Our Winter Newsletter with information about fleas, heart disease in dogs and cats , rabbit mites, and winter tips can be viewed here
Winter newsletter
Leave a reply
Author Archives: hounslowvets
Feeding cats and dogs- which food to choose
- There are many diet foods available for your pet and sometimes the choice can be confusing.
- If you have a new puppy or kitten, you should if possible try to continue the food that they were fed by the breeder at least for the first few days. If this is not possible, then cooked chicken or fish is a suitable starting food for kittens and puppies for their first few days. Boiled rice can be added for puppies also. This is also suitable for any older pet that has vomiting or diarrhoea as it is light and easily digested. After a few days on this light food, a new food may be introduced gradually over a few days. Generally we recommend to feed puppies 4 x daily until 3 months old, 3x daily until 6 months old and 2x daily until one year old. After one year you may feed dogs once or twice daily. Kittens can be fed 3x daily until fully grown around 10 months and then 2x daily as adults.
- There is no one food that is best for all pets, and so it may sometimes be necessary to try a few before you find the most suitable one for your pet. Complete dry foods are convenient and can help in keeping healthy teeth and gums. Wet foods in pouches or tins may be more palatable to some pets, but some brands can be higher in fat content, which may not suit all pets. A mix of wet and dry foods can be used. It is always a good idea to give at least some dried food to help with teeth and gums.
- All of the major brands of pet food should contain the correct amount of vitamins and minerals, and vitamin supplements are rarely necessary. It is important not to give calcium supplements to growing dogs as they can cause problems with the joints by causing too rapid growth.
- Raw meat diets are available for dogs, but we generally do not recommend them as there are risks of infection to both your pets and yourselves from handling raw meat.
- The amount to feed your pet will depend on the weight of your pet and the diet being fed. There should be guides on the food packaging, but the best way to determine the correct amount is to weigh your pet regularly and ensure that as an adult their weight remains fairly stable.
- We are always happy to weigh your pet at our surgeries if you do not have accurate scales or need large scales for your pet. Just bring your pet in during our normal consulting times to be weighed. We are also happy to give more detailed advise on suitable diets for your pets. Just drop in to one of our surgeries. We stock a range of Hills veterinary foods, but can advise on other brands. We also stock a range of prescription diets suitable for a range of medical condition, such as kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes, intestinal problems, obesity and arthritis.
Dog and cat seizures (fits) and epilepsy
- Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. It causes fits (seizures) in affected dogs, which often occur when they are resting. The fits usually last a few minutes only, and dogs may be confused for 5-15 minutes afterwards. If your dog has a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes you shuld call your vet and arrange to take your pet immediately to the surgery. We recommend if your dog has a seizure, they are left quietly with the lights off, ensuring they cannot fall down any steps or stairs. As they can be confused afterwards there is a risk of being bitten, so they should be left to recover alone. Occasionally a dog will have one seizure, and will never have another one, but in most cases the seizures will recur. Epilepsy usually starts in younger dogs.
- Cats may also have seizures, due to epilepsy although it is much less common than in dogs. Older cats may also have seizures, but this is more commonly due to other medical problems. If your cat has a seizure they should be left alone to recover, with the lights turned out, ensuring that they cannot fall . A seizure will generally only last a minute or two.
- Diagnosis of epilepsy- there is no single test for epilepsy so we rely on ruling out other potential causes of seizures. It is most helpful to take a video clip with your mobile phone of the fit so that the vet can see exactly what happens during the seizure. Diagnosis of epilepsy generally involves blood tests, and may include urine tests, x-rays and spinal fluid analysis. MRI scans may be performed to rule out brain tumours ( although rare in younger dogs and cats).
- Treatment of epilepsy is generally recommended if your pet has more than 1 seizure per month, or if your pet has cluster seizures (one immediately after another). Once treatment is started it is usually lifelong. Happily most pets with epilepsy will live fairly normal lifespans with medical treatment.
