Arran Vets

11/12/2024

Festive Opening Times .
We will be open as normal until 6 pm Tuesday 24 th December.
Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day Wed 25 th and Thursday 26 th December .
Then usual hours again until we are
closed on the bank holidays Wednesday New Years Day 1st Jan and Thursday 2 nd Jan .
Open with usual hours again from Friday 3 rd January 2025 .
I hope that you and your pets all enjoy the festive season.
In the event of an emergency please phone 01770 302511 and listen to the answer phone message for the number of the vet on call .

09/12/2024

Normal service is resumed on 01770 302511 . We now have internet and phones again . 😊
Thanks very much to Jamie McKinnon for rapid tree removal once the storm was over , followed by Ian from BTOpenreach for an extremely rapid line replacement .
Storms can blow but they can’t break this island !
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

06/12/2024

Edit update ***Our phone line has been snapped in the storm but phones are diverted to my mobile now . Thanks for your patience we’ll hopefully have help from BT Openreach next week ! ***
Friday 6 th December 6 pm our surgery phone and internet are down in tonight’s Storm Daragh .
In event of an emergency please phone Charlotte on 01770 860160 or 07702501318 . I don’t get mobile signal at night so use house phone number first.
Pictured below one of tonight’s patients who made it here in the storm , the lovely Wilma , a 7 year old Wolfhound cross Great Dane from Pirnmill . She’s a very friendly dog , very tall and slim but 61 kg so not one we’ll be lifting on a table !
Hopefully normal phone service will be resumed soon .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

01/12/2024

The tups are out on Arran and the sheep year begins again ! This very healthy ram at Machrie was scenting the air for cycling ewes this morning .
Bluetongue virus has been causing concern across the East Coast of England this year but the Restricted Zone as seen below has been gradually widening North and East as more cases have been found . A couple of cases were seen in Wales in the last couple of weeks but these animals were found to have been moved there from the restricted area .
I sincerely hope Bluetongue doesn’t reach Scotland especially not during the midge season . However,as always , keepers of cattle sheep and alpacas should be vigilant and consider the disease risk of purchased stock from further South in the uk .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

24/11/2024

Chestnut , a beautiful kitten from Blackwaterfoot who decided last week to munch on a Lily petal . The flowers had been a welcome present but as the Lillies opened they must have suddenly looked appealing to the kitten . Unfortunately all parts of Lily are poisonous to cats , that’s the leaves, pollen , stamens , petals, even the water in the vase . They cause rapid permanent kidney damage . Fortunately his owner realised and rushed him over to the surgery. Many thanks for the patience of those waiting that evening whilst we sorted out his treatment . Fortunately one week on he has made a good recovery, partly thanks to the fact that he vomited on the car journey over The String producing most of the petal !
It would great if the warnings on Supermarket bunches of flowers that include lilies were really large and on the front of the packaging in red!
If you love a cat owner give them a bouquet of roses not lilies!
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

16/11/2024

Douglas , a handsome 3 year old cat from Brodick, is feeling very much better this week having got rid of some unwanted visitors in his ear canals !
Ear mites are common in puppies and kittens and they are picked up by contact , however brief , with other cats and dogs . Obvious signs are head shaking and head scratching . Sometimes they will tolerate a few mites with no signs at all but they can then multiply and cause a problem after weeks or months from first being infested . Douglas allowed me to clean his ears to physically flush away the mites and he then had a spot on application which will kill any remaining mites for 3 months plus treatment for the inflamed skin .
His hair will grow back soon !
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

11/11/2024

A rather sorrowful looking Norrie ( short for Norman ) who was hospitalised with us over the weekend and a photo of the stone that he accidentally swallowed . Norrie was a real gentleman whilst he was having treatment following surgery to remove the stone from a very bruised looking small intestine .
Sometimes stones will be vomited up from the stomach but this one was small enough to pass into the intestine but large enough to become stuck .
The second X-ray shows a very long sock stuck in the intestine of a Lab cross with lots of gas trapped in the material folds . Not as obvious as a stone !
The third X-ray is from a dog playing on the beach who had swallowed lots of sand and this was acting as amore unusual type of gut obstruction . This sometimes happens if dogs are repeatedly grabbing a ball from the sand , digging holes on the beach or barking and snapping at breaking waves full of sand .
So playing on the beach can present hazards and I always advise zero tolerance right from day one of owning a puppy on picking up or carrying stones . Unfortunately accidents do still happen if the stone is covered with discarded food .
If your dog is repeatedly vomiting , off food and doesn’t have diarrhoea then let us know straight away . Dogs with an obstruction will sometimes strain but not pass anything .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

