We endeavor to create a warm and caring environment for you to build strong bonds with your neighborhood vet

Our clinic and team provides a comfortable, caring and compassionate environment

We offer consultations with our specialists to meet the needs of you and your pet

We provide generalist, emergency and diagnostic veterinary services in both Japanese and English to cater for both the Japanese and international communities in Tokyo

We strive to provide the most modern and affordable healthcare

Welcome to PetLife
English speaking vet in the heart of Tokyo

Information

2020/03/29
NEW PetLife COVID-19 Update

We at PetLife hope that you and your furry family members are safe during this time.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking careful measures to ensure the safety of our patrons, staff and the general public.

Petlife’s management plan includes:
　　　• Frequent disinfection of surfaces and instruments (this is already standard in industry practice).
　　　• Policy for all staff to employ regular hygienic routines such as thorough washing of hands and frequent changes of gloves and masks and other sanitary equipment.
　　　• Monitoring the health of all our staff.

PetLife believes that it is imperative to do our part in limiting the spread of the virus, so we are asking for the cooperation of our patrons temporarily. We ask that patrons:
　　　• Limit to one person per pet where possible when coming to the clinic.
　　　• Wear a protective mask.
　　　• Not visit the clinic if feeling unwell. Please call if you have concerns about your pets.
　　　• Cooperate in social distancing within the clinic. If the waiting area is full, please feel free to wait outside after registering.
　　　• Remain conscious of coughing/sneezing etiquette.
　　　• Book ahead and avoid walk-ins.
We understand that these conditions can cause inconvenience, but with the cooperation of our community, we will continue to provide the best service possible for you and your pets.


2020/03/02
NEW Spring Inoculation season is here!

Heartworm prevention begins in April! Blood test (health check + heartworm antigen) available from March!
All-in-one preventives (heartworm, flea/tick, roundworm) for both dogs and cats are available.

More info

2019/11/19
Welcome to PetLife

An English speaking veterinary clinic in the heart of Tokyo.
Watch our brief movie to find about more about our practice.

 


2019/09/10
Health Check Package

Annual check ups can aid in early detection/early treatment of disease and will help your pet have a long, happy life☆

 

At PetLife, we have prepared a full check up package including blood test, urinalysis, Xray, and ultrasound at a 20% discount (valid until February, 2020).

 

More detail

 

Please give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions or would like to book ☆

 


About us

Your family vet in the heart of Tokyo
PetLife Veterinary Clinic is a friendly and caring clinic in the heart of Tokyo.
We provide a bilingual (Japanese/English) service for both domestic and international communities.
We are experienced veterinarians with many years serving families
and individuals and their pets using the latest technology. We have a compassionate
and welcome approach and aim to nurture close bonds within the local community.

Hours of Operation

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun・Holiday
9:30〜12:30 ● ● ● × ● ● ●
12:30〜16:00 ● ● ● × ● ● △
16:00〜19:00 ● ● ● × ● ● △

△ Reservation Only (Please book by 12:30 on that day)

● Surgery, Procedures, House calls

*Please inquire about consultations for your pet outside regular hours.

Pets

Consultations are available for both cats and dogs at PetLife.

Our Services

Our Facilities

Introduction of medical equipment

Team

PetLife Tips

2019/11/27 Urinary Tract Disease Part 1

Let’s have a look at some disorders our pets are at risk for, especially during the cold season to come!

 

Urinary Tract Disease　Part 1　

Urethral Obstruction

 

Urethral obstruction is a medical emergency that causes the dog/cat to strain while urinating, producing little or no urine each time. This condition occurs most commonly in male cats, but male dogs and female dogs/cats may be affected as well. Males are more likely to develop obstruction because of their long and narrow urethra. Causes vary, from physical obstruction such as calculi, stricture caused by scar tissue, neoplasia, prostate disease (in male dogs), to functional obstruction (known as idiopathic obstruction) which is common in male cats.

