Tag Archives: Lungworm

Introducing a pet into the family

Introducing a new pet into the family is a lot of fun and also a big responsibility. We’ve produced a ‘to – do’ list, it includes all the pet care essentials you need to consider before you bring your new family member home. The list includes vaccinations – Has your new pet already been vaccinated? Or perhaps they need start a vaccination course? A visit to a new vet can seem a little daunting but don’t worry we have puppy and kitten packages available to protect your new pet from some potentially deadly diseases, ask our friendly team today.

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has Sprung, its time to start getting out and about and back in your garden but are you aware of the pet hazards that could be lurking outdoors? Our Spring Pet Blog discusses the outdoor dangers that could result in a trip to the vets. Understand more about what to watch out for in your garden, read about it here.


Pet obesity – is your pet suffering?

Sadly, pet obesity is becoming more and more common, our Spring Pet Blog explains the extra demands that are placed on your pet when they are carrying more weigh than they should be. Also included, how to access your pets weight from home without the need for scales.

The good news is all of our surgeries offer FREE weight checks for your pet. Phone our friendly teams today and we can give you a suitable time to pop in, weigh your pet and if you need a little extra support, we can refer your to one of our nurses for diet and exercise advice tailored to your pets individual needs.

We hope you enjoy reading our latest Pet Blog, if you have a query regarding any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact us for more advice.

Don’t forget – Our Pet Healthcare Club is open and still welcoming new members. Our Healthcare Clubs allow you to spread the cost of your vet care essentials across affordable payments on a date that suits you! All plans include monthly parasite protection, annual booster vaccinations and health checks, nail clips, anal gland expression plus a 10 % discount off all other products and services we provide. Sign up today and pay no joining fee.

Our Spring Newsletter has arrived - be the first to read it here.

Diet dilemmas!

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Diet dilemmas! 

With so many choices on the market, it can be quite a minefield finding the ideal diet for your pet. Our Spring Newsletter gives advice on the types of different diets available for your pet and what to look out for. Don’t forget that all of our West London clinics offer free weight checks and diet advice for your pet, PLUS our online shop has a wide variety of pet foods available and all products are 10 % off rrp. Shop here.

 

Diet dilemmas

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Caring for your elderly cat

 

In their twilight years, our feline friends are vulnerable to many illness, but can be extremely good at hiding the signs. So, we have to be super vigilant to ensure they don’t suffer in silence. Our Spring Newsletter gives a really helpful list of things to watch out for as your cat enters its teenage years and how to make life more comfortable in their old age.

 

caring for your elderly cat

 

Worms are the worst!

Roundworms and tapeworms inhabit your pet’s intestines, interfering with food absorption and may also be a cause of gut inflammation , weight loss and diarrhoea.  Our Spring Newsletter discusses the different types of parasites that your pet can catch and carry. Did you know that some worms you can catch from your pet! The good news is, worm prevention is automatically included in all of our Pet Healthcare Club plans. Our plans allow you to spread the cost of all of your pets veterinary essentials across affordable monthly direct debits. Why not join today and see how much you could save in 2019?

 

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We hope you enjoy reading our Spring Newsletter. If you need any further advice on any of the articles mentioned don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media. Keep up with our latest news and pet care tips, find us here > Facebook and Twitter.

 

Our Spring Newsletter has arrived - be the first to read it here.

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.

laser therapy

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.

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.

Lungworm in dogs

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Lungworm or Angiostrongylus vasorum is being seen more commonly in dogs in our region of West London.  It is spread from foxes to slugs or snails, and if a dog eats a slug or snail or licks the slug “trail” it can become infected. This can progress to a life threatening infection, which can cause coughing, lethargy , bleeding or even heart failure.

It can be prevented by a monthly treatment of a spot on to the back of the neck – Advocate.

Have a look at this video which explains the life cycle

Advocate monthly spot on

For more information or to contact your local surgery see

www.youngvets.co.uk

Killer Snails and Slugs

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Dogs can pick up a dangerous disease from slugs and snails in your garden, called lungworm or angiostrongylus. It is being spread by foxes to the slugs or snails and if your dog eats a slug or snail, or even licks the slug trail it can pick up the disease, which can cause severe bleeding , and even death.

Vet Matthew Wilson comments ” We are seeing more cases of this dangerous disease each year in Hounslow,  as foxes are very common in our region.  Young dogs and certain breeds such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers are infected most commonly.”

You can protect your pet from this potentially deadly disease with a monthly spot on application of Advocate, which is a vial of liquid that is poured on the back of your dogs neck once a month. This is a prescription only medicine that can be purchased from your vet and is dispensed according to the weight of your dog.