Tag Archives: dog

Our 2018 Spring Newsletter has arrived!

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Our 2018 Spring newsletter has arrived!

It’s packed with information on how to keep your pets happy and healthy in 2018. Read it here.

 

 

Included in our newsletter :

 

Thyroid problems – Is your pet affected?

 

Most people have heard of the thyroid gland, but did you know that thyroid problems are surprising in pets? Understand the difference between Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism and the signs to watch out for in your pets.

 

Thyroid-Gland-in-Cats

 

Lumps and bumps on your pet.

 

If your pet develops a lump or bump, it is important to visit us so we can check it for you and your pet. Lumps and bumps come in all shapes and sizes, understand more about the causes of these here. Regular grooming is a great way of bonding with your pet and keeping an eye out for anything unusual.

 

Learn the facts about Kennel Cough!

 

Kennel cough is highly contagious and can be picked up from virtually anywhere your dog can go – out on walks, training classes, shows and of course boarding kennels. Understand more about this contagious disease and the signs to watch out for in your dog. All four of our surgeries offer the Kennel Cough vaccine, please contact us for further information.

 

Microchips matter!

 

Is your pet microchipped? Did you know it is a legal requirement for all dogs over the age of 8 weeks old to be microchipped. In the event that your dog is not, you could be liable for a £500 fine. Sadly it’s all too easy for pets to go missing and if this happens it could mean weeks of worry. However microchips are a reliable record of identifying your pet and its address, read our newsletter to find out more about microchips.

 

microchipping

 

As the weather warms up, we’ve put together some top tips to help you keep your pets happy and health, read our newsletter here.

 

Life saving surgery for Marley.

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Stomach saving surgery for a spaniel puppy.

Little Marley, a young liver and white Spaniel was bought into Young Veterinary Partnership, Hounslow after his concerned owners had noticed him vomiting continuously throughout the previous night. Marley had a thorough health check from Vet Dr Fulvia Conti, after discussions with his owner about what a scavenger he can be, like most puppies, Marley was admitted for further investigations.

Marley

Starting the investigations.

First a small blood sample was taken and tests were run at the surgeries in house laboratory to check for any infections or nasty bugs that puppies can pick up. These thankfully came back all completely normal so it was on to plan B. Under the watchful eye of the veterinary surgeon and nurse Marley was sedated and X-rays of his stomach were taken.

The X-rays showed Marley had clearly been having a feast – on stones! There were stones of all shapes and sizes scattered throughout the poor puppies digestive system. No wonder poor Marley had been so unwell the stones were causing him to be really uncomfortable and they were stopping any food from leaving his stomach – causing the vomiting.

Marley's X-rays

Sometimes a dog can pass an object on their own so it was decided to give Marley 24 hours to try and pass the stones himself. He was put onto fluids and the surgery staff watched and waited throughout the evening and early morning.

The waiting game is over.

Sadly no stones were passed so Marley was anaesthetised the very next day and taken into theatre, with his every breath being watched by experienced nurse Anne Marie Harrison. Due to the amount of stones Marley had eaten the surgery was very complex. The stones were scattered throughout different parts of Marley’s stomach, intestines and colon. The larger stones were removed and Marley was re X-rayed to ensure there were no more hiding out of view. The operation took around an hour and a half to complete and required a very delicate touch. Veterinary surgeon Fulvia Conti said “He is a very lucky dog that his loving owners reacted quickly and bought him straight to us, if left untreated the outcome could have been very different. It just goes to show that you really do need eyes in the back of your head when it comes to caring for puppies!”

Stones from Marley Marley on recovery

Marley was extremely brave and became a firm favourite with all the nurses and the team were all so pleased to see him make such a quick recovery following such major surgery.

It is now 7 days after his surgery and Marley is making such a speedy recovery that his stitches have been removed and he can go back to being his usual playful self, under the very watchful eye of his owners!

Read our 2017 Winter Newsletter here

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Have a read below for a sneak peak on whats included! We hope you enjoy reading our latest Newsletter and if you have a questions regarding any of the articles do not hesitate to contact our friendly team.

 

How healthy are your dog’s eyes? 

Your dog’s eyes should be open, sparkly-clear and free of discharge or excessive tearing. In our Winter Newsletter learn about the three most common eye disorders and the signs to watch out for. Early diagnosis is the ‘golden rule’ with eyes, so don’t delay! If your pet is showing any symptoms of eye problems, make an appointment for your pet today.

 

Festive alert:

The festive season can also pose a huge range of very tempting hazards for our pets! From chocolate to tinsel read our Newsletter today and learn the hazards that may be in your home this festive season.

