• Veterinary Services for Dogs

    Tierarztpraxis am Millerntor: With us, your dog is in the best hands!

    If you are looking for a dog vet, look no further. We are a team of experienced veterinarians and attach great importance to state-of-the-art veterinary medicine. Providing our patients with the very best medical care is our top priority and we always have an open ear for the concerns of their owners, who entrust us with their care.

    We will gladly clarify every step of your pet’s treatment and welcome any questions you may have concerning treatments and the related costs. All animals are examined and treated patiently, lovingly, and gently.

    Many dogs are afraid of the vet. We therefore recommend a brief, no-obligation visit to our waiting room to familiarize your dog with our practice. This will allay his fears to a great extent.

    Our veterinary practice is sufficiently equipped to allow us to carry out the most important examinations on the spot, provide a diagnosis within a short time, and immediately initiate the necessary treatment for your dog.

    Thanks to our equipment, we are able to take X-rays and perform ultrasounds at any time. Our laboratory equipment is capable of recording extensive diagnostic parameters. Especially in emergencies, this is crucial for initiating additional, possibly life-saving measures as quickly as possible. We can perform hematology testing, blood glucose testing, and immediate checks of the most important organ parameters in our in-house laboratory. We are also able to carry out urine tests, stool examinations, parasitological tests, and certain dermatological examinations.

    We offer you and your dog a variety of services: from puppy exams to geriatric exams for your senior dog, from prophylactic vaccinations to the treatment of infectious and internal diseases.

    In addition, our veterinary practice offers dental care, wound treatment, neutering, and various soft tissue surgeries. To this end, we have at our disposal a well-equipped operating room including an inhalation anesthesia device.

    Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture and physiotherapy, is also part of our range of services.

    Our veterinarians engage in regular further training to ensure that our practice can provide the necessary quality of treatment. We are highly committed to the treatment of our patients and we always take time for the people who entrust us with their animals.

    What requirements and problems should dog owners bear in mind?

    Dogs have individual problems and needs depending on their size and age. We are happy to provide advice in any situation! Below, you will find some examples of special and general needs and problems in dogs:

    Puppies (up to 6 months)

    Vaccinations and treatments for parasites are important in puppies from the outset. During the initial examination the puppy should be checked thoroughly for congenital diseases (for example, congenital heart disease, congenital narrowing of the airways, umbilical hernia, and malocclusions).

    A proper diet is particularly important for puppies. Adequate feeding prevents future diseases, for example of the musculoskeletal system. This can prevent excessively rapid growth.

    Adolescent dogs (6-12 months)

    Your puppy's second set of teeth should have come through by the age of 6 months. This means that no more baby teeth are present and the permanent teeth should not exhibit any malpositions. At this stage, correcting the position of the teeth is still rather easy and prevents problems later on. Therefore, the oral cavity should be monitored regularly. We will gladly provide detailed advice in this regard.

    Every dog owner should consider whether or not to neuter their pet. Neutering of a female or male dog may be necessary for practical reasons related to the management and care of your pet as well as health reasons. This is a very important topic regarding which we will gladly advise you in detail.

    Especially in large dogs, misalignments of the musculoskeletal system should be born in mind at a young age to prevent future pain, for example due to arthroses. We will be pleased to provide further details on our physiotherapeutic services on request.

    Adult dogs (1-8 years)

    Food intolerances, allergies, infectious diseases and injuries are highly common in adolescent as well as in adult dogs. Bites or cuts are an everyday occurrence.

    Senior dogs (9-x years)

    Senior dogs often suffer from tartar, gingivitis, or other diseases affecting the teeth and gums. Therefore, the oral cavity should be examined on a regular basis, and dental cleaning performed, if necessary.

    Heart disease and other diseases of the internal organs are also very common in senior dogs.

    With increasing age, unspayed females tend to develop uterine infections (pyometra) while unneutered males exhibit changes in the prostate. Therefore, it is important to pay particular attention to the amount of water consumed in female dogs and difficulties in urinating or defecating in male dogs.

     

    These are just some of the reasons that demonstrate the importance of regular health checks in the form of annual examinations (clinical examinations), which we offer routinely with any vaccination at no extra cost. Regular blood tests allow us to identify signs of wear on the organs: blood sugar measurements and/or measurements of hepatic and renal parameters can be used for early detection of diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and others.

