Puppy Vaccines
| Vaccine | Age | Vaccine Interval, Minimum Age | Type of Vaccine |
| 1st vaccine | 7 – 10 weeks | No interval, min 7 weeks old | DHPPi L4 |
| 2nd DHPPI vaccine | 10 – 12 weeks | 2 weeks after 1st, min 10 weeks old | DHPPi |
| 2nd L4 vaccine | 11 – 14 weeks | 28 days (4 weeks) after 1st L4 vaccine | L4 |
| 1st year booster | Over 1 year old | 1 year following 2nd L4 vaccine | DHPPi L4 |
The 2nd Lepto vaccine (L4) charge at weeks 11-14 is grouped into a single vaccine price with the 2nd vaccine so you will only need to pay for your 1st and 2nd vaccine courses.
The 2nd L4 vaccine can be given at the same time as the 2nd DHPPi Vaccine if a 4 week interval has elapsed between 1st vaccines and 2nd L4 vaccine. However this reduces socialisation time for the puppy which we feel is important.
We currently use vaccines from MSD specifically their Nobivac range (excluding kennel cough).
Socialisation
Full immunity is not normally achieved until 3 weeks following the 2nd L4 vaccine however it is also important to encourage socialisation of young dogs.
It’s generally advised you can socialise puppies with caution 7 days following the 2nd DHPPI vaccine. As they will have immunity to Parvovirus, Distemper and Hepatits (but not leptospirosis).
Things Your Pet Should Avoid Until Full Immunity (3 Weeks After 2nd L4 Vaccine)
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Access to the floor in public areas such as high streets
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Access to waterways and canals
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Farm land and livestock
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Any areas where rats may be present
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Stable yards and Farm yards
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Drinking from still water such as pools and puddles
Annual Boosters
In order to maintain full immunity provided by the initial vaccine course your dog must receive annual boosters each year. These consist of L4 every year and DHPPi every 3 years after 1st year booster.
What Diseases Am I Protecting Against
Vaccination helps protect pets against serious, potentially fatal diseases.
It is recommended that all dogs in the UK should be vaccinated against:
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Parvovirus
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Distemper
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Leptospirosis
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Infectious hepatitis
You may also want to consider vaccinating your dog for
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Rabies – For travel outside of the UK
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Kennel cough – Dog that go into kennels/daycare or regularly mix with other dogs in confined spaces
The rabies vaccine is not licensed to be given at the same time as the L4 vaccine. It is recommended to leave a 2 week gap between the vaccines. If travel restrictions and timings are an issue a 24-hour gap is sufficient for border security/travel requirements.
If you have any further questions please contact the practice and we would be more than happy to discuss the options with you.
Leptospirosis Boosters - Moving from L2 to L4
In 2024 many vaccine manufacturers have stopped producing their leptospirosis 2 (L2) vaccine. This protects against the two stains of Leptospirosis commonly found in the UK (Icterohaemorrhagiae and and Canicola).
In its place they are now only supplying the Leptospirosis 4 (L4) vaccine to the UK market which protect against the additional Leptospirosis strains most commonly found in the EU (Australis and Grippotyphosa).
There are other additional advantages to L4 vaccine one of which being fully vaccinated dogs have been shown to shed less bacteria in their urine which is how the disease is transmitted. This also reduces the risk of passing the disease onto humans; a process known as zoonosis.
If your dog previously has the L2 vaccine to ensure maximum immunity the below schedule is advised.
Vaccine License Regime for Administering L4
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First L4 vaccine with your annual booster
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Second L4 vaccine 28days (4 weeks) following the L4 vaccine
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Continue the usual annual vaccine regime following 2nd L4 vaccine
Clients previously receiving L2 as part of their annual vaccinations will get the second L4 vaccine half price. This schedule provides the full immunity/benefit from L4 vaccines 3 weeks after the second vaccine. Your dog can then continue on a single annual vaccine regime in following years.
Some owners choose not to vaccinate their dog against leptospirosis and only vaccinate every 3 years with a core Parvovirus, Distemper and Infectious hepatitis (DHPPI) vaccine. This is considered off license and for this reason some kennels, insurance companies and some vets may not accept the off license method as adequate protection. For this reason the off-license vaccine protocols are entirely at the owners discretion.
Rabies Vaccine With L4
The rabies vaccine is not licensed to be given at the same time as the L4 vaccine. It is recommended to leave a 2 week gap between the vaccines. If travel restrictions and timings are an issue a 24-hour gap is sufficient for border security/travel requirements.
