Proactive healthcare

Unfortunately our pets can’t communicate with us in a way that they can express their feelings and pains, as much as we’d like to. They are unable to say their hips are hurting or that they can’t see as well as they used to or that they are experiencing pain or bothered by a new lump.

The Hoxton Vet takes an holistic approach to your pet’s health and well being. Our health checks and assessments can be done in the comfort of your pet’s home, keeping them in a friendly environment in the company of their human family providing a stress-free experience for your pet. Sometimes examining them in a familiar environment gives a more accurate picture of their well-being thanwhat can often be achieved in the clinic.

With regular health and weight checks, we identify concerns at an early stage, allowing for their best possible outcome. Should a concern be found, we will discuss this with you.

Each health check will assess your dog’s

• Behaviour

• Gait and movement

• Weight and body condition

• Hydration status

• Temperature

• Heart and lung rate, sounds and pulses

• Peripheral lymph nodes

• Eyes and vision, ears and canals

• Skin and coat condition. This includes a flea and tick check and thorough investigation for any lumps, bumps or changes.

• Teeth and Gums

• Abdominal palpation. This means gently feeling the tummy and inside organs.

• We also perform an annual urine test to monitor kidney function.

Preventative medicine

Preventative care supports a happy and long life. At The Hoxton Vet we administer your pet’s annual vaccinations and provide year round protection against parasites.

Regular treatment using veterinary strength prescription-only medicines eliminates the risk of infection and disease.

Vaccination

No one wants their pet to catch an infectious disease, and vaccination is one of the ways that we can help protect them. Annual boosters are necessary against some diseases. But not all.

The Hoxton Vet will administer only those vaccines needed to maintain protection. We use vaccines that are licensed to provide three years protection against Parvovirus, Canine Hepatitis and Distemper. Leptospirosis requires a yearly vaccination. The Hoxton Vet provides the improved vaccine that offers protection against all four strains of the disease. This is especially important for dogs who travel. We also provide yearly protection against Kennel Cough. Its name, unfortunately, is a misnomer, as it is transmitted when any dogs are in close contact not just in kennels. It is spread by coughing, sneezing or nose to nose contact and the intranasal vaccine mirrors this natural route of infection.

Parasite Control

Your dog, their age and breed, alongside their home and daycare environment and travel plans are all considered. We create a flea, mite and worm control programme, tailored to their individual needs.

1. External Parasites
Itchy and irritating, fleas and other external parasites pass from one animal to another. In the case of fleas, eggs are laid on the animal but can fall into the environment, for instance, into bedding or on the carpet. Often only 5% of a flea population are seen on a dog, and the troublesome remaining 95% can live in your home environment.

2. Internal Parasites
If your dog appears to be in good health, it’s easy to become complacent about deworming. Why go to the expense and hassle of trying to give them a tablet every few months if they seem to be perfectly fine?

The answer is simple. Tapeworm, roundworm, lungworm, hookworm and whipworm – they are all just as nasty as they sound. They can live off your dog for weeks or months without them showing noticeable symptoms. During that time they can be doing lasting damage to their respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive system as well as other internal organs.

Sadly, in the case of Lungworm, they can even prove fatal. Some worms can also pass from pets to people, furthering the importance of control.