Congratulations on your new puppy or kitten!
At AMS, we offer free 1st puppy and kitten consultations where we can discuss preventative health care and perform a physical exam to screen for congenital health issues.
Please note the free checkup does not apply for unwell puppies and kittens, where the usual consultation rate will apply.
Please note the free checkup does not apply for unwell puppies and kittens, where the usual consultation rate will apply.
Free puppy & kitten check |
This provides a veterinary consultation where you can discuss a list of topics including:
* For pets less than 6 months of age. Please call our hospitals for details. |
Socialisation |
Puppy classes are the ideal way for puppies to learn interaction with other dogs. These classes are held in a controlled environment with accredited trainers that can help you give your puppy the best start to life.
We do not recommend taking puppies to parks for socialisation, partly because of the disease risk in unvaccinated puppies, but also because you cannot control the other dogs at the park. Sometimes it only takes one bad experience to shape a puppy's long term behaviour toward other dogs. Please call us for further details. |
Vaccination |
There are many diseases that are severely debilitating and even fatal to cats & dogs. Fortunately, we have the ability to prevent many of these by the use of very effective vaccines.
In order to be effective, these vaccines must be given as a series of injections. Ideally, they are given at between approximately 6 and 16 weeks of age and cover a variety of viral diseases. General vaccination information can be found HERE. We recommend C5 vaccinations for dogs, F3 vaccination for all cats (including indoors), and we recommend cats who spend time outside with the potential of being bitten by other cats to have the FIV (Cat AIDS) vaccination. |
Worming |
Intestinal parasites are common in puppies & kittens. They can become infected with parasites before they are born or later through their mother’s milk. The microscopic examination of a faeces sample can usually help us to determine the presence of intestinal parasites.
We recommend Milbemax wormer. Modern deworming preparations are safe and effective and we recommend their use at two week intervals, from two weeks of age. It is important that the medication is repeated since it is usually only the adult worms that are killed. Within 3-4 weeks, the larval stages will have matured and will need to be treated. Our vets can further advise on worming protocols depending on your pet's life stage. |
Heartworm |
Heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs & cats in many parts of the world. It is caused by a worm called Dirofilaria immitis.
Adult heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs & cats. They are transmitted by Mosquitoes so potentially every dog is at risk heartworms. Even long haired cats & dogs can become infected. Adult worms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart. They interfere with the valve action in the heart. Please speak to our vets about the best option for preventing heartworm. We recommend the 12 month Proheart injection. |
Flea and Tick Control |
Fleas and ticks are a very common parasite within the city. We recommend Bravecto and Simparica
There are many flea products on the market which help control fleas. Some are unsuitable for certain ages and species, and others are just not effective. Our vets have extensive, up to date knowledge not only on the biology of this ubiquitous parasite, but the various prevention strategies that can be used. During your free puppy or kitten check, please ask your vet to make a tailored flea prevention strategy for you. |
Diet |
Diet is a complicated but important topic! There is no one-size-fits-all answer for what to feed your cat or dog. Dietary recommendations will vary based on species, breed, age, health status and a lot of other factors.
Our vets have done extensive, university-level training in nutrition, physiology and biochemistry. They can make recommendations based on your pet's specific needs, as well as your own preferences, whether it's a pre-formulated complete diet or advice regarding home cooked diets. Be aware, there are many opinions regarding diet. Some of these opinions are based on detailed expertise, and some aren't. Come and chat to our vets about what's best. Generally, we recommend the Hills range of pet foods due to their extensive investment in researching animal nutrition. |
Desexing |
There's a great summary of desexing HERE
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."