Dogs & Puppies

Caring for your Dog

Dog food & Nutrition

The first year of your dog’s life is the most important time to get their feeding right. Good nutrition at this time can lead to a long healthy life minimising health issues as your dog ages. You should also get into the habit of avoiding feeding excessive treats or scraps, as obesity can lead to heart disease, arthritis and many other health problems.
Premium pet food is available from Anexa Vets. This is the very best food you can feed your puppy.  Premium foods are manufactured based on the recommendations of science and research findings and contain exactly the right balance of nutrients for your puppy’s development. These foods can also be specific to the size and/or breed of your dog, to address its unique dietary needs.

Fleas

It is important to control fleas on your puppy throughout its life. Start with a product that is safe for younger animals. Some products kill just fleas, but some do worms and ticks as well. Treatments can be administered topically or orally. Ask your vet which product is right for your dog or puppy.  
 
If not treated for fleas, your dog is at risk of developing: 
– Skin irritation from bites 
– Flea allergy dermatitis 
– Secondary infection from self-trauma after itching 
 
There are benefits for you too: 
– No flea bites at home 
– The decrease of the flea population 
 
Avoid imitation or inferior products, especially non-vet approved flea collars. They will only kill the fleas that come into contact with the collar, so your puppy can still be covered with fleas elsewhere.
Remember that only 5% of the flea population is actually on your dog. The rest are in the environment.  

Worms

Your puppy will need worming every two weeks until it is 12 weeks old. Then every month until it is 6 months old, and after this, every 3-6 months for the rest of his life.

Training & socialisation

This is extremely important for young puppies. There is a window of opportunity when your puppy is going to learn a lot from his/her experiences. This is until they are 18 weeks old. This is the easiest time to train your puppy and when you need to expose it to as many different situations as possible.
Attending a Puppy Preschool is an ideal way to learn how to train your puppy and socialise it with other puppies and owners.

Anxious Dogs

Anxiety in dogs can show in a variety of ways, often we may misinterpret some of these signs as ‘naughty’ behaviour, when in fact our pets are stressed. Anexa staff are here to support you and your pet, and create a plan to manage your dog’s behaviour better.

Senior Dog Care

Senior pets have very different requirements to that of younger animals. Generally, a pet over the age of 7 is considered to be a senior. Senior pet checks are recommended at least annually, in some cases more often may be best for your pet. Senior pets are more prone to developing diseases such as arthritis, dental disease and multiple organ diseases. Anexa Veterinarians are here to advise you and your ageing pet.

End of life

At Anexa, we understand how tough it is for our clients to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Our staff are here for you to help you through this difficult time and can outline the options around the process and answer any euthanasia questions.

We offer this service both in clinic by appointment, and also in your pet’s home environment. These services are available during office hours and do require prior arrangement for vet and nurse availability.

Depending on the situation, sedation may be given to your pet. This will commonly occur if the pet is very anxious or fractious. The aim is to keep stress on the patient to a minimum and keep everyone safe.

There are a number of options for cremation which our staff can outline for you, or you can choose to have a home burial.

Our vets have also prepared the following articles you may find helpful when making this difficult decision.

• What is Euthanasia? (De-mystifying the end-of-life decision.)

Grooming

It is important to groom your pet regularly in order to keep it looking healthy and prevent tangled hair. Tangled clumps allow a build up of dirt and provide a hiding place for fleas and lice as well as causing damage to the underlying skin. Anexa clinics stock a variety of brushes, shampoos, and conditioners to help keep your dog looking and feeling great. 

Dog Beds

We all feel better after a good night’s sleep and often a good bed can help. Anexa Vets stock a range of pet beds – large and small, including the popular Osteo beds. If there is a particular pet bed you have in mind but we don’t have in clinic, we are happy to order it in for you.

Dog Toys, Leads, Collars & Accessories

Anexa Vet clinics stock a range of quality leads, collars, toys and accessories. Our knowledgeable staff know that different dogs have different needs and can help pick out what will work for your pet if you are a little unsure.