Expert Dog Care in Green Point, Erina, and Terrigal | Avoca Drive Animal Hospital

Dog Care At Avoca Drive Animal Hospital

Owning a dog brings immeasurable joy, companionship, and loyalty to families and individuals. Beyond the physical health needs of your dog, their emotional wellbeing is equally important for a happy and balanced life. A dog’s emotional health can significantly impact their behavior, social interactions, and overall quality of life. That’s why at Avoca Drive Animal Hospital, we prioritize not only your dog’s physical care but also their mental and emotional wellbeing. We believe that a calm, confident, and happy dog is a healthier dog.

Our approach to emotional wellbeing starts with positive rewards training, a technique that uses encouragement and reinforcement to foster desirable behaviors in dogs. This method is not only effective, but it also aligns perfectly with the Fear-Free philosophy that we embrace at Avoca Drive Animal Hospital. As Australia’s first and only fully accredited Fear-Free certified veterinary hospital, we ensure that every aspect of your dog’s experience with us is low-stress and anxiety-free, from routine checkups to specialized treatments. This compassionate approach helps your dog feel comfortable and confident during their veterinary visits, reducing fear and stress while promoting a positive relationship with their healthcare.

Whether you live in Erina, Green Point, Kincumber, or the surrounding areas, we are here to support you with expert advice and care for your dog’s overall wellbeing. From the moment you choose the right breed to managing ongoing health needs, including vaccinations, flea, tick, and mite control, desexing, and worming, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for your furry family members.

Pets & Fireworks

After purchasing your puppy or dog, there are several important aspects of their care to consider:

Pet Insurance

We strongly recommend that you insure your new dog. Please see our information sheet on insurance for more about this topic.

Bedding

Suitable bedding such as washable rugs, cushions or blankets need to be provided in a weatherproof kennel or indoors.

A secure area

A secure area such as a dog-proof yard is essential. Your dog should never be left unsupervised when tethered.

Daily exercise and mental stimulation

All dogs need daily exercise and mental stimulation to help avoid behavioural and health problems. Dogs view their human owners as being part of their pack and can develop behavioural issues if they feel neglected or excluded. It is also vitally important that dogs are socialised with people and other dogs from an early age in order to learn appropriate interactive behaviours.

Regular Health Checks

All pets require a minimum of one health check a year. On average, dogs age five to eight times faster than humans, allowing major health changes to develop in a relatively short amount of time. The risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease and other serious conditions all increase with age. Regular vists to our clinic helps us diagnose, treat or even prevent health problems before they become life-threatening. Routine vaccinations and parasite control for fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm and intestinal worms are also recommended. A visit to us is also a good opportunity to ask about nutrition, behaviour, and other issues.

Nutrition

Nutrition is an important part of your dog’s care. A healthy and balanced diet is essential. This will provide protein to build the body; fats for skin and coat health; carbohydrates for energy; and minerals and vitamins for good bone development and healthy tissues.

Regular Dental Care

It is essential to keep your dog’s teeth clean. A regular dental homecare routine will minimise tartar build-up on your pet’s teeth. Never give your dog cooked bones, as these can be brittle and easily splinter, causing harm to your dog.

Water Intake

Fresh water must always be available for your dog. Bowls should be kept clean and placed in the shade.

Grooming

Grooming and brushing is essential, particularly for long-haired breeds. This helps remove dust, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds, and tangles and it also assists to shorten the coat moult, which occurs seasonally. Dirty or smelly dogs should be bathed. However, keep in mind that frequent shampooing can strip the natural oils from the coat and cause skin dryness and irritation.