Keyhole Surgery
At Willow Veterinary Clinic Ltd, we have invested in keyhole (or laparoscopic) surgery. There is a movement within the veterinary profession towards non-invasive methods, and we want to be at the forefront of this, offering our clients the best possible service.
Keyhole surgery uses a camera inserted through a tiny hole in the abdomen and another small hole through which an instrument is introduced. Keyhole surgery has revolutionised human medicine since the early ’80s, and we feel that it is time that our animals benefited from these advances.
The main thing that we will be using keyhole surgery for is bitch spays. Our newest vet, Ted, has performed more than one hundred of these operations. He has found the surgery to be less painful for animals, meaning that your dog will be back to normal much quicker, usually by the next day. Your dog’s activity will not need to be restricted at all, compared to 10 days of rest after a conventional spay. The surgery is less invasive, as we only must remove the ovaries and not the uterus. Plus, it is safer as the surgical field is magnified, meaning that it is easier to prevent or stop bleeding.
The equipment needed to perform keyhole surgery has been very expensive to buy, so we will have to charge more compared to a traditional spay. However, for a one-off surgical procedure such as a spay, we think it is important to keep up with the latest developments in medicine.
Benefits of Keyhole Surgery
In conclusion, keyhole surgery is:
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Less Painful
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Easier Post-Op
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Less Invasive
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Safer
If you would like more information regarding keyhole spay, please contact our surgery. This procedure means that your bitch will be up and running the following day! At present, Ted Cutting will be carrying out this procedure at our Endon practice.
Freya Joined the Keyhole Spay Club
The good news is that with this type of spay, Freya was able to get up to her usual mischief in no time. This cut out the prolonged rest period that is required with a traditional spay and is especially great for Freya as she is so playful and full of life! After lots of cuddles from all our nurses, we reluctantly let her owners take her home.
Freya’s proud owner, Wendy Wild, was thrilled with the results.
"She was ready to play by 9 o'clock the same night! You certainly wouldn't think she had just had an operation. No after effects at all."
If you would like any information about spaying and the different options available, please give us a call during surgery hours.
Dog Castration
Surgical castration is currently the most reliable permanent means of preventing unwanted breeding in male dogs. Given the large numbers of unwanted dogs in the UK, male dogs should be castrated unless there is a good reason not to do so.
However, recent research suggests that castration might increase the risk of some health problems in male dogs, while it reduces the risk of others. There is not currently enough evidence to know how reliable these findings are and whether they apply to all dogs or just certain populations of dogs. Until more research becomes available, decisions regarding castration should be made according to its effects on population control and behaviour rather than health.
Castration involves removal of both testes, the main source of testosterone in males. Testosterone acts as a behaviour modulator. It does not directly cause behaviours but increases the likelihood that certain behaviours will occur, including:
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Escaping/Roaming to Find In-Season Bitches
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Urine Marking
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Confident Aggression to Other Male Dogs
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Excessive Mounting of Bedding, People, and Other Dogs
Testosterone Influences
Testosterone can also influence other behavioural traits, including:
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Risk-Taking Behaviours: Entire Animals May Be More Likely to Engage in a Risky Situation Rather Than Withdrawing
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Arousal and Intensity of Aggression Shown During a Conflict: Entire Males Tend to Become Aroused More Quickly, Show Higher Arousal Levels, and Remain Aroused for Longer Than Castrated Males
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Self-Confidence: Research in Other Species Suggests That Testosterone is Associated with Confidence and Castration with an Increase in Fearfulness and Anxiety.
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Interest in Other Dogs, Especially Bitches, Making It Harder to Get Their Focus When Working/Training
The longer-term effects of castration before puberty compared to afterwards in male dogs has not been fully evaluated. More research is needed before we can assess this more accurately.
Whether or not castration will affect the likelihood of a dog showing a behaviour, depends on several things, including:
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Whether or not that behaviour is influenced by testosterone. Many problem behaviours are not influenced by testosterone at all, and some of those that are can occur for other reasons.
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How long the dog has been showing the problem behaviour. Learning increases the likelihood of a dog continuing to show a behaviour after castration.
