Hello

On behalf of the entire team at Malvern Veterinary Hospital we would like to extend a very warm welcome to you and thank you for choosing our hospital for your pets care.

Malvern Vet has been re-awarded ASAVA (Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association) “Hospital of Excellence” Accreditation repeatedly since 1981. Hospital of Excellence status is continuously re-assessed and is presented in recognition of very high standards of diagnostic, surgical, laboratory, and nursing facilities in the practice. There are currently only 15 practices in Victoria that have been awarded this honour so you can rest easy knowing your dog is in good hands.

We’d like to gift you a dog lead which can be picked up next time you’re in, just mention it to one of the team and we can get that for you. We also invite you to follow us on our Facebook and Instagram account as a fun way to stay in the loop, with helpful information and to see the wonderful pets we have the pleasure of looking after.

Services We Provide:

Malvern Vet Hospital offers a comprehensive range of veterinary and animal health-related services to ensure your animal is in a healthy and peak condition. As an ASAVA accredited veterinary clinic, we aim to provide the largest range of pet services to our clients. Be it Vaccinations, De-sexing procedures, Ultrasounds, Radiography, Cat boarding, dog and cat grooming, veterinary consultation, microchipping, or managing and diagnosing complicated medical conditions, our highly qualified staff have the expertise to deliver.

Dog Grooming:

Malvern Vet Hospital has its very own grooming service. With a team of 8 groomers we have a reputation for delivering exceptionally high standards and beautiful results.

To make a booking call through to reception on (03) 9509 7611.

Flea and Worming Mail Out Services:

The hospital also has an automatic mail out system for your dog’s flea and worming treatments every 3 months for a small additional fee. It’s super easy and fast to set up. Just a form to fill out and we do the rest. For more information call us on (03) 9509 7611.

Pet Insurance:

Recommendations for the care of your dog:

Feeding:

Malvern Vet Hospital stocks a comprehensive range of quality pet products and supplies for dogs and cats of differing breeds. Our products and supplies include the premium quality Science Diet range as well as Hills Prescription foods. We recommend feeding your dog a premium diet such as Science Diet because although your dog could survive on non-premium diets they won’t live their healthiest longest life. Premium diets are nutritionally dense using only high-quality ingredients, which often means you feed them less resulting in less number 2’s to pick up (winning!).

For more information: www.hillspet.com.au/science-diet

Vaccinations:

Malvern Vet Hospital recommends that puppies receive three vaccinations spaced one month apart:

• 6-8 weeks
• 10-12 weeks
• and 14-16 weeks

This vaccination schedule helps ensure that your puppy builds a strong immunity to common canine diseases, giving them the best protection as they grow and explore the world.

Booster injections will not be required until they are over 14 months old. This vaccination covers Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Bordetella Bronchoseptica, and Parainfluenza 2 – canine cough/kennel cough.

The vaccines used at Malvern vet provide a superior coverage – in most cases allowing for the pups to begin socialising early (often as early as 10 weeks!). Early socialisation reduces the chance of behavioural issues developing later in life. Ask your vet for a recommendation for your pup.

Heartworm Prevention:

Heartworm is a potentially fatal parasitic worm that can enter your dog’s bloodstream via a mosquito bite. The worm then migrates through the body until it finally finds it home… the heart and lungs! Once there it can grow to a large enough size that can affect the functionality of those organs which can cause heart failure, lung disease, organ damage and potentially death.

To ensure consistent cover to prevent your puppy from getting this we recommend an injection called ProHeart. This injection to be done at:

• 12 weeks
• Again at 9 months
• Then annually from then on.

Alternatively, you can treat monthly with a wormer, such as Milbemax, that also treats heartworm. It is important to not miss this monthly tablet as it will leave your dog susceptible to heartworm. For this reason we find a lot of our clients choose the injections instead.

For more information on ProHeart visit www.zoetispetcare.com/products/proheart

Intestinal Parasite Control:

If your pet has a large number of worms it may find it difficult to maintain body condition and it can lose weight. In some cases, it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even anaemia (a low red blood cell level). Occasionally, heavy intestinal worm burdens can cause death.