    Our services for your dog

    Our services for dogs essentially comprise the following:

    First presentation of the puppy: for a strong start in life!

    Have you purchased a puppy? Or is this your first dog? We are happy to provide detailed advice on vaccinations, regular deworming / parasite prevention, changes in dentition, neutering, microchipping, EU pet passports, and nutrition. This always includes a general examination of your new family member.

    The first visit with a puppy is a very special occasion for which we reserve plenty of time. A detailed consultation and thorough exam for congenital or acquired diseases are particularly important. Please schedule an appointment as early as possible to ensure that we have enough time for the examination and consultation.

    Vaccinations for your dog

    For dogs, we recommend good basic immunization, i.e. vaccinations at the age of 8, 12, and 16 weeks as well as annual boosters thereafter. This offers your dog the best protection against various diseases.

    The first vaccination is usually administered while your dog is still a puppy. All vaccinations will be entered into your pet's vaccination record so you always know when the next vaccination is due. In addition, we will send you a timely reminder.

    The annual vaccination provides an opportunity to check the health of the patient during the thorough examination carried out in advance. We work with state-of-the-art vaccines. The vaccination schedule is based on the recommendations of the International Medical Council on Vaccination and is customized to meet the needs of each patient.

    The following vaccinations are recommended for dogs: distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, and rabies.

    We recommend the following schedule:

    Age Vaccination
    8 weeks old distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and parainfluenza
    12 weeks old distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptopspirosis, parainfluenza, and rabies
    16 weeks old distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and rabies

    Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza will need to be repeated each year. Rabies needs to be repeated after 12 months in the first year, and in following years 12-36 months depending on manufacturer.
    Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvovirus is repeated after 12 months, then every 24-36 months
    Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza must be repeated each year.
    We are happy to work with you to find a vaccination schedule that works for you and your pet.

    In special cases – particularly in breeding and hunting dogs – it is also necessary to vaccinate against Lyme disease and/or intranasally against Bordetella bronchiseptica. In case of regular, longer stays in endemic areas, it also makes sense to vaccinate against leishmaniasis. In such cases, we ask that you notify us in advance by phone.

    Parasite prevention

    Parasites represent a threat to the health of your dog. They can transfer pathogens or cause illnesses directly. Regular and effective parasite control is therefore very important. Unfortunately, medications used to treat worms have no preventive effect. Deworming treatments should be administered regularly as a result.

    Typical external parasites include fleas, ticks, lice, and mites. There are specific drugs (e.g., spot-on treatments and pills) that prevent flea and tick infestations. To prevent the spread of mites and lice, cushions, blankets, brushes, and collars should be cleaned regularly. If the animal is already infested with mites, lice, or fleas, bath or spot-on treatments are usually used.

    Tapeworms, hookworms, lungworms, whipworms, and roundworms are among the common internal parasites that can affect your pet. Some of the parasites that our animals carry in their gastrointestinal tracts can also be transmitted to humans (zoonosis). This often happens as a result of very close contact with the animal; children, elderly, or immunocompromised people, are particularly susceptible to such infections. We therefore recommend regular deworming treatments (at least 4 times per year) or regular stool examinations for your pet. Unfortunately, deworming treatments have no preventive effect, which means that regular treatments are necessary to avoid severe infestations.

    The measures necessary for endoparasite prevention depend on the age of the animal and on its living conditions and lifestyle. This means that the younger the animal and the more contact it has with members of the same species, the more frequently it should be treated for endoparasites, as the common drugs have no or hardly any preventive effect.

    On this basis, we recommend the following treatment regime for dogs starting from puppy age:

    Age Treatment
    from 2 weeks 14-day treatment with appropriate drugs (to interrupt the development cycle, for example of roundworms, which are frequently encountered)
    from 12 weeks monthly treatment with appropriate drugs (your puppy ingests large quantities of worm eggs)
    from 6 months quarterly preventive treatment with appropriate drugs; alternatively quarterly stool examination (and possible treatment as a result)

    This treatment regime is suitable for completely healthy animals. In cases where the animal is suffering from diarrhea or other gastrointestinal complaints, we recommend an immediate stool examination and appropriate adjustment of the treatment regime.

    Please note that parasites such as giardia and coccidia are not covered by "regular" deworming treatments. We offer the appropriate diagnostics for these parasites in our in-house lab and would be happy to advise you in a personal consultation. Additional information can be found in the Leitlinie zur Impfung von Kleintieren (guidelines for the vaccination of small animals) published by the Ständige Impfkommission Vet. (StIKo Vet.; Standing Veterinary Vaccination Committee).