 

Worming worries – is your pet affected? 

Unlike infectious disease that we can vaccinate against, your pets are in all likelihood continually coming into contact with worms. Before we look at prevention, it’s useful to know your ‘enemy’. Read our Winter Newsletter and learn the three main types of worms that pose a risk to your pets.

 

Pets on Tour! 

Are you planning on taking your dog on holiday with you in the near future? It’s great that they can now join us abroad but it does mean you have to plan ahead. Our Winter Newsletter explains the requirements needed to travel with your pets from Pet passports to Rabies vaccinations.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our 2017 Winter Newsletter, if you have any questions on any of the articles please do not hesitate to contact your local surgery.

Help your pet cope

How to help your pets cope with fireworks

fireworks dog

 

 

  • 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.

 

 

Young Veterinary Partnership

www.youngvets.co.uk

Firework related pet anxiety

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Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw; freeigitalphotos.net

More than 80% of owners say their pet is afraid of firework noises. Signs of stress in dogs include trembling, shaking, hiding behind furniture, barking excessively, and trying to run away. Cats are much better at hiding their anxiety, but symptoms may include excessive meowing, refusal to eat, hiding, or vertical scratching and spraying.

Often mild reactions to fireworks can be managed with a pheromone (scent) spray; called Feliway in cats and Adaptil in dogs. These products can be purchased from our surgeries.

More severe reactions in dogs may be managed with a combination of sound desensitisation, using CD’s such as Soundsscary, and Adaptil.  Occasionally tranquilizers may be prescribed after consultation with your vet, but these are generally used as a last resort.

Further tips for reducing firework anxiety include:
i. Provide a den or hiding place; this works best if it is a place previously chosen by your pet when they have been frightened before.

ii. Plug a Feliway diffuser or Adaptil diffuser close to the den at least a few days before the fireworks start.

iii. Try to ignore behaviour such as whining and crying, panting or pacing.   Pets can pick up on their owner’s anxiety, and if you try to soothe them it can reinforce the belief that fireworks are something to be afraid of.  It is also important not to scold them.

iv. Close doors and windows, close curtains and turn on music or the TV to mask some of the noises.

v. Keep cats indoors and have them microchipped in case they escape.

Please contact any of our surgeries in West London for further information or a consultation.  Please see www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details.

How and when to clean your dog's ears

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Have a look at this ear cleaning video if you would like any tips on how to clean your own dogs ears.  Dogs ears should normally look clean when you look inside, so if there is a dark waxy discharge,  you can use an ear cleaner to loosen the wax and clean out the ear. We would recommend coming to the surgery to pick up an ear cleaner, and the nurse or vet can recommend the best one to use.
If the ear looks very red, has an abnormal smell, or is sore, then you should make an appointment with your vet, to have it checked before using any ear cleaners.
See www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details of your local surgery

 

 

Pet Passport scheme changes

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As from 1st January 2012, the requirements for the pet passport scheme changes, for both dogs and cats. Pets will still need to be microchipped and have a rabies vaccination, but will no longer require a blood test for rabies. Pets will need to wait 3 weeks after the rabies vaccination before entering the UK. On return to the UK, pets need to be treated for tapeworm by a veterinary surgeon, 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before embarking for the UK (by ferry or air).

Grant Cochrane

 

Pets travelling to the UK from unlisted countries outside the EU will need to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, pass a rabies blood test and then wait 3 months in the country of origin. See www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/ for further information about the pet passport scheme and countries included.

Our vets can issue pet passports at our Hounslow and Ealing surgeries. Please see www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details.

Lungworm causes heart failure in a dog

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We have recently seen another dog with lungworm infection. This dog showed signs of heart failure, as the worm can infect the large arteries (pulmonary arteries) around the heart. This caused high blood pressure in the pulmonic artery which in turn caused heart failure to occur.

This is a video of the heart with a leaky tricuspid heart valve cause by the high blood pressure. The heart is on its side and the top chambers in the picture are to the right side of the heart. The colour flow shows leaking of blood back across the leaky heart valves. Normally the bottom chambers (the left side of the heart) would be bigger than the top right sided chambers, but due to the heart failure you can see that the top chambers are bigger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt3OWcd6Xow

Lungworm is becoming more prevalent in West London due to foxes spreading the disease. It is spread to slugs and snails and if your dog eats a slug or snail or the slimy slug trail lungworm infection may occur. We strongly recommend that owners treat dogs monthly with Advocate to the back of the neck to prevent this disease. Please see www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details of our nearest surgery to you.