We recommend MILBEMAX monthly in puppies 4 months and under. It is important to weigh your pup before each treatment as dosing is based on body weight and it changes a lot when they are growing. We recommend the following regime:

• Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age.
• Then monthly until 6 months.
• Then every 3 months ongoing for life.

Flea Prevention:

It’s no secret fleas can be a major discomfort for your pet and cause severe irritation. We recommend using Bravecto three-monthly chew. Bravecto also protects against paralysis ticks which can be especially important if you travel into NSW.

Desexing:

There has been significant research done on the impact of desexing at different ages and different breeds. In some breeds there is a correlation between the age of desexing and the incidence of subsequent joint disorders, cancers and urinary incontinence. For specific medical recommendation on the ideal age to desex your dog, please email us at askthevet@malvernvet.com.au and advise us your dogs age and breed (or mix of breeds if known). We will get back to you with a recommendsation of what age is best to desex.

Desexing will eliminate a lot of adult dog problems such as wandering, aggression and dominance behaviours. The surgery is done under a general anaesthetic and they are given pain control injections during surgery which last 24 hours and go home the same afternoon with a further 6 days worth of pain medication.

Short nosed breeds, such as Pugs/ French bulldogs, have a higher risk of regurgitating while under anaesthetic, as a result of their altered anatomy. While under anaesthesia, regurgitation can lead to burning the lining of the oesophagus. Inhalation of the regurgitated contents may also cause aspiration pneumonia (infection in the lungs). To avoid this happening and to improve your pets safety during a general anaesthesia, we recommend using medication to prevent vomiting, as well as antacids, before and after the procedure. Please speak to a veterinarian in order to determine if this precaution is necessary for your dog.

For Desexing information, call us on (03) 9509 7611.

Microchipping:

Microchip identification involves the placement of a small microchip under the skin at the back of the neck. It is coded with a reference number which is linked to your details at a centralized national database. Your information can be obtained within minutes once your dog (if lost) is presented to a veterinary clinic or pound. The needle used to insert the microchip is a large gauge needle, so we recommend doing this at the same time they are desexed. Although most puppies will come already microchipped from the breeder, you just need to ensure it has been transferred into your name. If your puppy has not been microchipped ensure you have been provided with a source number from the pet exchange registry ( per.animalwelfare.vic.gov.au/ )or from your breeders’ place of purchase.

Puppy Anxiety:

As a pet owner, you want the best for your fur baby. You want them to be healthy- physically and emotionally. Like humans, dogs and cats can experience anxiety for many reasons such as when left at home alone, in a new environment or when meeting another animal.

• ADAPTIL is a synthetic copy of the comforting pheromone released by a mother dog naturally to calm and reassure her new puppies. This pheromone can have a calming effect on puppies in stressful situations when released through ADAPTIL. Puppies experience a lot of firsts and some big changes, especially in the first few months of life and this can be extremely beneficial. It comes in a home plug-in diffuser, a wearable collar that last 1 month or a spray for when you go out.

For more information www.adaptil.com/au/Products/ADAPTIL-Junior

Dental Health:

• Hills prescription T/D is a Complete & balanced nutritional diet which is clinically proven to reduce plaque, stain, & tartar build-up. It has a unique kibble size and shape made up of a special fibre matrix that helps to mechanically clean the teeth as the kibble is eaten.

• Greenies Dental Chew a day helps clean your cat’s teeth by using his natural chewing action to wipe away plaque and tartar build-up from the surface of the teeth. The chewy and flexible texture allows teeth to sink in with every bite all the way to the gums for more effective cleaning.

• Manually Brushing if you have time is also a great way to maintain a healthy mouth. Starting young and making it a reward based activity can help in introducing this. A finger toothbrush or a soft bristled child’s tooth brush with pet toothpaste as often as possible can help to reduce the bacteria in the mouth reducing plaque buildup and dental disease.

  We thank you again for joining the Malvern Vet Hospital Family and look forward to seeing you and your furry friend next time.

  Malvern Vet Hospital

Pet Insurance:

We offer GapOnly ® as a payment service! If your pet has a policy with a GapOnly ® pet insurance partner, for eligible expenses you can access your pet insurance benefit on the spot, and you’ll only pay us the gap (which is the difference between the invoice and the eligible claim benefit under your policy).