Fernside Vet

08/12/2025

The Fernside team did a couple of big 'foreign body' operations in November. This is where the bowel gets blocked by something indigestable and if we don't
operate the pet will die from sepsis. We carry out more surgery on dogs than cats which is no surprise considering how greedy dogs can be. Luckily dogs have strong teeth to break down many things and vomiting is a good way to get rid of undesirable rubbish from the stomach. Don't panic if your pet eats something weird. Despite some very poor gobbling habits, we only see a couple of these patients a year out of several thousand patients. It is worth a call to us though if you are worried so we can make a sensible action plan, mostly wait and see!!!

First up is Lottie a young Bernese Mountain Dog.This is a large breed ( she weighed 40kg , a labrador is more like 30) so she has a bigger mouth than most. She ate one of these fabric snuffle treat balls from who knows where or when. Her own one wasn't missing. She came to us because she was suddenly depressed, wouldn't eat and vomited. Lottie made the diagnosis easy as we could feel a large orange size lump in her belly where no such thing normally exists
The smell of this one suggested that it had been lurking inside her a while. In the stomach it probably didn't bother her , but then it moved into her intestine and got firmly wedged about 20cm in. Honestly no one really prepares you for some of our smelly encounters!! This one was a grapefruit sized stink ball once released. It was a soft one though which is often less damaging. We did not have to remove any irreversibly damaged bowel which reduces the risk of post op problems. We created an slit on one side of the bowel and popped it out. It is very satisfying watching the stretched dark coloured bowel rapidly shrink back, become pinker ( an excellent sign) and start to move in a healthy rippling way.

We stabilised Lottie before the surgery with rapid intravenous fluids to boost her circulation. We have an emergency medication kit so we can swoop into action with support quickly. I would like to acknowledge here the critical support and skill of our RVNs Chloe and Yasmin in Lottie's successful outcome. Their dedication and skill enables us vets to do our technical bits with so much more confidence and ease.

Lottie was up on her feet within 20 minutes of the surgery finishing. As so many of our owners know, we sent lots of messages during her operation and we included this picture of her on her feet going back to kennels. There is nothing like a photo to lift the spirits of a worried owner!

The Royal Veterinary College now provides us with night care for stable patients that still need hospital support. Lottie was getting close to sepsis before we operated and we felt it was far too risky for her to come off intravenous fluids and painkillers within 5 hours of surgery. Remarkably some very young animals are ready to go home much faster, maybe because they feel unwell very quickly with a blockage so they go into theatre much healthier. Years ago we removed a baby's dummy from a Jack Russell puppy, he was eating within an hour of recovery and we sent him home quickly as he was so lively.
Lottie spent a night with the very impressive RVC team, went home at 1pm the next day and has not looked back.

08/12/2025

Are you considering buying a new puppy? We know that some breeds have a lot more health problems than others. Flat faces, short legs and stumpy tails are sadly strongly linked to greater needs for veterinary care and shorter lifespans. We know that being a middle of the road sort keeps you healthier if you are a dog!

This is a new health screening tool for prospective puppy owners. It comes from the work at the Royal Veterinary College of the Vet Compass group. They look at anonymous data from over one third of veterinary practices in the UK ie over a million cats and a million dogs so they get real time insight into what happens to UK pets when they go to the vets. Depressingly there has been a huge surge in flat faced dog breeds needing surgery to try and correct their squished up breathing. At Fernside we now see quite a few Dachshunds with front legs so short that the breastbone is lower than the wrist joints.

Look at this link and see if your pet scores well

https://innatehealthassessment.petproov.com/buyer-check

07/12/2025

The intoxicated animal suffered no injuries and was released back into the wild by animal protection once sober.

07/12/2025

Meet wee Ted. Kittens are such cute little creatures.
The Fernside team went out for our Christmas Party last week. We went to The Three Compasses, opposite where the old Pachetts Riding centre was, and had a wonderful meal. We raised a glass to our lovely patients ( special thanks to Murray B and Rodney W) . Isabelle created a fiendish quiz. One of her questions was how many whiskers does a cat have? 8? 16? 24? Despite Robyn taking this photo of Ted earlier in the day she still got it wrong! The quiz winners were Mandy and Will. Will joined us at Fernside in October on the New Graduate program and is already teaching us some new things

07/12/2025

All cats and dogs should be microchipped. It takes seconds to place one and it only creates a quick 'sharp scratch ' reaction at most. Cats seem to hardly react at all with their loose skin. Once in place they don't bother pets at all. It is important to keep the details up to date

DON'T DELAY!!!

❓Is your pet registered at your old address?
❓On a number that doesn't work anymore?
❓You moved house and it was on the list of things to do?

But it's been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of every day life?

📞 Pick up your phone, and log in. Change the details, update them!

By law, your cat and dog must now be microchipped!

Have you remembered?

