Walton Lodge Vets Stevenage

06/06/2024

We have widespread availability today and tomorrow, so feel free to make an appointment, or just drop in if you prefer!

There are only a few days left to get your cat microchipped to abide by the new law.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/W4rCY3oPQikLicRU/

❗️It will become law that your cat MUST be microchipped by Monday 10th June 2024

This includes cats that remain indoors.

Kittens must also be microchipped by 20 weeks of age.

🐈‍⬛️

A microchip is a very small electronic device that is implanted under the skin. It contains a number that is registered along with your personal details which can be read with a scanner.

The procedure only takes a few minutes and is relatively painless.

🐈‍⬛️

Microchipping gives you greater reassurance that your cat will be returned to you if they become lost.

04/06/2024

Struggling to give your pet tablets?
Here are 3 options! 🙂

🔸️

Hide the tablet in food

If hiding the tablet in your pet's main diet does not work, try disguising in a small piece of chicken or small spot of pate. We sell liver flavoured pate for dogs and cats, which is hypoallergenic and grain free.

🔸️

Use a pill-popper / tablet with your hands

A pill popper is a contraption used to release the tablet at the back of your pet's mouth. Book an appointment with nurse Hannah, who will happily show you how to tablet.

🔸️

Use a topical (apply to skin) alternative

Some medicines such as flea and worm products have a topical alternative, which we will recommend if our clients report that giving tablets has been unsuccessful.

Reach out to us on 01438364354 if you have any questions or need some support 👍

19/05/2024

Pet Health Club vs. Pet Insurance ❔️

The Pet Health Club is a fantastic, cost-effective option to ensure all of your pet's preventative needs are covered.

Dogs - £20.99/month (saving £300+/year)

Cats - £18.99/month (saving £200+/year)

There is also an option for rabbits.

But do not confuse the Pet Health Club with pet insurance, which we would also recommend to our clients.

You can join the Pet Health Club by visiting our website, or www.thepethealthclub.co.uk

16/05/2024

Adaptil 🐕‍🦺

Adaptil is a brand that produce a plug-in diffuser, collar and spray, which release synthetic versions of a dog's natural pheromones (messages) to help dogs feel more relaxed.

➡️ The plug-in diffuser has produced the following results from studies undertaken by Adaptil:

• 93% less signs of fear (trembling, hiding)
• 91% less destruction
• 75% less house soiling
• 65% less barking

➡️ The collar is useful while walking, as it can help reduce signs of fear outside of the home.

The junior collar can help reduce fears and anxieties of puppies moving into their new home or staying home alone. Studies have shown 90% less night time crying. It can also be used to achieve a better response to training.

➡️ The spray can be used on bedding and inside the car prior to transport. It has been shown to manage signs of car sickness such as panting, trembling and restlessness.

🐕‍🦺

The collar should not be removed (unless bathing), and the diffuser should not be unplugged unless you plan to discontinue using the products. We recommend waiting one week to see the full effects of the product.

You can order the products from us or purchase from retail.

13/05/2024

Behind the scenes 📷

2 years ago, Walton Lodge Vets in Stevenage moved into a refurbished and modern establishment at The Glebe.

There is a bright and welcoming reception, 2 consult rooms, laboratory, prep room, theatre, x-ray, kennels, and cattery!

10/05/2024

Post-operative Feeding 🍲

This is Ophelia, who was spayed at our vets yesterday. We will always offer our patients some food after surgery as long as it is not too close to discharge time and travel.

A tin will be provided for you to feed your pet when they return home, and you can purchase more from our practice if you wish.

😻

We recommend feeding an intestinal diet for a couple of days after an anaesthetic and surgery because:

● It is normal for your pet to feel a little nauseous. An intestinal diet is palatable to encourage your pet to eat.

● Your pet may experience some vomiting and diarrhoea. An intestinal diet contains easy digestible proteins and prebiotics to support healthy digestion and transit.

● An intestinal diet is energy dense, so your pet does not have to consume a larger amount of their normal (richer) diet that would put additional workload on the GI tract to process.

08/05/2024

Happy National Receptionists Day! 📞

A post dedicated to our amazing and committed receptionists, Doug and Angela, who have an impressive, combined 26 years experience working at Walton Lodge Vets!

These amazing professionals have a wealth of knowledge in their field and strive to deliver excellent customer service over the phone and in person to every one of our clients.

02/05/2024

Vaccinations 💉

Vaccinations are biological agents administered into your pet's skin to initiate an immune response and produce antibodies to better prepare your pet to fight infectious diseases if acquired in the future.

💉

When to vaccinate?

