Springfield Vet Group News

It will become cheaper and easier to travel abroad with pets when new rules are introduced at the start of 2012.

The UK will harmonise its pet movement rules with the rest of the European Union from 1st January 2012, bringing the UK's Pet Travel Scheme into line with the most recent science. Forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800s, is no longer necessary.

All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before
they travel.

Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa wiIl be able to enter the UK if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait
before they enter the UK.

The UK has been discussing with the EuropeanCommission the most appropriate form of tapeworm controls for dogs. to ensure the UK continues to be protected from Echinococcus multilocularls.

The Commission has recently indicated that its proposals. expected shortly, would enable the UK and other countries to retain tapeworm controls, with a requirement that animals be treated between one and five days before returning to the UK.

Tick treatment for pet animals returning to the UK will no longer be required. All pet owners travelling abroad with their animals should discuss with their vets the use of treatments, including those designed to control ticks as part of good animal health practice.

The UK, along with Ireland, Sweden and Malta, has an exemption from the standard EU pet travel rules. They are
all harmonising their entry rules with the rest of the EU at the same time as the UK.

For more information please ask your local practice or visit the Department for Environment Food and
Rural Affairs at www.defra.gov.uk.

Lungworm is becoming increasingly common across the whole of the UK. Lungworm is only infectious to dogs. It is a very dangerous infection and can be fatal.

We therefore recommend regular preventative treatment for all dogs with either Advocate spot-on or Milbemax tablets (both are included in the Healthy Pet Club Scheme).

Also it is important to use regular preventative treatment against fleas, roundworm and tapeworm for both cats and dogs.

Our recommended treatment protocol is applying monthly Advocate spot-on against fleas, roundworm
(and Iungworm) and in addition, a 6-monthly treatment against tapeworm with Droncit tablets, injection or
spot-on.

What is this lungworm?
The lungworm Angiostrongylus Vasorum (also known as French Heartworm) is a parasite that infects dogs. The adult of this particular lungworm lives in the heart and major blood vessels supplying the lungs, where it can cause a host of problems.

Left untreated. the infection can often be fatal. The lungworm parasite is carried by slugs and snails.

The problem arises when dogs purposefully or accidentally eat these common garden pests when
rummaging through undergrowth, eating grass, drinking from puddles or outdoor water bowls, or pick
them up from their toys.

Foxes can also become infected with the lungworm, and have been implicated in the spread of the parasite
across the country.

There are two main problems caused by dogs becoming infected with lungworm:

Infection with lungworm can cause serious health problems in dogs, and is often fatal if not diagnosed and treated.

Dogs infected with lungworm spread the parasite into the environment, the larvae of the parasite
are expelled in the dog's faeces. This increases the chances of other dogs becoming infected.

The Benefits of Neutering your Pet - Book now and save 15% on our usual fee!

Dogs
In the male dog neutering can have several health benefits. Some forms of cancer are more common in older un-castrated dogs, such as, testicular tumours and anal adenomas. The risk of prostate disease is also greatly reduced by neutering your dog while young.

When dogs reach sexual maturity they can often develop antisocial behaviour in the form of aggression or sexual behaviour. Having your dog castrated can greatly reduce these problems. (Castration is not the solution for all behavioural problems). Un-castrated dogs are more likely to try to escape and wander in search of bitches in season, increasing the risk of your dog being either lost or involved in a road traffic accident.

In the bitch the possibility of unwanted litters is removed as well as other pregnancy related problems. She will no longer have a season and therefore any behavioural changes will be eliminated along with the mess and inconvenience related to the season.

As in the male dog by having your bitch neutered young many health problems in later life are reduced. Having her neutered at a young age will greatly reduce the risk of mammary tumours, which can be highly malignant and life threatening. Also infections of the uterus (Pyometra) can occur in the older un-speyed bitch which again can be either fatal or leave her with irreversible organ damage.

