The Mayhew Animal Home
Car e g u i de
Community Vet Clinic Services Helping animals and their carers since 1886
The Mayhew Animal Home and Humane Education Centre
The Mayhew recommends that every responsible pet owner ensures their pet is neutered and receives regular annual vaccinations and health checks by a veterinary professional. Onsite at The Mayhew Animal Home our Community Veterinary Clinic provides five main services to all pet owners without financial or geographical restrictions: – Free and low-cost neutering – Low-cost vaccinations, flea and worming treatments – Micro-chipping – Nurses’ clinic – Dental procedures For information, pricing and to book an appointment for any of the clinic services, please telephone 020 8968 2447 or email vetclinic@mayhewanimalhome.org
Free and low-cost neutering Neutering appointments are available Monday to Friday and can be made with our clinic receptionist on the telephone or by email.
The scheme also incorporates other ‘Bull breeds’ including: the English Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, the Presa Canario, British Bulldogs and Bull Mastiffs.
Free neutering programmes Free Bullbreed neutering programme Monday neutering appointments are specifically for our Free Bullbreed neutering programme only.
This unique scheme was initiated at The Mayhew in 2006 to help reduce the overpopulation of these breed types and stem the number of these unwanted dogs arriving at rescue centres.
To qualify for our Free Bullbreed neutering service, your dog must have the physical characteristics of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT) or SBT crossbreed.
The scheme is free to all, but The Mayhew is grateful for any donations that can be made towards the costs of the surgery, thereby enabling us to continue this vital programme.
Please be aware that if you are late for your appointment or turn up after 9am you may be turned away and your appointment cancelled. You will usually be able to collect your pet in the afternoon between 3 and 5pm. A member of staff will discuss post-operative after-care and information will be given to you to take home. Before the operation – what do I need to know? Cats and dogs should be starved of food from 8pm the night before their operation, but they are allowed water until 7am on the morning of surgery. Rabbits and guinea pigs should not be starved of food or water and we do ask that you bring a small amount of their normal food with you when the animal is admitted. Cat owners have to be prepared to take the carriers home with them and bring them back to the clinic in order to collect their pet after the operation.
Neutering a bitch post-season – what does this mean? Post–season is the period of time that begins after a female dog has last been in heat. Female dogs should ideally be neutered 6–8 weeks post season. Bitches that have whelped puppies should be neutered when the puppies have been fully weaned for at least one week. Phantom pregnancies can occur in bitches after they have been in heat. Signs can be a swollen vulva, enlarged mammary glands and some bitches will even produce milk. A change in behaviour can also be noted in some bitches; they may begin to carry a toy around and may show nesting behaviour. A bitch with a phantom pregnancy should not be neutered as this may prolong the phantom pregnancy substantially. This is a natural occurrence which generally does not need veterinary treatment. An owner with a bitch that experiences a phantom pregnancy will have to rebook the dog for an appointment once the symptoms have subsided.
If a bitch was potentially mated within her last season and it is the wish for the pregnancy to be terminated, they will need to be booked in for an appointment exactly six weeks after the conception date. This is to prepare for the possibility they may not be pregnant and then can therefore still be neutered. If the bitch is obviously pregnant then the termination date can be brought forward. Please be aware that the bitch will be neutered at the same time as the termination. This can be discussed in further detail with The Mayhew Clinic staff. After the operation – what do I need to do? Pets can be collected towards the end of the day of surgery and taken back home. You will be given post-operative care advice and information when you come to pick up your pet.
The two main points to be aware of are: – The animal must not interfere with the wound after surgery for at least 7–10 days. We offer everybody the opportunity to purchase a buster collar for a minimal cost to prevent their animal interfering with the wound, which can lead to infection and post operative complications. If complications do occur, you may have to pay for the related aftercare. – The animal must be kept restrained meaning they should not be jumping up and down, run off lead etc. Although we offer a low cost neutering clinic and many of our services are free we appreciate any donations that can be made to cover the cost of the procedures and after-care.
Low-cost vaccination clinics, flea and worming treatments Vaccination clinics are held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and the last Thursday evening of every month at the following times: Does my pet really need vaccinations? Yes, definitely. It is very easy for pets to pick up harmful diseases which are easily preventable by vaccination. For young or the more elderly animals these diseases can have fatal consequences. Cats and dogs can be vaccinated from nine weeks of age. A cat or dog that is being vaccinated for the first time will need a course of two vaccinations that must be
given 3–4 weeks apart. Once they have been given the full course of vaccinations they will require an annual booster. Which dog vaccinations are regularly performed at The Mayhew? – Distemper – Infectious Canine Hepatitis – Parvovirus – Canine Contagious Respiratory Disease (Canine Para influenza) – Canine Leptospirosis Dogs can also be protected against Kennel Cough by intra-nasal vaccine that is given every 6–12 months (depending on the vaccine manufacturer).