New Pet Healthcare Club launched
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new Pet Healthcare club.
- This is an easy way to budget for your pet’s essential health care needs. Our new Pet Healthcare Club is a scheme offering essential veterinary care at a reduced price. In return for a monthly fee collected by direct debit, you can save up to 40% off the costs of routine veterinary treatments.
- The Pet Healthcare Club covers the essential treatments your pet needs throughout life, such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and free 6 monthly health checks. Extra benefits of the plan include discounts on many other products and services at the practice. Follow the links below to find out more about what’s included. We can even send you e-mail and text reminders so you don’t forget to treat your pet on time!
Look after your pet and your pocket!
- Our Ealing and Hounslow surgeries are each the longest standing and largest veterinary practices in their respective boroughs. We also have longstanding practices in Chiswick and Brentford. We have an established reputation for providing excellent veterinary care and great service, our clients choose us because we include them in everything we do for their pet. For details of locations and appointment times please go to our contact us page.
- At Young Veterinary Partnership we want to make preventative health care easy and affordable, to help you give your pets the best possible care. We believe that disease prevention is much better than cure and that early diagnosis of health problems will help your pet to live a long and healthy life.
- The Pet Healthcare Club covers the essential treatments your pet needs throughout life, such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and regular health checks. Extra benefits of the plan include discounts on many other products and services at the practice. Follow the links above to find out more about what’s included. We can even send you e-mail and text reminders so you don’t forget to treat your pet on time!
- Download a form here to join today.
Laser therapy for dogs and cats
We are pleased to announce that we can now provide Laser therapy for your pets from our Ealing surgery, using a state of the art Class 4 laser. These are widely used in human medicine and can now be used to benefit your dog or cat.
This can be particularly useful in both dogs and cats for arthritis, to speed wound healing or recovery from general surgery or after fracture treatment, lick granulomas in dogs, chronic gingivitis in cats, and for many other conditions. It is a quick and painless procedure and can be performed as an out-patient in our nurse clinics.
Please phone our Ealing surgery for further details or to make an appointment on 0208 5670711.
Healing your pain… changing your life.
About K-Laser
What is Laser Therapy?
Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling. Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses and doctors as far back as the 1970’s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States.
Patient Benefits of Laser Therapy
Laser Therapy is proven to biostimulate tissue repair and growth. The Laser accelerates wound healing and decreases inflammation, pain, and scar tissue formation. In the management of chronic pain Class IV Laser Therapy can provide dramatic results, is non-addictive and virtually free of side effects.
Has effectiveness been demonstrated scientifically?
Yes. There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of Laser Therapy. Among these, there are more than one hundred rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of laser for many clinical conditions.
Cellular Effects of Laser Therapy
During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level and metabolic activity increases within the cell, improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health.
Laser Therapeutic Effects
During each painless treatment laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.
How many treatments does it take? This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions 1 to 6 treatments may be sufficient. Those of a more chronic nature may require 10 to 15 (or more) treatments. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.
How long before the results are felt? You may feel improvement in your condition (usually pain reduction) after the very first treatment. Sometimes you will not feel improvement for a number of treatments. This does not mean that nothing is happening. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3 or 4 sessions.
Can it be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment? Yes! Laser Therapy is often used with other forms of therapy, including physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, massage, soft tissue mobilization, electrotherapy and even following surgery. Other healing modalities are complementary and can be used with laser to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Laser therapy was born from scientific research over 30 years ago in Europe and perfected by K-LaserUSA with the latest technological advancements.
Laser therapy for arthritis and wound healing
- We are pleased to announce that we can now provide non surgical Laser therapy for your pets from our Ealing surgery, using a state of the art Class 4 laser. These are widely used in human medicine and can now be used to benefit your dog or cat.
