Everything we do, in one place

A consultation starts with a conversation. We want to know what has changed at home: appetite, energy, sleep, whether your pet is drinking more water, because that is almost always where the clue lies. Then we carry out a full physical examination and explain what we found before moving on to tests or treatment.

• Clinical history and full physical examination
• Routine, follow-up and second-opinion consultations
• Senior pet consultations, with a focus on pain and mobility
• Treatment plan explained and given to you in writing

Vaccination is still the cheapest way to prevent diseases that kill: parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, infectious hepatitis and kennel cough in dogs; panleukopenia and cat flu in cats. The protocol is set case by case, depending on age, lifestyle and whether the animal goes outdoors.

• Primary vaccination for puppies and kittens
• Annual boosters and vaccination record check
• Rabies vaccine and compulsory registration
• Electronic identification (microchip) and SIAC registration

In the Algarve, the climate lets fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies survive almost all year round: there is no winter break like the one further north. That changes the parasite control schedule, which has to be tighter here than usual.

• Worming against intestinal worms, which can also pass to people
• External parasite control by spot-on, collar or tablet, depending on the animal
• Specific protection against the sandfly, which transmits leishmaniasis
• A schedule adapted to weight, age and lifestyle

We operate on site, with pre-surgical tests done here and monitoring throughout the anaesthetic. Dr Gonçalo Acto has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics. Before any operation we explain the risk, the alternative and the aftercare.

• Spaying and castration of dogs and cats
• Soft tissue surgery, including lump removal
• Orthopaedics: fractures, dislocations and corrections
• Pre-anaesthetic tests and continuous monitoring
• Post-operative pain control and stitch checks

Ultrasound shows what a physical examination cannot reach: liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, intestine, uterus. Dr Rute Vieira and Dr Gonçalo Acto completed intensive training in abdominal ultrasound with Improve International, and the scan is performed and interpreted here: there is no waiting for an outside report.

• Full abdominal ultrasound
• Pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring
• Ultrasound-guided sampling
• No sedation needed in most cases
• Images shown and explained on the spot

We have a laboratory in the clinic, which in practice means deciding on treatment the same day instead of waiting days for results. For cases that need more specific techniques, we send samples to an external reference laboratory.

• Full blood count and biochemistry with same-day results
• Pre-surgical and senior screening tests
• Rapid tests for leishmaniasis, heartworm, FIV and FeLV
• Urine and faecal analysis

Dental disease is one of the most underestimated problems: the animal doesn’t complain, but the pain is there, and infection in the mouth ends up affecting the heart and kidneys. Persistent bad breath is rarely just bad breath.

• Mouth check at every routine consultation
• Ultrasonic scaling and polishing
• Tooth extractions when the tooth can no longer be saved
• Guidance on oral hygiene at home

Excess weight is the most common health problem and the easiest to ignore: it takes years off a pet’s life and makes everything else worse, from the joints to the heart. We build the plan on concrete numbers: how much your pet weighs, how much it should weigh, how much it eats per day.

• Body condition assessment and weight plan
• Veterinary diets for kidney, urinary, skin or digestive disease
• The right food for each life stage
• Follow-up weigh-ins at no consultation charge

Travelling with a pet involves deadlines that are unforgiving: the rabies vaccine must have been given a minimum time beforehand, and some destinations require tests weeks in advance. Talk to us as soon as you know the date. Most problems can be solved with time, and cannot be solved without it.

• European pet passport
• Microchip and registration check
• Rabies vaccine and compliance with legal deadlines
• Antibody titre test for destinations outside the European Union
• Health certificates and advice on destination requirements

There are situations where bringing the animal to the clinic is worse than us coming to you: cats that panic in the carrier, animals that are very large or have limited mobility, owners with no means of transport. In those cases we come to you, within the Lagoa and Portimão area.

• Consultation and vaccination at home
• Animals with mobility problems or that are very stressed
• End-of-life care in a familiar setting
• Subject to availability: arrange by phone