MOUNT BARKER VETERINARY CLINIC
204 Flaxley Road, Mount Barker SA 5251
All enquiries please call 08 8391 1404
Monday - Friday : 8:30am - 7pm Saturday : 8:30am - 1pm
Onsite Emergency Care 6.30am - 10.30pm for Regular Clients
Dogs
We love our Dogs and a lot of our work is looking after dogs. We offer an extensive service for our Canine clients including:
Vaccinations:
A C5 is essential for dogs going into Boarding Kennels. A C5 vaccination immunises against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Bordetella infections.
Our recommendation schedule is a temporary C5 vaccination at 6 - 8 weeks of age followed by a C5 Vaccination at 12 weeks and 16 weeks then a booster 12 months after this to complete your dogs primary course. These all include a full health check of your dog.
After this initial course, we now use a Triennial(3 yearly) vaccine for Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus meaning these only need to be boosted every three years. But Canine Cough,(Parainfluenza and Bordetella) still need be boosted every 12 months along with your pets annual health check. If you bring a urine sample at this time, we will test it free of charge as an extra measure of your dogs health.
Microchipping:
A microchip is a permanent method of electronic identification. Each chip has an unique number that is registered on a central database with your details and details of your pet. Microchipping of all puppies before they can be sold or by 12 weeks of age is now compulsory in South Australia.
We use the smallest chips available and implant them under the skin between the shoulders. It is very important to keep your details up to date on the database so if you move house or change phone numbers you will still be contactable in the event of your pet coming lost or straying.
A “M” tattoo is no longer considered essential but if your pet does need an anaesthetic it can be performed at that time.
After Hours Service:
We don’t just shut up shop and refer your pet for the long trip down to Adelaide like all the other practices in the area. For regular clients of Mt Barker Veterinary Clinic we offer onsite emergency care between 6.30am - 10.30pm 7 days a week, giving us access to your animals Health records to ensure continuity of care and fast, personal service. This is a real benefit in the common case of snakebite and other emergencies where time is of the essence. Outside of these times we refer you to either The Austin Vet at Mile End or SASH Emergency Veterinary Hospital at Kent Town.
Desexing:
Desexing is one of the most common operations we do here at the Vets. While we support desexing as a way to prevent breeding and overpopulation and pyometra, it is important to remember that desexing doesn't just affect whether an animal can breed or not. Dogs don’t just need their hormones for sexual maturity, the hormones play a strong role in the maturity and function of other body systems particulary their bones. Early desexing is associated with a increased risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture, elbow and hip dysplasia, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphosarcoma and mast cell tumours. Behaviour is also a consideration, with desexed males showing less inter-male dog aggression, but an increased risk of anxiety, separation anxiety, fear biting, being timid and persistent juvenile behaviour. Their coats can also be affected, causing a spey coat that makes keeping your dog groomed harder.
We strongly advise that no dog be desexed before 6 months of age and in the majority of cases not before 12 months of age. The timing of desexing varies greatly depending on breed and social situation and should be advised on an individual basis. We are happy to provide early desexing exemption certificates. We also offer Ovary Sparing spays and Vasectomies.
Parasite Prevention:
This is tailored to suit your individual situation and can include intestinal worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm. While we are very lucky Heartworm is not endemic to South Australia, so you don't need to treat if you dog remains in the state, but it is important if you dog travels out of the state they are protected from Heartworm. Our staff can advise you on a heartworm prevention treatment for your particular needs.
Reproduction: We offer a full breeding service from preconception to birth and weaning. We offer nutritional and puppy feeding advice. Progesterone testing can be performed to find the best time for mating or cesarean. If required we can do semen collection and fresh artificial insemination. Pregnancy diagnosis is performed by ultrasound (from 24 days approx) and after 50 days we can do x-rays. Our team is very experienced at caesarean sections either as an emergency or elective and our puppy survival rate is outstanding.