Dr Dotty

23/12/2023

This dog ate Christmas cake containing raisins which are toxic to dogs and can cause life threatening kidney failure. Part of the treatment is to give activated charcoal to adsorb the toxins, this is shown in the picture. Thankfully he was a lovely super friendly dog.
The other treatments are to induced vomiting and to be hospitalised on a drip for 48 hours with repeat blood tests to check the kidneys.
Please try to keep Christmas treats out of reach of your dog and have a happy festive season 🎄

05/11/2022

https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks/survey

Let us know if you have had issues with fireworks impacting your pets. Fill in our quick survey to help us make fireworks less frightening for animals.

15/07/2022

As Red and Amber extreme heat warnings are announced across the UK, vets issue urgent advice on keeping pets safe from heat-related illnesses.

02/01/2022

If your dog has / has not been affected by fireworks recently, this Dogs Trust survey is quick and easy to complete.

https://dogstrustlimited.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7P7tQjvNm4Zn7i6?fbclid=IwAR2vwTbR-BWhmbJFLoo_gTq0e8rNn58d__YCAaq-XYn0EFyN-BSFtJmj5ls

Survey Software, Enterprise Survey software for enterprise feedback management and CRM solutions. Enables high-quality data collection, panel management and results analysis. Perfect for market research or CRM solution (Customer Relationship Management) integration. Free trial and consultation.

05/11/2021

If your pets/farm animals/horses or even if you see local wildlife affected by fireworks this season, please fill in this survey for the RSPCA.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TKWMJJC?fbclid=IwAR2ib4M-jcV576efGf42qEF7YmMMZv03ghfBRRF3scigthUUIxQCHIhyY1I

They are tracking and recording all incidents to gain a picture of how widespread and how often animals are affected. It isn't an offical complaint to the RSPCA and they will not respond.

If an animal has been injured or in severe distress please contact your vet and log in the usual way with the RSPCA.

Have a safe few weeks all (cos we know it won't just be Friday 5th November!).

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

01/10/2021

This is not advertised enough. It’s a really tough job and a great receptionist makes everyone’s life in the veterinary world so much easier from the first point of contact down. You’re very much appreciated by veterinary staff and clients 😊xx

19/09/2021

Xylitol/Birch Sugar
Xylitol is one of the most common agents we receive calls about, but did you know Xylitol is sometimes referred to as Birch Sugar? Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in many fruits, vegetables, and plants — noticeably birch trees. This is why xylitol is sometimes disguised under the name “Birch Sugar”
It is used as an artificial sweetener and is frequently found in sugar-free chewing gums and sweets. It is also sold in bags for home baking. Hypoglycaemia and liver damage are the main concerns, and close monitoring is required in these cases. The onset of clinical effect may be less than an hour post ingestion, although in some cases, particularly those with subsequent liver damage hypoglycaemia can be delayed 24-48 hours.
Owners can call Animal Poisonline on 01202 509000 for advice if they are concerned their pet has ingested something toxic. We will be able to advise whether the animal needs to see a vet. Veterinary professionals can call VPIS for treatment advice for any poisons case - 02073055055

19/07/2021

☀️ IT'S HOT HOT HOT ☀️
HERE ARE SOME HANDY HINTS TO KEEP YOUR DOGGIES COOL

❄️ put some ice cubes in their water

💦 soak a t-shirt in cool water for them to wear, remember to refresh as necessary

💦 play with them with the garden hose

💦 fill a paddling pool for them to play in (supervised)

☂️ make sure they have a shady area to lie in and encourage this by putting their blanket there, or a cold wet towel

💨use a fan

🐾🐾 don't make them go for a walk or run in the park, they don't need to and probably don't want to, just let them chill at home

SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE INCLUDE

🔥heavy and excessive panting
🔥reddened gums
🔥drooling
🔥vomiting and/or diarrhoea
🔥wobbliness or collapse

If you have any concerns or worries, even if you are just unsure, please call your vet for advice, they are always happy to speak to you 😊

21/06/2021

Please check your cats diet, there have been some food recalls on AVA, Applaws and Sainsbury's cat food diets.