- This can be particularly useful in both dogs and cats for arthritis, to speed wound healing or recovery from general surgery or after fracture treatment, lick granulomas in dogs, chronic gingivitis in cats, and for many other conditions. It is a quick and painless procedure and can be performed as an out-patient in our nurse clinics.
- Please phone our Ealing surgery for further details or to make an appointment on 0208 5670711.
Healing your pets pain… changing your pets life.
About K-Laser
What is Laser Therapy?
Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling. Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses and doctors as far back as the 1970’s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States.
Patient Benefits of Laser Therapy
Laser Therapy is proven to biostimulate tissue repair and growth. The Laser accelerates wound healing and decreases inflammation, pain, and scar tissue formation. In the management of chronic pain Class IV Laser Therapy can provide dramatic results, is non-addictive and virtually free of side effects.
Has effectiveness been demonstrated scientifically?
Yes. There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of Laser Therapy. Among these, there are more than one hundred rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of laser for many clinical conditions.
Cellular Effects of Laser Therapy
During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level and metabolic activity increases within the cell, improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health.
Laser Therapeutic Effects
During each painless treatment laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.
How many treatments does it take?
This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions 1 to 6 treatments may be sufficient. Those of a more chronic nature may require 10 to 15 (or more) treatments. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.
How long before the results are felt?
Your pet may feel improvement in their condition (usually pain reduction) after the very first treatment. Sometimes they will not feel improvement for a number of treatments. This does not mean that nothing is happening. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3 or 4 sessions.
Can it be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment?
Yes! Laser Therapy is often used with other forms of therapy, including physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, massage, soft tissue mobilization, electrotherapy and even following surgery. Other healing modalities are complementary and can be used with laser to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Laser therapy was born from scientific research over 30 years ago in Europe and perfected by K-LaserUSA with the latest technological advancements.
Festive pet topics
Unusually for this time of year, we are still seeing a large number of flea related problems. Once your central heating is put on, any flea eggs in the house will hatch out resulting in large numbers of fleas appearing. Each individual flea can lay hundreds of eggs in the house which are resistant to virtually all cleaning methods. We strongly recommend that you treat your pet with a spot on flea treatment from the surgery (in our experience supermarket brands tend to be of an inferior quality to our recommended products) and use a household flea spray on the carpets and floors.
Many people find their pets slow down in the colder weather. In middle aged and older animals this may be related to underlying arthritis. With dogs it is usually more obvious as it causes stiffness getting up or limping when walking. Cats however often hide signs of arthritis. They may be reluctant to jump onto surfaces or may not be able to jump as high as they used to.
Weight control is very important if your pets do have arthritis, so try not to give too many treats this Christmas! We have special diet foods for both dogs and cats which are generally much more effective than simply reducing their current food.
Nutritional supplements can be given to both dogs and cats for arthritis, and may be benefiicial. It is important to use high quality supplements as the effectiveness of these can vary greatly. We can advise on which is the best one to use for your pet.
Anti-inflammatory medications may also be beneficial for both dogs and cats with arthritis, either for short term or long term use. Remember NEVER give human anti-inflammatory medications to pets unless directed specifically by the vet. Some human medications are highly toxic to pets (for instance paracetamol is often fatal if given to cats).
Regular exercise is also important for dogs to maintain mobility in the colder months. Frequent short walks may be better than one longer walk.
Finally a reminder that Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Stollen mince pies and chocolate can all be poisonous to dogs. Poisonous plants include holly, ivy and mistletoe. Pointsettia and lillies are toxic to cats.
Please feel free to call us if you would like advice on any of the issues we have raised. Just click on the link to our website below for details of your surgery. We are here to help.
With festive wishes from all the team at Young Veterinary Partnership. We look forward to continuing to care for your pet in 2015.
