be dosed a couple of days later.
Puppies and kittens – with every vaccination.
Adult cats can be dewormed every 3-4 months.
We advise deworming dogs on a monthly basis with a product containing milbemycin – this is to protect them against Spirocerca Lupi.
It is not necessary to bring your pet in to the clinic for deworming if you know what they weigh.
Deworming
My puppy/kitten vomited after giving him/her a deworming tablet – can I give another dewormer, and when can I do this?
If your puppy or kitten vomits after deworming don’t be alarmed, but please give the clinic a call and one of our vets will dispense a different dewormer to be dosed a couple of days later.
How often should I deworm, do I need to bring my pet to the Clinic for this?
Puppies and kittens – with every vaccination.
Adult cats can be dewormed every 3-4 months.
We advise deworming dogs on a monthly basis with a product containing milbemycin – this is to protect them against Spirocerca Lupi.
It is not necessary to bring your pet in to the clinic for deworming if you know what they weigh.
General Pet Care
At what age can I walk my puppy in the park?
Do I need to treat my pet for ticks and fleas, do I really have to treat in winter?
At least 14 days after their 16 week vaccination.
Both ticks and fleas transmit or carry certain parasites and diseases (ticks transmit Biliary and Ehrlichia and fleas carry tapeworm eggs), some more serious than others. We do recommend treating with a suitable tick and flea product on a monthly basis – but this depends on the product you use. Tick and flea prevalence in winter is much less, however, they are still around so it’s best to keep the treatment regime going all year round.
How long must my puppy/kitten stay on puppy/kitten food?
A lump has formed where my pet had an injection – what is this?
As a general rule of thumb with the premium pet foods that we stock at the practice, puppy and kitten food should be fed up to 1 years old for small and medium breed dogs, as well as kittens. Large breed dogs to be fed puppy food for 18 months and Giant breed dogs to be fed puppy food until 2 years of age.
This is most likely an injection site reaction, they generally appear 3-6 weeks after the injection. Usually starting out soft but sometimes may become very firm. These lumps usually dissipate on their own, but can take up to 3 months to completely disappear. If your pet has one that you are concerned about, please do not hesitate to bring your pet in for a quick check.
Should I have my pet sterilised and at what age?
My female cat or dog is currently in season – can I still have her sterilised?
Kittens can be sterilised from 6 months old, exceptions can be made to do it earlier if a female kitten comes on heat.
Female dogs are sterilised for medical reasons: to prevent mammary cancer later in life and also to prevent pyometra.
Male dogs are sterilised more for behavioral reasons.
Recent studies show that large breed dogs should be sterilised after a year if possible, whereas small breeds can be sterilised from 6 months old.
Yes, you can, the sterilisation procedure is slightly more complicated and your pet will need to be on post-op antibiotics. Very importantly, if a female dog is sterilised while on heat, she needs to be kept away from male dogs for at least a week post-op.
My pet has stitches, when can they be removed?
What is a microchip and how does it work?
In most cases stitches can be removed 10-14 days post-operative, however, if it’s a specialised procedure they may have to remain in for longer. Please check with us if you are unsure. If you happen to leave the stitches in a few days longer than 14 days it’s not the end of the world, but remember they do have to be removed!
A microchip is a tiny transponder that is inserted under the skin of your pet for means of identification if your pet gets lost. It is NOT a GPS. It contains a unique barcode, which has been registered on a national database holding your contact details. In the event that your pet is lost and taken to a vet or SPCA, he/she will be scanned for a microchip, the barcode entered into the database, and you will be contacted. We strongly recommend that you microchip all your pets, it’s very quick to do and as simple as having a vaccination done.
Pet Medical Aid – is there such a thing?
My pet is scooting, why?
Unfortunately, no one can foresee injury or illness, it’s best to have peace of mind knowing that you and your pet have cover. Pet medical aids are much like human ones. There are various companies out there with various plans tailored for everyone’s needs. It’s best to do some research as to which plan will suit you, so when the time comes for any treatment, you won’t have to worry about not being able to provide the best treatment for your pet.