This is due to a possible link to an increase in a serious, often fatal illness called pancytopenia, a dangerously low level of all blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets).

It is advised to stop feeding any of the diets listed in the link below.

If your cat is unwell and has been fed any of the cat food listed then please contact your vet without hesitation.

Fold Hill Foods is taking the precautionary action of recalling several hypoallergenic cat food products because of safety concerns. This product recall information notice has been updated to include all best before dates for Applaws products with the site code GB218E5009. This is not due to the ide...

30/05/2021

If you could spare a short time to fill out this survey it would be very much appreciated 😊

Thank you 🐾🐾

24/04/2021

Happy World Veterinary day 😻🐈‍⬛🐇🦮🐓🦨🦩🐿🐀🐏🐖🐄🦓🦘🦣🦍🦫🦔 🐾🐾

08/08/2020

Today is International Cat Day 2020 - Hooray 😺
This special day was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to raise awareness for cats and their welfare.

I really really love cats and have one called Jane.

They can be complicated creatures for the humans to understand especially in the way that they react to stress. Humans often think that stressed cats will yowl, bite and lash out, which they sometimes do, but when they are really feeling stressed they'll often hide away, overgroom (especialy their tummies) and strangely, develop urinary problems such as cystitis. In fact around 80% of cystitis cases in cats are due to stress!

One of the best ways you can make your cat happy is to give them somewhere high up to hang out.
Get them the highest cat tower you can find or design a route yourself to the top of a cabinet, some people even put a series of cat shelves up an empty wall, these can be carpeted to make them less slippy. Your cat will feel confident, happy and contented looking down on the world.

To encourage them to discover their new high place try catnip spray (a different kind if high 😼) Janey loves it.

25/04/2020

Happy World Veterinary day 😍

24/04/2020

Do not disinfect your pet 🙀 (or youselves, despite recent suggestions in the media, this would be a bad idea. Trust me, I'm a doctor).

Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous. If you use environmental disinfectants in the home, please make sure that they are diluted correctly and left to dry before your pet comes into contact. Also make sure the room is well ventilated.

As well as disinfectants, some antiseptics that humans use on their skin such as Dettol and TCP contain chemical compounds called phenols, these are toxic to dogs and cats but cats are especially sensitive. Never use a human product on your pet unless a veterinary surgeon has advised you that it is ok. Your vet will appreciate a call, at any time, before you give any unprescribed treatment 😻😽

The following information is from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service:

Please do not use disinfectant products on your pets:

With the current spread of COVID-19 in our population it is understandable that owners are concerned about whether their pets could be carriers of the virus and how they should handle them, particularly if they are suffering from the disease themselves.

Current evidence suggests the Covid-19 pandemic has occurred as result of human-to-human transmission only. To date, there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit the disease to humans.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has produced advice for people with animals. They advise that pet owners observe normal hygiene measures after handling pets on the basis that the animal could potentially carry the virus on its fur after being touched by a person with Covid-19, in the same way that any other object or surface can.

We have been made aware that some people have tried to disinfect their pet using disinfectant wipes or sprays in a similar way to cleaning household surfaces. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Many surface disinfectants are harmful to pets and can cause burns to their skin as well as ulceration to their mouth and throat when they inevitably lick the product off their fur when grooming. If you wish to wash your pet, bathing as normal with a pet shampoo will be an effective way to clean them (in the same way as washing your hands is) and would be all that we recommend. It should however be noted that at this moment in time, there is no evidence to say more frequent washing of your pet is necessary and too-frequent bathing can be detrimental to your pets’ skin and coat.

With people being more vigilant in their cleaning regimes, we are also seeing an increase in the number of enquiries about pets accidentally being exposed to cleaning materials so it’s advisable to take care when using these products to keep them out of the way of your pets. As always though, if you are worried about any chemicals your pet has come into contact with, you can call us 24/7 on our Animal PoisonLine (01202 509 000).

16/04/2020

Obviously not any of my followers 😘 💖
During Covid-19 I have seen an increasing number of status updates and reports from my veterinary colleagues on being treated badly by pet owners 😥. Please remember that vets are people too, with the same worries as everyone else during these difficult times, whilst at the same time trying hard to provide essential care for your pets on minimum staffing levels. Please be respectful, patient and kind 😊x

We are asking all animal owners to respect their vets’ clinical and professional judgement and be patient during the Covid-19 lockdown.