Which cat vaccinations are regularly performed at The Mayhew? – Feline Influenza (Cat Flu) – Enteritis – Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) What can RABBITS be vaccinated against? Myxomatosis from six weeks of age. The VHD vaccination can be given from 12–14 weeks of age. The VHD and Myxomatosis vaccines should be given at least two weeks apart. Regular boosters will then be required. Flea & worming treatments There are many different products on the market which can be used to prevent fleas and worms, however, we would always recommend a product which is dispensed by a veterinary practice. They may be slightly more expensive but they will be much safer for your animal and also more reliable.
The flea product we use also prevents dogs from contracting lungworm: a parasite which is potentially life threatening. The product should be used monthly throughout the dog’s life, starting at the age of seven weeks. We use the same product for cats from the age of nine weeks and monthly from then onwards. Unfortunately, there is no single product which protects your pet from all exto and endo-parasites, so cat owners will also need to de-worm their pets. A suitable product can be prescribed by our vets. We use different woming products for older and younger animals. Puppies and kittens should be de-wormed every fortnight from the ages of 6 –12 weeks, monthly until six months, then every three months. Dosage depends on the weight of the animal so regular weight checks with a vet are essential.
Micro-chipping Should I get my pet micro-chipped? Micro-chipping is a quick and easy method of permanent identification for your pet. Should your pet ever become lost, having a microchip will mean that you will have a better chance of being reunited.
Microchipping costs £20 and is available during our Nurses clinic, or if you are bringing your pet in for neutering or a dental procedure, they can be microchipped at the same time, giving the advantage of the animal being asleep while the procedure takes place.
It is a quick procedure that involves entering a chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the skin, so that information can be stored. If your pet does subsequently become parted from you and is found and/or handed in to a vets or rescue centre, your pet can be scanned for the details on the microchip and you will be informed as to their whereabouts.
Nurses’ Clinic Our Nurses’ Clinic costs £10 and takes place on Wednesday afternoons. It is run by appointment only and services include: – Weight check – Diet and general health advice – Anal gland check/emptying – Dental/teeth check – Basic de-matt (whilst conscious) – Ear plucking/cleaning (whilst conscious) – Grooming advice – Nail clipping – Microchipping (see previous section)
If you would like your pet micro-chipped, please book an appointment for the Nurses’ Clinic on Wednesday afternoons.
Dental Procedures Does my pet need a dental procedure? It is certainly advisable that your pet receives a regular dental check. Teeth are a signifier of health and there can be many dental problems that can develop into serious conditions that may impact your pets’ health later in life. If you are unsure of what is required, you can book an appointment with our Nurses’ Clinic on a Wednesday afternoon to have your animal’s teeth assessed. A dental appointment can then be booked by the nurse for a following date. Any animals receiving dental treatment at The Mayhew’s clinic are required to be neutered prior to the appointment.
What should I know before the procedure? Cats and dogs should be starved of food from 8pm the night, but they are allowed liquids until 7am on the morning of surgery. Rabbits and Guinea pigs should not be starved of food or water and we will ask you to bring a small amount of their normal food. The cost for a dental procedure will be quoted after a Mayhew vet has been able to accurately assess what treatment will be needed; be it cleaning or possible removal of damaged teeth.
C4 scheme The ‘C4’ scheme, established in 2002, is a joint initiative by major animal charities working in Greater London to tackle the problem of too many cats. The Mayhew Community Veterinary Clinic is a participating practice in this scheme.
Low-cost Neutering Appointments – what happens? Low-cost neutering appointments are available for all other dogs, cats and rabbits Tuesday – Friday. Prices can be obtained by contacting the Community Veterinary Clinic.
You are eligible for free neutering if you live within this area and: a) You own the cat, and you receive: –S tate benefit – State pension – Council tax benefit or Housing benefit b) You are a full time student c) You are on a low household income d) The cat is a stray which you have been feeding for at least 14 days
We neuter our outpatients from 12 weeks onwards or anytime after they have had their first full course of vaccinations.
Proof that the owner is eligible has to be provided on the day of the appointment.
Neutering is a same day procedure but you will need to book an appointment in advance. An admittance time between 8am and 9am on the day of surgery will be arranged for you and your pet with a Mayhew vet. On admittance, the vet will check your pet and explain the procedure that it will undergo.
The Mayhew Animal Home has a vision of a world where all companion animals are wanted. We offer a wide variety of community services providing advice, care and assistance to animals and their carers whatever their circumstances. Your support in helping us achieve this goal is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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the mayhew animal home Trenmar Gardens Kensal Green London nw10 6bj tel: 020 8969 0178 email: info@mayhewanimalhome.org The Mayhew Animal Home www.mayhewanimalhome.org and Humane Education Centre www.mayhewinternational.org Registered charity no. 1077588 Company limited by guarantee no. 3837732 Design: www.gradedesign.com Photography: www.rebeccahadell.com