Westmorland Veterinary Group

04/09/2024

20/08/2024

'He's limping, but he's not in pain!'

This is something we hear, a lot.

And unfortunately it can lead to a huge amount of pets carrying on with chronic pain without the necessary medicinal or multimodal support.

An article by Vet Help Direct helps to explain more about where this confusion stems from:

Limping and stiffness can be caused by several different conditions. The most common being acute injuries and skeletal issues like osteoarthritis (OA). As many as 80% of dogs over 8 years old have OA in one or more joints.

The way that our dogs display pain may not be how we expect; limping usually equals pain or discomfort!

The article covers:

➡️ The difference between acute and chronic pain
➡️ If your pet will ever limp without pain
➡️ Treatment options

https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/04/12/your-dogs-limping-that-means-hes-in-pain/

14/08/2024

summer parties and barbeques are in full swing but make sure your pets don't accidently get something they shouldn't !

12/08/2024

All packed and ready to go?! don't forget to ensure your pet is safe and provided for on your journey 🙂🐾😎

10/08/2024

As holiday season gets into full swing and we head off with our 4 legged friends for new adventures be sure your dog is wearing an identity tag (still a legal requirement in the UK) and that their microchip is working and the details are up to date just in case your furry friend gets a little to excited in a new place and gets lost. You can always pop into the surgery for us to run a scanner over your dog to check their chip 🐾😎🐾

08/08/2024

Date for the Diary ! we will be there, come and visit our stand and enjoy a day at the show

05/08/2024

"Let sleeping dogs Lie" did you know that dogs need up to 16 hours sleep a day. This is essential for their health and wellbeing, so ensure your dog has access comfy bed with no disturbances 😴😴😴🐾🐾🐾

04/08/2024

02/08/2024

Summer holidays have started! Visiting the beach can be a great day out for you and your dogs but remember to stay safe 😉😎🐾🐾🐾

01/08/2024

Our amazing vet and runner Katie won the women's race at the Kentmere Horseshoe Fell Race, Sunday 21st July 2024 finishing in a time of 1 hour 58 mins 38 secs 🧑‍🦯

29/07/2024

Proud mum and vet Mary Crackles is off to Paris to support her daughter Fiona who is competing in Olympics as part of the British Women's Hockey team.🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇲🇿🇲🇿🇸🇭🇸🇭🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

28/07/2024

The cost of living is going up and up and sadly that means so are vet fees. We recommend pet insurance to give you peace of mind that you can cover the costs should your pet need veterinary care for accident or illness. Many policies these days will also cover complimentary treatments such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and behavioural consults.

25/07/2024

how handsome is he?!

Burghley is on the lookout for his forever home, he would be happy to live with another calm dog and school aged children.

To find out more and to submit an adoption application, please follow the link below:

https://www.animalrescuecumbria.co.uk/burghley/

25/07/2024

We try to keep to appointment times but things don't always go to plan. Please speak to one of our reception team if you think you've been waiting a while or you are in a rush and we will do our best to keep you informed and see you and your pet as soon as possible.

23/07/2024

Remember our small furry friends in the heat, ensure they have plenty of shade and ventilation.🐰🐹🐭

22/07/2024

We recently said a fond farewell to small animal vet Fia as she moves onto new adventures. She will be missed by all of the team and the clients and there pets. 🥰

21/07/2024

Summer has arrived again! while you are enjoying the glorious warm days don't forget your pets and ensure they are kept safe 😎

06/07/2024

How old is your dog?

04/07/2024

Westmorland Vets are lucky to have some fabulous Registered Veterinary Nurses and Trainee Veterinary nurses. The training takes lots of dedication and hard work. The BVNA (British Veterinary Nursing Association) is a great place to find out how to get into veterinary nursing.

03/07/2024

Older dogs often need a bit of extra TCL. Is you dog slowing down or reluctant to walk? Is your dog sleeping more? Do they struggle with stairs or getting into the car? All signs of old age but there are things we can do to help. Contact the surgery to arrange a senior pet check and ensure your treasured friends are happy and comfortable in their senior years.

30/06/2024

Flystrike in pets
Flystrike is a painful and sometimes fatal condition caused by flies laying their eggs on another animal. These hatch into maggots, which eat the flesh of their 'hosts'. If your pet becomes infested, ask a vet for help immediately.

Which pets are most at risk?
Pets with dirty rear ends or generally dirty fur are particularly at risk of flystrike.
This may happen in animals which:
Are unable to clean themselves properly
Are ill - they may produce abnormally smelly urine or have diarrhoea
Are fed the wrong food
Have an internal parasitic infection
Have open wound(s).
Even clean, well-kept pets can get flystrike.
Preventing flystrike in pets
Flystrike can happen in a matter of hours and can quickly lead to toxic shock and death.

Some of the things you can do to help prevent flystrike include:

Daily health checks - check for signs of illness, injury and abnormal behaviour daily.
In warm weather, check your pet all over their body, especially around their rear end and tail area, at least twice a day.
If your pet's back end is dirty, clean it immediately with warm water and ensure the area is dried thoroughly. You may need to clip their fur, but ask a specialist if you're not sure how to do this.
Clean toilet areas every day.
Clean housing and change bedding at least once a week.
Ensure your pet isn't overweight and feed them the right food.
Insect-proof outdoor animal housing - putting net curtains over hutches and runs, etc.
Neuter female rabbits, as unneutered females may be more prone to flystrike.

28/06/2024

A successful weekend on the Isle of Man for our Kirkby receptionist, Alison and her border collie Jesse James winning their obedience class 🐾🐾🐾well worth the trip 🙂

26/06/2024

Westmorland Vets Mary and Holly and RVN Cathy were at Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale last week helping the students through mock interviews, preparing them for their future.

25/06/2024

Summer has suddenly arrived, heat can affect our pets so take care to keep the cool and safe.

24/06/2024

Our wonderful vet Judith showing and winning with her home bred Hampshire Down Sheep

Fantastic showcase for the breed at the National Show at Three Counties

20/06/2024

Today officially marks the first day of summer ☀️ 😊☀️ and warmer weather is on the horizon, please read the advice give to keep your pets safe and we'll in the sun 🐾💕🐾

20/06/2024

Another new face at our Kirkby surgery is Heather, a newly qualified RVN who recently joined the Westmorland Vet family, fitting in well with her smiley face and passion for the pets in her care 🥰

18/06/2024

Handsome Oscar showing his new family member cute little Dudley the ropes at the vets patiently waiting for their vet check.

16/06/2024

Meet one of our fabulous RVN's Shaney who works at our Kirkby Lonsdale branch. Shaney qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999 and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the animals in her care.

12/06/2024

Gorgeous little Jasper came in for his monthly puppy check with one of our nurses and thoroughly enjoyed his licki mat! These appointments are great for you and your puppy for weight checks, advice and help with raising a puppy and a wonderful opportunity for your puppy to socialise and enjoy a trip to the vets.