Tag Archives: chocolate

Winter Worries!

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Winter Worries!

 

The cold winter months bring particular challenges for our pets, and as their owners, we need to be aware of the problems that they can suffer at this time of year. Our Winter Worries blog takes a look at some of the commonest winter hazards.

 

Winter Worries!

 

Festive alert!

Pieces of string, tinsel and bones from your festive feast should be kept well out of reach to avoid an intestinal blockage. Baubles and lights, if broken and played with or eaten, could cause serious injury to your pet. We will be running an emergency service over the festive period, but we hope that our Winter Worries Blog will help alert you to the potential hazards in your home. 

 

Our Christmas and New Year opening hours.

 

So – Why is a few extra lock down pounds a problem for your pet?

Loosing weight can be challenging for both humans and pets alike, with the onset of winter it’s very tempting to have a duvet day here and there – but this can lead to weight gain for your dog. Our Winter Worries Blog discusses the health concerns that a few extra pounds can cause, how to assess your pets weight visually from home and how to make a diet plan to help your pet.

 

Winter Worries!

 

We hope you enjoy reading the articles in our Winter Worries Blog, also featuring; Pet Healthcare Club – Our healthcare plan offers an easy way to budget for your pets healthcare essentials. How to help the vulnerable birds in your garden this winter. Plus, some top tips on how to care for your Guinea pigs. If you need advice on any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more information.

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Easter Alert!

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Easter Alert!

 

With Spring around the corner, we can all look forward to some warmer weather and Spring walks. With this in mind, we’ve put together some seasonal tips in our Spring Newsletter.

 

 

 

Lilies & cats

With Mothering Sunday on the horizon, be aware of lilies in the flower bouquets. All components of the plant are toxic to cats and there can be a delay between cats ingesting lilies and the kidney problems that follow. If you suspect your feline friend has been in contact with lilies please do not hesitate to contact the surgery for more help and advice.

Be Worm Aware!

 

 

Many people believe that if their pet had worms they would know, sadly this is NOT always the case. Our Spring Newsletter explains the signs to watch out for and the major types of worms to be aware of. Did you know that you can catch some types of worms from your pet – another reason to regularly worm your pet.

 

 

 

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Hyperthyroidism is more common than you might think.

 

 

Sometimes symptoms are missed or referred to as just ‘Old Age’. The good news is, diagnosis is fairly simple and there are different treatment options available to suit the individual patient. Our Spring Newsletter explains the common signs to watch out for in your older feline and what to do if your teenage cat is acting a bit suspicious.

 

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We hope you enjoy reading our Spring Newsletter, if you have any queries or concerns about any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our experienced team for more information.

 

 

Young Veterinary Partnership. We opened our first surgery opened in Ealing, 1950. We now have four surgeries across West London, our friendly, experienced team provide an out of hours emergency service until 10 pm, 365 days a year. We are passionate about pets and would love to meet yours.

 

Q : Where do fleas go in winter?

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Q : Where do fleas go in winter?  A : Your home !

 

Have you ever wondered where fleas go in winter? Or why sometimes, they just suddenly appear in your home? Our Winter News explains how fleas can hop into your home and make themselves comfortable during the Christmas period! If you don’t want these extra guests in your home over winter pop in and speak to our friendly team about the best protection we can offer your pet and your home.

 

 

fleaWhere do fleas go for winter?

Cold weather aches and pains

 

   Cold winters can make your pet’s joints feel stiff and painful, particularly if they are in their senior years. This can lead to reluctance to go on long walks, getting up a bit slower than usual and signs of lameness. Although arthritis cannot be cured, the good news is that we have an expanding range of treatments to help your pet, and our Winter News gives some top tips on supporting your pet at home. Don’t forget if your pet has been diagnosed with with this painful condition, our Ealing surgery boasts a K Laser which is widely used in human medicine and can be useful in both cats and dogs showing signs of arthritis. K laser is a quick and painless procedure increasing circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. Speak to our team today about the benefits it could offer your pet.

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Garden birds. 

 

    During the long winter, food can be in short supply. Offering a selection of foods to the birds will help them survive until Spring and ensure that you have lots to interesting visitors to watch! Did you know the best time of day to ensure your bird feeder is full? Our Winter News will give you the answer, along with what food is best for birds and what to avoid. Why not take a picture of your winter visitors and post it to our Facebook page – we love seeing your pictures!