Benefits of Castration
Castration is most likely to be beneficial in dogs showing behaviours that are likely to be influenced by testosterone, including:
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Escaping, Roaming, or Distractibility Due to Nearby In-Season Bitches
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Indoor Urine Marking
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Confident Aggression to Other Male Dogs (Particularly Entire Males)
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Excessive Mounting of Bedding, People, and Other Dogs
Castration can reduce the severity of these behaviours but may not eliminate them; behaviour modification may also be needed. Castrating sooner rather than later can reduce the effect learning has in maintaining behaviours longer term, and castration before puberty should reduce the likelihood of these problems occurring. However, it does not always prevent them altogether.
Castration may be beneficial in:
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Aggression Between Two Entire Male Dogs That Live Together: Castration of One or Possibly Both of the Dogs Can Potentially Help to Reduce Tension Between Them, But Only If Done Alongside Behaviour Modification, and Only After the Dogs Have Been Assessed Carefully by a Qualified Behaviourist Before Castration is Considered
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Dogs Showing Aggression That Does Not Seem to Be Motivated by Fear, But Only if Done Alongside Behaviour Modification to Address the Reason Why the Dog Is Showing Aggression (Advise a Behaviour Consultant Before Castration)
When to Avoid Castration
Castration is unlikely to be beneficial or can be detrimental in dogs showing:
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Unruly, over-excitable, and adolescent behaviours. These will respond better to reward-based training and appropriate mental and physical stimulation.
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Inappropriate predatory, hunting, or herding behaviours
Fearful Dogs
Castration could potentially be detrimental in dogs that are generally fearful, unconfident, or specifically fearful of unfamiliar people, places, and being handled. There are many anecdotal reports of fearful dogs becoming even more fearful after castration. This could be related to the effect of losing testosterone on their self-confidence, although more research is needed to verify this. This could also occur as a result of aversive experiences associated with castration itself.
These dogs might benefit from being left entire, if showing no testosterone-related behaviour problems, and if unwanted mating can be reliably prevented. If castration is necessary for behavioural reasons or to prevent unwanted mating, behaviour modification to reduce fearfulness should ideally be implemented first.
Care should be taken to make the experience of being castrated as minimally aversive as possible for a fearful dog. This should include:
Fearful Dogs
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Muzzle Training Beforehand to Ensure a Dog Is Comfortable Wearing a Basket Muzzle (e.g. Baskerville Ultra) and Ensure They Are Wearing This When They Arrive at the Surgery
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Premedicate On Arrival at the Surgery, and Allow the Owner to Stay with the Dog Until They Start to Become Drowsy
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Ensure Premedication Contains Agents That Reduce Anxiety and Awareness.
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Ensure the Dog Is Kennelled in An Area That Is Quiet and Not Brightly Lit, Both Before and After Surgery
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Ensure All Handling Is Calm and Gentle, Both Before and After Surgery
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Put a Familiar Piece of Clothing or Blanket in the Kennel During the Recovery, Exposing the Dog to their Owners’ Scent as They Come Around
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Ensure Effective Pain Relief Both During and After Surgery Until Animal No Longer Painful
Should You Castrate?
What to do if you are not sure whether to castrate or not?Deslorelin (Suprelorin, Virbac) is currently the best reversible indicator of the effect of castration. It can be used to assess the potential behavioural effects of surgical castration from 4-6 weeks post-implantation. Testosterone initially increases for 2 weeks after implantation, and then falls to post-castration levels after 4-6 weeks.
Information on NSAIDs
If your pet has been prescribed an NSAID as an anti-inflammatory painkiller, please take the time to read the following information. If anything is unclear, or if you have any concerns, then please ask a member of staff for further details.
NSAIDs are used as a painkiller, as an anti-inflammatory, to reduce swelling and redness in inflamed areas, to reduce high temperatures, and in certain cancers. They may be prescribed as a short course (following a surgery or injury) or for long-term use (e.g. for arthritis). Commonly used NSAIDs are Metacam, Previcox, Rimadyl, Onsior, and Loxicom.
Possible Side Effects
NSAIDs are a very effective group of drugs and are widely used. Most patients tolerate NSAIDs extremely well, however, side effects can occur in any patient. The most common side effect we see with NSAIDs is mild to moderate vomiting or diarrhoea. These symptoms usually go away once the medication is stopped, although some cases may require additional treatment for the stomach or intestinal upset.
It is vitally important that any NSAID is stopped if your pet suffers from sickness, diarrhoea, or any unexpected illness, during treatment. Continued use of the NSAID once sickness or diarrhoea has started can lead to a much more severe stomach or bowel condition.
