For our team at the Blue Oasis Veterinary Clinic, it is not only important to give help for your sick pet. We are truly interested to help you avoiding problems and diseases. For all – puppies and grown ups. Below, we cover the basic medical information that you will need to know throughout your dog’s life.

Puppies

Puppies need a lot of attention to ensure they have a good start in life. Routine physical examinations are administered to make sure that everything is normal and that there are no problems. Your vet will check the kitten’s ears, eyes, teeth, heart, lung, abdomen, bones and joints

An internal and external parasite examination and some vaccinations are essential for a healthy life. We will help you choose the best product for deworming and to keep your pet free of other parasites. We recommend deworming puppies every 4 weeks until they are six months old. After that you should administer the deworming medicine every 3 to 4 months.

Vaccines for following diseases are available our clinic:

Rabies

Descriptions of rabies go back thousands of years. The virus is relatively unstable in the environment, requiring fresh contact of the saliva or blood of an infected animal with a wound or mucous membrane of a victim to establish an infection. In most cases the disease is transmitted via a bite. Once the virus entered the body it moves to the brain and causes the typical symptoms.

This viral disease is always fatal and can be transmitted to humans.

Distemper

This air-borne viral disease can affect dogs of any age. The disease is quite dangerous, and has a high mortality rate, especially in puppies. Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, cough, poor appetite, diarrhoea and seizures. Survivors may suffer chronic and debilitating central nervous system problems and – if affected as a puppy – damage to the enamel of the teeth.

Infectious Hepatitis

Some viruses can attack the liver causing severe inflammation. They can be spread by contact with urine, saliva or stool of infected animals.

Leptospirosis

There are several groups of this bacteria causing severe disease in the kidney, liver or reproductive system. Many different cases of leptospirosis have been documented. The bacteria are passed via the urine of wildlife into water sources. Dogs can become infected by drinking, swimming or walking through contaminated water. It can also be transmitted directly from one dog to another. The urine, semen, infected fetus or afterbirth discharge of infected dogs can spread the bacteria. In addition, exposure to urine of rodents or contaminated vegetation (soil, food, water) can cause the infection.

Parainfluenza

This virus can contribute to the disease known as “kennel cough”. It primarily infects the respiratory tract and causes a characteristic cough.

The team at the Blue Oasis Veterinary Clinic recommends:

• First vaccination at 8 weeks of age, with a combined vaccination against Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospiroses
• Second vaccination 4 weeks later again with the combination plus Rabies
• Third vaccination 4 weeks later against Rabies

If you plan to board your dog in a kennel during your holidays you have to vaccinate him or her against kennel-cough additionally.

When you come to the clinic for the first Rabies vaccination we will implant a Microchip under the skin of your dog. A Microchip holds a number which is unique and makes it possible to clearly identify your dog. The implantation of a microchip is compulsory for dogs and cats in Dubai as is the registration with the Dubai Municipality (“Municipality-Tag”)

We advise you not to take your puppy to public areas such as parks and streets, until 2 weeks after their second vaccination to reduce the risk of picking up diseases such as parvovirus. Puppies are generally allowed to attend obedience classes after they have had their third vaccination.

After six months of age we recommend spaying or castration for all dogs that will not be used for breeding purposes. These surgical procedures are highly routine. We first perform a pre-anesthetic blood test to help us determine the animal’s overall health status (especially the kidney function). We also administer pain medication to reduce discomfort during and after the surgery.

Adult Dogs

Our team recommends vaccination against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus every year for dogs after their first booster. Kennel cough vaccines require a booster every 12 months. A full health check is recommended every 12 months. The health check becomes much more important as your dog gets older, to identify and start management of developing problems before they become serious.

Elderly Dogs

As dogs reach their golden years, there are a variety of conditions and diseases that they can face, including weight and mobility changes; osteoarthritis; kidney, heart, and liver disease; tumors and cancers; hormone disorders such as diabetes and thyroid imbalance; and many others.

Monitoring the health of an older dog is essential to give them a long and happy life. That means your pet needs regular vaccinations, blood tests and special examinations (especially teeth, kidneys, heart, liver, joints).