vaccinations the lazy way

<h5>New puppy? What to do?</h5><ol> <li>Arrange an appointment with your <a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic" target="_blank">vet</a> to have your puppy fully checked over and examined.</li> <li>Start <a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic/vaccinations-the-lazy-way" target="_blank">vaccinations</a> as soon as your puppy is old enough.</li> <li>Apply worm and tick treatment when required.</li> <li>Microchip your puppy.</li> <li><a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic/dubai-pet-municipality-tags-registration" target="_blank">Register your puppy</a> with your local municipality after vaccinations and microchipping.</li> <li>Feed your new puppy the correct diet and amount.</li> <li>Toilet train your puppy.</li> <li>Socialize your puppy with other dogs ~ a lot!</li> </ol> <p><br>Seriously.</p>

<h5>Teeth Brushing ~ Should I or Shouldn't I?</h5><p>Teeth brushing!!? For pets!!?? Oh my goodness!! What is the world coming to?!</p> <p>Well, that's probably too philosophical a question for us humble pet owners, so just know this: the less effort and time you put into your dog's or cat's teeth at home, the more likely you will face serious dental issues (and costs) in the future. Yep, it's a sad truth.</p> <p>Dental plaque and tartar build up on your dog's teeth just like it does with us humanoids, so brushing your pet's teeth once daily is best.</p> <p>Once daily!? Can you even <i>imagine</i> doing it this often?</p> <p>It <i>is</i> a lot of work, that's true. Furthermore, some dogs and cats <i>really</i> don't like having their teeth brushed (especially those chompers at the back), which of course will make the job all that more difficult and tiresome, for both of you. But if you get the right tools of the trade (at pretty much any pet shop) and keep at it, the difference will amaze you. Truly. And in fact, if you can't manage it every day, or even every week, then just do what you can whenever you can, because within reason, in this case, <i>something</i> is always better than <i>nothing</i>.</p> <p>This said, there are alternatives to brushing (yay!)... but they're not quite as good (boo!). Dental gels can be rubbed on the gums, and there are products which you can put in their drinking water to help reduce the bacterial load in the mouth. And dental chews of various shapes and sizes do exist, which may or may not be beneficial ~ you'll need to try them and see!</p> <p>Ultimately, if you notice bad breath on your pet or are in any way worried about their teeth, a quick veterinary check will let you know if you need to have your pet's teeth scaled and polished (just like you do when you go to the dental hygienist yourself) ~ most pets will need this done as they get older ~ usually yearly.</p> <p>So what's the point of home dental care if you gotta visit the vet anyway? Well, seriously, frequency of need and cost ~ and the comfort of your pet, of course. You'd be very surprised how many dogs and cats are not feeling as well as you might think, until you see the difference after they've been to the vet for a cleaning and, sometimes, extraction of rotting teeth and sore gums.</p> <p>Sorry folks, but that's the tooth.</p>

<h5>What is ringworm?</h5><p>Despite its name, <em>ringworm</em> is actually a fungal infection and has no relation whatsoever to worms of any kind... whatsoever... at all. It affects the skin and hair on pets, leaving red, flaky and sometimes bald lesions which sometimes appear as a red ring (hence, the name!). The bad news is that ringworm is highly contagious and easily passed to humans from contact with your pet or even your pet's hairs, which hold the fungal spores. The good news is that this annoying disease is very benign, easily diagnosed and entirely treatable.</p> <p>Phew!</p>

<h5>Do I need to make an appointment?</h5><p>We genuinely love having people just drop by and look around both our locations in <a href="/about-dkc/howl-we-get-there#dkcmap" target="_blank">Umm Ramool</a> (DKC Boarding & Daycare, and DKC Relocations) and <a href="/about-dkc/howl-we-get-there#dkcvetmap" target="_blank">Motor City</a> (DKC Veterinary Clinic).</p> <p>If you want to relocate your pet into or out of Dubai, then we do indeed need you to contact us to make an appointment... but we promise we won't make that difficult.  <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png"></p> <p>If you need to see one of our clinic's veterinarians, an appointment is always most assured but, yes, you can also just walk on in and we may be able to see you immediately, or not, but especially yes during The Night Shift, from 8pm to 8am, because our clinic is 24/7, always open, day and night. </p> <p>If, however, you just want to see either of our facilities and look around, to see where your pet will live while you're away and he's boarding or while she's in veterinary care, or to have a chat with our Animal Handlers and our veterinary clinic staff... then just come on down any time during our <a href="/about-dkc/two-legged-timings" target="_blank">Two-Legged Timings</a>.</p> <p>If you want to actually reserve boarding space for your pet, then yes, you do need to contact us in advance.</p>

<h5>Clipping my pet's claws ~ How often should I do it?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_66.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>When to clip your dog's claws depends on the amount of exercise your dog gets and, importantly, the type of surface your dog exercises on. If you can manage to get some walkies time on rougher surfaces (such as roads (but be safe!)), this will usually be sufficient to maintain those claws at a good length. (Oh, and by the way, a good part of puppy training should always include playing with their feet ~ this gets them used to having their paws and claws touched, making it easier as they get older to clip those claws when necessary.)</p> <p>As for cats... well, they have retractable claws (very high-tech!), and so they keep them smooth by scratching on posts or (don't say it!!) your furniture... when they get their claws out! As for length, however, this usually requires a little hands-on maintenance on your part... or on the part of your vet... whichever of you has more confidence. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_wink.png" height="15" width="15">  (It's not too difficult, though, so why not ask for some training?)</p> <p>The amount to be cut off depends on the nail length and the length of the small blood vessel within the nail, all of which you need to learn a bit about and can ask any vet or a good kennels/cattery handler about, and then you're off and running.</p> <p>Oh, and by the way, don't forget to clip your bird's claws too!</p></div>