Long term use of NSAIDs can cause stomach ulcers, however, this is treatable once recognised. In some cases, patients may be able to continue to receive NSAIDs, alongside some form of stomach protectant medication. If your pet is poorly or vomiting whilst taking NSAIDs, you must seek veterinary advice, and stop the NSAID until instructed otherwise.
NSAIDs should be used with caution in patients with any kidney problems, and this will be taken into consideration for your pet. NSAIDs have also been known to cause kidney problems. This can be far worse in patients who are ill and continue to receive NSAID medication. It is important to stop giving NSAIDs to animals who seem unwell or ill unless specifically directed by the veterinary surgeon.
For any further information, please speak to a vet or nurse at the practice.
Rabbit Health
Cancer in Un-Spayed Female Rabbits
Did you know that a non-neutered, female rabbit, aged over 3, is at 60% risk of developing uterine cancer? This climbs as high as 80% once she reaches 6 years of age. This type of cancer is extremely aggressive and can rapidly spread to other areas of the body.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, there often aren’t any symptoms, until the cancer is quite far progressed. By this time, it has often spread to other areas of the patient's body.
Symptoms that may develop as cancer progresses include:
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Weight Loss
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Blood in the Urine
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Bleeding or Discharge from Her Vulva
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Coughing, Wheezing and/or Breathlessness
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Aggression
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Mammary Masses
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Lethargy
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Abdominal Masses
Treatment
Surgery is required as soon as possible to remove the uterus and ovaries. If cancer has spread to other organs, no other treatment is possible.
Prevention
Uterine cancer can be prevented by getting your rabbit spayed, and this can usually be done around 5-6 months of age. Should you wish to discuss neutering your rabbit, please contact your veterinary clinic, and speak to one of the vets or nurses.
Ticks
Until recently, we rarely saw ticks on pets which hadn’t left Stoke-on-Trent. Towards the end of last summer, we started to see more and more ticks on local pets, which hadn’t travelled, and the same is true of this year. It appears that the local tick numbers must be on the increase.
Ticks are small arthropods, which attach onto mammals to take a blood meal. They start as small as a grain of rice, as they ingest blood their body swells, up to the size of a pea. When they have finished taking blood, usually after a few weeks, they fall off and crawl away to complete the next stage of their life cycle.
As well as causing an intense local reaction, which makes dogs and cats itch at the site that the tick is attached to, ticks can transfer diseases during the time that they are attached to the animal. These include Babesia, Lyme’s disease, and Ehrlichiosis, all of which, can cause severe illness.
Ticks are best prevented by a tablet or spot-on formulation, during the summer period. However, if your dog picks up an uninvited visitor, they must be removed promptly to avoid disease transmission. It is important that the entire tick is removed, as if the tick’s mouthparts are left under the skin this can cause an inflamed or infected lump at the site of the tick bite. Special tick removers can be used, which twist the tick out easily, and the tick can then be killed.
Cat-Friendly Clinic
We are proud to announce that Willow Veterinary Clinic Ltd has recently received Bronze Cat-Friendly Clinic status at our Endon branch. This is a scheme run by the International Society of Feline Medicine (the veterinary division of International Cat Care), to help veterinary practices cater to the unique needs of cats. We aim to provide an excellent standard of care to all our feline patients, whilst also adhering to the principles of the scheme.
One of the main aims of the scheme is to reduce any stress that cats may experience during a visit to the vets. We vow to handle cats with gentleness and respect, to minimise fear and anxiety during handing, examination, and procedures. We also ensure that cats that need to stay with us in the clinic are hospitalised in a cat-friendly environment.
Plus, we can offer cat-only appointments for nervous cats. If you would like any further information, please feel free to contact the surgery and speak to our Cat-Friendly Advocate, Janet Carroll. Alternatively, please visit www.icatcare.org to find out more.
Janet is our Cat Advocate for the ISFM Cat-Friendly Clinic scheme, ensuring that all cat's needs are met by the practice. We are proud to have a nurse with the ISFM DipFN qualification in our nursing team, and we're sure that our feline patients will appreciate her skills and expertise.
Kidney Disease in Cats
Did You Know that Kidney Disease Affects up to 50% of Cats Over the Age of 15 Years?
Although kidney disease also affects dogs, it is seen about three times more frequently in cats. Unfortunately, this is a progressive disease and clinical signs only appear once the kidneys have already lost most of the normal function.
Signs can include:
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Weight Loss
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Poor Appetite
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Lethargy
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Increased Thirst
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Increased Urination
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Poor Coat Condition
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Vomiting
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Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Although there is no cure, early diagnosis enables supportive treatment to be administered, which can help to arrest the progression of the disease, giving your pet a better quality of life.