07/12/2025

28/11/2025

📣 FOUND COCKATIEL – PLEASE SHARE 🐦

A sweet cockatiel was brought into our vet practice. They appear well cared for and we’re sure someone is missing them!

If you believe this might be your bird, please contact us to confirm ownership.

Please share to help us reunite this lovely cockatiel with their family. 💛

18/11/2025

🐱 A cat’s taste receptors work best at around 30°c, about the same temperature as their tongue. When wet food is served cold, their ability to taste it drops. It’s best to serve it at room temperature so it’s more appealing and natural for them to eat.

🌡️ If the food is stored in the refrigerator to keep it fresh, take it out a little while before a mealtime to let it warm naturally or gently heat it up. ⚠️ Always allow to cool back to room temperature before serving.

If your cat isn’t eating as they normally would or appears to have become ‘picky’ with their food, contact your veterinary clinic. 🏥

More tips to encourage your cat to eat 👉 https://icatcare.org/articles/how-to-encourage-your-cat-to-eat

18/11/2025

We understand this is a veterinary page, but on this occasion, mission creep seems a small price to pay for raising awareness. We are not experts, but have tried to find the most useful information.

Drowning: rivers, reservoirs, seas and waterfalls. A risk not only to your dogs but a huge risk to you.

Be aware, keep your water-loving dog on leash and away from the water sources of bodies of water that are at risk of being a danger especially:

➡️ If there are weirs
➡️ After heavy rainfall (remember water runs off hills and rivers will be a danger for much longer than you might expect)
➡️ Near waterfalls
➡️ If there is no safe entrance or exit

Almost half of the people who drown never meant to enter the water. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa), on average there are seven animal rescue-related deaths in the UK a year.

We have tragically heard of a number of human deaths recently related to drowning. These drownings have occurred in the sea, a reservoir and also in the Eryri National Park. Each loss, is devastating to the family and local community.

The best action, is prevention. We know dogs love water, so learn what is safe (and remember it takes only a few inches to drown if you have been injured) and what is not. If you don't know if there's a weir, or if the water conditions are safe, don't let them in.

▶️In an emergency, call 999.
▶️Attend a CPR, basic life support and first aid class regularly to keep you confident at dealing with emergencies as best you can.

Water Safety Demonstration Flume - North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
➡️ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UOREcFHPEiQ

Cold water education
➡️ https://www.rlss.org.uk/cold-water-shock-the-facts
➡️ https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock
➡️ https://www.rospa.com/water-safety/cold-water-shock

Weir safety and awareness
➡️https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Safety-Alert-Keep-clear-of-Weirs-Dec-2019.pdf

Drowning Adult First Aid
➡️ https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/breathing-difficulties/drowning/

How to call for help at sea
➡️ https://rnli.org/safety/how-to-call-for-help-at-sea

Staying safe around water: first aid for drowning
➡️ https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/health-and-social-care/first-aid/five-things-to-know-about-drowning-in-open-water

18/11/2025

This is Daisy, a very sweet natured 3 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In September Daisy started to drink a huge amount of water and go off her food. We diagnosed her problem as a pyometra.

Pyometra is basically a seriously infected uterus ( womb). The condition usually develops a month or two after they have been in season. The infection affects the kidneys early on , hence symptom of drinking more, and will lead to sepsis and death if untreated. Surprisingly very few dogs will have a fever. Some may leak pus ,but this can be missed if the bitch is very fussy about keeping herself clean. Most of the pus that builds up stays inside the remarkably large uterus of the dog. Gravity keeps everything in the belly, afterall a bitch is designed to safely carry up to even 10 pups when pregnant. We often find up to a pint of pus inside! The main symptoms that we hear about are changes like more thirsty, reluctant to eat , maybe some vomiting and a bit low ie not very specific at all. One in four unspayed bi***es will develop a pyometra before the age of 10years. Daisy was quite a young patient as we mostly see this in over 7 year olds.

Diagnosis is helped enormously by the use of ultrasound. We like to scan in the consultation to minimise delays. It is important to run blood tests including kidney levels, white blood cell count and anaemia. These are 3 noteworthy factors that help us predict if we need extra care. It takes us only 20 minutes to get a blood sample comprehensively analysed in an emergency. We do not delay treatment in an unwell dog as prompt surgery ( ovariohysterectomy/ spay) leads to much better outcomes. We start intravenous fluids and antibiotics quickly and this is a time when the experienced surgeons and Registered Vet Nurses at Fernside really helps us deliver good outcomes. The good news is that well over 90% of dogs survive and go on to lead normal lives.

Daisy recovered brilliantly. She was slow to get eating again and her owners got her a little Boost Doggy ice cream to remind her that eating was fun! We find that our standard bitch spay patients eat a little that night and most then need sedatives for a few days to restrain them from leaping about in the first 2 weeks of essential healing. In contrast, pyometra patients take a good week to eat well again. They also stay on slightly 'low batteries ' which get recharged a little day by day for several weeks and then we often find they ars livelier than they have been for ages. We never underestimate how serious a pyometra is , these are the closest cases to sepsis that we see regularly.