Top winter tips for your pet
- Often in the winter period we see a large number of flea related problems. Once your central heating is put on, any flea eggs in the house will hatch out resulting in large numbers of fleas appearing. Each individual flea can lay hundreds of eggs in the house which are resistant to virtually all cleaning methods. We strongly recommend that you treat your pet with a spot on flea treatment from the surgery (in our experience supermarket brands tend to be of an inferior quality to our recommended products) and use a household flea spray on the carpets and floors.
- Many people find their pets slow down in the colder weather. In middle aged and older animals this may be related to underlying arthritis. With dogs it is usually more obvious as it causes stiffness getting up or limping when walking. Cats however often hide signs of arthritis. They may be reluctant to jump onto surfaces or may not be able to jump as high as they used to.
- Weight control is very important if your pets do have arthritis, so try not to give too many treats over the winter period ! We have special diet foods for both dogs and cats which are generally much more effective in achieving weight loss than simply reducing their current food or using the supermarket light diet foods.
- Nutritional supplements can be given to both dogs and cats for arthritis, and may be benefiicial. It is important to use high quality supplements as the effectiveness of these can vary greatly. We generally recommend supplements such as Nutraquin + but can advise on a range of supplements to help you find the best one for your pet.
- Anti-inflammatory medications may also be beneficial for both dogs and cats with arthritis, either for short term or long term use. Remember NEVER give human anti-inflammatory medications to pets unless directed specifically by the vet. Some human medications are highly toxic to pets (for instance paracetamol is often fatal if given to cats).
- Laser therapy ( non surgical light therapy) can be beneficial for arthritis, which we are able to perform with our class 4 laser at our Ealing surgery.
- Regular exercise is also important for dogs to maintain mobility in the colder months. Frequent short walks may be better than one longer walk.
- Medical problems other than arthritis may cause your pet to slow down, and so it is important that your pet is checked by a vet before starting treatment for arthritis.
- Finally a reminder that Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Stollen mince pies and chocolate can all be poisonous to dogs. Poisonous plants include holly, ivy and mistletoe. Pointsettia and lillies are toxic to cats.
- Please feel free to call us if you would like advice on any of the issues we have raised. Just click on the link to our website below for details of your surgery. We are here to help.
- With festive wishes from all the team at Young Veterinary Partnership. We look forward to continuing to care for your pet in the coming year.
How to help your pets cope with fireworks
- Every year we receive a number of requests for help from owners who are worried about how their pets react to fireworks. Both cats and dogs can suffer from noise related phobias around this time and it is important to plan in advance if you want to tackle this problem.
- After the fireworks begin, your pet may begin to show odd behaviour such as restlessness, making excessive noise or hiding away in a corner. If you have noticed any of these signs in the past, there are a few things that you could do to reduce their stress this year.
- Keep all of your pets inside during firework displays. Ensure that any windows or cat flaps are shut and that the curtains are drawn.
- Take your dog for a walk before the fireworks begin so that they are not startled whilst they are outside
- It is important for you to remain in the house with your pet during any firework displays, but try not to act any differently towards them. If you act normally, your pet will feel calmer.
- If your pet prefers to hide somewhere in the house, just let them hide and they will come out when they feel safer.
- Try offering your pet a distraction. Treats or a toy can help them to feel more relaxed, but do not try and force them to play.
- Do not punish your pet for their behaviour during firework night, as this can lead to worsening anxiety.
- It is important to stress again that if your pet prefers to hide, do not try to force them to sit with you. If you have enough time, try creating a safe place for them to hide in before the fireworks begin. You could use your dog’s crate or bed if they have one, or if you have a cat, a large cardboard box will do. Try and line them with blankets or towels that your pet is used to sleeping on, as these will smell comforting. Do not force your animal into the safe place, as again this can make them feel uneasy.
- Ensure that each pet has a separate hiding place and that cats have an opportunity to hide away from each other. Note that some cats actually prefer hiding somewhere high up, like on top of a wardrobe. Never shut your animal in a cage, or inside one room, as they will feel trapped.
- There are also some supplements that you could try to help keep your pet calm.