● Dogs have their 1st vaccination from 8 weeks of age and the 2nd, 4 weeks later
● Cats have their 1st vaccination from 9 weeks of age and the 2nd, 3 weeks later
● A 'booster' vaccination is recommended every year.

💉

Why vaccinate?

● To protect your pet against infectious diseases and to prevent the spread to the wider pet population.

● Pet insurance will likely be invalidated if your pet has not been vaccinated, or kept up to date with annual boosters

💉

The 1st vaccination is administered by a vet once they confirm your pet is clinically healthy.

The 2nd vaccination can be administered by a nurse once they confirm your pet has been clinically healthy since the 1st vaccination. This consult time will also be utilised to discuss other topics such as diet and training.

, ,

01/05/2024

May is Vet Nurse Awareness Month! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️
A time to celebrate all vet nurses, their vital roles and responsibilities, and their continued development in the veterinary profession.

Did you know?
Vet nurses are fully trained to:

♡ Run nurse clinics
♡ Administer 2nd vaccinations
♡ Prepare patients for procedures
♡ Monitor anaesthetics
♡ Place intravenous catheters
♡ Take blood
♡ Run diagnostic tests
♡ Take xrays
♡ Monitor and nurse sick animals
♡ Administer medication

and much more!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hJ5wTzVfCEtjafX4/

It’s the 1st of May, which means it’s the start of Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month 2024!

This year, our theme is ‘Progression’, and we aim to highlight the diverse range of skills, abilities and career pathways of veterinary nurses. We’ll also be raising awareness amongst the public about why protecting the ‘veterinary nurse’ title is so crucial.

In 2024, we celebrate 20 years since the campaign began, from its early beginnings as Veterinary Nursing Awareness Day from 2004, and since 2012 we’ve been campaigning for the whole month.

Visit our website for more information on how you can get involved this year; https://bvna.org.uk/blog/your-vnam2024-your-way/

💚 How will you be raising awareness of veterinary nursing this month? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

26/04/2024

Anaesthetic Monitoring 🩺

Here at Walton Lodge, we are very lucky to have up to date equipment to assist us with our hands-on (manual) monitoring of patients under anaesthetic.

➕️ Pulse Oximeter Probe
Placed on the patient's tongue, it measures oxygen saturation - the percentage of haemoglobin inside red blood cells, which is saturated with oxygen, as well as pulse (heart) rate.

➕️ Capnograph Line
Measures the amount of carbon dioxide in a patient's exhaled breath (ETC02), in addition to their respiratory (breathing) rate, producing this into a respiratory pattern.

➕️ Blood Pressure
Much like with humans, a cable links a cuff placed around the patient's leg to a separate machine to measure this parameter.

25/04/2024

In preparation for the new microchipping law, we are currently offering for a limited time only, £10 off microchipping for non-PHC members.

Don't forget, if you are a PHC member and your cat is already microchipped, you are entitled to a £10 voucher to spend at our vets.

🩷 PHC - Pet Health Club
www.thepethealthclub.co.uk

19/04/2024

Nutritional tips for your new puppy!

⭐️

Feed a puppy diet:
● It will be high in calories to replenish the energy your puppy expands.
● It will also be high in protein and calcium to support muscle and bone development.
● Dry food will be small enough to chew, swallow and digest.

⭐️

Refer to the packaging to determine your puppy's daily requirement in pouches/tins/trays of wet and/or grams of dry per day.

Split into at least 3 meals a day until they are 6 months old. Puppies have small stomachs and will be prone to digestive problems if they eat too much in one go.

⭐️

Try to use dry food as a treat. If you feed treats, they should take up no more than 10% of the daily calorie intake.

🐶

We understand that some aspects of nutrition can be confusing and overwhelming. We are here to support you with this. Don't hesitate to call or ask during the consultations you have with the team, any questions you have about feeding your new puppy.

17/04/2024

Here is beautiful Cavalier Arya, who is a local brand ambassador and has over 4000 followers on instagram! Arya came into our vets to be spayed last week.

A spay is a routine surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus in female dogs.

Female dogs should have their first season between 6 and 12 months of age. Most dogs are spayed before their first season at 6 months or 3 months after a season. The exact timing will depend on their breed and behaviour, as well as the vet surgeon's preference.

🐶

What are the advantages of having your dog spayed?

■ Prevents pregnancy

■ Eliminates the risk of uterine infection (pyometra)*

■ Eliminates the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer*

■ Reduces the risk of mammary (breast) cancer*

■ Prevents regular seasons and subsequent attention of male dogs.

