North West Ireland Specialist Vets

15/10/2024

30/08/2024

Ticks are not just a skin problem! They can transmit diseases like Lyme Disease, not just to our beloved pets, but also to people.

The best way to avoid bothersome ticks is to keep your furry friend’s parasite control up to date, especially during the hotter months, and if you like going out to parks or other places with tall grasses, don’t forget to check for ticks!

28/08/2024

Mental health is not just for people! 🧠 Our pets can also feel anxiety and stress in such a way that can have an important impact on their quality of life.

Here are some of the situations that might be hard for your pets:
🐾 Not having a place to go to and rest from having to interact with children, other pets or strangers whenever they want to;
🐾 Too few opportunities to play, go for walks or spend quality time together with you;
🐾 Routines that are consistently disrupted, such as changes in feeding time or when people are likely to be home.

If you’re worried about your pets’ stress levels, we can help! We can help you figure out the best way to help them feel better, so don’t hesitate to talk to us. 📲

27/08/2024

Did you know boarding kennels and doggy daycares have kennel cough vaccine requirements for their guests? 🏨 🐶

Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes a persistent hacking cough in dogs, often sounding as if there's something stuck in their throat. While it’s not usually a deadly disease, young puppies, sick dogs and golden oldies might have a severe form of kennel cough, which is why it’s essential to try and prevent outbreaks in places with lots of dogs in close contact.

To ensure you have a relaxed holiday right from day one, don’t forget to make sure your furry friend has their kennel cough vaccine all ready to go.

If you'd like to know more about kennel cough vaccination and to make sure your dog is protected, don't hesitate to give us a call!

26/08/2024

Today is International Dog Day! While we think every day is a great day for dogs, we love any excuse to do something special for our furry friends. 🐶

Here are some ideas on how to spoil your best friend:

🐕 Bake them some dog-friendly treats

🐕 Make them a new toy

🐕 Take them for a walk on a different route

🐕 Find exciting new games to play with them

How will you be pampering your dog on this amazing day? Tell us everything in the comments below! 👇

25/08/2024

Travelling abroad with your pets is great and an increasing number of pet owners are doing it, but we urge you to not forget some exotic diseases you might bump into. 🧳🐾

Leishmaniasis is a parasite disease that can affect our pets and often shows up in the Mediterranean, an amazing vacation spot for pet owners who love the lush countryside and the summer sun. It is transmitted by the bite of a sandfly, and it causes a tough to manage and almost impossible to cure disease.

While the vaccine might be recommended if you’re spending a lot of time abroad, another way to protect your pets is by applying insect repellents (for instance, regular spot-on treatments) and avoiding places with a lot of sandfly activity.

Want to know more about this or any other issues your pet might have while on vacation? Talk to us today!

24/08/2024

Life has a way of providing us with so many lessons, and a lot of them are learned through the ones we love the most.

Pets are no exception, and they are full of important lessons for us 💖 What have you learned from them? We’ll go first… our pets have taught us the meaning of unconditional love, and we can’t thank them enough!

22/08/2024

Exercise and play are essential for pets 🥎 🐾, not only because they are great for their physical health but also because they introduce enrichment and mental stimulation into your pet’s days!

Make sure you dedicate quality time daily to playing or exercising with your pets and ensure they have toys and other things to entertain them when you are not around.

Do your furry friends have a special toy or place they enjoy going to? Let us know!

21/08/2024

Have you spotted or suspect that your pet ate something that might be dangerous? Don’t delay!

Give us a call immediately and we can help you evaluate the situation and decide if you need to bring them in 🐕🐈🐇

18/08/2024

As pet owners, our pets’ comfort and health are always on our minds, and we do everything in our ability to provide them with the best care.

But have you paused to consider what you can do to help save our wildlife as well? 🤔

Something as simple as leaving a bowl of water in the garden, now that the temperature is rising, can be vital to wild animals such as birds and hedgehogs. 🐦🦔

Do you have any suggestions? Let’s put them all together in the comment section! ⬇️

16/08/2024

X-ray and ultrasound are common diagnostic imaging modalities that we have available to help us find your pets’ problems. 🐶🐱

The development of these non-invasive, accessible and reliable techniques has allowed us to diagnose and treat a huge number of important problems such as fractures, cancer or chronic kidney disease, to name a few!

These days we can also rely on fantastic technology such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography scan (CT), advanced machines that can look at organs that are hard to see with ultrasounds or X-rays (for instance, the brain or some internal organs) with incredible precision.

While these exams can be a bit more expensive, we know they will make all the difference in your pet’s health!

15/08/2024

Did you know that foster parents can be absolutely instrumental in ensuring a dog in need finds a loving forever home? 🐶

Providing a welcoming shelter and positive contact with people can make all the difference, so we want to thank every single foster parent out there: You were there when they needed you! 🥰

13/08/2024

First meetings are so important! We want to know how this fateful meeting went 🐾 🧑 Sometimes it’s love at first sight, and sometimes, it might take a couple of times to realise they are your forever pet.