Delay in treatment can cause the onset of systemic signs (related to uremia/ acute renal failure) including vomiting, anorexia, and/or lethargy and collapse. Uremia is potentially life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

 

〇Initial symptoms

The most common early clinical signs resemble those of cystitis, including stranguria, dysuria, and hematuria. Urinating in unusual places and frequent urination are symptoms relatively easy to spot.

 

〇Prevention

Switching to canned food and increasing water availability.

Improving litter box hygiene and increasing number of litter boxes(cats)

 

 

Detection of those early clinical signs is key when treating urethral obstruction. If your pet is not urinating as usual, or urinating more frequently than usual, a visit to your local vet as soon as possible is recommended. Pets that have experienced urethral obstruction in the past tend to relapse, so dietary changes may be necessary, and it is always a good idea to have check-ups (urinalysis) done regularly.

 

 

2019/09/10 Fleas and Ticks

Let’s have a close look at the dangers of flea/tick infestation. Fleas and ticks cause problems not only for our pets, but for us humans as well.

 

 

Fleas

 

Fleas

Fleas are capable of jumping distances more than 100 times their body length to attach themselves to their host. They begin to lay eggs on their host 24-48 hours later and reach adulthood soon after. The period fleas require to mature depends on the season, but during the summer, it only takes 12-14 days. During spring/autumn, a little longer, approximately 3-4 weeks. So are we safe from them during the winter? The parasites’ life cycle is activated in environments as cold as 13℃, so no, winter is not the “safe” period.

 

If anything, fleas thrive in winter as well, especially indoors as households tend to be heated to comfortable temperatures. Even cats that are 100% indoor cats are at risk for infestation.

 

Fleas cause problems such as allergic dermatitis, which is caused by the host’s allergic reaction to their saliva.

 

They also transmit tapeworm, an intestinal parasite. If you discover little white objects that resemble rice grains on your pet’s anus or on their bed, beware!

 

Skin rashes caused by fleas can also be an issue for pet owners.

 
 

 
 

Ticks

 

Ticks＊If you find a tick on your pet’s skin, don’t pull it off yourself! Always check with your vet first!

 

An adult tick lays 2000-3000 eggs at a time. Hatchlings repeat the process of sucking blood from its host and shedding to reach adulthood in approximately 1 month. An adult tick on a full tummy can grow to about 100 times its initial weight before it starts to lay eggs.

 

Ticks tend to be hiding in the bushes, so beware when taking your pet to the park or to other grassy areas.

 

Ticks transmit Babesiosis, a hematologic disease caused by a parasite that attaches itself to the host’s red blood cells. Symptoms include anemia, fever, and loss of appetite, and if acute or severe, may even cause death.

 

People are at risk too. SFTS (Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome) is caused by a virus that ticks carry. Mortality rate is high, and 1 in 5 people are known to succumb to the disease.

 
 

☆ Flea/ tick prevention can be accomplished with spot-on or oral preventives (Frontline, MyfleaGuard, Nexguard) administered monthly. Bravecto, administered only once every 3 months, is also available.

 
 

2019/07/07 Heatstroke in dogs

Instead of sweating, dogs lower their body temperature by panting. When panting isn’t enough, a dog’s temperature rises significantly, causing heatstroke. This condition can be fatal if not corrected immediately.

 

Older dogs, obese dogs, and dogs with thick fur or short noses (pugs, bulldogs) are predisposed to heatstroke and should be closely monitored for symptoms on hot, humid days.

 

Symptoms：
Excessive panting
Lethargy/collapse
Reddened gums
Diarrhea and vomiting

 

Prevention :
Avoid hot hours of the day to take your dog out for walks (choose relatively cool hours of the day, either early before the sun is out, or late at night)
Avoid concrete surfaces when walking your dog in the sun. Grassy areas with shade are best.
Give your dog lots of water. Pouring water on your dog’s body can also help. Temperature control – when leaving your dog at home, leave the air conditioning on or leave the windows open.
Never leave your dog in a car unattended, even if it is parked in the shade.