05/11/2024

If your horse, pony or donkey is showing their age , Cushings ( or PPID) could be the culprit.
Check the common symptoms below . If you sign up to the scheme you can claim a voucher for the lab test fee . A normal blood sampling and visit fee will apply for taking the blood .
Identifying Cushings in your pony will help keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible
Checkout the symptoms on https://careaboutcushings.co.uk/

Charlotte Clough MRCvs

05/10/2024

Arran Vets News
Congratulations to Ellis McKelvie on passing her final Veterinary Nursing exam this week .
She is a compassionate and talented nurse that the island can be proud of . It’s been an intensive 2 year course and she worked really hard to meet all the targets . For Ellis to train whilst still working on Arran we had to register the practice as a Nurse Training Practice and I had to step up as a Clinical Supervisor for the first time . We are all thrilled with her achievements.
Roisin Ballantyne , who we were very fortunate to have work for us for a year to cover for the times Ellis was in lectures, has now started her full time 4 yr University Course to be a Veterinary Nurse . We wish her all the best in her studies and for life as a student on the mainland .
A big welcome to Fiona Campbell MRCVS who is with us for a few weeks in October helping me out and whilst I am away visiting family .
Fiona graduated from Edinburgh and has recently retired as a partner at the Lochgilphead mixed practice . She brings a wealth of experience of mixed practice with her and , of course, travelled to Arran via the Lochranza ferry , which is very convenient. We hope she enjoys her time here .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

28/09/2024

Lions Mane Jellyfish on the beach at Brodick today .
If you are a visitor to Arran keep your dogs under close supervision on the beaches just now .
Whilst not fatal in my experience, the stings on the tentacles give a nasty sting to paws and then mouths and throats if they attempt to bite them !
Dogs cough, salivate , dry retch with white foam. , vomit and desperately drink water and eat grass in an attempt to soothe the stinging sensation . It is very unpleasant for them for about an hour then wears off .
Initially soaking in salt water can help and then using gloves and scissors to remove the fine tentacles and long hair from affected legs . The tentacles still sting when detached from the jellyfish .
Then soaking the skin in warm water for a good long time gives relief .
I use pain relief and antihistamines to help if dogs are very distressed and present at the surgery .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

25/09/2024

The surgery in beautiful autumnal sunshine this morning , just to the right of Brodick Church with Goatfell in the background.
A lovely view on a walk with my dog first thing after an all nighter at the surgery with a sick dog .
There are occasions when dogs and cats need intravenous fluids, medications or oxygen overnight and one of us needs to stay with them .
Thanks to the amazing help of Gemma Ferguson, Shona Hume and Ellis Mckelvie over the years who turn up to help me and your pets and farm animals out of hours .
Thanks also to all the delicious thank you treats and messages that we have received in the last few weeks from our lovely clients . They are all very much appreciated though I’ve had to take up running to burn the calories !
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

08/09/2024

Register your birds

Anyone who keeps birds, even a single bird, must register on the Scottish Kept Birds Register (SKBR) by 1 December 2024. This is a legal requirement.

Who needs to register
You will need to register if you keep any type of bird, including:

pet birds – there are exceptions for certain types that are kept indoors only (see below)
poultry
game birds
racing pigeons
birds of prey
waterfowl
This applies to anyone who keeps birds, as well as wild bird rehabilitation centres and zoos.

Who doesn’t need to register
You do not need to register psittaciformes (such as budgies, parrots and cockatiels) or passeriformes (such as jays and finches), which are:

fully housed indoors with no outdoor access, or
housed outdoors in a fully enclosed structure
Any birds that are taken outdoors at any time, for example to be exercised, trained, or taken to bird gatherings or shows, must be registered.

Taking an exempt bird to visit a veterinary practice does not trigger the need for registration.

If you are already a registered keeper
The Scottish Kept Bird Register replaces the previous GB Poultry Register for bird keepers in Scotland.

If your premises is registered on the GB Poultry Register you will need to re-register on the Scottish Kept Birds Register.

How to register
You can register for free online at the Scottish Kept Birds Register. You must do so by 1 December 2024.

07/09/2024

This week was all about the start of life for Ruby the cat and her beautiful litter of 5 kittens and , very sadly , the end of life for Susan the Swan formerly known as Matilda . At 14 she was old and frail but the specialist advice was that she was best in her own environment until the end. She no longer had a mate and had spent much of the last year sheltering in a garden by Rosaburn and enjoying the company of humans . Strangely, in her last week, she had sought out humans all over Brodick whether for food or company I don’t know . I last saw her on Wed evening when she was standing in the burn at Cladach having a thorough preen so she looked content at that time .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

