Vet gives tips on setting up new pets after registrations increase

Historically, January has the highest number of new pet registrations as a result of the festive season being a popular time to give gifts of new pets and, according to a Dubai-based veterinary hospital, this year has seen a particularly large increase.

British Veterinary Hospital, which has 36 staff and deals with more than 60 animal-related cases daily, saw a 12 per cent increase in new pets through their doors this January compared to 2017. According to the hospital, registrations speak by almost 60% in January, compared to other months.

Dr Sara Elliott, director at British Veterinary Hospital, provides tips on how to set up your new pet:

1.     Organise your pet’s first veterinary visit as soon as possible. With a new puppy or kitten, we perform an initial physical exam to look for any signs of illness or disorder, along with a variety of other tests to ensure your new pet starts off on the right ‘paw’.

2.     Register your pet with Dubai Municipality. If your new pet goes missing, the Municipality’s veterinary section has a central database which will enable your pet to be returned to you via your pet’s microchip. Pet registration is in fact mandatory and required to be updated annually.

3.     Annual vaccinations for Dhppi/L and Rabies for dogs, Flu/Enteritis and Rabies for cats are important vaccinations for your new pets, these too are annual and compulsory. 

Dr Elliott continues, “Even though your pet may appear healthy, they might be sick without you even knowing and can’t express some problems. However by instinct, they are also very good at compensating and hiding detectable signs or symptoms of disease from us.”

Tiger Lily, a stray kitten found in Dubai Marina was recently adopted by a young executive, Alexandra Williams, who found her near her apartment building. She says: “The cat, who I later named Tiger Lily, appeared to be perfectly healthy when I found her. However, when I took her into theveterinary hospital to get registered and examined, they informed me she had broken her hip, which is something I clearly wouldn’t have been able to detect by myself.

“It’s reassuring to know that she has had a full examination and we can go about trying to make her new life comfortable, without any nagging doubts or suspicions over her health.”

Regular vet check-ups and diagnostic tests can detect health problems early before they become life-threatening for animals. Wellness plans are a cost-effective way to reduce large vet bills and are structured to cover routine care expenses.

British Veterinary Hospital provides a special package for new pets, it includes: health check examination, Municipality registration, micro chipping, initial vaccinations including kennel cough, leukemia, ehrlichia and FIVFL testing along with other services..