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Who Are the Port Kennedy Vets?

Who Are the Port Kennedy Vets?, We understand, value, and respect the special nature of the bond between an owner and their pet. We aim to provide the best quality healthcare for your pets to maximise their quality of life. Pets are a part of the family, and we know that when they suffer, you suffer. That’s why we dedicate each day to relieving pain and restoring health as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Highly Qualified Staff

We currently have 7 highly skilled veterinary surgeons on the team, as well as our two owners who have more than 70 years of veterinary experience between them. Our surgeons have all dedicated their education and careers to animal care – we have a genuine passion for looking after your pets.

Friendly Service

Our reception is staffed by a mixture of qualified veterinary nurses and students, so you can be sure that caring for your pet is their number one priority. We understand how worrying it can be to visit the vet, both for owners and their pets, and we aim to make clinic visits as easy and comfortable as possible.

All-Round Care

Our team of support staff includes two groomers, two kennel hands, and a puppy school trainer. We pride ourselves on providing a service that looks after all of the needs of your pet from their first visit to their senior years. Our qualified veterinary surgeons offer advice on all aspects of pet care, including nutrition, behaviour, dental care and preventative treatments to ensure excellent all-around care for all patients.

Modern Technology

We believe that keeping up with technological developments is vital in order to provide the highest standard of care to your pet. We are proud of the exceptional standard of our clinical facility, which includes a dedicated dental suite, a wide range of anaesthetic and pain relief methods, medical monitoring equipment, and a modern sterilisation autoclave.

A Community Vet

Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital has been operating under its current owners for 18 years, growing from a small one-vet treatment centre to the large and busy centre we are today. We believe in supporting the next generation of vets, which is why we offer many work placements throughout the year to give students the hands-on experience they need to succeed in the veterinary world. In order to give back to our community, we offer free seminars on animal wellness and provide educational support to local schools.

To make an appointment at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, call us now on 08 9524 6644 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

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Special Vet Care for Kittens

Essential Vet Care for Kittens: Health Tips & Expert Advice

Special Vet Care for Kittens. It’s necessary to make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible after adopting a new kitten. After all, you’re bringing a new family member into your home. You should arrange a thorough health check to ensure your kitten is healthy and also to verify that they aren’t carrying any infectious diseases or parasites that could affect other pets or people.

The First Check Up

Your kitten’s first check-up will start with a comprehensive physical exam. This will involve a visual check of your cat’s eyes, ears, fur, and teeth, as well as measuring your cat’s temperature and weight. Your vet will listen to the kitten’s heart and lungs and feel for any abnormalities in other internal organs to ensure the kitten’s life gets off to the best possible start. Faecal and blood tests may also be taken at this time.

Vaccinations

Kittens are particularly at risk of contracting several diseases as they gradually lose the antibodies passed on by their mother and are left unprotected. There are three essential ‘core’ vaccines for your kitten – rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. These vaccines can be administered starting around 6-8 weeks of age and then boosted over the following few months. Your veterinarian will provide you with a vaccination schedule to follow, ensuring your cat receives the best possible protection against infectious diseases.

Microchipping

Microchipping is a legal requirement in Western Australia and should be completed in the first few months of your kitten’s life. The process is as simple as a small injection in the back of the neck, and it means your pet has a very high chance of being returned to you if it gets lost.

Flea Prevention

All pets will be exposed to fleas at some stage once they are outside and interacting with other animals. Kittens can begin to receive preventative treatment against fleas from 2 months of age, and all pets in your household must be treated at the same time.

Worm Prevention

Kittens need to be treated regularly from a very young age to protect against heartworms and intestinal worms. When you purchase our kitten wellness package, it includes 12 months of protection against these harmful parasites.

Desexing

All male cats outside breeding colonies must be desexed, and it is highly recommended that females be desexed as well. Pets who have been spayed or neutered are healthier, more relaxed, less likely to roam or fight, and ultimately better to live with. Your kitten should be desexed before 6 months of age at the latest.

