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Frequently Asked Questions
This section offers answers to a selection of the questions that our clients most often ask. We'll be be adding more questions
(and answers!) over the coming months.
If you have a question which you'd like to see answered here, and which you feel would also be of interest or concern
to other pet owners, then please email us.
Note: we can't address particular aspects of individual cases here. If you have a question of this kind regarding the
health or treatment of your pet then please make an appointment to see the veterinary surgeon.
How is a Veterinary Hospital different from other practices,
and why should it matter?
A Veterinary Hospital is a veterinary practice with a great deal more. Veterinary Hospitals are the only practices
which are inspected independently to ensure that they match the stringent requirements set by the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons, our governing body. This is your guarantee that the Palmerston Veterinary Hospital meets the highest standards
for veterinary practice in the UK.
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Why should I neuter my animals?
Unless there are strong reasons for wanting your cat or dog to have a litter, the kind and sensible thing to do is
to have it neutered.
There are already too many unwanted kittens and puppies and the least we can do is not add to their numbers
Female dogs come into season on average two times a year; this may mean scores of visiting dogs round your front door.
She may try to escape which may lead to the risk of being run over or pregnancy. She may go through phantom pregnancy.
Neutering will prevent womb infection in later life and if done at an early age can dramatically reduce the incidence
of mammary tumours in later life.
As with female dogs, female cats will attract a host of admirers and this will lead to an almost inevitable pregnancy
.A cat can have three pregnancies a year and up to five or six kittens in each litter.
Tomcats that are not neutered will mark their territory by spraying urine also they will tend to get into fights with
other cats leading to infected wounds, abscesses and serious illness.
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Will spaying my bitch change her character?
It is the Palmerston Veterinary Group's view that spaying your bitch will not change her character.
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Will my bitch put on weight if she is spayed?
When a bitch is spayed her metabolic rate may be reduced slightly but as with humans healthy animals will only put
on weight if their energy intake is more than the energy they use, so therefore provided you don't overfeed your bitch
she will not put on weight.
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What happens when my pet comes into the hospital?
Your pet is admitted to its own individual kennel in one of our specially equipped wards. During its stay detailed
notes are kept of its treatment, of its progress and of any special needs or care it requires. The veterinary surgeons
make regular ward rounds to check on the in-patients and a trained nurse is on duty in the wards.
All animals are handled with great care and sympathy and we make a point of using the animal's name whenever handling
it. As we are all pet owners ourselves we like to think that we are treating your pet as we would treat our own, and
that includes giving cuddles!
If your pet is having a surgical procedure on arrival they are given an injection of sedative and a painkiller prior
to their anaesthetic and surgery. This sedative greatly relaxes your pet during its stay in the hospital and reduces
the amount of anaesthetic agent required, giving a further margin of safety.
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Why do booster vaccinations have to be given every year,
people don't get boosted so why do our pets?
Immunity is not lifelong to all diseases and therefore booster vaccination will be required at intervals to maintain
the high level of protection.
The manufacturers' recommended booster intervals are designed to ensure as far as is practically possible, that all
animals under animals under field conditions (even the ones that do not respond as well to vaccination) maintain a level
of protective immunity. Certain individuals may not require boosting as frequently, but there is no quick and easy way
to tell the animals state of immunity and the most cost effective and beneficial way to minimise the risk of disease
is by routine booster vaccination.
Contrary to popular belief, many human vaccines do require boosting, but boosters may not be routinely used for simple
epidemiological reasons. For example, it is rare for polio boosters to be given normally in the western world where
polio has effectively been eradicated (as a result of vaccination!), but if you or I travel to India or Thailand (where
polio is still very common), we need a booster vaccination before we go!
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Will my pet be ill after its vaccination?
Generally most pets show no ill effects after vaccination although some individuals may be a little dull or off their
food for 24 hours or so post vaccination.
Serious side effects following vaccination are very rare indeed.
Although all veterinary vaccines undergo a thorough, independent evaluation of their safety, quality and efficacy it
is impossible to ever guarantee that any product will be 100% safe and effective in every individual case. There is
always the risk of an unusual idiosyncratic or allergic reaction in a susceptible individual, which cannot be predicted
in advance.
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What should I do if my pet is involved in a road accident?
The simple answer is bring your pet to the hospital as quickly as possibl. If possible, telephone the hospital to
alert the duty veterinary surgeon.
I thought that as with human road accidents the victim should not be moved until professional help arrives?
Whereas humans will lie still when injured an animal's natural tendency is to move around and try to run away; therefore
you are unlikely to do any more damage by moving the animal and the quicker you can get the animal to the hospital the
better.
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