Messages
1. If your bitch is unwell soon after her season , bring her in for us to check.
2. If you do not plan to breed from your dog , spaying her prevents this along with false pregnancy issues and the hassle of seasons. We no longer recommend spaying before the first season if possible as the hormones are particularly important for the development of the bladder control. We can do standard spays as day patients for many bi***es up to the age of six years. Although we have to do a full ovario hysterectomy with pyometra patients, at Fernside we have been doing ovarie only spays ( like most Eiropean countries) since the 90s. This is for quicker surgery times, better recoveries and quite likely better bladder control after. Leaving the uterus does not leave us with the risk of pyometra as that is triggered by hormones from the ovaries.

07/11/2025

Pet Obesity: We’re Talking About It — But Are We Being Heard?

We all want our pets to live long, happy, healthy lives — and keeping them at an ideal weight is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to make that happen.

A study from the University of Liverpool found that overweight dogs can live up to 2.5 years less than those at a healthy body weight. This research looked at more than 50,000 dogs across different breeds — and showed that extra weight has a real impact on health and lifespan.

➡The reality

✅Around 30–50% of pets are overweight
✅74% of vets say pet obesity is increasing
✅Yet 77% of owners think their pet is the right weight
✅Only 4% believe their pet needs to lose weight

Interestingly, an recent online comment suggest that “vets rarely mention it,” yet a Veterinary Voices UK poll of over 1,000 veterinary professionals found that almost everyone does raise concerns about weight — only 3 said they wouldn’t.

➡Why there’s a disconnect

✅Obese pets are normalised – when so many pets are overweight, it can look 'normal'. Indeed, those with good Body Condition Scores are often called ‘too skinny’!

✅The words we use matter. “Obese” sounds harsh, so we may soften it — “a bit cuddly,” “good coverage on the ribs.” The message can lose urgency. We take responsibility for this, if this is the case, should we be more direct with you?

✅Owners care deeply about their pets and may feel blamed or judged, even when we’re just trying to help. This can become defensive and is not conducive to a good conversation.

✅Knowing what to do can be tricky — how much food to cut, what to feed, what treats count, how to keep exercise safe. That is why we want to help.

❤️Would the help instead?

✅ Focus on health, not looks.
Carrying extra weight increases the risk of many chronic diseases — but the great news is that weight loss is treatment.
Pets that lose weight often move more comfortably, need less medication, and enjoy a better quality of life.

✅ Use visuals.
Your vet team can show you a Body Condition Score (BCS) chart — it’s a simple way to see where your pet is now and what we’re aiming for.

✅ Get a plan.
Ask your practice for a personalised feeding and activity plan — including exact food amounts, treat swaps, and recheck schedules.

✅ Join a nurse-led weight clinic.
Registered Veterinary Nurses are amazing at helping families set small goals, check progress, and celebrate success.

✅ Make it a team effort.
Everyone in the household plays a part — who feeds, who gives treats, how walks fit in. The more consistent you are, the faster you’ll see change.

✅ Return for the clinics regularly to ensure you are on track
We can often slip back into old habits, having regular check ins can help keep us on the right track

✅ Tackle Begging Behaviour
Begging behaviour is very challenging for owners, we understand - it makes us feel guilty! But there is SO much we can do without adding more calories. For example, we can engage in enrichment and puzzle feeding to lengthen feeding times or we can weigh out our diet of choice daily and save a percentage of this behind as ‘treats’ when in fact it is part of their daily calories.

❤️The good news
❤️Weight loss isn’t punishment — it’s care.
❤️If you’re not sure where your pet stands, ask to see an RVN for an appointment. We can show you their BCS score and help you set simple, achievable steps.

Sources:
➡Salt et al., “Association between life span and body condition in neutered client-owned dogs,” J Vet Intern Med, 2019
➡UK Pet Food – Pet Obesity Data & Statistics
➡German, A.J., Holden, S.L., Wiseman-Orr, M.L., Reid, J., Nolan, A.M., Biourge, V., Morris, P.J. and Scott, E.M. (2012) ‘Quality of life is reduced in obese dogs but improves after successful weight loss’, The Veterinary Journal, 192(3), pp. 428–434. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.09.015

27/10/2025

Today, on Black Cat Awareness Day, we’re shining a light on these sleek, stunning, and affectionate felines — like our very own nurses cat! We have Bean pictured peacefully in the garden and Boris looking ready to explore for the day!

Did you know black cats are often overlooked for adoption because of old myths and superstitions? 🖤 Statistics revealed that black and black-and-white cats took, on average, seven days longer to find a home compared to cats of other colour 🐈‍⬛

Every cat deserves a loving home, no matter their colour. 🏡

We want to see your black cats! Share your photos in the comments and let’s fill this post with pawsitive vibes! 🐾