Origin Vets Clinic

11/11/2024

Remembrance Day 2024

We remember them.

The men and women who have given their everything for us

The horses the dogs the cats the pigeons and the other animals that have served alongside us.

We will remember them all.

At the rising of the sun.

We will remember

Thank you to all that have and continue and those that will go on to give their all.

Thank you. Thank you giving your everything.

05/11/2024

Too cute not to share !!!

03/11/2024

Goose claimed her free dental health check, has your cat ? 🦷 🐈‍⬛

🐈‍⬛ Goose came in for her post dental check this week.
She had several teeth out last week and was given the all clear from these areas as they have healed well.
Goose still needs one more tooth out which is one of her big lower canines which we will be doing in a few weeks time.

Sometimes we need to do staged dentals when the jaw is so fragile to be able to have too many teeth removed at one time especially if the X-rays show severe inflammation such as in the case of Goose.

Dr Sophie Jenkins went through the pre and post dental X-rays with Goose’s owner so they are fully informed of why the teeth were removed and why the canine needs to be removed in a few weeks.

Goose has been extremely comfortable since her dental. She has been eating better than she has in a long time and has been very content again. She loved the catnip dreamies in the consult and made herself quite comfortable on the chair grooming herself whilst Dr Sophie and her owner were talking and viewing the X-rays.

Goose’s owners took advantage of our *FREE* dental health checks that we are running. They were very pleased they made the choice to come in and take us up on this offer as they didn’t realise how tender Goose gums really were.

Book your cats free dental check today via our online booking on www.originvetsclinic.co.uk or call us Monday to Friday 02922362166 to register and book your complimentary dental health check.
The great news is we are taking on cat clients and we have a lovely quiet clinic for just cats rabbits and exotics with free ample onsite parking just off Newport Road Cardiff !

01/11/2024

Congratulations to our very talented Leanne Lowes who created the paw print pumpkin and was voted by you lovely lot as the winner of the designs !

A very well deserved runner up to
Adina who created the seal
Claire who created the cat
Antigoni who created one eyed Joe
And our lovely vet student Mia who joined in too and created the cat face.

Have a fab weekend every one !

31/10/2024

🎃 Happy Halloween 2024 🎃

Enjoy trick and treating tonight and stay safe !

There will be a lot of pumpkins around and people always ask can animals eat them. Well some can and some can’t !

Here is a little summary of which of our exotic pet friends are able to safely eat pumpkins 🎃

Mice 🐭 and rats 🐀 and hamsters 🐹 love the seeds and a small bit of the soft fruit (about the size of their ear) but not the rind or stringy parts

Rabbits 🐇 and Guinea pigs can eat a small amount of the soft fruit but not the seeds or rind or stringy part

Chickens 🐓 enjoy the fleshy fruit but remove the seeds first

Bearded dragons and tortoise 🐢 such as red foot’s sulcatas and leopards can eat the fruit but not the rind or seeds or stringy part

Insects such as hoppers also love the fruit just watch it doesn’t become too moist !

The fruit must be raw and never cooked when fed. It should also be removed if not eaten to avoid going mouldy this is very important.

The seeds must be dried out safely and stored in an air tight container for mice rats and hamsters !

Finally ideally don’t leave you pumpkin outside. It can attract wild rodents to your homes which may pose a threat to your pets depending on species you have. Also hedgehogs will become sick if they eat pumpkins so it’s best to remove them or raise them off the floor so they are not as easily reachable.

Enjoy Halloween and remember to vote for your fav pumpkin on our previous post !

30/10/2024

And here we have the outcome of the pumpkin carving fun !
Aren’t our girls so creative ?!
Who do you think deserves the winning treat ?

Vote below by midnight Oct 31st and one of our team members will win a spooky price ! :
Seal 🦭
Cat face 🐱
Paw 🐾
Cat 🐈‍⬛
One eye Joe 👁️

28/10/2024

Awwww how amazing are our nurses !

Kitty 🐈‍⬛ was in for her Spay today.
She was under the special watch of our feline lead nurse Claire Lewis RVN.

Here you can see Claire monitoring Kitty’sanaesthetic with :

🩺 An oesophageal stethoscope, listening for any changes in both rate and rhythm of her heart beat and also her breathing rate and sounds
A normal stethoscope is also used to monitor her lung sounds over the lung field.
A capnograph attached to her endotracheal tube to look for changes in her carbon dioxide levels that can indicate subtle changes in her breathing
An electrocardiogram to monitor changes in her electrical activity of her heart that can indicate abnormalities
🩸A pulse oximeter to assess her oxygenation levels
🌡️A thermometer to make she Kitty stays nice and warm without over heating

💉It’s so important to monitor patients closely and to tailor anaesthetics to every patient. Our team are very geared to making any changes needed and keep up to date with the best options for anaesthesia and medications that can be given.

