Mon–Fri 10:00–13:00 · 15:00–19:00 · Saturday 10:00–13:00
Clínica Veterináriado Parchal
Here the climate gives parasites no rest and the summer is long. These are the things we explain most often in consultations, and that prevent most emergency visits.
Vaccination protects against diseases that still kill animals every year: parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, infectious hepatitis and kennel cough in dogs; panleukopenia and respiratory disease in cats. Leptospirosis is especially relevant here, because it spreads through standing water and rodent urine.
Internal parasites wear down an animal’s health without any warning sign: often the first symptom is a dull coat or unexplained weight loss. Some can pass to people, with a higher risk for children, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
In the Algarve the climate favours external parasites all year round: fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, mites and lice do not disappear in winter as they do further north. They transmit tick fever, mange, leishmaniasis and heartworm.
These are two common diseases in the Algarve, both transmitted by insect bites. Leishmaniasis is carried by the sandfly, most active from dusk to dawn; heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) is carried by the mosquito. Both can be prevented, and both are far harder to treat than to avoid.
Heatstroke sets in within minutes and is often fatal. Dogs cool down mainly by panting, which makes them very vulnerable, especially short-nosed breeds, overweight animals and older pets.
Between late winter and spring, these caterpillars come down from the pine trees in single file. Their hairs are highly irritant, and contact with the mouth or tongue causes serious injuries within a few hours; in advanced cases, part of the tongue is lost.
Good training prevents most behaviour problems, from fear to aggression and anxiety. But when behaviour changes suddenly in an adult animal, the first thing to rule out is a medical cause: pain, loss of sight or hearing, or neurological disease.
Taking your pet out of the country involves legal deadlines that cannot be bypassed: the rabies vaccine must have been given a minimum time before travel, and some destinations require tests done weeks in advance.
If you see any of these signs, call us immediately. Over the phone we can tell you what to do on the way, and gaining time is almost always what decides the outcome.
During opening hours we see emergencies as a priority. Two minutes on the phone lets us get everything ready before you arrive.
This page is general information and does not replace a consultation. Every animal is different: if in doubt, call us.
Book an appointment and we can talk it through properly. It is always worth more than searching for symptoms online.