29/08/2024

We have a very special swan living in Brodick , Gemma has christened her ‘Susan’ .
Please respect swans on the shore and give them a wide berth with your dogs . Whilst they are very used to seeing people and dogs ,they need space .
Susan was ringed in Oct 2010 in Whiting Bay which makes her 14 years old , a very good age for a wild swan .
She was distressed and wandering around the small Co op car park yesterday , so thanks to Eleanor who called for help and Corinna the NTS ranger who brought her to the surgery .
Swans moult in July and August and cannot fly for a few weeks during the moult . They sleep by the waters edge , often surrounded by their fluffy white feathers . If a dog runs between them and the water they will be very distressed and run to unsuitable areas . Such as the co op car park .
Immature and non-breeding swans moult first. Breeding females moult next and when the female is completely finished moulting and able to fly again the male then moults. This ensures that one parent can defend the cygnets if necessary.
Susan had a rest in our surgery garden and a precautionary pain killer medication . She slept for awhile then was stomping around in good form looking for a way out . We returned her to the beach in one of yesterday’s monsoon style rainfalls and she happily swam off and started drinking and eating . Let’s hope she is around for a few more years .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

24/08/2024

Arran’s dogs enjoyed a fun afternoon at the open day for the new , fully fenced , Arran Dogs exercise and training field in Brodick, just behind the Auchrannie Hotel . This large area is perfect for off lead recall training of young dogs , the details are below .
Dogs of all breeds had the chance to try out agility , a scenting activity and enter the fun classes such as dog with the best trick and waggiest tail .
Congratulations to all in the Arran Dogs group for setting up such a great facility for dogs on the island and the continuing dog training sessions for happy , well socialised and obedient dogs .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS
https://arrandogs.simplybook.it/v2/ #:~:text=Arran%20Dogs%20Field%20at%20the,be%20used%20for%20training%20purposes.

16/08/2024

‘ Chews’ for dogs, such as cow hooves , antlers, nylabones and actual bones , that are harder than than the dog’s teeth, can cause painful fractures of the tooth and loss of those teeth . For a chew to be safe to offer to a dog you should be able to dent the chew with a finger nail.
We were very happy to help the super friendly ‘Porridge’ Munson- Reid today . Porridge had sadly broken her upper Carnassial tooth on a cow hoof. Her owner heard the crack as she was chewing on the hoof and was very distressed to see Porridge in pain . She certainly won’t be using anything like that for Porridge again and it’s unfortunate that these are marketed as ‘ healthy dog chews’ .
When selecting chews to help keep dog’s teeth clean , it’s also important to keep in mind that they shouldn’t be swallowing chunks of hard material that could cause choking or blockages in the oesophagus , stomach or intestines . I’ve previously seen pigs ears , which are wide and flat of course , lodge in the oesophagus which is very distressing for the dog , hard to remove and often leaves permanent damage .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS
Thanks to Porridge’s owner for allowing us to share these pictures .

07/08/2024

Congratulations to the Arran Farmers Society on an excellent Arran Show today . My favourites were Vera the mare with her 10 day old foal , the adorable Vincent , and some of the wee riders !
The dog show overall winner was May May the Labrador , born at Machrie and in second place Hollie Adamson’s super patterdale terrier puppy Bambi . Many thanks to dog show judge ,Kristie Leckie , who thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the different dog characters and their owners .
The day was a great showcase of the best of Arran’s animals .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

21/07/2024

As the 10 year anniversary of my working on Arran rapidly approaches I’m looking to you all for a little help to find a successor to buy and run this independent , island mixed practice .
April 2025 for me will mark 10 very enjoyable years as the vet for the wonderful supportive community on Arran and also 40 years qualified and practicing as a vet . Whilst I’m happy to stay on and assist a new owner for at least a year , hopefully a little longer in some capacity , it’s the right time to hand over to the younger generation.
If you could share this post and lovely video , which captures some of the life on this beautiful island , at the vets and my day to day life as Arran’s vet , then it may just catch the eye of a like minded vet who might be interested in taking over .
Thanks to Chris and Jan Attkins for their expertise in creating the video . Thanks to their library of images on Arran over the years many of you appear!
I’d also like to thank all those who were filmed in the spring , firstly the team Shona, Gemma, Ellis, Roisin and Locum Vet Kier Davies .
Then in order of appearance , Derek Shand , voiceover , Charlie McAllister , Kate Armstrong , Kenny And Eleanor Bone , Patrick Scott, Sarah Cowan , Sue and Paul Archer , Sarah Cook, Fiona Laing, Callum Haddow .
It’s in all our interests to welcome a new younger talented vet or vets to Arran for the long term so any sharing much appreciated.

For any confidential enquiries on the practice sale , which includes accommodation please contact Lara Jacobs at Vet Dynamics ([email protected] ) or phone the surgery on 01770 302511
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

Isle of Arran Mixed Veterinary Practice For Sale.An overview of this exclusive island practice, offered for sale with all equipment, living accommodation, ca...