Professional Pet Care Services

10/05/2025

Librela injections - WARNING

For anybody who has a dog currently on Librela injections please, please read the latest study results.

I've always been convinced that Librela caused Rapid onset osteoarthritis in my Fennel with devastating consequences. 😢 This new study has pretty much confirmed my suspicions.

All of the adverse affects being displayed in dogs on Librela have been reported in humans, on the human form of the drug, many times over. Rapid onset Osteoarthritis often presents in humans after 6 months of treatment. The Veterinary version was tested on dogs for 2 months and deemed a very low risk of adverse joint reactions.

The latest study has deemed that dogs are ~9 x more likely to develope joint or ligament damage than those on other commonly used medications. The diagnostic imagery in the paper speaks for itself and replicates exactly what we saw with Fennel.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1581490/full

11/03/2025

Lungworm in Dogs: The importance of treatment!

Lungworm, scientifically known as Angiostrongylus vasorum, is a serious and potentially fatal parasite that is increasingly affecting dogs. Recently, we have seen a rise in cases at our hospital, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.

How Do Dogs Get Lungworm?

Lungworm is primarily transmitted through snails and slugs. Dogs can become infected by:
• Drinking from outdoor water sources
• Eating grass
• Playing with toys left outside
These parasites then make their way to the heart and lung vessels, causing significant health issues.

Symptoms to Watch For

Unfortunately, lungworm symptoms can be subtle and often go unnoticed until the infection is advanced. Key symptoms include:
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Bleeding and bruising
• Weight loss
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Inappetance
• Lethargy

Most commonly, though, there are NO symtoms until it is too late.

Prevention and Treatment

Preventing lungworm involves reducing your dog's exposure to potential carriers like snails and slugs. Regular vet check-ups and preventive treatments can also help keep your dog safe. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned, seek veterinary care immediately. Please do check that the products that you are using cover your dog for lungworm – even if you are worming regularly not all products cover it (e.g. Drontal, Panacur) so be aware of what you are using. Panacur treats only oslerus osleri, which is not the type of lungworm that we're concerned about in this post.

If you would like to discuss the wormers you are using you can book a free flea/worming treatment check (as long as that is all that is discussed) with one of our vets at any of our branches. Please also see the link to our Heath Care Plan below. Let's keep all our pets safe! https://www.hampdenvets.co.uk/small-animal/pet-health-plan




Photo of dog on a beach taken from Pexels under Creative Commons license.

19/12/2024

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/christmas-dangers-for-dogs

Many Christmas foods are tasty for us but dangerous for dogs. Keep your dog safe this festive season with our expert advice.

19/12/2024