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We hope you have enjoyed reading our Winter Newsletter if you have any queries on the articles mentioned or need some advice on your pets healthcare don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for more advice.

Keep your pets safe this Easter.

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Did you know that chocolate is one of the most common poisonings that vets see in dogs.

With Easter just around the corner this can bring lots of hazards into your home. Scroll down to keep reading and keep your pet safe this Spring season.

 

 

Daffodils are toxic to both cats and dogs. The whole plant is toxic, especially the bulbs. Please see the above picture for the symptoms to watch out for. Be particularly careful if your dog likes digging holes in the garden, as he could easily dig up and chew a bulb. If you are worried please do not hesitate to contact our team.

 

 

If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, please call our experienced team for advice. We will ask you a few questions about your pets type, age, weight and how much and the type of chocolate that your dog has consumed. All of this information is vital for us to understand how severe the condition could be.

The symptoms of chocolate poisoning are vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling, restlessness and excessive thirst and in more severe cases seizures and heart attacks. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate, please do not delay, contact us for further advice. Our vets are on call until 10 pm, 365 days a year and between 10 pm – 7 am our phones will give you access to veterinary advice and a local emergency veterinary clinic if required.

Theobromine is the main ingredient in chocolate which causes the poisoning and can start with signs of your pet becoming very hyper active. The content of it varies in different chocolates, dark chocolate is roughly 9 x higher in theobromine than milk chocolate. As a rough guide – if a dog eats more than 1mg per kilogram body weight of dark chocolate, it can be poisonous and will require immediate treatment. So an average Labrador would need to eat 30 grams or more of dark chocolate to be poisonous.

** Please note ** This is a rough guide. If you have any concerns do not hesitate to call our team.

Always keep chocolate out of reach from all pets, as it is potentially poisonous to cats, and other animals such as rodents and rabbits too.

 

Picture credits : International Cat Care.

If you are thinking of buying flowers for Easter this year, please consider the pets in your home. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and can cause liver damage. The toxins can be picked up by your cat in many ways : Drinking from the vase, brushing against the lilies and then grooming themselves and also grooming their paws and claws if they have touched the plant.

 

 

Make mine chocolate!

This Easter, please don’t buy a rabbit on impulse. A rabbits average lifespan is around 5 – 10 years. They require vet visits, yearly vaccinations, daily attention and exercise. They are not ‘low maintenance’ pets and need as much care as a cat or dog as well as regular company from both yourself and a bunny friend. If you are considering getting a rabbit please have a read through our Rabbit Care Guide and look into adopting from a local rescue. On average rabbits are dumped or abandoned within 3 months of ownership and approximately 35,000 rabbits are abandoned every year according to the RSPCA. Please do not hesitate to contact our team if you need to know more about rabbit care and whats involved.

Our opening times over the Easter period are Friday 30th March all surgeries are closed apart from our Ealing surgery, which is open for EMERGENCIES ONLY between 10 am – 11 am. Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April opening hours are as normal. Monday 2nd April our surgeries are closed, apart from Ealing which is open for  EMERGENCIES ONLY between 10 am – 11 am. We hope you wont need to contact us but just in case our phone lines will give you access to veterinary advice 24/7.

Wishing all our clients and their pets a very Happy Easter – Anthony Young, Matthew Wilson & all the team at Young Veterinary Partnership.

Are Easter Eggs poisonous to dogs and cats?

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With the Easter festivities coming up, there is always the risk of a dog being tempted to eat one of those tasty Easter Eggs !

Are Easter Eggs poisonous to dogs or cats ? Chocolate in general can be poisonous to dogs but it is the theobromide content in the chocolate that is poisonous. This is higher in dark chocolate (roughly 9x higher than milk chocolate). If a dog eats more than 1gm per kilogram body weight of dark chocolate, it can be poisonous and will require immediate treatment. So an average 30kg Labrador would need to eat 30gms or more of dark chocolate to be poisonous.

The symptoms of chocolate poisoning are vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling, restlessness and excessive thirst.

Chocolate is also potentially poisonous to cats, and other animals such as rodents and rabbits.

We suggest you keep your Easter Eggs to yourself this Easter !

If you have any concerns about possible chocolate poisoning please contact us. See www.youngvets.co.uk for your local young veterinary partnership contact details.