A big welcome to you and your pet from Riverside Vets, your trusted veterinary clinic. We are dedicated to providing high-quality care for your furry family members. Our team of experienced veterinarians and staff are passionate about animal health and welfare, and we strive to make every visit to our clinic a positive and stress-free experience for both you and your pet. Whether your pet needs routine wellness exams, preventative care, or specialized treatment, we are here to provide personalized care tailored to your pet’s unique needs. At Riverside Vets, we are committed to keeping your pet healthy and happy for years to come.
Puppies
Get in touch today by calling us on 02380 620 607 or sending us an email at enquiries@riversidevets.co.uk. A member of our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible to help with any questions you may have.
Vaccines:
Puppies will have full protection against Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus from 1 week after their second DHP vaccine, so they can start going out at this stage. However, their Leptospirosis protection is only complete 3 weeks after their second L4 vaccine, so we advise avoiding farmland and standing water until this point. Your dog will require annual boosters to maintain immunity.
Worming:
We recommend round worming puppies monthly until they are 6 months old. Many of the flea products we supply have a round wormer included e.g. Credelio, Advocate. We like to use parasite products that protect your dog from lungworm (most commonly a monthly treatment). From 6 months of age, we recommend a tape wormer every 3 months.
Flea Prevention:
Prevention is better than cure. Did you know, it can take 3 months to get a flea infestation under control? Most products need to be given monthly. We may need to weigh your puppy prior to each treatment, to ensure we are giving an appropriate dose.
Riverside Pet Community (RPC):
Our healthcare plan is a great way to spread the cost of routine preventative healthcare, parasite products and annual booster vaccination along with discounts on services such as neutering. The membership has many benefits including unlimited Vet and Nurse consultations (by appointment during normal working hours). Visit our website for further information or speak to a member of the team.
RPC is not insurance. We strongly encourage insurance to help cover non-routine problems, illness, or injury.
Insurance:
We believe it is best to insure your pet in case of unexpected illness or accidental injury. We can organise 4 weeks free insurance for your puppy. Please ask any member of our team for further information.
Exercise:
It is important to take care not to exercise young (especially large breed) dogs too much. The Kennel Club recommend 5 minutes per month of the puppy’s age, twice daily, i.e., a 3-month-old puppy would have 15 minutes twice daily.
Feeding:
In general, we advise feeding a complete dry diet. It is important to ensure that your puppy’s growth is appropriately supported, so a good quality puppy food (ideally targeted at the appropriate breed size) is essential. The premium diets include Royal Canin and Hills.
Teeth:
It is possible to brush teeth! This is ultimately the best way to help prevent dental disease. Your puppy can be trained at an early age to accept and enjoy this daily routine. The toothpaste must be designed for dogs (never use human). Speak to a member of the team for tips on how to start brushing.
Neutering:
If you are not planning to breed from your dog, we would generally advise neutering. The optimum timing may vary depending on the breed of dog and confidence level. We can do this from 6 months, but in larger breeds we may recommend waiting until over a year. Anxious or nervous dogs may benefit from delaying or discussing the benefits.