Pet care services.

When welcoming a puppy or kitten into your home, it’s important to give them a full health check-up, as well as at regular intervals throughout their life. Regular pet health checks will ensure that they have everything they need to thrive. Our team can provide full health checks from head to toe.

For our older pet companions, we also offer “senior” health checks. These are designed to help you provide the best possible care for your ageing pet. We’ll assess their overall health and advise you on the best course of action to keep them happy and healthy.

Full health checks are included in our vaccination appointments. This is a great opportunity to get your pet’s health assessed and to ask any questions you may have about their care.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help.

As a responsible pet owner, it is important to keep your furry friend free of parasites with appropriate pet parasite prevention. Learn more about common parasites below.

Intestinal worms

Intestinal worms can cause a range of health problems for your pet, from weight loss or malnutrition to death in more serious cases.

There are a number of different types of intestinal worms, including roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms. The best way to prevent your pet from becoming infected is to practice good hygiene and keep them up to date with their worming treatments. If you think your pet may have intestinal worms, it is important to bring them in for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Heartworm

Heartworm is another serious and potentially fatal condition that is caused by parasitic worms. These worms are transmitted to pets through the bite of an infected mosquito.

There are a number of different heartworm prevention products available on the market, and it is important to talk to your vet about which one is best for your pet.

Ticks and fleas

Ticks and fleas are another common type of parasite that can affect pets. These parasites can transmit diseases and cause irritation and discomfort. They can also be fatal. We hospitalise pets who are affected by tick toxicity and treat them with tick anti-toxin. This is very expensive, and even with treatment, the outcome can still be guarded depending on the case. It is always cheaper and safer to prevent tick toxicity by using flea and tick treatment prevention for dogs and cats such as Bravecto or Nexgard for dogs, and Bravecto or Revolution plus for cats. In summer, we also recommend keeping long-furred dogs clipped to make daily tick searches easier.

Reach out to our team to learn more about parasite prevention and treatment for your pet.

Pets need a balanced diet just like people do. A healthy diet for pets includes all of the essential nutrients they need to stay active and strong.

There are a variety of pet foods on the market, so it’s important to choose one that is right for your pet. At Bangalow Vets, we stock premium prescription foods by Hills, Royal Canin and Delicate Care, as well as natural and locally sourced products. Talk to our team about which food is best for your pet’s individual needs.

Nutrition by age

Your pet’s nutritional requirements will change as they age.

Puppies & kittens need different food that is higher in energy, calcium and protein for healthy growth.

Adult animals need balanced diets to suit their lifestyle, exercise and individual needs.
Older pets need diets restricted in fat and supplemented with fibre for their optimum health. Many premium senior diets also contain additives to assist in the management of arthritis and can make your pet more comfortable.

We also stock prescription diets for pets with diseases such as diabetes, urinary issues, pancreatitis, heart disease and many more. These are available for click and collect through our online store.

Please give us a call to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs. We will tailor a diet specifically for your pet that will give them the optimum quality and length of life.

There are a number of reasons why your pet may need behaviour management. Perhaps they’re feeling anxious or stressed, something which is commonly diagnosed in our domestic pets – especially dogs. Or maybe they’re displaying destructive behaviours that are causing damage to your home.

Whatever the reason, there are a number of ways we can help to manage behavioural issues, including behaviour consultations, advice on how to mitigate situations that may trigger their bad behaviour and in some cases, medication.

Some common behaviours that may need attention in your furry friend include:

Dogs

• Jumping up
• Pulling on the leash
• Barking
• Chewing
• Aggression
• Excessive licking

Cats 

• Scratching furniture
• Urinating outside the litter box
• Aggression
• Over grooming

If you’re concerned about your pet’s behaviour, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!

As a pet owner, it’s important to make sure your furry friend is always safe and sound. That’s why microchipping is so important – it helps ensure that if your pet ever gets lost, they can be quickly and easily reunited with you.

On average, about two stray dogs are dropped off to us each week by a member of the public. We can instantly reunite them with their owners when the pet has a microchip. It is also important that you update your details on the microchipping registry regularly. This includes your current phone number and address.

At Bangalow Vets, we offer microchipping for both cats and dogs. By law, all cats and dogs must be microchipped from the age of 12 weeks old. Microchipping is a quick and easy process that only takes a few minutes. We can perform microchipping here at our clinic during a vaccination appointment.

Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The microchip contains vital information about your pet, including your contact details. We will also register your pet to the NSW Pet Registry.

If you have any questions about microchipping or would like to make an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Nail clipping for pets is a service that can be booked with our nurse. It is always a good idea to have nails clipped at the vet to avoid your pet’s nail beds from being damaged.

It can also be very traumatising for the pet if its nails are cut too short and believe us when we say… they will remember. We can also teach you how to trim your pet’s nails and even order you a pair of good-quality nail clippers so you can do it yourself from home.

We recommend you start trimming their nails from a young age to get them used to their feet being touched and the sound the nail clippers make. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a member of our team.

At our clinic, we offer desexing services for cats, dogs and rabbits. Our experienced veterinarians will ensure your pet is comfortable during the procedure, and provide you with post-operative care instructions. Depending on the sex of your pet, desexing involves either spaying or castration.

Spaying
Desexing female dogs, cats & rabbits

Spaying your female cat, dog or rabbit is a great way to help control the pet population. Not to mention, it has many health benefits for your pet! Spaying helps to prevent uterine infections and breast cancer in dogs and cats, and also eliminates the risk of rabbits developing uterine cancer.

The surgery itself is routine and frequently performed by our veterinarians. Recovery time is usually about 10 days, during which your pet will need to rest and recover at home. We recommend desexing cats and dogs around 6 months of age, and rabbits slightly younger – 4-5 months old. But this may vary depending on the individual.

Castration – A surgery to sterilise males
Desexing male dogs, cats & rabbits

A desexed male, in general, will be calmer and will not have the desire to go chasing females.

Although far less invasive than female desexing, surgical castration still involves a full general anaesthetic in a sterile theatre. Recovery time is usually only about 10 days, during which your pet will need to rest and recover at home.

We also offer medical castration in male dogs. It involves a small implant, like the size of microchips, that is implanted under the skin. This is a far less invasive sterilisation option, and it is reversible. We can sterilise males for up to 12 months. The implant simply dissolves after time, and dogs can be implanted again every 12 months. This can be done during their annual vaccination visits.

To find out more about our desexing services, or to make an appointment, reach out to our team today.