Orchard Vet Centre - Harborne, Oldbury, Wednesbury

12/12/2024

Have you put your Christmas tree up yet? If so, we’d love to see it! There’s no winner for the best tree, we’re just being nosey 👀

Share your snaps in the comments section below!

10/12/2024

Can you help us make a difference this Christmas to a furry friend's life?

This year we are collecting donations for Furbabies Cat Rescue and Birmingham Dogs Home and we would greatly appreciate any help you can give with donations of food, toys and bedding.

If you’d like to donate, drop your items into our Oldbury branch and we’ll take it from there!

09/12/2024

We want all our clients to have a happy and safe Christmas, so we’ve put together a little list of things to avoid at home to make sure you don’t need any unexpected visits to the vets!

🍫 Chocolate 🍫 contains a stimulant called theobromine, a bit like caffeine, that’s poisonous to dogs and cats. Never put chocolate treats, or presents that may contain chocolate, on or under your tree.

The seriousness of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your pet has eaten, how big they are and the cocoa content. If your pet has eaten chocolate keep the packaging and call us immediately.

All 🥧 grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas 🥧 as well as foods that contain them, are toxic to dogs. Ingestion of even a small quantity can cause liver failure. Don’t forget, this will include food that contains dried fruits, such as mince pies and Christmas pudding. Keep well out of reach and carefully dispose of leftovers.

🍺 Alcohol 🍺 can cause severe liver and brain damage and is significantly more toxic to dogs than to humans. It may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma and even death. Clean up spillages as they happen and never leave leftover drinks lying around.

One sweetener in particular 🍬 xylitol 🍬 is found in many foods, including some cakes. The level of xylitol varies from product to product, but just one stick of chewing gum is enough to make your dog seriously ill. Ingestion can lead to potentially fatal hypoglycaemia, acute liver disease and blood clotting. You should call us immediately if you think your dog has eaten anything containing xylitol.

If eaten pine needles from your 🎄 Christmas tree 🎄 can cause mild stomach upset, cuts to the mouth, blockages and, in severe cases, even perforation of the intestines. Glass baubles tend to smash into shards when eaten, causing irritation, perforation or blockages so opt for shatter-proof baubles or decorations. Dogs and cats can eat tinsel which can cause blockages while fairy lights can cause electric shock if chewed. Be mindful of this when placing your decorations!

Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890
Harborne 0121 428 1777

Vets Now Birmingham 0121 238 2005

07/12/2024

Love your pet's care with us? 🐾💖

Your feedback helps us grow and continue to provide the best service possible! 🌟 If we've made a difference for you and your furry friend, we'd be so grateful if you could leave us a review on Google. 📝 It only takes a moment and means the world to us! 👉

Post a review to our profile on Google

06/12/2024

Do you fancy making a Christmas treat for your pet? 🎅

Click the link below to download a recipe for pet-safe Christmas cookies. Not only are these pet-friendly, but they’re also great to make at home with the kids! 🎄⛄️

Orchard Vets Blog

04/12/2024

It’s time for us to test your problem-solving skills now with the first lot of our Christmas anagrams! Unjumble the words below to reveal the names of Christmas movies. Remember, we’re picking one person at random to win a Christmas treat, so give it a go even if you only know one!

1: SMITH WRIST ACHE
2: A DEFINITE WOLF SLUR
3: ONE HAM OLE
4: HOT NEWSMAN
5: GIANT JELLY WHALE
6: NIGH RETCH

02/12/2024

In the run-up to Christmas this year we thought we’d do something a little bit different so we’ll be bringing you an interactive Christmas calendar and we want you to get involved! 🎅

We’ll be selecting one person at random from each advent post to win a Christmas treat so have a go at solving our riddles, answering our trivia and sharing your snaps throughout December.

Here are a couple of riddles to get you going – leave your answers in the comments section! 🎄

1: If the end of the year is December 31st, what is the end of Christmas?

2: I can travel all around the world just like Santa Claus without ever leaving my corner. What am I?

3: I am tall when I am young, and I am short when I am old. What am I?

