We believe in close collaboration with you when it comes to decision making for your pet. We offer 20 minute consults to allow enough time for our vets to identify your needs and expectations. We work with you to develop treatment plans that are in line with what is needed and what is achievable for you and your pet.

Health check services:

New puppy and kitten checks

Getting a new pet is always an exciting time, but you might have a lot of questions that Dr Jasmine can help you answer. It is important that you have the right advice about diet, exercise, worming and desexing. Your vet will also provide a thorough examination of your animal to determine if any health conditions exist such as a heart murmur, umbilical hernia, cleft palate, undescended testes, retained deciduous teeth or any abnormal conformation.

Vaccinations

All cats and dogs require an annual vaccination and check-up to protect them from potentially deadly but entirely preventable diseases. Even indoor animals should receive vaccination as many of the dangerous viruses we protect against are highly contagious and can be spread on clothing or tracked on shoes. Dr Jasmine will help you determine which of the vaccines is right for your pet.

Dental check-ups

Your pet should receive a dental check-up at least once a year. During this visit your vet will determine if any periodontal disease exists in your pets mouth and how to treat it. If no disease exists then Dr Jasmine will give you the best and most up to date advice on how to keep your animals teeth clean and healthy throughout life.

Sick/injured animals

Nobody knows your pet better than you. If you are noticing concerning symptoms or a sudden change from what you would consider normal for your pet, it is important to seek veterinary advice.

Chronic disease management

Some conditions in pets cannot be cured but they can be managed. Examples include chronic kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, atopic skin disease and other skin allergies. Sometimes the management plans can be complex and difficult to understand. Our devoted staff at Melba Vet will ensure you are given all the options for your pets disease management and time will be dedicated to make sure you understand the plan. We will keep up to date on your pets condition and ensure they are getting the best treatment possible.

Geriatric animal check-ups

Our pets age much faster than we do and it is important that our geriatric patients receive a thorough check-up at least once a year. We will be checking for anything that could be causing a deterioration in quality of life, e.g. pain from dental disease or arthritis.

It is important for you to be monitoring your pets health at home and let your vet know if you notice any of the following:

  • Lameness, reluctance to walk, difficulty rising from bed
  • Drinking more than normal or urinating more than normal
  • Vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Bad breath, difficulty eating, red gums or visible dental disease
  • Exercise intolerance, shortness of breath
  • Coughing
  • Incontinence
  • Unusual lumps and bumps
  • Behaviour changes, loss of learned behaviours, aggression

We will work closely with you and your pet to ensure they age gracefully and to treat or manage diseases as they arise. The most important thing is to keep them comfortable and happy.

We may recommend a yearly blood test in any pet over 9 years of age to determine their systemic health, their kidney and liver function and to detect disease as early as possible.

Preventative medicine advice

Many of the diseases that affect our pets are entirely preventable. As a minimum your pet should be receiving:

  • Year round flea, tick and mite prevention (options for products to use monthly, every 3 months or every 6 months)
  • Paralysis tick prevention (particularly during the summer and if you travel to the coast)
  • Intestinal worming treatments (options for products that are every month or every 3 months. These products can be tablets or spot-on skin treatments)
  • Year round heart worm prevention (we recommend the Proheart injection once a year)
  • Annual vaccinations

Dermatology consultations

Skin irritation is a common problem in our pets. Signs that your pet may need a dermatology consult include:

  • Red skin
  • Hair loss
  • Itchy skin, ears or feet
  • Foot licking/chewing
  • Crusts or pimples on the skin
  • Ear infections – head shaking, pawing at the ears, bad odour in canal, brown wax and discharge in ears

These skin changes can be caused by infections (bacterial, yeast or mites) or could be from an underlying allergic skin condition such as a food allergy, contact allergy or atopic dermatitis (allergy to environmental agents). Dr Jasmine will thoroughly examine your pet and perform tests to determine the cause and then identify the best treatment or management strategies to keep your animal comfortable.

Call our friendly staff to book a health check for your pet