AWLQ (Animal Welfare League Queensland) vets are vessels of knowledge when it comes to animals. Here are some of your questions answered.
WHEN SHOULD MY PET BE VACCINATED AND FOR WHAT?
AWLQ Advice for Puppies/Dogs
To safeguard your pet from potentially serious and sometimes fatal diseases your puppy needs to be vaccinated.
Our vaccines protect against several diseases including Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parainfluenza Virus and Bordetella (Kennel Cough).
Puppy vaccinations can commence as young as 6 weeks of age. So, your puppy can safely socialise with other dogs and go for walks outside. We aim to achieve full immunity by 16 weeks of age.
To maintain immunity, adult dogs require an annual vaccination booster. You will receive a reminder when your dogs’ yearly vaccination is due.
AWLQ Advice for Kitten/Cats
Our vaccines protect against several diseases including Feline Enteritis, Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calcivirus. Kitten vaccinations can commence as young as 6 weeks of age then every 2 to 4 weeks with the timing of the final dose being no earlier than 16 weeks.
To maintain immunity, adult cats require an annual vaccination booster. You will receive a reminder when your cats’ yearly vaccination is due.
SHOULD I MICROCHIP MY PET?
Each year thousands of lost animals are taken in by shelters and pounds across Australia. Some never make it home because they cannot be identified.
Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you. If you want to dramatically improve your pet’s chances of getting home fast and safe, implanting your pet with a microchip is your best option.
DOES MICROCHIPPING HURT THE ANIMAL?
Animal microchips are about the size of a grain of rice. They are typically implanted by a vet just beneath the surface of the skin between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to receiving vaccination through a needle.
WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE MICROCHIP?
The microchips presently used in pets only contain identification numbers. The microchip cannot track your animal if it gets lost. The microchip itself does not contain your pet’s medical information, but some microchip registration databases will allow you to store that information in the database for quick reference. ■
AWLQ was the first organisation in Queensland to open a Community Veterinary Clinic to the public. It still is the only organisation to do this. This unique service makes essential vet care accessible to all pet owners, including people who could not afford treatment for their pets. They are open 7 days a week. To book an appointment, go to awlqld.com.au/vet-clinics
COMMUNITY VET CLINIC LOCATIONS
Brisbane
6/10 Old Chatswood Road Daisy Hill, QLD 4127 07 3808 2892
Gold Coast
21 Shelter Road Coombabah QLD 4216 07 5594 0111
Ipswich
42 Tiger Street West Ipswich QLD 4305 07 3812 7533
Eager to know more about keeping your animal safe? Click here to read about your pet’s safety in this immense heat!
Editor for Silver Magazine Gold Coast