28/11/2024

Cold and damp conditions can aggravate osteoarthritis during the winter and autumn months, so you may notice your pet behaving slightly differently!

Signs to look out for:
🐾 Decreased activity
🐾 Quieter demeanour
🐾 Reluctance to exercise
🐾 Difficulty rising from a sitting or lying position
🐾 Changes in posture
🐾 Changes in appetite

How you can help to keep your pet comfortable:
🐾 Get your dog a padded dog bed at home and a nice warm coat for walkies
🐾 Use warm compression on joints
🐾 Try warming up or massaging joins before exercise
🐾 Use of non-slip mats and dog boots to aid grip
🐾 Try to avoid any slippery surfaces
🐾 Wash and dry paws after walks to remove any salt or grit
🐾 Keep your pet active indoors with the use of toys and puzzles like hide-and-seek
🐾 Maintain a suitable body weight

You can also enquire about our physiotherapy and hydrotherapy services based at our Oldbury and Wednesbury branches.
🌊 Hydrotherapy helps to relax muscles, increase blood circulation and relieve pain. The buoyancy of the water helps to alleviate pressure on the joints which is perfect for a dog struggling with osteoarthritis.
🏋️ Physiotherapy aims to build muscle strength, increase range of motion in joints and reduce pain.

Call us today to find out more or book your sessions
Oldbury 0121 544 0404

And a big thank you to Willow for modelling his lovely winter coat selection for us!

25/11/2024

We hope you’ve learned a bit about diabetes! Remember, with consistent, effective treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and adequate monitoring, a diabetic pet should have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic cat or dog of the same age so, although it may sound scary, there’s plenty we can do to help!

You can call us any time for advice, whether It's diabetes-related or not!
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

21/11/2024

Ever wonder why we bang on about not giving your furry friends too many treats?

Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes in cats and dogs. It’s important to feed your pet a balanced diet, exercise them regularly and be careful with treats and snacks! Too many treats can risk weight gain. We aren’t saying you shouldn’t treat your pets, but just be mindful of the amount and type of treat you’re feeding them – it should always be less than 10% of your pets’ overall food intake.

We offer free weight clinics here at Orchard Vets, so give us a call if you’re concerned about your pets’ weight.

Our nurses are also available to chat with you about your pet’s diet and can help to recommend the most appropriate diet for your pet.

19/11/2024

Did you know pets can live a happy and healthy life even if they’re diagnosed with diabetes?

Sadly, diabetes can affect our dogs and cats, but it is manageable with good care, with most able to lead happy active lives. If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, your vet will advise on medication and an appropriate diet. High-fibre diets may be recommended to help with the management of body weight and blood sugar. Low carbohydrate diets may also be of benefit in some diabetic cats.

Insulin is generally regarded as the benchmark treatment for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Owners of diabetic pets should discuss how best to prepare the insulin, and how much insulin is needed for pets, with our vets.

15/11/2024

So why is the hormone insulin important?

Insulin affects how your pet’s body uses food. When your pet eats, food is broken down into very small components its body can use.

One component, carbohydrate, is converted into several types of simple sugars, including glucose. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, where it travels to cells throughout the body. Inside cells, insulin helps turn glucose into fuel. If there’s too little insulin available, glucose can’t enter cells and can build up to a high concentration in the bloodstream.

As a result, a diabetic pet may want to eat constantly but will appear malnourished because its cells can’t absorb glucose.

13/11/2024

Diabetes in cats and dogs is more common than you might think! In fact, diabetes is one of the most common endocrine conditions found in cats. Anywhere between 1 in 100 and 1 in 500 cats and dogs develops diabetes, and those numbers are expected to increase.

While diabetes is typically diagnosed in older cats and neutered male cats are most commonly affected, diabetes has been diagnosed in cats of all ages, both sexes (intact and neutered), and all breeds. In dogs, certain breeds are more likely to develop the condition with diabetes occurring in dogs aged between 4 to 14 years old. Unneutered female dogs are twice as likely as male dogs to suffer from diabetes.