Steer Clear of Human Medicines
Did you know that just one 500mg paracetamol tablet is enough to be toxic and fatal to a cat? This includes flu capsules that contain paracetamol.
Occasionally, a curious cat will play with and chew a tablet or capsule that hasn't been stored out of reach. On other occasions, it has been a well-meaning owner that has given the tablet. Cats are very sensitive to paracetamol, much more so than humans and dogs. When the drug is broken down by the liver in a cat, a toxic chemical is produced which results in several complications.
These include severe liver damage and a reduction in the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
Signs of paracetamol toxicity include:
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Gums Becoming a Bluish Colour
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A Very Fast Heart Rate
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Becoming Very Quiet and Depressed
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Difficulty in Breathing
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Vomiting
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Passing Dark Brown Urine
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Skin May Start to Look Yellow
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Swelling of the Paws and Face
Prognosis depends on how quickly the cat is taken to the vets and how much paracetamol has been ingested. Unfortunately, due to the toxic effects on cats, it is highly possible they may not survive.
Bringing Your Cat to the Practice
By nature, cats are independent, territorial animals that need to be in control of their surroundings. They are sensitive to different smells, sounds, and sights. All these different senses can make bringing your feline friend to the practice a very stressful experience.
Tips to help reduce stress can include:
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Making Sure You Use a Good Pet Carrier; Top Opening Ones Are Easier as the Cat Can Be Lifted Out Gently
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Familiar Smells Can Help, Keep the Carrier Out at Home, so the Cat Can Use the Carrier as a Bed and Feel at Ease Around it
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Don't Introduce the Carrier Only When There is a Visit to the Vet
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Place Bedding or Clothing That Smells of Home into the Carrier
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Spray the Carrier with Feliway, a Pheromone Calming Spray, 30 Mins Before Using
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If Your Cat Becomes Very Stressed, Try Wrapping Them in a Thick Towel Before Placing Them into the Carrier
When travelling, avoid loud noises such as the radio. Cover the carrier with a blanket or towel during the journey to make them feel calmer. Secure the carrier in the footwell, so that it isn’t likely to move, or hold the carrier carefully and securely to avoid swinging. Finally, take your cat to a veterinary practice that has been recognised as Cat-Friendly, like Willow Veterinary Clinic Ltd.
Arthritis in Cats
Until relatively recently, arthritis in cats was not commonly recognised or treated. Cats are masters at disguising pain, due to their natural survival instinct. However, a recent study showed that 90% of cats, over 12 years of age, had some form of arthritis.
How to tell if your cat is affected:
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Hesitant When Jumping Up or Down
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Jumping from Lower Heights
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Difficulty with Going Up or Downstairs
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Stiffness, Especially After Sleeping or Obvious Lameness
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Difficulty Using the Litter Tray
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Difficulty in Getting Through the Cat Flap
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Reduced Activity
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Sleeping in Different Places, Usually Easier to Access
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Increased Grooming Over Specific Places, or Inability to Groom
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Irritable and Grumpy When Stroked or Picked Up
If you suspect your cat could be arthritic, they must have a full check by a veterinary surgeon, so that treatment and medication can begin.
To help at home:
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Place Food and Water in Easily Accessible Places
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Provide Easily Accessed Comfortable, Warm Beds
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Ensure Cat Flaps Are Easy to Open
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Use Lower Sided Cat Litter Trays for Easier Access
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Spend Time Grooming Them If It Has Become Difficult for Them
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Regular Clipping of Any Overgrowing Nails
Antifreeze
As the weather grows colder in the winter months, antifreeze poisoning in cats becomes more common. The toxic substance is ethylene glycol and is found in products such as screen washes and de-icers. Cats are attracted to the 'sweet' taste in this product, and even a small amount can cause severe kidney damage and be fatal.
Clinical signs you may see, include:
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Vomiting
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Unsteady on Feet
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Weakness
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Excessive Drinking
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Excessive Urination or No Urination
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Collapse
If not treated promptly, this can be fatal. If you think your cat could have ingested antifreeze, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Introducing Our New Cat-Friendly Ward
We have recently finished our brand-new cat ward in our Endon practice. This is a room that has been designed following the ISFM feline-friendly guidelines, to provide the very best accommodation and stress-free environment for our feline patients.