 

Immediate care：
Move your dog out of the heat/sun immediately. Heatstroke will cause a dog’s body temperature to rise above 40℃, so steps must be taken to lower it as soon as possible (below 39.4℃ at least).
1. Run cool water over your dog’s body.
2. Put a cold water bottle around the neck area, under the forelimbs (underarms), and inside of the thigh.
3. Call your local vet to let them know you are on your way

 

Prevention is key, but also knowing the signs and what to do in case of an emergency is important. Summer in Tokyo can be incredibly hot and humid, so let’s make sure the necessary steps are taken to protect our dogs from heatstroke.

2019/03/12 Evacuation with your pet in an emergency Part 2

In our last article, we talked about stockpile management. This time, we are going to provide some tips on house training your pet so that if the time comes to evacuate, it is not too stressful for them to be confined to a cage.

 

House Training

 

Wouldn’t it be awesome if your pet would just walk into their cage on command, no questions asked? Not just in emergency situations, but also when you need to travel with them in a car or plane.

 

Life in evacuation shelters can be very stressful for your pet. Having their own private space, even a small one, can make the experience a lot less difficult. Training to help them get used to being in small spaces is important for this to work.

 

To help your pet adapt to their cages, put the cage in the living room or anywhere else in the house that your pet likes to chill. Putting something like their favorite toy or snack inside may also help prompt entering the cage. When it looks like they are about to go in, you give them the command (ex. “House!”). Once they are inside, give them a treat, and praise them. Repeat this process over and over, and in time, your pet will learn that the cage is not a scary place, but a place they can relax and receive treats.

 

The next step is closing the door of the cage. Feeding your pet in the cage or giving them chew toys that will keep them preoccupied will help them get used to spending long periods of time inside.

 

It’s never too late to start practicing! Patience is key.

2018/10/17 Evacuation with your pet in an emergency

Earthquakes and typhoons have wreaked havoc in Japan since the start of 2018.
There is a fear that the next natural disaster will hit the Kanto region including central Tokyo.
Here are some tips to prepare our furry family members as well, should such a disaster happen.

 

Stockpile

 

★Have all your pet’s information in one place (ex. In a file or notebook)
When taking shelter with your pet, some facilities will require documentation such as vaccination certificates.
Here are some examples of information you should keep with you:
1. Basic information about your pet – Name, color, markings, character. A photo would be helpful.
2 Registration at your ward of residence: Don’t forget to put the little license plate the ward provides on your dog’s collar.
3 Microchip information – Have your pet’s microchip number jotted down so that you can provide it to the authorities in case he/she goes missing.
4 Vaccination certificates – If you are postponing your pet’s vaccination for some reason, have your vet issue an exemption certificate in the meantime.
5 Medical history – Jot down the name of your vet, your pet’s medical history, current treatment and medicines.
It would also help to have any blood test or health check data on your phone in case reference is needed in an emergency.

 

★Food, treats, and water. 5 days’ worth at least
In an emergency, humans won’t be the only ones panicking!
Because shelter life may be stressful for your pet, it is a good idea to be able to give them food, treats, favorite toy/blanket that they are used to and remind them of home.

 

★Medicine
If your pet has a chronic illness (heart disease, skin disease, etc), running out of or not having access to medication can lead to worsening of symptoms and in some cases even be life threatening.
Placing your pet’s medication where you have easy access to them on your way out when evacuating is a good idea. Also, knowing what kind of meds and the dosage will be handy if a vet is on call at the shelter to prescribe a new batch.

 

★Extra food bowls, leashes and collars.

 

★Toilet equipment (wee mats and kitty litter)

 

★Cardboard boxes, tape, towels – just in case you need to build your pet a temporary cage at the shelter.

 

☆Additional advice

 

① Having extra pet food at home at all times in case of such emergencies is a good idea.
When you open a new bag of food, buy another.
That way you never have to worry about expiry dates!
② When packing for your pet, don’t buy new things.
Always pack things they know and have used all their lives.
This applies to everything from food and treats, to towels, blankets and pet crates.
Familiar things and smells can do wonders to ease your pet’s stress.
Of course we need to prepare well for human evacuation, but being able to evacuate your pet with you and be prepared to do it is also important.
At shelters, shortage of supplies even or humans can be problematic, and most of the time there are not enough resources to take into account the distribution of pet supplies.
We can help our pets through such crises by doing the best we can to be prepared.

