Rathfriland Veterinary Clinic

23/08/2024

UPDATE

The owner has been found. Thank you all for your help in sharing the post 🎉

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🐕 This lovely lady was found on the Drumarkin Road, Rathfriland today.

She is chipped but it's not registered unfortunately.

If you recognise her, please get in touch. We will need to see proof of ownership.

Please share so we can find her family.

06/07/2024

Have you seen this cat?

Missing from Drumdreenagh Road area.

Please share so others can help to find her 🐈‍⬛

24/06/2024

UPDATE

Back safe and sound from his adventures 🐈‍⬛

Thanks to everyone who shared it.

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*MISSING*

Have you seen this cat? Missing since last Thursday, last seen around the Cavan Road area of Rathfriland.

Very distinctive markings on front paws. Friendly so can be approached.

Please share to get him back home 🐈‍⬛

13/06/2024

🐕 This wee dog was found on the Bannfield Road, Rathfriland today (Thursday 13th June).

She's a cocker spaniel female that unfortunately has no microchip.

Please share so we can reconnect her to her family.

Contact us here at the page at any time of day or night, or on 02840630385 from 9am to 5pm.

Please note: proof of ownership will be required in order to claim her.

08/05/2024

**Important Information**

Due to technical issues in the clinic, our card payment and computer systems are currently down.

We are working to get them fixed ASAP. In the meantime we ask you to have your pet medication information to hand when ordering more or bring in the packet when coming to the clinic.

Also please pay by cash or cheque for appointments, medicine etc.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation at this time and hope it won't be long until we're back to normal in the office. Any issues, please call the clinic at 02840630385.

08/03/2024

Happy International Women's Day to all those wonderful women out there! A particular mention to each of the women in our team here in Rathfriland and all the hard work they do, to Rebecca, Ruth, Sharon, Emese, Nuala and Hannah, thankyou!

26/02/2024

🕶️ We know it's still February and those much needed summer holidays still feel so far away, but they'll come around faster than you think...

🐶 Are your pets vaccinations up to date? Some vaccinations need a booster before a kennel/cattery will accept your pet in through the door, so be sure to check what is needed and when, and book your slot in time.

🐱 This also applies if you're not going away this year as you don't want the vaccinations to lapse. It's better you keep on top of them and your pet will be healthier for it too.

05/02/2024

If only the cows could tell us when they'll calve and if they'll need any help - it would make our jobs a lot easier 🐄 😂

🐮🥛 F E B R U D A I R Y 🥛🐮

Farmers are on hand all the time to make sure calving problems are kept to a minimum. Sometimes checking cows in the very late or early hours because we care. Farming isn’t just a job. It’s a passion it’s part of our genetic make up.

Did you know…
A cow is pregnant for around 283days, that’s about nine months

During this time she will spend on average 60 days on holiday. This deliberate inactive period given to all dairy cows is super important so they can rest, recuperate and replenish.

Once calved the cow will join the milking herd and will naturally come bulling or on heat 30days later. This heat will occur every 18-24 days and lasts on average 14-15 hours. This change in behaviour continues until the cow is back in calf. And so completes the pregnancy cycle.

The Dairy Shorthorn is renowned for excellent fertility, easy calving and being excellent mothers. It’s one of the many benefits of the breed

11/01/2024

A dark grey tabby cat has been found on the Redbridge Road. Unfortunately he came to us already deceased. We would love to reunite him with his family. If you think this is your cat, please contact us here on 02840630385 💔

09/01/2024

Wishing Blue all the best 🐕‍🦺

🐾 Blue
🏥 Referral - Internal Medicine
🩺 Advanced Practitioner - Alison Irwin

Blue, a beautiful young Labrador retriever, was referred to NIVS following a 3 month history of inappetence, weight loss and persistently elevated liver enzymes.
On presentation Blue was underweight and had a slightly elevated temperature 🤒 Blood work confirmed marked increases in her liver enzymes and a mild increase in her bilirubin level. A hepatopathy can be due to a primary liver problem or secondary to extra hepatic disease e.g. anaemia, gastrointestinal disease etc. Screening for infectious diseases which can cause liver inflammation was negative. Tests for malabsorption (due to the weight loss) did not support this diagnosis and a rare disease, which can lead to poor body condition, called Addison’s disease was excluded by measuring Blue’s cortisol levels 🩸

An abdominal ultrasound examination did not reveal any marked abnormalities however this does not completely exclude inflammatory disease.
To investigate the cause of the elevated liver enzymes further Blue required a liver biopsy. Her blood clotting times were checked prior to surgery as the liver is responsible for producing clotting factors. In cases where liver function is a concern it is a wise precaution to ensure these times are not prolonged due to deficiency of clotting factors before considering surgery. We can sometimes supplement the dog prior to the biopsy being taken and if there is a high risk of bleeding we can have typed blood available in case a transfusion is necessary. Luckily Blue’s clotting times were normal and a feeding tube was placed (to be able to provide nutrition) at the same time as biopsies were obtained under general anaesthetic.

Blue’s liver biopsies revealed inflammation with some mild areas of fibrosis (scarring). Culture of her liver tissue and a bile sample were both negative. A separate sample was submitted for copper estimation and Blue’s level came back as being markedly elevated leading to a diagnosis of Copper associated hepatitis.

In some breeds, this disease is an inherited defect in copper metabolism however in others it is unclear whether copper accumulation is a primary or secondary condition.

Blue was started on a copper restricted diet and prescribed chelation therapy – a drug to try to remove copper from the liver. She also receives some liver support drugs, antinausea medication and appetite stimulants and will require close monitoring of her liver parameters and possible repeat liver biopsy to recheck her copper levels.
We keep fingers crossed for a good response for beautiful Blue 🤞

Thank you to our colleagues at Rathfriland Veterinary Clinic for the referral 🏥

09/11/2023

✅ Date for your diary

🐑 Sheep Health Event

📍Hilltown Sales Yard

📅 Monday 20th November

⏰ 7.30pm

13/09/2023

Back British Farmers today and every day 🐄🐑🥕🥦🥔🥛

29/08/2023

🐶Black and white collie found Barnmeen area has been handed in to the clinic. No chip unfortunately. We hope to reunite the dog with the owners asap (proof of ownership will be required).

05/04/2023

This free event is taking place tomorrow, Thursday 6th April at First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church. Be sure to book your place.

13/03/2023

by signing the Dogs Trust petition.

02/03/2023

Have you ever thought of adopting a cat from a local centre or even keeping the one that randomly showed up at your door one day? They are truly wonderful pets to have (although all the jokes about them being the boss of the house are all completely true in our experience). They bring joy to so many people, they are fiercely independent as well as loving - they'll even bring you presents to prove how much they care about you...

If you haven't thought about rescuing a cat, please do. There are so many in local shelters that get overlooked for the cute puppies and kittens. Your home can be made better with a cat in it. If you do take the step, be sure to ask the shelter or us for advice on what to do for the first while until they get used to being in their new surroundings. The last thing you want is for them to get out and not know how to get back to their new home.

Share your pics of your rescue cats below.

22/02/2023

** Update - Tabitha has been found **

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Tabitha has gone missing from Dundrum and may have got in a van. She's chipped and spayed. Please keep an eye out and let us know if you see her 🐈