Welcoming your new puppy or kitten

For puppies, the first vaccination is usually given at 8 weeks old, followed by a second two to four weeks later (no earlier than 10 weeks old), allowing for an early socialisation programme. We recommend that yearly boosters are obtained to ensure immunisation is up to date.

Kitten vaccinations start from 8 weeks of age, with the second vaccine administered three weeks after the first. A certificate of vaccination will be provided at the second vaccination appointment.

It is important for annual boosters to be taken to make sure immunity remains effective.

Depending on the disease that your pet is being vaccinated against, the period of time that they are protected will differ. Certain diseases, such as leptospirosis in dogs and flu in cats only carry around 12 months protection, which is why a yearly booster is recommended.

Even though you pet might be being vaccinated every 12 months, it is not always against the same diseases – your vaccination card will show you which diseases they are getting boosters for each visit. Visiting us every 12 months for vaccinations also means your pet gets a full annual health check, which is equally important!

Although your pet may not go outside, it is still possible for diseases to be brought into the house. This could be via soil on a dirty boot or via other wildlife that could enter the home.

Therefore, having full vaccination can provide the protection needed for all circumstances, meaning you don’t have to take the risk.

Our Pet Health for Life Plan offers the best value way to vaccinate your pet to ensure they have the preventative health protection they need over the course of their lifetime. Being a member allows you the opportunity to spread the cost over 12 months whilst also receiving discounts on other services at Sandhole Vets.

If you would like further information on vaccination programmes for your pet, or our Pet Health for Life Plan, please contact us.

If a dog is showing symptoms of lung worm infection it will need supportive care and intensive treatment.

There are a couple of treatments also licensed which can kill the worms and this will also be given. However, in some cases the condition can be fatal.

There are only a couple of licensed products which have been shown to prevent lungworm infection. At Sandhole Vets, the products used in our Pet Health for Life Plan ensure this prevention is included.

Please note:

Many regular worming tablets are not active against lung worm, so these cannot be relied upon. If you are unsure which products are safe in preventing lungworm infection, please talk to one of our vets or nurses.

When it comes to worm treatment, there may be severe consequences if ignored. Depending on the type of worm your pet can experience irritation such as intestinal blockages, obstruction of blood flow in the heart, artery inflammation, anaemia, and even death if left untreated.

A male dog can be neutered from 6 months old onwards. However, it is recommended for your dog to have reached maturing before the surgery is performed, which could be up to 2 years in larger dogs.

A female dog can undergo a spaying procedure before their first season around six months old, or after their first season.

Kittens become sexually mature at a very young age, so it is usually recommended male cats are neutered from 4 months onwards. However, if you adopt or rescue an older cat the surgery can be performed in adulthood.

For female kittens, spaying procedure can be completed around 5-6 months of age.