If you have questions about your pet, you can email our vets for advice. We will do our best to answer your question within 24 hours but please keep in mind that our vets can get busy so if you have an emergency or urgent enquiry, call immediately on (07) 4632 8333
We ask for all accounts to be settled at the time your pet is discharged. However there are some options that can be prearranged with our staff. In order to make our services even more affordable we offer various payment systems. Pet Insurance is becoming more and more affordable and is worth considering to ensure your pet receives the appropriate care it deserves.
Vaccinations are usually a once a year affair unless you have a young puppy or kitten. Puppies need one injection EVERY 3 WEEKS starting from 6 weeks of age (C3, C3 and then C5) and kittens need two F3 vaccines at 8 and 12 weeks of age. If your cat is an outdoor cat we strongly recommend the FIV vaccine (Feline AIDS) as well.
This is an outdated method as nowadays there are much better and affordable alternatives. Feeding bones can cause fractures of teeth, gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, dog fights, intestinal and oesophageal (food pipe) obstructions and more. Our staff can advise you on superior alternatives.
As with many things in life, when it comes to the health of your pet – prevention is better than a cure. The key to keeping costs down is to take a long-term approach to your pets health.
To do this:
- Make sure your pet gets an annual check-up
- Get your pet desexed
- Make sure your pet is vaccinated
- Make sure your pet is wormed
- Feed your pet properly
- Exercise your pet
Procedures to correct an ailment can be costly, so by following the steps above, you ensure your pet has the best chance to avoid needing specialist treatment.
You should also consider Pet Insurance to potentially save money on your pets health care in the long run.
Vets4Pets also offers payment alternatives (VetPay and GE Finance) for those who are on a budget.
If it is affordable for you, pet insurance is definitely the way to go. Nowadays there are many companies offering pet insurance and the prices are going down. If unsure, ask your vet for recommendations to explain some of the benefits.
All diets can be divided into two groups; premium diets such as Eukanuba, IAMS and Hills and others that are usually available at supermarkets/pet shops. Premium diets provide your pet with the best quality diet that is fully balanced, has the best quality ingredients, is prepared according to a consistent formula and is very concentrated so you have to feed less to achieve more. Different breeds and ages need different diets so please ask our staff what the best food for your dog is.
When we recommend something it is because there is a good reason. Most of our vets have seen or treated a case of heartworm. Once contracted, heartworm can be a terminal disease and, if treatable, the cost can be high. There are many different ways of keeping your dog safe from heartworm. There are various options and your vet can advise you.
There is no specific age for this procedure. Some pets get microchipped at 6-8 weeks and some at desexing when under general anaesthetic (less pain). The microchip needle is bigger than an average needle so some pain may be experienced, but every pet is different. A microchip is the only way to prove the ownership of your dog and required by local council.
Most pups will start around 6-8 weeks of age but talk to our nurses for more specific instructions. It is important to get in touch with our staff as soon as possible since places are limited and demand is very high. Also, if your puppy is older than 14 weeks, it cannot be enrolled anymore because it is too old.
Most of the time, if you suspect that your dog is overweight, it is. A dog with a normal body weight should have a visible waistline with no excessive fat over the rib cage. It should be easy to feel the ribs under the skin. Body weight chart recommendations should only be used as a rough guide. Our nurses and vets can help you find out the ideal body weight for your pet, and if necessary, how your pet can reach it. Please ask us about our Slimmers Club – a free service to our clients who would like advice on how to approach their pet’s weight problems and what diets will help.
Nowadays it is almost impossible to get only a Parvo shot, as the majority of vaccines are polivalent (multiple diseases covered). We recommend the C5 vaccine as a “core” vaccine because it covers the most important diseases in Adelaide. Some owners request other vaccines, for example the tetanus vaccine, and we are happy to oblige.
There are many products available on the market but we recommend Drontal as one of the best around, especially for young animals. Humans can contract intestinal worms, and children are particularly susceptible. It is not enough to give a tablet every now and then – your pet needs regular worming to break up the parasite life cycle and keep it intestinal worm free. For more information please talk to our staff.
No. Ringworm is misnamed. It is not actually a worm but a fungal disease and as such it has a different type of treatment. Ringworm is a disease of young and debilitated animals and usually presented as a bald, non-itchy spot. Ringworm is contagious to humans so it must be diagnosed accurately and promptly.
Unfortunately there is no appropriate procedure for this. Ferrets always have a “specific” smell that is normal for their skin. How strongly they smell is up to the owner, as regular bathing with a quality shampoo can be all they need.
Why Pet Insurance?
As with most industries, prices in the verterinary world are always increasing. Increased wages, higher wholesale prices and professional indemnity insurances mean that prices always creep up. It is very easy now days to get a bill of $1,000 – $1,500 at your vet and if specialist treatment is required bills of up to $10,000 are not uncommon. Bloods tests, xrays, anaesthetics, fluids, surgery, medication and hospitalisation all mean that a final bill can be higher than expected. At TVH, we are constantly put in the position where we cannot give appropriate treatment to a patient due to financial constraints. This frustrates both us and the owners and is obviously detrimental to the patient.
We understand that everyone puts a different “value” on their pets but it is nice for all concerned if we can provide the best care for all patients. In many cases, people don’t have a spare $1000 at their disposal. This is why pet insurance is becoming much more popular.
What to consider…
As with most insurances, there are varying degrees of cover and as such costs associated. Some policies cover for accident and illness and others are more expansive. There are some policies that reimburse the client and others that will pay the vet direct. Excellent cover can be obtained from around one dollar a day. As with most things, take the time to research a policy.
Important things to check for are the excess, the amount that will be covered and any age or breed restrictions. Be sure to read the fine print and look for any details regarding pre-existing conditions or breed specific problems that may not be covered. Many of our home insurers will also cover our pets. Again be sure to research these as many only cover for up to $500 which these days is very quickly surpassed.
We receive no financial reward from insurance companies if you insure your pet. We only benefit when we can provide the appropriate care for a patient without having to worry about the costs incurred.
More information…
insurance.woolworths.com.au/petpromo/
Pet Plan have a special offer of 4 WEEKS FREE PET INSURANCE for your puppy or kitten. This offer is available for pets from 8 weeks of age and before their 1st birthday following a health check with a vet at our practice. Cover for injury or accident starts immediately however cover for illness starts 72 hours after the free insurance is activated.