Is your dog a stubborn, cheeky teenager – does he need to learn a little obedience?
Or have you just finished our puppy preschool courses and are looking to further develop your puppy’s skills?

Dog obedience classes are a great choice for you!

We have a dedicated team of behaviour and training experts to teach you and your dog. You will learn about dog behaviour, communication and obedience training techniques.

Our 6 week courses are held in a public park in the Western Suburbs. There is either a Saturday morning class or a Wednesday evening class. Topics that you and your dog will cover include
* Communication and understanding your dog
* Basic dog obedience
* Socialisation
* Distraction training in a public place

Visit swanbournevet.com/dogobedience for more information

At Swanbourne Veterinary Centre, we believe that early detection and prevention are the most important components to ensure that your pet lives a long, happy life.

While annual vaccination boosters are not required in every case, the most important component of the annual health check is the thorough examination your best friend receives. The other important component is you – take note of any changes in weight, water intake, new lumps or anything else different you may notice. A simple observation from you may help in an early diagnosis or prevention of illness.

The 6 Monthly Wellness Check
6 months after your annual check, we include a complimentary health check, nail clip and hydrobath carried out by one of our qualified veterinary nurses. We will send you a reminder when this is due. The primary emphasis will be on checking teeth, skin, weight, lumps or any other issues you may have noticed. If one of our nurses indicates that something may be amiss then you will be given the option of a consultation with the vet at that time.

The Wellness Check is an attempt to capture anything unforeseen that may have arisen since the annual health check 6 months prior, however it is also a great opportunity to catch up on deworming, heartworm and flea control, or a growing waist line!

This is just another aspect of our total commitment to preventative medicine, your best friend’s health and your peace of mind.

Vaccination is essential to ensure your pet remains healthy. Many deadly diseases can be easily prevented by vaccinating your pet. This is important as often these diseases can be fatal even with treatment.

Our vaccination policy is in line with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s recommendation that every animal should be immunised, but that dogs no longer need to be vaccinated against all diseases every year. We are reducing the number of vaccines we give to our patients where possible.
Your pet’s vaccination protocol depends on their lifestyle, their previous vaccinations and their health status.

The following are common diseases we vaccinate against:

Canine Vaccinations
* Parvovirus
* Distemper
* Hepatitis or Adenovirus
* Canine Cough

Feline Vaccinations
* Calicivirus
* Herpesvirus
* Panleukopaenia virus (or Feline Enteritis)
* Chlamoydophila
* Feline Leukaemia virus
* Feline Immunodeficiency virus

If you are unsure if your pet is adequately protected, there is also the option of Titre Testing for some of these diseases. This assesses your pet’s antibody levels against certain diseases, and can give us information about when booster vaccinations are required.

Please feel free to speak with one of our veterinarians if you have any questions about our vaccination policy.

Parasite prevention is an important component of your pet’s regular healthcare. This is exceptionally important as some parasites can be deadly, while others can be transmitted to humans. The parasites that we prevent against include Heartworm, Fleas and Intestinal worms. There are now several easy, all-in-one prevention treatments that can be used to prevent against these parasites.

For more information about parasite prevention and for specific product recommendations that suit you and your pet, please call the clinic on (08) 9384 2644.

Desexing or neutering refers to the surgical procedure to remove the reproductive organs of either a male (castration) or female (spey/ovariohysterectomy) animal. We recommend desexing your pet between 5-6 months, however they are never too old to be desexed.

There are many benefits to desexing your pet:
* Prevent unwanted litters. These can be very costly, and may add to the already overwhelming number of stray animals that are euthanised each year
* Prevent testicular cancer and prostate disease in males
* Prevent pyometra (uterine infection) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) in females
* Stopping the heat cycle in females
* Decrease aggression towards humans and other animals, especially in males
* Decrease risk of escaping and roaming, especially in males
* Prevent urine spraying, especially in male cats
* Living a longer and healthier life
* Reduction of council registration fees

If you have any concerns before or after your pet has been desexed, or alternatively to book your pet’s surgery, please call us on (08) 9384 2644.

Dental disease causes bad breath (halitosis) and pain, and it can also be a source of infection throughout the body. Dental disease may affect 70% of cats and 85% of dogs over three years of age.

Symptoms may include bad breath, inappetence, weight loss, oral discomfort or lethargy. Some factors that influence dental disease include age, breed, diet, tooth alignment, chewing behaviour, and home care.

There are many things you can do at home to keep your pet’s teeth healthy for as long as possible, and these should be started while they are puppies and kittens. However, adult cats and dogs frequently require a dental treatment with a scale and polish under general anaesthesia to keep their mouth healthy. Even humans that brush twice daily require a visit to the dentist every 6-12 months for a scale & polish!

Plaque builds up in the mouth, which then causes gum inflammation (gingivitis). Once the gums are inflamed, we start to see gum recession and root exposure. This is a painful condition itself, however it can lead to tooth root abscesses which are exceptionally painful. If there is gum recession or root exposure teeth may need removing, as they will continue to cause pain and infection.

A dental procedure will allow us to start their dental care with a clean mouth, and we can help you to prevent or slow dental disease in the future.

Washing
We wash dogs seven days a week at Swanbourne. We have experienced staff who are available to do this, and it includes a brisk towel-down. We can use a nice smelling shampoo, or a medicated shampoo if needed.
There is also a DIY service available for those who don’t mind getting wet themselves!

Grooming
We have two groomers that together provide a wonderful service in the clinic. Shai-Marie & Annie both do an excellent job and are extremely popular. So if your pooch is in need of a new hair cut, hair style, wash and blowdry, or just a winter trim, please call us to arrange a grooming appointment on (08) 9384 2644 – we do book out very fast!

Nail Clipping
Our registered veterinary nurses and vets can also trim your dog or cat’s nails in a stress free environment.
For more information or to make a booking, please contact the clinic on (08) 9384 2644.

Going on holidays soon? We are happy to help you organise your pet’s care.

We can offer assist in the following areas
* In house boarding
* Daycare Service
* House/Dog Sitters - we have several contacts we can recommend
* Boarding at West Coast Pet Care Centre

Before considering pet boarding, please check your pet’s vaccination records. Vaccination is required within the 12 months prior to boarding – if your pet is due for a booster vaccination make sure this is done well ahead of the boarding period.

Please call the clinic on (08) 9384 2644 for more information and to organise boarding – our spaces are strictly limited and holiday periods book up very quickly.

A new addition to the services provided by Swanbourne, we can now offer you the option of purchasing your products online, and shipping them straight to your door.

Check out our website for more details!