PAWS Veterinary Health Centre

26/11/2024

Christmas means Chocolate!

PAWS has seen our first festive chocolate ingestion case of 2024.

A dog discovered a box of chocolates stashed for Christmas and went ahead and helped themselves to a large portion! Luckily their owner promptly spotted what had happened and we were able to make the dog sick in time.
We fully expect that this will not be the only case of chocolate poisoning in the coming weeks!
Please be vigilant with pets and chocolates, and if in doubt, please be in touch as soon as possible.

Christmas is associated with an excess of food and top of the list is chocolate. This of course means an increase in cases of accidental ingestion in pets, particularly dogs. We see a huge increase in call numbers relating to chocolate at this time of year – around 20% of all chocolate cases

25/11/2024

The recent cold weather has certainly made things more difficult for many around the country, and our pets are no exception. Mandy's dog Misty seemed much more keen to view last week's snow from the warmth of the house than go out for a walk in it!

At this time of year, we are always mindful of some of the risks posed by the cold weather, including frostbite or salt-toxicity from cold, gritted pavements and roads. Cats are also at risk of de-icer ingestion and hypothermia is also a real risk for any cats who may be unfortunate enough to get stranded outside.

Please also remember to check under your wheel arches when setting off in the car, as sometimes outdoor cats can hide here for warmth and come to harm.

23/11/2024

We have been requested by APHA to remind owners of XL bully dogs, whose dogs were at least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old on 31 January 2024, that they must provide Defra with evidence that neutering has been carried out on or before 31 December 2024.

With this deadline fast approaching, if you need to speak to us regarding neutering, please call our reception team at the earliest opportunity.

Owners and vets can use this form to confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered.

22/11/2024

A reminder that appointments can be booked online for both PAWS and Whitestone Veterinary Clinic. Scan the QR code for the appropriate clinic, or use the widget on or website.

Similarly, it is now possible to sign up for our Lifetime Care Club at the following link:

https://midshirevetgroup.easydirectdebits.co.uk/signup/welcome

20/11/2024

Further to the information available on gov.uk regarding pet microchipping, the government website is also the starting point for any pet owners considering travelling abroad with their cats, dogs or ferrets.

https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad

Please note that any pet owners wishing to travel with their pets over the festive period will need to ensure that their animal's Rabies vaccination is up-to-date.

Given that this requires more than three weeks to successfully achieve, we would encourage anyone with travel plans to be suitably prepared.

Take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: getting a pet passport or export health certificate, microchip, vaccinations and tapeworm treatments.

19/11/2024

Earlier in 2024, the UK saw the introduction of mandatory microchipping for pet cats, with the intention that cats that go missing can be more easily united with their owners. This also aligns the rules for both cats and dogs.

Since this rule change, we have been delighted with the response of pet owners, with a number of owners seeing first-hand how these new rules can bring pets back home.

To clarify, the law in England applies to all cats irrespective of whether they go outside or not. Full details of your responsibilities can be found on the gov.uk website.

https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-cat-microchipped

How to get your dog or cat fitted with a microchip: when to get it done, who can do it, how to update your details, what to do when getting a dog or cat

18/11/2024

Bright At Night!

Following on from the dogs trust cold weather advice, here's a great graphic from our out-of-hours team at Vets Now, on how to keep your dog 'Bright At Night' when out walking at dusk or dawn.

16/11/2024

With a cold snap forecast for the coming days, we thought it was probably time to share this 'cold-weather advice' from the Dogs Trust. It even includes information on how to train a dog to wear a coat!

Our safety tips will ensure you and your dog will be happy while walking in a winter wonderland.

15/11/2024

Loving this post from Beanz Books about their latest book hunt. We hope everyone who has found one of the books has had a great time hunting for and then reading the books.

Such a lovely idea, and we're delighted to be a part of it

https://www.facebook.com/beanzbooks/posts/pfbid0f34rrcMVYRvkJpCuqvucJ41hE9FsFTY9KiKQgQVN7dM2YZAJYL4QcAJ5E22EthKbl

13/11/2024

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest global health issues of our time.

That is why during November, veterinary practices across the UK are taking part in an
Practices such as PAWS & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic are encouraging owners who may have 'left-over' antibiotics from previous courses of treatment for their pets to bring them to the practice for proper disposal.

Not following the course as set out by vets can put pets at harm of developing resistant infection, and discarding un-used medications in household waste damages the environment, impacting water quality and wildlife.

That is why we are asking clients to bring us any of their pets' remaining medications for safe, judgement-free disposal.

This is just a small part of our role as antibiotic stewards. More information can be found on the "Paws to Protect" website.

https://www.noah.co.uk/campaigns/paws-to-protect/

(Please note we cannot refund for unused medications. Nor can these drugs be used again for any reason, including charitable endeavours.)

Depending on the veterinary medicine, information will be on the immediate product label, on the packaging or on the package and the leaflet that comes with the product. Your vet may also give you specific advice and instructions specifically tailored to your pet and its condition.

11/11/2024

While bonfire night may be behind us, it is not long before new years fireworks will be posing another challenge for noise-phobic animals.

If the last weeks have caused concern for you and your pet with firework fears and nervousness, then please get in touch to discuss what steps may be possible in preparation for 31st December.

Which put us in mind of this fun post from firework season in 2021!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=485824719189804

09/11/2024

A reminder that Poppets Dog Training has a regular blog looking at interesting and useful training tips.

https://www.poppetsdogtraining.co.uk/blog
Run by Rachel, a former nurse at PAWS & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic, both her website and page are a great source of information for new and experienced dog owners alike.

07/11/2024

Last week Anubis Tails joined us for his 6-month juvenile check. He loved weighing himself and walked straight to our scales. We're over the moon that he seemed so relaxed here and seemed to enjoy his experience!

05/11/2024

For any owners looking for soothing music to calm anxious pets this Bonfire night, Classic FM has a host of programming and information dedicated to keeping pets chilled out!
We love that they've taken so much time to find just the right music for our furry friends!

Classical music has proved time and time again to be the perfect calming antidote for an anxious furry friend.

04/11/2024

Here's Mabel awaiting her second vaccination at Whitestone Veterinary Clinic, sitting so beautifully and posing for a photo!

02/11/2024

With many bonfires and firework displays taking place this evening in advance of the 5th November, we would encourage all pet owners to be vigilant for signs of stress in their pets.

Similarly we hope that everyone planning to set off fireworks in the coming nights to be considerate of local animals.

Please note, in case of emergency, details of our out-of-hours service can be obtained from our recorded phone message, though we hope all animals will have a safe and stress-free weekend.

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween from everyone at PAWS and Whitestone Veterinary Clinic!

We hope that everyone has a lovely evening tonight and that all pets feel safe and sound, receive plenty of treats and don't get up to too many tricks!

30/10/2024

Moose was recently at PAWS for his first vaccination - he was an absolute superstar and we look forward to seeing him again in a few weeks for his second dose!