Total Wellness

All of the treatments listed above are available in the Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital kitten wellness package, designed to give your pet the best possible chance of preventing, detecting, and managing any illness it may develop. The wellness package offers an excellent foundation for your kitten’s lifelong health and happiness.

If you’d like to purchase one of our popular wellness packages for your kitten, call Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital now on 08 9524 6644 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

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Important Vaccines for Cats

Essential Cat Vaccinations: Protecting Your Feline’s Health & Well-being

Importantly, Cat Vaccinations: Preventive treatment is a vital part of your pet’s health. By ensuring your animal receives all the necessary vaccines at the correct times, you can prevent them from contracting common diseases and maximise the quality and longevity of their life. Below, we provide more information on the necessary and recommended vaccinations for your kitten or cat.

Core Vaccines

At Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, we offer a set of three core vaccinations. The feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus vaccines both prevent a common respiratory disease, often simplified as ‘cat flu’. This disease is easily spread between cats through coughing or sneezing and can affect cats of any age, but kittens are particularly susceptible. This vaccine should be boosted annually to prevent reinfection.

The third vaccine in our core set is for feline panleukopenia, which is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease. Fortunately, the vaccine is highly effective in providing immunity, and the disease is no longer prevalent.

Additional Vaccines

We also offer optional vaccines for feline leukaemia, which suppresses your cat’s immune system, leaving them susceptible to infections, and feline immunodeficiency virus, which is a very slow-acting infectious disease that also affects the immune system.

When Should My Pet Be Vaccinated?

Kitten vaccinations typically begin between 6 and 8 weeks of age and are boosted regularly during their first few months. Young kittens inherit maternal antibodies that provide them with protection against disease, but this protection fades as they grow. Therefore, it’s vital to arrange vaccines at the right time. For adult cats, your vet will advise you on how often they need vaccinations, as this depends on their age and lifestyle. To ensure your pet is fully covered for preventive care, you can purchase one of our wellness packages, which includes vaccinations and other preventive treatments in a single, affordable bundle.

Does My Indoor Cat Need Vaccinations?

While it may seem counterintuitive, indoor kittens and cats will still require vaccines, especially the core vaccinations against feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia.

It’s important to remember that these diseases can be fatal, making complete protection necessary. If your curious cat wanders outdoors, ends up in a shelter or comes into contact with another cat, they may be exposed to dangerous diseases. Many kittens also contract diseases at a young age, before you meet them or even in utero, meaning the possibility of a disease recurring in unprotected cats is always possible.

What Are the Risks of Vaccination? Generally, there are few risks associated with standard vaccines. Your pet may experience a mild reaction at the injection site, but more serious side effects are unlikely. When caring for a kitten, it’s essential to keep them inside until ten days after their final vaccination to ensure they are fully protected. Vaccines are only effective when necessary boosters are given annually.

If you’d like to arrange vaccinations for your pet, call Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital now on 08 9524 6644 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

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How to Perform CPR on Cats and Dogs

Why Pet Insurance is Important All pet owners know that footing a veterinary bill can be quite expensive and ongoing medical care for your pet can quickly put financial pressure.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform CPR on Cats and Dogs to Save Lives

It might surprise you to know that being able to perform CPR on Cats and Dogs is an important skill to have if you own a pet. Whether your cat or dog is an indoor or outdoor pet, knowing CPR means you can act quickly in an emergency and could save a pet’s life.

An emergency isn’t really the time to be searching on Google, so make sure you read this handy guide now so you can save the life of your pet or someone else’s if you need to.

Here’s our guide to CPR in cats and dogs

Remove Any Obstruction if Possible

Your cat or dog may be choking on something that is obstructing their breathing. Before attempting CPR, open your animal’s mouth and check whether its airway is clear. If there is something caught in their throat, remove it carefully. Your pet may be conscious and distressed, which could cause them to snap or bite. If this is the case, it’s best to take them straight to a veterinarian.

Give Artificial Respiration

If your cat or dog is unconscious and their airway is unobstructed, you can attempt to give artificial ventilation. This is done by tightly closing the animal’s jaw and breathing into its nose. You should see their chest rise. If this isn’t working or your pet is a small dog or cat, you could try covering their nose and mouth with your mouth and breathing over them. When doing artificial respirations, 2 breaths are sufficient.