Did you know diabetes was that common?

11/11/2024

Diabetes symptoms and the complications of the disease are also similar in humans. The following symptoms could indicate that your animal has diabetes

🐾 Weight loss, often despite an increased appetite
🐾 Excessive thirst and urination
🐾 Breakdown of body fat and development of ketoacidosis
🐾 Lower appetite
🐾 Pungent breath with a chemical smell
🐾 Complications associated with diabetes

Knowing the signs of diabetes is the first step in protecting your pet’s health. If any of these statements describe your pet don’t panic! Call us to book an appointment with one of our vets who’ll talk you through the diagnosis procedure and treatment options.

07/11/2024

November is Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, so throughout November we’ll be sharing information surrounding signs and symptoms, management and causes of diabetes in pets.

Diabetes mellitus relates to an inability to properly regulate glucose (a sugar and a basic source of energy) in the body. There are two main types of diabetes. Type I, more common in dogs, occurs when the body is not able to produce enough of the hormone insulin to regulate glucose levels adequately. In Type II, or insulin-resistant diabetes, enough insulin is produced but cells don’t respond to it. Type II diabetes is more common in cats, although they may also have Type I.

Stay tuned to find out what symptoms to be on the lookout for 👀

01/11/2024

Bangs and crackles can cause Bonfire Night to be a stressful time for your pet. There are plenty of things you can do at home to ease any anxiety your pet may be under.

🎆 Take your pooch for a walk earlier on in the day before any fireworks start, consider keeping cats in overnight and move any outside small furries indoors for the night. Once inside, make sure any windows, blinds and curtains are closed and pop either the TV or the radio on once fireworks start to help drown out the noise. Every year, Classic FM presents a Pet Classics show to help you and your pet relax during fireworks season.

🎇 Make your pet a den in a quieter part of your house, away from windows if possible. The PDSA has a great guide on building a den for your pet if you’re unsure where to start. Your pets den should include their favourite toys and blankets and ideally be under furniture or in a quiet corner.

🔥 If possible, stay in with your pets as this will provide them with some reassurance and comfort once any noise starts! If it’s not possible for you to be at home, contact us to see what pheromone options are available.

🎆 Finally, just in case of a worst-case scenario, make sure your pet's microchip details are all up to date. This will help you to be reunited with your pet should they become spooked and run off!

If you need any more advice, please call us to chat with one of our nurses
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

31/10/2024

🦎🦜‘Creepy Crawly’ pet highlight 🐍🐢

This little cutie is Ginge – a 10-month-old corn snake. Ginge’s parents brought her in to see our vet Emma for a general health check and she was a real hit with our team!

Emma has always had a keen interest in exotics and has undertaken extra qualifications to treat and advise on a wide range of exotic species. In 2019 she gained a General Practitioner Certificate in Exotic Animal Practice, so you can rest assured that she knows her stuff when it comes to treating the less conventional pet.

If you have a unusual pet and are looking for a vet, give us a call today to book your appointment!
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777

29/10/2024

💀 Spooky Pet Myth 💀

It’s time for us to bust another spooky pet myth and today we’re talking about ravens 🐦

Ravens feature in lots of myths, legends and folklore from Celtic and Greek mythology to the Norse Gods and Old Testament, they are steeped in a fascinating history.

Throughout history, this mystical blackbird has often been seen as an evil omen that can bring bad luck and even death. Some saw these birds as tricksters and others as messengers from the gods. Even to this day, it is said that if the tower of London were to lose its resident ravens the kingdom itself would fall.

However, ravens are incredibly smart birds and can often be seen engaging in playful behaviour. They usually mate for life, and are often faithful to their breeding site which means if you have a pair nearby they’re likely to stick around for a while!

There have been numerous studies conducted into the cognitive skills of ravens and it’s believed that, by the time they’re four months old, their problem-solving skills can rival that of an eight-year-old child! Ravens have been known to use tools, solve puzzles and even remember human faces.

So, next time you see a raven try giving it a little treat – it will soon come to think of you as its friend!