15/04/2020

My 🐶🐱🐰 vaccination was due last week 😨 should I be worried?

No, don’t worry, your pet does not suddenly stop being protected on the date booster is due, but this is the time when their immunity may start to gradually reduce. There is generally a 12 week leeway on vaccinations where if the booster is given even up to 12 weeks late, it will still be effective.

But, do be aware and don’t forget it if it has not been given, your vets will do their best to help with this although there is a chance that booster reminder systems may fail in these circumstances so please make a note on your calendar.

During the COVID-19 restrictions so far vets have only been seeing pets for urgent and emergency consultations. Upon updated guidance from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association, vaccination may be avalable in certain cases, only where there are considered welfare benefits.

These MAY include:
• Puppy and kitten vaccinations
• Booster vaccinations in dogs
• First year or overdue booster vaccinations in cats
• Rabbit vaccinations

Reasons for these changes now, are to try to minimise animal and human welfare risks in the foreseeable future.
• An outbreak of parvovirus in dogs or panleukopenia (feline parvovirus) in cats would obviously be detrimental to animal welfare, but we also have the considerations of difficulty maintaining social distancing for staff in these cases, an increased number of staff required to care for hospitalised patients and the increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE) which we are all aware is in short supply at present.
• Dogs are vaccinated against leptospirosis which is a zoonotic disease, this means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
• Rabbit vaccinations are especially important at this time of year because we vaccinate against myxomatosis, which a fatal disease in rabbits and is spread by biting insects such as mosquitos, midges and fleas.

Assessment for vaccinations will be made on an individual case basis taking into account multiple different factors including:
• The risk of a disease in your area
• The availability of staff at the practice
• The practicalities of social distancing
• Limiting unecessary travel (clients and staff)

The decision to vaccinate, or not at this time, is at your own vets discretion and will be based on their clinical judgement, this must be respected. Your vet is likely to be very busy at the moment due to running on minimum staff and will be working to prioritise cases as appropriate. Please be patient and kind.

Remember, vaccinations are very important but not an emergency.

Take care everyone and stay safe 😊
Dr Dotty.

11/04/2020

HAPPY EASTER 🐣 Keep your furry ones safe

HOT CROSS BUNS = NO

They are usually made with dried grapes such as sultanas, currants and raisins, all forms of grape are TOXIC to dogs.

Grape ingestion can in some cases cause kidney failure.

You may see:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Drooling
• Lethargy and wobbliness
• Not drinking or urinating
• Not eating
• Tremors
• Rapid shallow breathing
• Death (not common)

The poisonous effects are not ‘dose dependent’ which means that we can not work out whether your dog will be affected based on their size and the quantity of grapes that they have eaten.
Dried forms of grape are more concentrated so it takes fewer of them to cause more severe signs.
Not all dogs are affected but we do not know the reason for this so we can not tell if your dog will be affected or not.
Because of this it is recommended that all dogs known to have eaten any amount should be treated.

Contact your vet for advice soon as you notice your dog has eaten them. They can give an injection to make them vomit while the grapes are still in the stomach (even up to 6 hours after ingestion). NEVER give anything to try and make your dog vomit at home.

Hosptalisation on a drip for 2-3 days to protect the kidneys is the gold standard treatment.
Blood and urine samples may be recommended to check the kidneys are working normally.
If treated promptly and you are aware of the risks, it may be decided, on discussion with your vet, to send your dog home with activated charcoal treatment to trap any remaining toxins and if they start to show any of the signs listed above resee them immediately for further treatment.

