The Mewes Vets Ltd
Director: Julia Mewes Vet MB, MA, Cert. VR, LVI, GP Cert (SAM), MRCVS.
4 Haywards Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4HT
www.themewesvets.co.uk
INFORMATION FOR NEW PUPPY OWNERS
VACCINATIONS
The Mewes Veterinary Clinic has recently changed to a new dog vaccine from Virbac animal health.
‘Canigen’ offers a unique range of benefits to pets and their owners.
Firstly ‘Canigen’ offers at least 3 years duration of immunity for 3 out of 4 of the main diseases that it
protects against, allowing a reduced vaccination (or ‘mini-booster’) for the intervening 2 years. These
diseases are Distemper (Hard pad), Hepatitis and Parvovirus. Leptospirosis requires annual vaccination.
Secondly, the second dose of the primary puppy course can be given as early as 10 weeks, enabling
puppies to socialise much earlier. Early socialisation is thought, by many experts, to lead to calmer,
better adjusted adult individuals.
The earliest the first vaccination can be given is at 7 weeks old and the earliest the second dose can be
given is 10 weeks of age, with the interval between first and second vaccinations being 2 – 4 weeks.
First ‘walkies’, ie. first possible exposure to disease hazards, is one week later. Our Receptionists can
help you to plan your visits when you call.
Separate vaccines are available for Infectious Bronchitis (Kennel Cough) and Rabies, which is
necessary for pets which may be travelling abroad. Please ask for further information on these.
At annual booster or mini-booster check-ups, your Veterinary Surgeon will perform a health check, and
our 15 minute appointment system allows time to discuss any problems or concerns you may have.
PET HEALTH CLUB
At The Mewes Vets you can join our Pet Health Club, which spreads the cost of vaccinations, flea and
worm treatments, plus giving you discounts on other services. For more information ask one of our
staff or see our website www.themewesvets.co.uk.
WORMING
All puppies may already have internal worms from maternal transfer. Hence it is necessary to worm all
puppies to clear these.
Your vet will plan your worming doses for you, usually Prinovox monthly by spot-on application. See
below.
Regular worming is particularly important to help prevent both disease in the puppy itself and to
prevent health risks to children via the puppys/dog’s faeces. It is therefore important to use an
effective, good quality wormer that covers all the main types of internal worms.
TAPEWORM
These are not generally a large risk to puppies unless they have fleas. They are transferred by ingesting
fleas and by consuming raw meat (eg. a mouse or rat!). Tapeworms from dogs are not a danger to
humans. The Mewes Veterinary Clinic recommends worming every 6 months for adult dogs by tablet
using ‘Endoguard or Droncit’. You can occasionally see if your dog has a tapeworm when small,
cream coloured segments the size of a rice grain crawl out of their bottoms onto their fur around the
back legs.
The Mewes Vets recommend monthly worming for roundworms with Prinovox and with Droncit twice
a year.
LUNGWORM
The lungworm parasite can be found in slugs, snails and frogs which may be ingested either on purpose
or by accident or from the slimey trail they leave behind. Lungworm is a life threatening disease which
is widespread across the UK. The symptoms can be shown as breathing problems, coughing, poor
blood clotting and behavioural changes. Prinovox effectively kills the lungworm when applied
monthly.
FLEAS
Fleas are external parasites that can live and lay eggs all year round, but particularly can breed in large
numbers in warmer weather or in homes with central heating. They feed on the pet but actually live
and breed in the soft furnishings and carpets. As well as being a nuisance to the puppy/dog they can
transmit a form of tapeworm (internal worm parasite) and can cause skin disease.
There are many different methods of flea treatment available but the easiest type to apply is the socalled ‘Spot-on’ type. These require the application of a small vial of liquid onto the skin on the
head/neck every month.
At the Mewes Veterinary Clinic we recommend Prinovox Spot-on. Prinovox kills fleas on the
puppy/dog, as well as giving added environmental control via the animal’s ‘dandruff’. It also kills
roundworms (the main type of internal worm in puppies and the most dangerous to people) and all
other worms (except tapeworm), mange and ear mites. 1 application lasts 1 month.
In addition (if not using Prinovox) you may need to use an environmental flea control product to apply
to the carpets/soft furnishings to prevent build up of flea numbers in the household.
DIET
Puppies require the correct nutrition for growth. Adult dog food is not suitable, as it does not provide
adequate levels of protein, vitamins or minerals to allow the puppy to grow.
Puppy food is labelled as such. Indeed the better brands (eg. Royal Canin) also discern between ‘large
breed’ and ‘normal breed’ puppy foods. ‘Large breed’ puppy food is especially formulated not only to
provide nutrition in a balanced way, but also to do so in a controlled manner so as to avoid any sudden
growth spurts that may affect limb development in large breed puppies.
Puppy foods are either fed until approximately 12 months of age (and then an adult dog food is used),
or some brands provide puppy nutrition for the first 6 months then ‘junior’ nutrition until 12 months of
age.
In all cases it is wise to feed at least a small proportion of dry form puppy food to help keep the teeth
clean and tartar free.
NEUTERING
Neutering of both boy and girl dogs is performed at the Mewes Veterinary Clinic from 6 months of
age. Neutering prevents the animal from breeding. However there are several other advantages to
neutering animals that are not going to be used for breeding purposes:
- In bitches (females) neutering removes the concern/inconvenience of seasons where the bitch
requires strict control/confinement to avoid unwanted litters. Neutering before the animal has her
first season gives the lowest risk of mammary cancer in later life - hence here we recommend
neutering at 6 months of age, ie before the first season. Neutering also removes the risk of lifethreatening uterine infection (pyometra) in later life.
- In dogs (males) neutering removes the risk of testicular cancer in later life. It also reduces the
chance of prostate problems including prostate cancer. Neutered male dogs are less likely to wander
(looking for a bitch) or fight.
Neutering of either sex requires a full general anaesthetic and a day’s stay in the hospital. Please ask
for a price list.
IDENTICHIP
Identity chips are implanted under the skin of the neck/shoulders of the puppy. They encode a unique
identification number that is read by the scanner. This number is linked on a computer database to
your name and address so that the puppy may be identified as yours if lost. It will become compulsory
by law for all dogs to be microchipped by 2016.
It should however be noted that the law states that all dogs should wear a visible identification disc –
examples of available styles are in Reception at the Clinic. However, the additional identity chip gives
you peace of mind in case the animal ‘slips’ its collar and becomes lost.
INSURANCE
Insurance cover of your puppy is recommended so that you have peace of mind over possible future
vet’s fees should your puppy be unfortunate enough to be involved in a road traffic accident or develop
certain diseases that could prove costly.
At the Mewes Veterinary Clinic we can offer free 4-week insurance cover with Pet Plan at your
puppy’s first vaccination visit. This offer is completely free and without obligation. At the end of the
four weeks you will be invited by Pet Plan to continue the cover for a set monthly fee.
Generally when deciding on insurance it is important to choose a company offering lifelong cover for
each complaint. It should also be noted that most insurance companies require annual vaccination
boosters. Insurance company leaflets are available in Reception at the Mewes Veterinary Clinic.
SOCIALISATION
Socialisation of your puppy is important to allow your puppy to interact with others. Socialisation and
training classes are available – ask at Reception or check our website for details. In addition it is
important to get your puppy used to being handled at a young age so that examination of the eyes,
mouth, teeth and ears at a later age is less traumatic and any treatment required at a later date will be
easier for both yourself and your vet!