Black Sheep Vets

17/01/2025

**Exciting News for 2025!**

We are pleased to announce that East Lincs Emergency Vets have renewed their partnership with us for 2025.

As a 24/7 practice, they will primarily assist with our out-of-hours emergency rescues.

Thank you, East Lincs Emergency Vets, for your continued support!

Visit us at CleethorpesWildlifeRescue.com

16/01/2025

Dogs are wonderful, joyous animals, but sometimes their timing and enthusiasm can lead to awkward situations, including:

🐶 Fetching dirty laundry in the middle of your date

🐶 Hu***ng a stranger's leg

🐶 Breaking wind in a lift

Has this ever happened to you? 🤭 What was the most embarrassing thing your dog ever did? Share with us in the comments!

13/01/2025

Dental care is as important for our pets as it is for us, with periodontitis being one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in small animals.

However, caring for our pets' teeth and oral health is not something that we tend to do as regularly as recommended.

Let's change that!

➡️ Make sure you have some time to dedicate to implementing this new routine and that you're not going to be rushed.

➡️ Though brushing the teeth is ideal, you can build up to it, as there are other options you can use while you are both still getting the hang of things.

➡️ Offering your pet rewards throughout this learning process can help make this a great bonding experience for both.

What's your pet's dental care routine like? If you'd like any help, don't hesitate to reach out!

12/01/2025

Happy Chilly Sunday
!If you’ve not done so, get your dogs out early to enjoy the incredible smells that linger and are much more intense for dogs on a cold crispy morning .And post a photo of your dog loving the crispy weather this morning …

10/01/2025

How to get the most out of a visit to the vet …

1/ Come prepared - bring photos or videos of your pets problem (eg. Limping, acting weird)- this includes photos of the poo or vomit - trust me … we spend all our day taking and looking at these sorts of pictures (don’t judge us). Also bring a urine sample if that is the problem. If you have a dog, use a lead, and put your cat on a carrier (even if they’ll let you carry them- it’s much safer in the car and some dogs like to ‘play’ with loose cats running around the waiting room (although we do have separate cat and dog waiting areas to minimise this).

2/ Ask lots of questions if the explanations don’t make sense - or ask us to draw it on some paper (or the screen) - I do this all the time

3/ Ask about the options. There is rarely only one solution to your pet’s problem, some options get a more rapid answer, some involve more tests, whilst some involve a general anaesthesia or trials of medication. Always ask us to explain it again if needed 😊.

4/ Get an estimate. It’s a reality of life that health care costs money, whether it’s paid for in taxes (for humans) or directly to your vet. But you should always know in advance what the tests or treatment will cost - and we will always give you an estimate for any tests or procedures before they are done. We are always trying to tread a fine line between informing pet owners about the various costs but making sure that everyone’s focus is on your sick pet and not money.

5/ Finally, ask what happens next. Are you having blood tests now, or tomorrow ? Do you need to book another appointment ?What do you do if your pet isn’t getting better… or if they get worse ?

PS- I know my Luna Labrador puppy is the best pet in my family, but thought you might like to see a picture of Harry (and he doesn’t take any nonsense from Labrador puppies 😝)

09/01/2025

What if we told you that getting your cat to the vets doesn’t have to be dramatic?

😺 Step 1: go get your cat carrier (yes, we mean now)
Making the carrier a part of your cat’s usual environment can help them feel more comfortable with it. Just leave it there in the open, and in no time, you’ll find your cat exploring it. 🔍

😺 Step 2: turn on the appeal
What about putting a blanket inside it? Maybe some toys? A tasty treat? Spraying some relaxing pheromones? The idea here is to find something that your cat likes to lure them into going inside.

😺 Step 3: outright bribery
Once they take the initiative to go inside, make sure to reward them! This can help create a positive association, making it more likely for your cat to want to repeat this behaviour.

This can be a lengthy process, but please don’t rush it. It will all be worth it when you need to bring your cat in! 🐈

05/01/2025

Though every day is a surprise at our practice, there are some things that we see more often than others. Here’s our top 3:

💩 Diarrhoea – be it for having eaten something out of the ordinary or due to long-term intestinal disease, diarrhoea can have several causes that need to be properly diagnosed and treated.

🐾 Itchiness – this problem can often go unnoticed for some time, as some scratching is normal for pets, and it can be hard to recognise that it might be excessive until skin lesions start showing up.

⚖️ Weight loss – as weight loss tends to be gradual as well, it can also take you some time to recognise that your pet’s weight has changed. Again, there are a number of different diseases that can lead to weight loss, even without apparent changes in appetite.

If you recognise any of these signs on your pet, it’s important to investigate what might be behind them 🔍, so don’t hesitate to book an appointment with us!

02/01/2025

Click on the original post to be in with a chance of winning! 🤞🏼

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01/01/2025

We wish all of our community the best start to 2025! 🥳

May it bring you new opportunities, amazing adventures and outstanding days with your pets. 🐶 🐱 🐰

01/01/2025

31/12/2024

31/12/2024

We wish everyone a most excellent start to the new year! 🎉🥂 May your day be filled with joy and many good things, and may all your plans for the coming year come to fruition.

Happy New Year from our team!

31/12/2024

Did you eat too much at Christmas ?

I didn't mean you, I meant your dog....

Your dog isn't alone - and now is the perfect time, ie. when you're cuddling up on the sofa with your dog by the fire having a snooze.
To see if they are the appropriate weight:

** Step 1 - Look at your dog from above - is their waist ((just in front of their back legs) straight, does it have a little dip inwards, or is it the widest part of their body (like a barrel).
** Step 2 - Feel their ribs - You should be able to feel all the boney bumps of their ribs (there will be 13 on each side). You should be able to see where the ribcage ends and their waist starts, but you shouldn't be able to see each vertical rib bone.

We're aiming for a 3 on the picture below.

Like people, losing weight on your own can be hard, and most dog's won't tell you when their body has eaten sufficiently, in fact, many dogs will eat until they vomit (and then eat the vomit again obviously ! )- yes labradors - we're talking to you !

Each dog's dietary needs will be different, based on their age and how much exercise they are doing, so ask us if you're not sure (you can email, or chat with us on PetsApp), or attach a top and side photo below, letting me know your dog's age and how much exercise they are doing.

And don't worry, there is no such thing as fat/thin shaming for dogs - if your vet or nurse says your dog is too fat or thin, don't take it personally - it's purely to help them stay healthy - we don't judge 😊 .

31/12/2024

Are you making any New Year’s resolutions ?
More importantly, what resolutions would your pet make for 2025……

30/12/2024

What does your pet family look like? How many pets do you have, and of what species? Share them in the comments below! 🐶😺🐰🐍🐔

29/12/2024

What are you and your pet up to on this beautiful morning ?

Any exciting trips or adventures, or just plain old rest and recovery ?

Luna and I are out for a morning walk.
As you can see, her recall is coming on well … can you guess what her motivation is ?

28/12/2024

Just like us, as our dogs age, their mental processes decline. Although looking after their physical health is important, looking after their brain health is essential for your senior pets to have an excellent quality of life. 🐶

This mental decline is know as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), and something that can help if you suspect that your dog has it is the acronym DISHAA:

D – Does your dog show disorientation in a place they know well?

I – Has the way your dog interacts with the family changed?

S – Have there been changes to your dog’s sleeping patterns?

H – Is your dog house soiling?

A – Has your dog unlearned their ability to do certain activities?

A – Does your dog have moments of anxiety?

Get in touch with us if you spot any of these signs in your golden oldie. Although there’s no cure for CCD, there’s a lot we can do for your pet, such as adjusting their environment, nutrition and medications.