10/04/2020

HAPPY EASTER 🐣 Keep your furry ones safe

CHOCOLATE = NO

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is TOXIC to dogs and cats, unlike humans they are unable to metabolise this ingredient. Dogs are more likely to ‘borrow’ the human’s easter chocolate treats than cats, I say borrow because they often bring it back 🤢🤮

I usually describe the signs of chocolate toxicity in pets as similar to a caffiene overdose
You may see:
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Panting and restlessness, your pet may seem agitated
• Increased drinking and urinating
• Fast and/or irregular heart rate
• Tremors
• Seizures (fits)
• Collapse and death

The emergency veterinary group Vetsnow have developed a chocolate toxicity calculator so that you can work out whether you need to contact your vet. Here is the link:

https://www.vets-now.com/app/chocolate-calculator

But REMEMBER, your vet is always happy to speak to you so if you are not confident using the calculator, want the vet to do it for you or are just unsure then please do call your vet for advice at any time.

There is no antidote for theobromine so the sooner we see them the better so that we can give an injection to make them vomit. NEVER give anything try to make them vomit at home.
Other treatments from the vet may include activated charcoal, a drip and medications if seizuring (rare).

08/04/2020

British Veterinary Association - BVA statement on cats and COVID-19

There are a lot of misleading news reports today about cats and COVID-19 after a misinterpretation of advice given by the BVA president.

You do not have to keep your cat indoors and doing so may cause more harm than good.

03/04/2020

COVID-19
Your vets are still there 😀.

During these challenging times the veterinary profession is working tirelessly and pulling together to maintain the high level of service that they provide for your pets.

Currently vets are not seeing clients and pets for routine appointments following advice from the Government and our governing body The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. This does not mean that they are not there for you and your pets if you have a worry.

The majority of vets are now providing consultations over the telephone, with the aid of photographs and via video calls. This is to assess the situation and arrange for the animal to be seen if necessary. In these exceptional circumstances vets are temporarily able to prescribe medications remotely if appropriate, where there is no other option, based on their professional judgement. Please do not arrive unannounced at the surgery, always call first.

They are also available to discuss your pets long term conditions and to provide repeat prescriptions / medications as appropriate. It is important not to stop long term treatments unless you have been advised by your vet.

Most practices are now being covered by a minimum staff in teams of one vet, nurse and receptionist per shift. This is to minimise the risk to staff and to have reserve staff if a team needs to go into self-isolation. This may of course vary with different vets.

Please be patient and kind. Things may take longer than usual. Everyone is trying their best in these unusual times.

01/04/2020

Dr Dotty is highly qualified in all matters relating to cats and dogs.
Even in these uncertain times of COVID-19 there is always a vet to speak to. If you're worried about your pet, please call your usual vets phone number.

01/04/2020

Is your kitty over-grooming?

This morning a reasonable amount of time had passed before I realised I was sitting next to yet another perfectly formed oesophagus shaped furball! Poor little Jane the cat is not very happy about the COVID-19 lock-down and I expect that many of her kitty friends are feeling much the same.

Of course they love us (I’m sure they really do and do not just want food) but cats are generally quite unsociable creatures of habit and they do not want us around ALL of the time, making noise, taking up their sunny spot, mithering them and moving their stuff.

Over-grooming is a common sign of stress in cats. You may notice your cat licking frequently and losing fur, especially on the tummy, inside the back legs, sides and legs. Your cat may be producing furballs, more than usual. In extreme cases their skin may become sore and even infected.

So, what can you do to help:

• Give them space, if they’re sleeping during the day when you would normally be out at work, try not to disturb them. They like their routine.

• Provide them with their own high up area. Cat towers, cat shelves up the wall, easy access to wardrobe tops etc. They feel confident and happy when they are high up like a lion in a tree.

• Play with your cat daily, they love the fishing rod toys, scrunched up paper balls and laser pens (mind their eyes).

• Make your cat a castle or tank from a cardboard box, great fun for children too. Or just give the cat the box as it is.

• Sprinkle their favourite place with a little catnip.

• Invest in a calming diffuser such as Feliway (Classic for a single cat or Friends for a multicat household) or Pet Remedy. These work in different ways so if you don’t think your cat is responding to one then try the other.

• There are also anti anxiety treatments available that can go in their food including YuCALM, KalmAid and Zylkene.

• Persevere with the plug-ins and other treatments for a while, you are unlikely to notice an immediate response, this does not mean that they are not helping.

• Ensure the cats are up to date with their flea control, fleas will only make the problem worse.

• If the skin looks sore then contact your vet.