Perform Chest Compressions

The way you perform chest compressions on an unconscious pet depends on its size. Large dogs can be positioned on their backs, as with humans, and compressions performed in the centre of their chest. This is difficult for small dogs and cats, so you may need to perform chest compressions while they are lying on their sides. Compressions are then done on the side of their rib cage. The rate of compression also varies depending on the animal’s size, but generally, 80-120 compressions per minute are suitable for small to medium-sized dogs and all cats. 60 compressions per minute are sufficient for large dogs.

Alternate between Breathing and Compressions

Now that you know how to perform breaths and compressions during CPR, it’s also important to alternate between the two. If you’re giving 80 compression,s then you should give a breath after 40. If you’re doing 60 compressions, give a breath after 30. Alternating between breaths and compressions increases the likelihood that CPR will be successful.

What Now?

Once your cat or dog is breathing independently again, you can cease CPR. You should take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible after the incidents to determine the cause of the problem and perform a general health check. If CPR has failed, take your pet to the vet immediately.

The team at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital understands, values, and respects the very special nature of the human-animal bond and is happy to assist you with performing CPR. We are also there for you in any emergency pet situation. Contact us to find out more today.

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5 Reasons to Join a Puppy Training Class

https://portkennedyvet.com.au/puppy-classes/5-reasons-join-puppy-training-class/

5 Compelling Reasons to Enrol in a Puppy Training Class Today

Reasons to Join Puppy Training Classes: When you bring a puppy home they are instantly the star of the house but if they aren’t trained young, you might find your puppy becoming less popular. Chewing your belongings, aggressive behaviour, and poor toilet training are all examples of bad habits your dog may exhibit. As they get older, these habits might be harder to break, and some may even become dangerous to others’ well-being and result in extra vet visits.

Early education and socialisation are essential for the behavioural development and well-being of puppies. Young puppies learn obedience skills, toileting behaviour and social etiquette quite easily. All of these things set your puppy on the path to being a well-adjusted dog.

Here’s why you should join puppy training classes immediately.

1. Your Puppy will Learn to Be Social

This is one of the most important reasons to send your dog to puppy school. If your puppy doesn’t have the opportunity to mingle and mix with dogs and people of all different shapes and sizes, they won’t know the appropriate way to behave when approached by another dog or people who aren’t in your family.

2. Your Puppy will Learn to Hold Back the Bite

Some puppies won’t naturally learn to hold back from biting. The nature and breed of your dog also influence whether they are more likely to bite. At puppy school, you’ll be given the skills to make sure your dog learns that gentle mouthing is ok but biting hard won’t be tolerated.

3. You will Be Confident in Housetraining Your Dog

A lot of the time, a simple “No!” each time your dog commits a housetraining crime isn’t enough to train them to be obedient. At puppy school, you’ll learn specific techniques to make sure your dog isn’t destroying your home or garden.

4. Your Puppy will Learn How to Be Restrained

If your puppy doesn’t learn that humans might need to touch their paws, pick up their leg or put them on a lead, then it will be difficult when the time comes, and they need to be washed or have an injury inspected. At puppy school, your puppy will learn that it is OK to be held and restrained for a period.

5. Your Puppy Will Become a Happy, Well Adjusted Dog

Puppy training sets your dog up for a lifetime without aggression or fear. A puppy school allows your puppy to become a dog that isn’t fearful of certain situations and knows how to handle a domestic home life with children, cars, street sounds, and more.

Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, approximately 17 minutes from Rockingham or Baldivis, runs weekly Puppy Classes. We offer a safe, secure environment for your new puppy to learn and make new friends. Classes are small and tailored to your needs and your puppy’s – and they are great fun too.

5 Reasons to Join a Puppy Training Class. It is recommended that you commence Puppy Classes between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Contact us today about enrolling your puppy in our Puppy Classes.

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Ways to save on Pet Expenses

Save on Pet Expenses with Preventative Healthcare

Being a pet owner is truly wonderful, with our little animal friends bringing companionship, love and joy into our lives. In addition, caring for a dog or cat is a significant investment, both in time and money.