    Neutering / Spaying

    Many people still believe that female dogs are sterilized and male dogs are neutered. That is not correct: both sexes are usually neutered (spayed). Neutering is the surgical removal of the testes or ovaries. Sterilization, however, merely entails the transection of the fallopian tubes or spermatic ducts, which has no influence on the sexual behavior of an animal.

    Neutering renders a dog permanently infertile, and greatly reduces the production of sex hormones, since the testes or ovaries are removed. As a result, behaviors linked with sex hormones are also reduced.

    Spaying of female dogs
    The most common reasons for spaying of a female dog include the suppression of heat and thus the prevention of pregnancy. In addition, after spaying, dogs will no longer have mock pregnancies.

    Spaying is also important to prevent certain types of tumors and uterine infections (e.g., pyometra).

    However, spaying only helps reduce the risk of mammary gland tumors, when performed at an early stage! After the third heat cycle, it no longer has a significant influence on this risk. Spaying a female dog before the second heat cycle greatly reduces the risk of mammary gland tumors, while spaying before the first heat cycle reduces the risk to a minimum.

    Spaying also has disadvantages, however. Spayed females are more prone to weight gain and may experience changes in the quality of their coats (especially in long-haired dogs) as well as (rare) urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is highly treatable.

    We would be happy to provide more information about the pros and cons of spaying during a personal consultation.

    We strongly advise against the hormonal suppression of the heat cycle. The "heat cycle shot", as this method is known, has such strong side effects that almost all female dogs become very ill when it is administered. They often develop a uterine infection just a few weeks after the injection.

    Neutering of male dogs
    Male dogs are often neutered to prevent undesirable behavior. In general, neutering only affects behaviors that are considered sexual in nature. A male dog with general behavioral problems will continue to cause problems after neutering!

    Reproduction control (prevention of unwanted pregnancies) as the reason for neutering plays a rather minor role in our practice. However, in stray dogs it represents an important contribution to animal protection.

    There are also medical conditions that can make neutering necessary. These include cryptorchidism (intra-abdominal testes, one or both sides), prostate disorders, testicular tumors, and perianal gland tumors (tumors on the glands around the anus).

    Pros: The dog can no longer mate and there are no unwanted pregnancies. No howling, barking, or running away when bitches in heat are nearby. Prevention of various cancers.

    Cons: As with female dogs, neutering may lead to changes in coat quality and weight gain in male dogs. Reduced portions or low-calorie diet foods help prevent obesity. There is also a risk of urinary incontinence, although this is highly treatable, as in female dogs.

    In male dogs, there is also the option of chemical castration for several months by means of a castration chip.

    We would be happy to provide more information about the pros and cons of neutering male dogs during a personal consultation.

    Nutritional counseling, feed consultation, and sale of special veterinary diets

    The diet of your dog should be balanced and appropriate to his or her needs. Your pet's food should be adapted to his or her phase of life, breed, and possible illnesses. In the case of certain diseases, such as food allergy, food intolerance, formation of crystals in the urine, diabetes, or renal failure, we will perform detailed exams in advance in order to identify certain special foods that can be used selectively. Many diseases can be slowed down through an appropriate diet if they are detected early. Our veterinarians and veterinary assistants are trained in this area. Whether your pet requires a normal diet, special diet, or home-cooked food: we are happy to support and advise you!

    Examples of high-quality foods:

    Ration calculation (also suitable for BARF diet):

    Microchip implantation and issuing of the EU pet passport

    The microchip (also known as a transponder) is an electronic means of animal identification. The chip is implanted under the skin on the left side of the neck. Implantation is simple and quick, with no need for anesthesia. The transponder number stored on the chip (every identifier in the world is unique) consists of 15 digits and can be read by all standard readers.

    If you are taking your pet on cross-border travel within the EU, you will need what is known as an EU pet passport (the "blue passport"). This is an official document. Your pet must be microchipped before this passport can be issued. Your dog's rabies vaccination must also be up to date (protection is only considered effective 30 days after the shot and lasts for 12-36 months depending on the brand; the vaccination cannot be given before your pet is 12 weeks of age).

    Different regulations apply outside of the EU (this includes entry into an EU country from a non-EU country). We will gladly provide information about the current regulations in place in your destination country.

