Para Hills Veterinary Clinic

How much does it cost to desex my pet?

De-sexing costs vary depending on the size, age, and weight of your pet. At the Para Hills Veterinary Clinic, we pride ourselves on taking great care of your pet during any surgery, including De-sexing operations. We make sure that a vet checks your pet prior to surgery and works out a pre-med and anesthetic tailored for your pet, taking into account their age, breed and weight. We make sure that we use the safest anesthetic possible, and we try hard to keep your pet comfortable and relaxed.

What age can I microchip my pet?

Microchipping can be done at any age from day old. A tattoo can then be placed into the ear the next time your pet is under Anesthetic. While microchips don't guarantee you will get your dog or cat back it greatly increases the chances of you getting them back. With a microchip, if your pet ends up in a shelter or is picked up by the council, it will be scanned, and you will be phoned straight away.

Do you give accounts? Do we need to pay on the day?

No, we don't give accounts, and yes, the account does need to be paid at the time of consultation. We do offer Vet Pay and Gem Visa which are independent finance options available for you. In fact, you can look up and apply for Vet Pay from your computer at home, alternatively, if you advise us before your visit, we can get all the Vet Pay information ready and help you through the application process. Alternatively, it may be easier for you to borrow money from a friend or family member.

How important is pet insurance?

Pet Insurance is extremely important. Over the last decade, Veterinary Medicine has evolved and many diseases and illnesses that used to be untreatable or badly treatable are now fully curable but at a cost. If your pet is one of your family, then consider pet insurance for them. There are many different brands of pet insurance available. Para Hills Veterinary Clinic has partnered with Pet Plan pet insurance so that we can arrange the first month free for all pets under a year old.

What age should I desex my dog or cat?

Pets are best de-sexed between 5-6 months old. It is generally thought that this allows time for the urinary tract to mature before the pet's first "season". Allowing a pet to have a season before de-sexing hugely increases the chance of your pet developing problems such as mammary cancer later in life. We can de-sex earlier if there is a genuine need to do this. De-sexing is a surgery that is done routinely to help prevent many different health problems.

What age should my puppy do puppy preschool and how much does it cost?

Puppies generally start puppy preschool between 8 - 12 weeks of age. Puppy preschool runs for 4 weeks for one hour each week. Generally, it is done on a Wednesday and/or Friday night at about 6 pm. The current cost (as of September 2013) is $80 for the four classes. Your puppy will expect to learn basic manners of living with people as well as have great fun socializing with like-minded puppies. We will teach the owners about health care, parasite control, basic training and first aid.

Do we need to vaccinate our dog every year?

The current recommendation is that the core vaccines for dogs need to be given as a course for puppies, a booster given at one year old, then bolstered every 3 years. For the canine cough vaccinations, the vaccination is not as long lasting and must still be given every year. So, the short answer is that not every dog needs to have every vaccination every year, but what each dog does need is an annual check-up.

Do you do home visits?

Yes, we do provide home visits. Home visits are able to be done by negotiation when we have the staff available. Home visits do have extra costs such as a call-out fee and a per km fee. Sometimes home visits may not be practical if extra equipment or laboratory equipment is needed. Home visits also don't work well with dogs that are aggressive in their home environment.

Do you treat rabbits, rodents, birds etc?

Yes, we do treat many different species. We have several vets at our clinic who are well known throughout Adelaide for their skills in Surgery and Medicine with rabbits. Pocket pets such as rats, mice, and guinea pigs are also commonly seen for both medical and surgical problems. We are also happy to see other species such as birds, wildlife and reptiles but may refer these to someone with additional knowledge if the problem is beyond what we can cater for.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes, you do. Booking allows us to schedule the appropriate time needed for the vet to check and treat your pet. In the case of an emergency, we will always try to do our best to see you as soon as possible-please call to tell us what has happened then we can get all our emergency team ready to treat your pet when they arrive.