 

Stay tuned for next month’s edition, where we will share some information about evacuation drills☆

2018/04/11 Taking your dog out for walks

For dogs, a walk is not just an event meant for going to the toilet. Outdoors, there is a whole other world full of exciting things that your dog would not experience at home. For example the smell of grass, the smell of concrete, other dogs, cars, and bicycles. There may even be a big truck or motorcycle speeding by startling your dog with their loud engine noise.

 

Exposure to any of these stimulants is a precious new experience for your pet, and must be taken advantage of as a good socialization tool.

 

When taking your dog outside, be sure to put on a leash (two if possible; one on the collar and one on the harness), and to not let him/her stray too far. Carrying your dog when walking through unfamiliar places may also help. There will be many things that your dog will display an interest in outdoors, but the trick is to try to get your dog to focus on you (the owner) as much as possible so that accidents such as your dog running out onto the road suddenly or eating strange things of the ground may be avoided. For training purposes, having a treat in your hand that you use only when going outside, is a good idea. Hold the treat in your left hand and let your dog have a sniff as you walk. After walking a few meters, stop, give your dog a command “sit” “wait” and then give him/her the treat when he/she obeys. If there is something on your walk route that your dog always reacts to (barks at, or is afraid of), using this treat technique specifically at these spots will help your dog overcome any anxieties.

 

For dogs that tend to pull on the leash and try to take you in the direction they want to go, the trick is to not let them lead you, but to pull your dog in the direction you want to go, to make sure he/she knows that you are in charge.

 

By taking it one step at a time, and helping your dog learn, he/she will come to naturally acquire the ability to adapt to his/her surroundings in any situation.

2018/03/06 How far do we go to train our pets?

I’m sure we have all experienced bizarre behavior from our pet or behavior that seems like they are doing something with the sole purpose of annoying us. Sometimes this behavior makes us miserable, and other times we think it is endearing. How our pet’s behavior affects us depends on our (the owners) state of mind, and there may be some pet owners that go so far as to think that any kind of behavior, whether it is problematic or not, is adorable and will not result in any need for discipline. So where do we draw the line and intervene? Basically, the decision should be based on whether both parties (animal and human) are enjoying life with each other, and on whether the “problematic” behavior is causing a third party any inconvenience.

 

If your pet is enjoying himself/herself, but the behavior is causing you a huge amount of stress, discipline is necessary. This logic works both ways. You may be enjoying life with your pet in a way you feel is appropriate, but your pet, depending on how you have trained or disciplined him/her, may feel restrained and stressed. Another important thing to think about is that you and your pet are not causing those around you any inconvenience. The extent of training or discipline you apply to your pet should be based on your (and your family’s) lifestyle. It is important, however, to bear in mind that “Give & Take +Manners” are key ingredients when it comes to enjoying life with your pet to the fullest.
In our next issue, we will give you some specific examples to help you get a better idea of how to, and how far to, train your pet.

 

If you have specific questions regarding training for your pet, please contact us at info@petlife.co.jp

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PetLife Veterinary Clinic

PetLife Veterinary Clinic 1F. Daiichi Bldg.
2-3-5 Higashi Azabu
Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0044
TEL:03-6807-4058
*Emergency after hours inquiries will be forwarded to the veterinarian’s mobile telephone.

Akabanebashi St. Nakanohashi Exit, 5 min Walk
Azabu juban St. Exit 6, 8 min Walk

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事業所の名称 ペットライフ動物病院
事業所の所在地 東京都港区東麻布二丁目３番５号　第一ビル１階
登録番号 保管　17東京都保第005774号
登録年月日 平成３０年３月１日
登録の有効期間の末日 平成３５年２月２８日
動物取扱責任者の氏名 木下菜穂子