    Care of your pet in old age and senior checkups for dogs

    We want your dog to be able to enjoy a long and above all healthy and pain-free life! Since our pets are usually fed very high-quality food nowadays and medical care has improved considerably overall, as it has for humans, animals are living to an older age on average. Unfortunately, this also means that, with increasing age, animals develop a higher risk of certain diseases and functional limitations. Recognized early, many of these signs of aging and diseases can be treated effectively or at least slowed down. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the state of your dog's health is checked regularly from the age of about 8 years (and from 6 years onward for large breed dogs).

    Typical diseases that cause our dogs problems with increasing age include cardiovascular diseases, arthroses and movement disorders, impaired organ function especially of the liver and kidney, prostate and uterine disorders, dental problems, hormonal problems: including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and increased cancer risk.

    Most incipient complaints are not necessarily immediately obvious from external appearances. Heart or kidney diseases, for example, may exist for a long time before you as the owner notice that your pet is sick. Geriatric screening, however, can detect such diseases at a much earlier stage, allowing for timely and targeted treatment. The goal of such treatment is to allow the animal to enjoy a good quality of life for as long as possible.

    Geriatric screening includes a general clinical examination, during which the eyes, ears, oral cavity, heart, lungs, skin, and coat are examined. In addition, there is the option to draw a blood sample, which allows the functionality of the major organs to be assessed. The liver and kidney values are checked, as are blood sugar levels and thyroid function. Furthermore, an ultrasound of the abdomen and an X-ray of the chest can help to detect tumors early and thus allow them to be treated more effectively.

    What can you do?

    • Weigh your dog monthly: otherwise, slow weight loss or weight gain is often only noticed at a very late stage (you are welcome to stop by to weigh your dog).
    • Monitor fluid intake: many diseases are associated with increased thirst.
    • Monitor food intake: both increases and decreases in appetite may be signs of disease.
    • Monitor activity: a distinct change in levels of activity within a short time could be due to more than just old age.

    Please schedule an appointment if you would like a geriatric screening for your dog. Please note that your dog should fast for approx. 10 hours before the blood test. Appointments can be scheduled for as late as 6 pm.

    Laboratory

    In our well-equipped in-house lab, we can check all the important parameters necessary for the examination of your dog. We are able to carry out blood tests, urine tests, stool examinations, parasitological tests, and certain dermatological examinations, respond immediately to your dog's disease pattern, and initiate the necessary treatment.

    X-ray

    X-ray diagnosis is another important tool available in our clinic for examining your dog. By analyzing the X-ray images, we can detect musculoskeletal disorders (for example malplacements of the hip (hip dysplasia), malplacements of the elbow (elbow dysplasia), joint wear (arthroses and spondylosis), periosteal inflammation (osteomyelitis), broken bones (fractures), and other changes. X-ray diagnostics are also suitable for imaging of soft tissue, thus facilitating the detection of tumors and foreign objects as well as the identification of cardiac disorders.

    Ultrasound

    Ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity (abdomen) for the detection of changes in organs, tumors, and pregnancies or specific diseases such as uterine infection (pyometra) is another important element of our diagnostic approach.

    A cardiologist and ultrasound specialist visits our practice regularly for specialized ultrasound examinations – particularly for heart ultrasound (echocardiography).

    Dental clinic: dental treatments and dental preventive measures

    We have a well-equipped dental clinic for necessary dental treatments. The standard services we offer include the extraction of retained deciduous teeth in puppies, removing tartar from the teeth by means of thorough polishing, and the extraction of diseased teeth.

    We adapt the necessary sedation to the needs and health of the patient to ensure maximum safety.

    Soft tissue surgery

    Our operating room is equipped with an inhalation anesthesia device and anesthetic monitoring devices, allowing our experienced soft tissue surgeons to limit anesthesia-related risks to a minimum so that operations can be carried out safely, not only on young but also on adult and senior dogs (e.g., neutering, tumor surgery, treatment of (bite) injuries).

    Acupuncture and physiotherapy

    We also offer acupuncture and  physiotherapy, among other services, for older dogs and other patients suffering from acute pain.

     

    Travel regulations for dogs

    Excerpts from the current travel regulations for dogs can be found here.

    Budapester Str. 31
    20359 Hamburg – St. Pauli
    Tel: 040 – 434001
    E-Mail: info@tierarztpraxis-am-millerntor.de