Our Frequently asked Questions

The night before your pet is due in for surgery we recommend that you take away their food from 6pm and still allow them access to water. They just need to be fasting as the anaesthetic can cause them to vomit which is safer on an empty stomach.

The vaccination course for puppies can start at anytime from 6 weeks of age and a second vaccine is given 3-4 weeks later. They should be kept indoors until 2 weeks after their final vaccination to ensure suitable immunity is reached.The vaccinations are essential in the protection of Parvovirus, Leptospirosis ( which causes Wheal’s disease in humans), Distemper, parainfluenza and some forms of viral hepatitis.

Annual boosters should be given thereafter to maintain this immunity, a full health examination of your pet is performed during vaccination consultations.

Kennel Cough Vaccine must be given to all dogs that have to stay in a boarding kennel; however, we are seeing more and more cases of Kennel cough in multi-dog households, so the advice is to vaccinate for Kennel Cough whether your pet is going into a boarding kennel or not. Kennel cough is a very contagious infection that causes a harsh, hoarse cough in dogs. It is very easy for dogs to contract kennel cough – it just requires nose to nose contact or shared airspace. Kennel cough can be contracted in parks, training classes, grooming salons, veterinary clinic waiting rooms, boarding kennels or just saying hello on a walk.

The vaccination course starts for kittens at 9 weeks of age , with a booster shot at 3-4 weeks later. This vaccination covers Cat Flu, feline panleucopenia, and rhinotracheitis caused by a virus called Calicivirus.

We also recommend that all cats be vaccinated for the viral form of Feline Leukaemia.

This is now a legal requirement for every dog in Ireland. A microchip is a small inert object about the size of a grain of rice inserted under your dog’s skin in the neck region. It is a very quick, once off procedure which is a permanent means of identification of your pet. It will ensure that your pet will be reunited with you should he/she ever become lost or stolen.

If your pet is microchipped already be sure to make sure it is correctly registered on a government approved and is in your details and not a previous owner. You can have your pet scanned and details checked at Barrowside Veterinary Hospital at any time.

There is a lot of misinformation about neutering. This should be discussed with the Vet at the time of vaccination. It is important to be fully and correctly informed as to the effects of neutering.

There is no evidence of temperament change, although neutered males and females can put on weight if their diet and exercise is not properly monitored. Neutering your female cat or dog will reduce the incidence of breast cancer, eliminate womb infections, false and unwanted pregnancies. Their life expectancy is also extended.

Neutering males reduces aggression, wandering, mounting and urine marking. The incidence of prostate, testicular and anal tumours is also reduced. It also increases their life expectancy.

Young puppies and kittens are quite prone to worms so frequent worming is very important.  Puppies and kittens should be wormed from 2 weeks of age and it is advised to give a worm treatment every 2 weeks from this time up to 12 weeks of age.  From 12 weeks to 6 months, we advise giving a worm treatment monthly.  From 6 months of age your pet is considered an adult, and should be given a worm treatment every 3 months. We recommend discussing the best wormer for your pet with a member of team at Barrowside Veterinary Hospital. Pet wormers are available from our hospital in tablet, oral liquid and spot-on forms.

You can travel with your pets but you must research the entry requirements for the country in which you plan to travel to. To do this you can check with the Department of Agriculture as to what requirements are necessary to travel to the country in question. The general requirements include a pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccination which must be given a minimum of 21 days before travel and a pre travel check carried out the day before travel. Also contact the transport company you are travelling with to see if they have specific travel arrangements. At Barrowside Veterinary Hospital we will organise and issue the pet passport, microchip your animal and administer the Rabies vaccination for you.

Dentistry is now an established aspect of good veterinary care, and for good reason. Routine checks of the teeth, gums and oral cavity should be part of a pet owner’s routine to ensure the good overall health of your pet. Studies have shown that 85% of dogs and 75% of cats over the age of 3 show signs of dental disease. At Barrowside Veterinary Hospital we offer free nurse dental consultations to our clients. Please contact reception to arrange one for your pet. 

Some of the signs of dental disease include:

• Plaque (discolouration of the teeth)

• Gingivitis (Gums are inflamed and red in colour)

• Halitosis (Bad smelling breath)

You can brush your pets own teeth at home if your pet is compliant. Feeding a good quality dry food and dental chews can greatly reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar. However, it is important to note when you feed dental sticks to reduce your pet’s daily intake of food for that day to allow for the dental stick, to ensure your pet does not exceed there recommended daily calorie intake