How did it go? Tell us in the comments!

12/08/2024

Older pets are amazing company! There are many advantages to adopting an older dog 🐶 or cat 🐈 such as:
🐾 What you see is what you get, so no surprise growth spurts or significant body changes:
🐾 They are house-trained, usually love taking it easy, and their personality is already fully developed;
🐾 As they are less likely to be adopted, you’d be helping a pet in need and getting a fantastic buddy!

10/08/2024

Did you know our team is constantly learning new skills and seeking further training? 🤔

We are committed to giving you and your pets the best care possible, which means we strive to continuously improve our knowledge and we allocate plenty of hours per year in training sessions, seminars, congresses and other amazing learning opportunities!

08/08/2024

This International Cat Day, let’s learn a bit more about the amazing feline friends that light up our days with their cute antics, their charming chattiness and their boundless curiosity!

Here are some fun facts:

🐱 Cats have a top speed of up to 30mph

🐱 Their sense of smell is about 14 times better than ours

🐱 Slow blinking at you is a feline way of saying “hi”

🐱 They sleep about 18 hours per day

What else did we miss? Share your cool cat facts with us in the comments! 🐈 👇

07/08/2024

Not every cat can be the height of poise or athleticism. 🐈

If your feline friend isn’t going to win any agility prizes any time soon, we want to hear from you! 👋 Show us your goofy cats!

04/08/2024

We know that every snapshot of our furry friends deserves at least three Oscars and a Pulitzer. And that’s just for starters! (The rest of the awards can come later 🏆)

However, some of them are really outstanding and go into that special gallery of spectacular pet photos.

Give us those pics you think are definitely award-winning material 🤳 👇

03/08/2024

Earaches aren’t just bothersome,

👉 If your pet has recurrent ear problems (also called otitis), this usually means there’s a larger problem causing it!

Owners of dogs with large, floppy ears will know that these pets are prone to getting infections or excessive inflammation, but cats can also suffer from persistent ear problems, especially due to mites, fungi or allergic disease. Whatever the cause, it’s sure to mean an uncomfortable time for your pet!

It’s important to understand why your pet is suffering from recurrent otitis. Not only are they painful, regardless of cause, but infections can migrate further into the ear, and damage their hearing or even affect neurological functions, like balance or head movement.

If you’re concerned about your pet’s ear and hearing health, we are here for you! Contact us today 🩺

01/08/2024

Do you know what is the most diagnosed cat disease in the UK? Gum disease! Also called periodontal disease, it represents a whopping 15% of problems diagnosed annually and it is likely that your cat might be suffering or will suffer from it.

It’s important to keep a keen eye on your pet’s gums and if you notice redness, bleeding or difficulties eating, book an appointment with us!

30/07/2024

Bathing, clipping hair and taking care of your pet’s nails can be a complicated thing, especially if they have long fur or aren’t too inclined to cooperate!

Fortunately, you can always take them to a professional that will not only do this for you but will do it in a much less stressful way for your pet.

What do you do with your pets? 👉 Take them in to the groomer or do you do it all yourself?

28/07/2024

Let’s talk about going to the pet dentist! 🦷 How often do you bring your pets for a routine dental exam?

Dental and periodontal disease are extremely common in pets! If left untreated, these can:
🐾 Cause a lot of pain,
🐾 Lead to loss of teeth;
🐾 Cause infections to spread to other organs like the heart.

You can avoid this with a good daily tooth cleaning routine, treats that help with tartar build-up, and regular visits to us for a comprehensive oral exam and deep clean.

Worried about your furry friend’s dental health? Don’t hesitate to give us a call! 📲

27/07/2024

There are a ton of supplements for pets on the market, however how do you know which ones are safe and worth your money?

The best way to make sure your furry friend finds the supplement they need is to talk to us! We are always here to answer any questions you might have, and we only suggest supplements that we know and trust.

25/07/2024

Bringing in a new furry family member when you already have other pets can be tricky! 🐕 🐈 It’s important to give your pets time to acclimatise and get to know each other without being in permanent direct contact, for instance, with the help of a fence or seeing each other from different rooms.

Have you introduced new pets to your home? Tell us how it went! 👇

24/07/2024

This , why not put your pet’s best paw forward when it comes to saving the planet, and see how far you can go to reducing their requirement for plastic? 🌍

Meet the plastic-free pet!

🥣 The diet – Whenever possible buy pet food with reusable bags or tins and find bulk options if you need to get plastic.

🧺 The wardrobe – Leads, collars and clothes made of leather, metal or natural fibres are a great and stylish choice!

🏡 The home – Get creative and make your own toys, try to recycle (or upcycle!) beddings and avoid buying plastic toys.

How many of these do you already do? 👇