- For dogs – ADAPTIL is a product that contains Dog Appeasing pheromone. It is a copy of a pheromone that a bitch releases to comfort her puppies and should help to reassure and calm your dog. It comes as a plug –in, a spray or a collar. Adaptil should be started 2 weeks before firework season for maximal effect.
- For cats – FELIWAY is a product that contains facial pheromones. These are pheromones that your cat will leave on an object when they rub their head against it, and will make them feel safe and secure. This comes as a plug-in or a spray. Feliway should be started 2 weeks before firework season for maximal effect.
- For both dogs and cats – ZYLKENE is a supplement derived from milk proteins that can help to make your pet feel more relaxed. These supplements should be started at least 1-2 days before any fireworks are expected.
- If your dog is very anxious we do on occasion dispense tranquilizers, but we would advise that the above methods are tried if possible also.
- It is possible to try to desensitize your pets to firework noises using a download available from itunes called ‘Sounds Scary’ although this may take some weeks to have an effect.
- If you are worried about your pet’s behaviour and would like some advice, please do not hesitate to call us. Please also visit www.zylkenepet.co.uk, www.feliway.com/uk, or www.adaptil.com/uk.
Enjoy a safe Bonfire night!
Young Veterinary Partnership
Avoiding pet poisons
There are many potential household and garden toxins or poisons that may harm cats and dogs. We give you some tips on what to avoid, and what to do if your pet has been affected.
- We are proud to offer a 24 hour emergency service at Young Veterinary Partnership. Unfortunately some clients have to use our emergency service when their pet is poisoned. Whilst this is a situation we hope you won’t have to go through with your precious pet, poisons that are harmful to pets are commonly found in everyday household substances and products. We hope this newsletter will help you to understand some of the common poisons and explain what you should do in an emergency to minimise the risk to your pet.
- There are a few keys things we may ask over the phone which help us to assess the immediate situation.
- When do you think the toxin was ingested/in contact with your pet? Some specific toxins may have an anti-toxin which we can administer.
- What was it? Bring any packaging with you if you can.
- Make a note of any clinical signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, shaking, seizures, drooling, altered mentation (behaving strangely), burns/ulcers in the mouth, pain, increased thirst, heavy breathing or difficulty breathing.
- Poisonous foods include:
Raisins, Grapes, Onions, Chocolate, Alcohol, Leeks, Garlic.
- Poisonous Plants include:
Lillies, Rhododendron , Azalea, Marijuana, Pointsetta, Yew, Deadly nightshade, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe.
- Other Poisons:
Rat poison, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen (paracetamol is often IMMEDIATELY FATAL to cats), Chewing gum (zylitol), Anti-freeze (ethylene glycol), Permethrin (poisonous in cats and in high quantities in dogs – often found in supermarket anti-flea products), Weed killers / herbicides (Paraquat/doquat), Blue-green Algae, Batteries, Lead, Insecticides (Organophosphates), Slug bait (Metaldehyde), Psoriasis creams (Vitamin D analogues), Bleach, Strong detergents.
- What we can do:
If the toxin was ingested up to 2-3hrs ago we may administer a small injection which will make your pet vomit. This can stop any further toxin being absorbed into the stomach and intestines, but is not suitable for all toxins. After this we may try to feed your pet some adsorbents such as activated charcoal. Adsorbents bind to any toxin left in the stomach and prevent any further digestion. If the toxin was on your pet’s skin we may instruct you to wash your pet with some warm mild shampoo.
- Depending on how much toxin your pet has ingested we may do blood tests and keep your pet with us overnight on a drip. This helps to support the vital organs whilst the toxin is being broken down. We may also need to monitor your pet intensively for a few days whilst the toxin clears.
- We hope this dispels some of the myths around poisons and explains how we can help. We have extensive experience in dealing with cases of poison and we are here 24 hours a day to care for your pet.
