Nursing Care

A microchip is a small implant that is inserted under your dog or cat’s skin, like an injection. The microchip has a unique identification number programmed into it. This number can be read by a microchip scanner. If your dog or cat were to go missing and then was found, the microchip can be read and it can be determined who the owner is so you can be reunited with your pet.

Since March 2016, it is compulsory for all dogs in Ireland to be microchipped. If your dog is not yet microchipped, it is important that you arrange to have this done as soon as possible.

Clipping your pets nails can sometimes be more tricky than it sounds, especially if the nails are black. Similar to us, pets have a nerve and blood supply to the nail. With white nails, this is quite easy to see but with black nails, it can sometimes involve a bit of guess work!

If you are unsure about clipping your pets nails or would like a bit of guidance, just book an appointment with us and we would be delighted to do it for you.

Obesity in pets is a growing problem.

Did you know?

Pets as little as 20% overweight, are at an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.

By managing your pets weight, you can decrease your pet’s risk of future, weight-related health issues and the medical costs associated with treating them.

If you are unsure if your pet is overweight, perhaps arrange to come in to us and we can do a weight check and give you a target weight recommendation and advice on where to start as regards getting your pet back into shape.

For most routine surgical procedures, the post-operative recovery period is about 14 days. Orthopaedic procedures tend to have a longer recovery.

We usually see our surgical patients back at 4 days after their surgery, for a routine check-up with our nurse. We will see them back again 14 days after their surgery for another visit with the nurse, to have healing of the wound assessed and stitches removed.

Post-operative care involves ensuring your pet is adequately covered with pain relief, and isn’t suffering any unnecessary discomfort. We sometimes need to prescribe antibiotics to ensure your pet won’t get an infection. This is especially the case after a bite wound or a road traffic accident, or in a case where infection would be a concern. In the post-operative period, we assess wound healing and as it is vital that your pet doesn’t lick at the wound (which could introduce infection or remove sutures). We usually advise that your pet wears an Elizabethan collar for a full 14 days after his or her surgery, until the wound has healed and stitches have been removed.

Bandages and dressings are sometimes needed in the care of wounds, burn injuries or orthopaedic cases. Bandages need to be looked after, as a wet, neglected bandage can be worse than no bandage at all.

If your pet has a bandage in place, they will need to come back regularly for bandage checks and re-bandaging or re-dressing. At bandage checks, your pet’s bandage will be assessed to ensure it hasn’t slipped and is still in good condition. It may be decided to leave a clean bandage in place, or we often decide to replace a bandage.

It your pet has a bandage, and you have noticed that it has got quite wet or dirty, or looks a bit different, we advise that you come in to us to have it checked. Neglected bandages can cause infection, nasty wounds, swelling and discomfort, so regular checks are really important.

Stitches are usually removed about 14 days after a surgery.

Getting your pet's stitches removed just involves a quick visit to the nurse. Healing of the wound will be assessed and the stitches removed, by simply cutting them and pulling them out.

Pet insurance can help alleviate some of the cost associated with your pet’s veterinary bills. It provides cover for work involved in treating a pet for an unexpected illness or injury and unfortunately, illness and injury can be just that...unexpected.

We strongly advise Pet Insurance, and as there are more competitors in the market now, you can get a policy at a more competitive price. Please bear in mind that the cheapest policy quote may not be the most suitable for your pet and it is extremely important to read the small print.

Having pet insurance is “peace of mind”. Pets are part of our family. It is an extremely worrying time when your pet is ill. This can be heartbreaking when financial restraints mean we can’t provide our pet with the care they need to get them well.