The risks involved in the anaesthesia and surgery of a spay are very small compared to the risks of the life-threatening conditions noted above*

If you would like to find out more and/or book your dog in for a pre-operation check to be spayed, then call us on 01438364354.

10/04/2024

Last week, 2 year old Arakhis ('Peanut' in Russian) came in for his castration.

Castration is a term used to describe a minor and quick surgery to remove the testicles. Cats can be castrated from around 4 months of age.

Peanut's castration was a success and is pictured here, returning for his post-operation check 2 days later. He has been very well in himself, and his wound has already healed.

😺

What are the benefits of having your cat castrated?

● Reduced roaming and mating with females, causing unwanted litters

● Reduced urine spraying and less pungent urine odour

● Reduced fighting and subsequent risk of injury and transmission of infectious diseases

● Elimination of risk of testicular cancer and reduced risk of prostate cancer

08/04/2024

Surgery set up 🩺

Patients are admitted to our vets in the morning, so there is time to prepare for surgical procedures. Here is an example of the setup in our prep area, for a patient having a dental under anaesthetic.

● An intravenous catheter is placed to administer anaesthetic drugs into the vascular system. The anaesthetic machine delivers a maintenance anaesthetic gas within oxygen via a circuit to a tube inserted into the patient's airway.

● Fluid therapy is the administration of fluids via the intravenous catheter. It is normally indicated in older patients with dehydration, low blood pressure, and/or kidney disease.

● Patients under anaesthetic will often lose body heat due to a number of factors including a reduced metabolism. A low body temperature can cause the heart rate and blood pressure to drop, so it is important to try to maintain body temperature by having a heat pad under the patient.

● Patients are monitored both manually and by reference to a monitor displaying heart rate, ventilation status, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure.

07/04/2024

Librela 💉

A monthly injection into the skin to alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis. Its active ingredient binds to a protein to block the transmission of joint pain to the brain.

Here is 11 year old Nala who started having Librela 18 months ago. Nala's owner was amazed with Librela having witnessed its effects after only a few days.

Nala is now able to get up from a lying down position, jump up on the sofa, and climb the stairs with ease, situations whereby she used to struggle.

If you think Librela could benefit your dog, call us on 01438364354 to make an appointment 🙂

02/04/2024

2 year old Teddy came in today for his castration. His surgery went well, and he is now recovering at home with his family 🙂

What are the benefits of having your male dog castrated?

● It eliminates the risk of testicular tumours
● It reduces the risk of prostate tumours
● It reduces testosterone driven activities such as the urge to roam to find females and urine marking behaviour

Male dogs can be castrated from around 6 months of age, although the ideal age for your dog will depend on a number of factors, including breed and behaviour.

That is why your dog will have a pre-operation check by a vet to determine if it is the right option, the right time, and if he is clinically well for the surgery.

A pre-operation check and post-operation checks are included in the cost of the surgery. If you are a member of the Pet Health Club, you are entitled to a 20% discount, which pays for at least 2 months of plan benefits! You can sign up on www.thepethealthclub.co.uk

Don't hesitate to call us on 01438364354 if you have any questions.

01/04/2024

The 5 Freedoms 🧡

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the 5 freedoms are standards of care that must be met if you own or have an animal in your care.

The 5 freedoms form a basis to the work we do with our clients, both face to face and over the phone.

Part of our service is to support our clients if you do have any questions about owning or looking after an animal to ensure these 5 freedoms are met for the animals in your care.

29/03/2024

We wish all of our clients a very Happy Easter 🪺

Please be aware of the following toxic substances to dogs and cats.

If your pet has ingested one of these substances, you must call us on 01438364354.

We will be closed until Tuesday. If you do call, you will be diverted to our Ware hospital or our out of hours service where someone will be able to advise you accordingly.

28/03/2024

Feliway 😺

Feliway is a brand that has been around for over 25 years. They produce synthetic versions of natural pheromones, which are chemicals released by cats to communicate and relax.

Feliway 'Optimum' comes as a plug-in diffuser and contains synthetic components of MULTIPLE natural pheromones, helping to reduce more signs of stress and deal with more stressful situations such as a new environment.

The 2nd photo shows the results from a study conducted by Feliway illustrating the reduction of stress related behaviours and situations between days 7 and 28 after its first use.

Other Feliway products come as a collar and a spray.

Feliway can be purchased from us or from retail. Please call 01438364354 and speak to nurse Hannah if you would like more information about the Feliway brand and its products.

25/03/2024

Body Condition Score (BCS)

Should a Cocker Spaniel weigh 12kg or 15kg? It depends on the size of the dog's frame.