We have spacious kennels, allowing plenty of room to keep the sleeping, litter, and food/water areas separate. For long-stay patients, we can open a ‘cat flap’ between the kennels, providing double the amount of space. The fronts are made with tinted glass, allowing the patients to watch the goings-on without looking through bars. With the rest of the kennel made from a specialised plastic, this keeps them warmer and without any reflections, which can cause stress.
We have also recently purchased some ‘cat hides’ that allow our patients to hide under them or sit on top, helping them to feel secure and safe.
Not only is this room used for accommodation, but we also take blood samples, perform full clinical examinations, take blood pressures, and take temperatures solely in this room. This also helps our feline patients stay calm and relaxed, as they are kept in one location instead of being moved from room to room.
We understand the importance of providing the best possible care, and we’re always striving to improve our facilities to achieve this.
For help or advice with any feline problems, we provide feline nurse clinics with our cat-friendly nurse, Janet. Please ring the surgery to book an appointment.
Pre Operation Starvation Protocols
Before an anaesthetic/sedation we will often request that you starve your pet. This is to reduce the risk of regurgitation of stomach contents. Research into starvation protocols has come a long way in the last 10 years and we now try to tailor our starvation protocols to best suit the patient. Below is a standard guide of what we would recommend in most situations, however our vets can change this for specific cases so if at any point you are unsure of what to do please contact the practice.
We also kindly request that your try to keep your pets coat and skin clean on the day of surgery. Please try to avoid muddy walks prior to admission. This allows us to ensure the skin can be efficiently surgically prepared to reduce the risk of post operative complications.
Dogs*
* Diabetic patients, colon/rectum/anal gland surgery and brachy breeds see exceptions below
Puppies - under 12 weeks should not be starved or have access to water withdrawn.
Dogs - over 12 weeks/adults should have food removed 4-6 hours prior to surgery. We generally start operations after 10am so food should not be given after 6am. Its important to make sure your pet has eaten before starvation begins, ideally a small meal between 5am and 6am. Wet food or cooked meat is best as its easily digested but we would not recommend feeding something your pet is not used to eating as this can cause stomach upsets. If your dog will only eat dry food or you’re not an early bird follow the below instructions.
If you’re not an early bird or only feed dry food we recommend giving your dog their normal evening meal the evening before a surgery, then a small meal last thing at night around midnight, then remove access to all other food. We do not recommend withholding water at any point for any starvation protocol.
*Exceptions dogs
Diabetic dogs – Please contact the practice and we will advise an appropriate plan depending on normal meal and insulin dose. This helps to ensures we can keep glucose levels as stable as possible throughout the day.
Colon/rectal/Anal gland removal surgeries– Due to the nature of these surgeries we require a longer 12-24 hr starvation protocol. Breakfast the day prior should be given in the morning then ideally a small meal around lunchtime 12-1pm the day before. Its important that dogs do not have an evening meal or breakfast before surgery. We make sure we have some nice food ready for them as soon as they wake up. For cats under going these types of surgery please contact the practice for feeding regime.
Brachy breeds (or dogs with the possibility of restricted airways) – The risk of regurgitation is increased in breads with smaller or restricted airways such as French bulldogs and Pugs. For this reason we normally provide medication to be given leading up to surgery and 5 days post surgery. The evening before surgery we recommend giving their normal evening meal and then a small meal of their normal food last thing at night midnight. After this remove access to all other food. We do not recommend withholding water at any point for any starvation protocol.
Cats*
* If your cat is diabetic please see exceptions below
Kittens - under 12 weeks should not be starved or have access to water withdrawn.
Cats over 12 weeks/ Adults - Should have food lifted at 6am or midnight if you are unable to remove it at 6am. It’s important to make sure you cat has eaten before starvation begins, ideally a small meal of their normal food. Wet food at midnight is ideal but if your cat is only used to eating dry food do not change their diet as this can cause stomach upsets. We do not recommend withholding water at any point.
*Exceptions cats
Diabetic cats – Please contact the practice and we will advise an appropriate plan depending on normal meal and insulin dose. This helps to ensures we can keep glucose levels as stable as possible throughout the day.
Ferrets - Should be starved but for no longer than 1-2 hours before surgery so we will usually be able to do this after admission to the practice.
Rabbits, Guinea pigs and other exotics
Its important that rabbits and guinea pigs have constant access to food and water we do not recommend starving prior to surgery. Generally no exotic breeds should not be starved prior to surgery unless specifically advised to do so by one of our vets.