We are pleased to say Kitty made a full recovery and went home with pain relief on board for the next few days too.
Kitty was also microchipped under our kitten package and received her next flea and worming treatment too.

25/10/2024

Pumpkin carving with two pumpkin virgins !

Watch this space for how they turn out !

🎃

18/10/2024

🔊 *Sound On* 🔊

Petrol and Diesel the Giant African Land snails came in today for a check up.

With the colder weather approaching they may start looking to hibernate by forming an epiphragm across the entrance of their shells, this epiphgram is made out of mucus (snail slime).

The protective layer helps them to maintain a better temperature and moisture!

Have a listen to Diesels heart rate!

The doppler picks up on the movement of fluid and creates the sound , which in turn allows us to record a heart rate ❤️

Snails are omnivores, today their packed lunch consisits of butternut squash, courgette and some little gem lettuce, they have access to cuttle fish bone and receive bi weekly snail protein porridge! They love a treat of meal worms too!

Snails are also hermaphrodites meaning they can produce babies by themselves and are both sexes! This means that they are prolific breeders and can lay hundreds of eggs 🥚

Giant African Land Snails are social so enjoy the company of others 💚

🐌🐌

07/10/2024

We would like you all to officially meet our newest RVN Lauren Valentine BSc Hons APVN (zoo/wild) RVN AMRSB

Lauren became a registered veterinary nurse in 2012, obtaining further qualifications in Zoo and Wildlife nursing and a degree in biology. Lauren is a passionate advocate for zoo and wild animals, working part time at Marwell Zoo and within other local veterinary clinics, (following a year long stint working with turtles in the Maldives!) we are delighted to have her in the team 💚

Lauren has joined the OVC team on Tuesdays!

03/10/2024

Dr Antigoni Nanushi (Noni) performed some dental work on a very lovely patient Freddie.

Freddie the bearded dragon came to the surgery as his gnashers weren't looking pearly white... In fact they were black, showing significant dental disease!

Unlike rodent dentition (where the teeth continually grow), bearded dragons have permanent teeth which are fused to the jaw bone (acrodont), this means that in severe cases of dental disease, infection can affect the bone (osteomyelitis) which can be painful and lead to irreversible damage!

There are lots of reasons bearded dragons could succumb to dental disease, from genetic predisposition, age through to diet and husbandry!

Nonis' top tips for preventing dental disease:
🦎 Feed gut-loaded live food with hard exoskeletons to keep the teeth clean
🦎Avoid sugary soft foods such as fruits, which can stay in contact with the teeth for prolonged periods
🦎Teeth rinsing, (rather than brushing) particularly after sugary foods can help reduce build up of tartar
🦎Ensure all of the environmental parameters are correct, including temperature zones, UVB lighting, humidity and a good 12 hour day/night cycle is achieved to prevent stress

When was the last time your bearded dragon recived a full check up?

We recommend reptile patients get a 6 monthly check up, in order to keep them in "tip top" optimal health!

01/10/2024

We have had a stray leopard gecko handed in to Origin Vets Clinic.

Found stowe park circle flat complex, Newport.

Looks like we have been straying for a while as fat reserves are low - if you think this could be your leopard gecko, please get in touch with is at the clinic:

02922362166

Photographic evidence will be required

Please share ❤️ 🦎

30/09/2024

As of 1st October 2024 all bird owners are expected to register their birds with Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA).

This new ruling is for all bird keepers in the UK... follow the link below to get started!

https://www.gov.uk/environment/keeping-farmed-animals-poultry-registration

30/09/2024

Congratulations Adina on passing your Advanced Programme in Veterinary Nursing of Zoological Species (APVN zoo) 🎉

29/09/2024

Well thats a wrap on 2024s guinea pig awareness wheek!

What have you found most interesting this week?

What advice or top tips would you share with new prospective piggy owners?

Give us your top tips and favourite things about being a cavy carer below!

29/09/2024

Nominate your favourite guinea pig vet on the 4th October 2024!!❤️

Did you know you can nominate your favourite exotic pet vets for their amazing care and devotion to guinea pig care?

Nominations open next month on the 4th!!

https://www.burgesspetcare.com/events/burgess-excel-vet-awards/

28/09/2024

Did you know that older guinea pigs are susceptible to spondylosis and osteoarthritis, which can be painful.

As a prey species, our furry friends are highly adept at hiding signs of pain, having a guinea pug savvy vet is essential as they have magical goggles to see through "masking behaviours"

(ok so maybe not magic goggles - more experience and a keen eye for behavioural changes 🙊) but we do have laser goggles!! ❤️

27/09/2024

During times of stress or illness the number 1 item you can have in your "guinea pig first aid kit" is a high quality syringable feed!

If you have any questions about home care and first aid kits for guinea pigs, why not pop down to the clinic and have a chat with one of our nurses!