Before you go ahead and adopt a new puppy or kitten, you need to make sure that you’ve carefully considered whether you have the financial capacity to responsibly care for them. The expense of keeping a pet can be considerable for some owners, particularly if their cat or dog becomes ill or needs emergency vet care.

Fortunately, there are also ways to save on pet expenses. Today, we’ll look at how wellness packages for your dog or cat can allow you to look after their health and wellbeing while saving money in the process.

Properly Caring for Your Cat or Dog

Owning a pet is a long-term responsibility. You have to be committed to caring for them for their entire life, providing them with a safe and comfortable home.

Annual health checks by a professional veterinarian are recommended for all cats and dogs, even if your pet appears to be completely healthy. If your pet has an ongoing condition or is older, they may need to visit the vet more frequently – generally twice a year, or as advised by your veterinarian.

Save Money with Preventative Healthcare

By practising preventative healthcare, your cat or dog will receive regular health checks by a qualified vet. This will help you to keep track of their well-being and detect any signs or symptoms of ill health.

This proactive approach to your pet’s wellbeing will keep them healthy, reducing the need for emergency treatments or operations. This will also reduce the likelihood of more expensive vet bills further down the track.

Things You Can Do At Home

You can also save on expenses by ensuring your cat or dog is properly cared for at home. Coupled with professional preventative care, the following strategies will help to protect your pet and keep your costs down:

Nutritional foods – feed your pet a vet-approved diet to maintain their health and wellbeing
Regular cleaning – clean your pet’s beds, bowls and other living areas to prevent infection and other sicknesses
Pet grooming – have your pet groomed regularly to create a healthy coat and reduce possible complications
Entertainment – playing games and engaging your pet will improve their emotional well-being while nurturing their physical.th

Wellbeing Packages – for Easy, Affordable Monthly Payments

Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital offers a range of affordable wellness packages that provide regular preventative care. Working with you, we can ensure optimum health for your cat, dog, kitten or puppy. With a wellness package, you’ll also know you have somewhere to turn to in case of an emergency. Our professional and qualified vets are always on hand to offer you guidance and support at any stage of your pet’s life.

At Port Kennedy, we understand the financial aspects of caring for an animal, and we offer services to make life a bit easier for pet owners. Monthly payment plans provide you with much-needed peace of mind about your cat or dog’s health while taking the emotional and financial stress out of being a pet owner.

Talk to your trusted Port Kennedy vet about how wellness packages can benefit you and your best mate.

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Benefits of Sterilisation and Desexing for your cats or dogs

The Benefits of Sterilisation and Desexing for your cats or dogs

Have you become the happy owner of a new puppy or kitten? Benefits of Sterilisation and Desexing for your cats or dogs.

Congratulations! Welcoming a little canine or feline friend into your home is always an exciting time.

There are many things you’ll need to consider to properly take care of your new pet. These considerations ensure you’re giving them the happiest, healthiest life possible. One of the most important things you’ll need to do is get your cat or dog desexed. In addition to reducing the risk of unwanted litters, neutering offers several benefits for your pet’s health and well-being.

We’ve put together some practical information about desexing to help you create a better experience for your cat or dog.

What is Desexing or Neutering for Pets?

The benefits of Sterilisation and Desexing for your cats or dogs, also sometimes called neutering or spaying, is a common surgical procedure that prevents pets from being able to reproduce. If you don’t want your new kitten or puppy to become pregnant and breed, you’ll need to organise for them to be desexed at a professional veterinary clinic.

The most common age to desex your pet is between 4 and 6 months; however, the procedure can be completed at any stage of an animal’s life.

The Benefits of Sterilisation for Your Pet

With the world already full of stray and abandoned animals, pet owners must take responsibility and make sure that they’re not contributing to the number of unwanted animals. If you don’t want your cat or dog to have a litter, you must organise for them to be desexed. This applies to both males and females.

As well as removing the risk of unwanted pregnancy, there are also some other surprising benefits of sterilisation for cats and dogs.