Scooting is generally caused by irritation in or around the anus. There can be many causes for this, but the most common are worms and full anal glands. We advise starting with a dewormer. In the event that the scooting continues, please bring you pet in for one of the vets to check and possibly express the anal glands.
My pet was stung by an insect – what now?
Allergic reactions can be very serious, much the same as in humans and can be fatal if left unattended. If you suspect your pet was stung, please bring him/her to the clinic for the necessary treatment as soon as possible.
General Pet Care
At what age can I walk my puppy in the park?
At least 14 days after their 16 week vaccination.
Do I need to treat my pet for ticks and fleas, do I really have to treat in winter?
Both ticks and fleas transmit or carry certain parasites and diseases (ticks transmit Biliary and Ehrlichia and fleas carry tapeworm eggs), some more serious than others. We do recommend treating with a suitable tick and flea product on a monthly basis – but this depends on the product you use. Tick and flea prevalence in winter is much less, however, they are still around so it’s best to keep the treatment regime going all year round.
How long must my puppy/kitten stay on puppy/kitten food?
As a general rule of thumb with the premium pet foods that we stock at the practice, puppy and kitten food should be fed up to 1 years old for small and medium breed dogs, as well as kittens. Large breed dogs to be fed puppy food for 18 months and Giant breed dogs to be fed puppy food until 2 years of age.
A lump has formed where my pet had an injection – what is this?
This is most likely an injection site reaction, they generally appear 3-6 weeks after the injection. Usually starting out soft but sometimes may become very firm. These lumps usually dissipate on their own, but can take up to 3 months to completely disappear. If your pet has one that you are concerned about, please do not hesitate to bring your pet in for a quick check.
Should I have my pet sterilised and at what age?
Kittens can be sterilised from 6 months old, exceptions can be made to do it earlier if a female kitten comes on heat.
Female dogs are sterilised for medical reasons: to prevent mammary cancer later in life and also to prevent pyometra.
Male dogs are sterilised more for behavioral reasons.
Recent studies show that large breed dogs should be sterilised after a year if possible, whereas small breeds can be sterilised from 6 months old.
My female cat or dog is currently in season – can I still have her sterilised?
Yes, you can, the sterilisation procedure is slightly more complicated and your pet will need to be on post-op antibiotics. Very importantly, if a female dog is sterilised while on heat, she needs to be kept away from male dogs for at least a week post-op.
My pet has stitches, when can they be removed?
In most cases stitches can be removed 10-14 days post-operative, however, if it’s a specialised procedure they may have to remain in for longer. Please check with us if you are unsure. If you happen to leave the stitches in a few days longer than 14 days it’s not the end of the world, but remember they do have to be removed!
What is a microchip and how does it work?
A microchip is a tiny transponder that is inserted under the skin of your pet for means of identification if your pet gets lost. It is NOT a GPS. It contains a unique barcode, which has been registered on a national database holding your contact details. In the event that your pet is lost and taken to a vet or SPCA, he/she will be scanned for a microchip, the barcode entered into the database, and you will be contacted. We strongly recommend that you microchip all your pets, it’s very quick to do and as simple as having a vaccination done.
Pet Medical Aid – is there such a thing?
Unfortunately, no one can foresee injury or illness, it’s best to have peace of mind knowing that you and your pet have cover. Pet medical aids are much like human ones. There are various companies out there with various plans tailored for everyone’s needs. It’s best to do some research as to which plan will suit you, so when the time comes for any treatment, you won’t have to worry about not being able to provide the best treatment for your pet.
My pet is scooting, why?
Scooting is generally caused by irritation in or around the anus. There can be many causes for this, but the most common are worms and full anal glands. We advise starting with a dewormer. In the event that the scooting continues, please bring you pet in for one of the vets to check and possibly express the anal glands.
My pet was stung by an insect – what now?
Allergic reactions can be very serious, much the same as in humans and can be fatal if left unattended. If you suspect your pet was stung, please bring him/her to the clinic for the necessary treatment as soon as possible.