Cats
In the male cat castration will reduce sexual behaviour such as marking (spraying) and straying for days at a time. It will also reduce the risk of him picking up potentially fatal diseases such as Feline Leukaemia Virus (Felv) as he is less likely to get into fights etc.

In the female cat, neutering will prevent her coming into season, which in the breeding season will be approximately every 3 weeks. Neutering will help eliminate unwanted attention from un-castrated males which can involve fighting and spraying/marking in and around your property.

Neutering is a common and relatively safe operation which only involves your pet being with us for a few hours, so you can have them back home the same day.

Vaccination Offer
Get your dog vaccinated against kennel cough at the same time as its normal annual booster and get the kennel cough vaccination at the discounted cost of £12.00 + vat, a saving of £10.60.

Do you have a Healthy Pet Club Loyalty Card?

Want to take control of the cost of your pet’s preventative veterinary care?

Then join the CVS Healthy Pet Club, with Lifetime Healthcare!

Spread the cost and get up to 10%
Discount on our Products and
Services.

At Springfield, we understand that paying for your pet’s annual vaccination, flea treatment and worming all in one go, is not easily affordable. Pet insurance, unfortunately, does not cover these essential preventative veterinary treatments. The CVS Healthy Pet Club, with Lifetime Healthcare allows you to both reduce and spread the cost of the best in preventative veterinary care, helping to ensure your pets stay healthy.

One small monthly Direct Debit payment entitles you to all the following:

Membership benefits include:

• Booster Vaccination (including Kennel Cough)
• 12 months of Flea & Worming Treatments
• Pet ID Microchip for just £9.99
• 6 month Health Check
• 10% Discount on all Products & Services
• 20% Discount on Specific Lifetime Care Drugs
• Multi Pet Discounts
• Purchase 5 bags/cases of Hills Pet Food including Prescription & get the 6th bag/case FREE

Our scheme is not an insurance, it is a monthly payment loyalty scheme that covers your pet for all preventative healthcare medicine.

Unlike pet insurance, there is no maximum age at which your pet may join.

Ask one of our practice staff for more information and join today!

Click here for website

Have you joined our Healthy Pet Club Puppy and Kitten Loyalty Scheme?

Just £9.99 per month for 12 months

Included in your membership:

• Course of Initial Vaccinations – including Kennel Cough for dogs
• Flea Control for 12 months
• Worming Treatment for 12 months
• 20% Discount on Neutering
• Introductory Bag of hills Puppy or Kitten Food
• Microchip
• 20% Discount on DAP and Feliway products which help to relieve fear and anxiety in pets
• 20% Discount on selected Lifetime care drugs
• 10% Discount on Hills Pet Food + Buy 5 Bags Get 1 Free
• Plus 10% off all other products and services today and everyday

Ask one of our practice staff for more information and join today!

Click here for website

Did you know 1 in 3 pets may require unexpected veterinary treatment each year?*

Whilst advances in veterinary medicine mean we can do more for your pet, treatment costs can soon mount up. We recommend Petplan Insurance to all our clients to help cover unexpected vet bills.

You may be surprised to hear that you are more likely to claim on your pet insurance than your car or household policies ( Allianz Insurance plc). In fact, in our experience if you are one of the few people who don’t need to claim on your pet insurance you really are very lucky indeed!

It’s important to be aware that not all pet insurance is the same. Some policies limit the amount of time or money that you can claim for. Don’t just shop around on price alone.

At Springfield we recommend Petplan insurance for the following reasons:

• With Petplan’s Covered for Life guarantee your veterinary fees cover is renewed each year no matter how much you claim
• Petplan doesn’t place exclusions at renewal on their Covered for Life policy so ongoing conditions such as eczema continue to be covered by the policy
• Petplan won’t increase your premium or excess just because you make a claim
• Petplan is a pet insurance specialist so they understand the animal market and work closely with vets, charities and breeders

Click here to find out more about the different types of pet insurance from petplan

* Source: Petplan