These advantages include:

Stopping the heat cycle in female cats and dogs
Living a longer and healthier life
Preventing testicular cancer and prostate disease in male pets
Preventing pyometra (infection of the uterus) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) in female animals
Decreasing aggression towards humans and other animals
Being less prone to wander, especially in male pets

Preparing for Your Pet’s Desexing Procedure

Your vet will give you detailed instructions before your pet’s procedure, but here are some things to expect before your cat or dog’s spaying appointment.

Your pet will need to fast before their procedure. No food is to be given to your cat or dog after 10 pm on the night before surgery. The next day, before surgery, no water is to be given after 8 am.

At the clinic, the vet may take a blood test before surgery to check vital organ function. They will also perform a thorough physical examination before administering a general anaesthetic and pain relief medication.

Some cats and dogs might require intravenous fluid support during their surgery.

Caring for Your Cat or Dog after Desexing

Most pets will recover very quickly from the sterilisation procedure, although they may have a little tenderness at first.

Limit your pet’s food and water to small portions on the first night that they return home. Make sure you administer the post-surgical medications properly and check the incision at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disruption, such as bleeding, swelling, redness or discharge.

Prevent your pet from licking or chewing their stitches, and always return to your vet to have the stitches removed and to have a post-surgery check-up.

Desexing Your Pet in Port Kennedy

Pet owners in Port Kennedy, Rockingham, Baldivis and the surrounds can organise to have their cat or dog desexed at Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital.

Sterilisation procedures can also be included in the clinic’s range of affordable wellness packages. These packages provide regular preventive care for your cat or dog, puppy, or kitten.

Book a desexing appointment today or talk to our team about healthcare packages for your pet.

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Pet Nutrition Basics

If you’re a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog or cat is getting the level of good food and nutrition they need to maintain good health and muscular bodies.

In the same way that humans rely on food for energy, minerals and vitamins, your pet’s diet is the fundamental basis of good health and vitality. You’ll need to know the importance of certain food groups and nutrients in a pet’s diet for optimal well-being.

Read on for more information on feeding your pet to ensure it is eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet.

Providing Proper Nutrients for Your Pet

All animals require a balanced diet containing 6 essential nutrients.

Proteins, fats and carbohydrates provide our bodies with energy, while vitamins, minerals and water are necessary for other metabolic needs.

Read on to see why each nutrient is essential for your pet’s health.

Proteins – an essential source of amino acids, required by both cats and dogs, with cats needing twice as much protein as dogs!
Fats – the most important source of energy for animals
Carbohydrates – a vital energy source for dogs primarily, providing fibre and calories; too many carbs will be stored as fat in dogs and cats and can lead to obesity
Vitamins – healthy coat, nails, and assist in food digestion for healthy bones
Minerals – providing levels of sodium, magnesium and iron, for example
Water – the most critical ingredient, water accounts for between 60 to 70% of an adult pet’s body weight

A Balanced Diet for Your Pet

As you can see, it’s imperative to cover all nutrients to ensure your pet’s well-being.

You can do this by providing a well-balanced diet that includes the major food groups dogs and cats need. You can achieve this with high-quality, premium pet food brands tailored to your pet’s age and lifestyle.

Natural foods, in the way of raw meats, bones and vegetables, can be used to supplement pet diets. It’s best to choose high-grade raw meats for human consumption for the best nutritional value.

Professional Guidance for Your Pet’s Diet

If your pet is sluggish, low in energy, or carrying excess weight, it’s probably best to talk to a qualified veterinarian about improving their diet. Your vet will recommend foods designed for your lifestyle and to help treat chronic conditions.

It’s always good to get regular vet check-ups for your pet, as preventative healthcare contributes to a happier, healthier life for your best mate.

At Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, your pet can receive regular professional care under an affordable monthly payment system that suits your budget and guarantees ongoing good health for your cat or dog.

Offering a range of wellness packages, your pet will receive regular check-ups to ensure ongoing good health and prevent illness and disease. With compassionate and skilled vets always on hand to guide you on areas such as diet and nutrition, you know your pet will be in good hands.

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