The BCS is the pet equivalent of our body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat. This gives us a better assessment of health compared to body weight.

Here is 9 month old Cocker Spaniel Tilly during a healthy pet check consultation last week. She weighed around 12kg and is the model patient, with an ideal BCS of 4/9. Why?

(1) She has the right amount of abdominal tuck

(2) The ribs are palpable with minimal fat covering.

Refer to the scale on the 2nd photo if you would like to determine your dog's BCS!

20/03/2024

One of our best selling products, exclusively sold in veterinary practices ⭐️

This palatable, oily paste, made from natural ingredients, can be given by mouth or on food to your dog or cat with loose stools.

Its main component is a probiotic that replenishes the natural bacteria in the gut to assist in restoring normal stool consistency.

You can purchase the product at our vets without a prescription, although we would always advise our clients to contact us first so we can determine if a consultation with the vet should be made.

If you have any questions, feel free to pop in and ask or call us on 01438364354.

18/03/2024

Meet Barney Bear, the 80kg Caucasian Shepherd!

He lives with his family, a cat and a tortoice! His daily walks can take a while as he often captures the eyes of many locals!

Barney Bear had a 6-month health check today, one of the many complementary benefits of being on the Pet Health Club. To join, visit www.thepethealthclub.co.uk

🐶

What about the breed?

They hail from the Caucasus Mountain region across Georgia and Azerbaijan.

They are strong and have a thick double coat.

They were bred to care for flocks and defend the home against wild predators.

They make excellent family dogs with the right training and socialisation.

17/03/2024

❗️It will become law that your cat MUST be microchipped by Monday 10th June 2024

This includes cats that remain indoors.

Kittens must also be microchipped by 20 weeks of age.

🐈‍⬛️

A microchip is a very small electronic device that is implanted under the skin. It contains a number that is registered along with your personal details which can be read with a scanner.

The procedure only takes a few minutes and is relatively painless.

🐈‍⬛️

Microchipping gives you greater reassurance that your cat will be returned to you if they become lost.

15/03/2024

Claw clipping ✂️

Here is gorgeous George, the British Shorthair cat, having his claws clipped yesterday.

George comes in every month, and he doesn't mind at all, particularly this time as he had his photo taken!

George has both a scratching post and cardboard scratching mat at home, but as he is an indoor cat, he does benefit from an additional monthly claw clip as well.

Claw clipping is free and unlimited if you are on the new Pet Health Club plan. And that applies for dogs too!

Nurse Hannah is also here to assist you with any questions you may have during your visit.

You can join our Pet Health Club by visiting our website or visiting www.thepethealthclub.co.uk

13/03/2024

Urine Testing 🔬

These photos show the inspection (under a microscope) of urine sediment from 2 different patients we have seen recently at our vets.

🔽 Click on the photos below to find out more!

We advise our clients to be aware of some of the signs that may indicate that your dog or cat has a urinary problem:
● Straining to urinate
● Passing small amounts of urine and frequently
● Blood in the urine
● Toilet accidents in the home

❗️Urinary obstruction is an emergency, and we advise you to contact us on 01438364354 if you are in any way concerned

11/03/2024

💙🐶Meet Frenchie, the Frenchie🐶💙

🩺🐾Another lovely boy who came in to be castrated and as you can see loving all the attention on both admit and discharge… a day full of cuddles!! 🤗🥰

To find out more please don’t hesitate to contact us on:
01438 364354 📞
Or visit our website: www.waltonlodgevets.com👩‍💻
Or email the team: [email protected] 📧

🩺🐾

07/03/2024

Entropion 👁

An abnormal inward rolling of the eyelid, causing eyelashes to rub onto the surface of the eye.

It is fairly uncommon in cats, but most commonly occurs in short nose breeds such as the British Shorthair or Persian.

Stormy, the British Shorthair, had surgical correction on both of his eyes today at our Hoddesdon branch.

Here are the before and after photos.
➡️Look closely at the lower eyelid/eyelashes!

19/06/2023

❤️MEET STEVENAGE❤️

Here we have our prep area, this is a very busy place in our practice, this is where we prepare all our surgical procedures for surgery, where we examine pets and where we provide emergency treatment when it’s needed.

When working in a clinical environment it is imperative to maintain high standards of hygiene so keeping every where clean and organised is very important to us.

Over future months we will be working towards achieving practice standards accreditation in our practice which will evidence the amount of hard work our team put into maintaining it. ❤️

18/06/2023

💤 SNOOZE SUNDAY💤

Baby’s mowglie and Marshall are loving having cuddle with each other day.

How are you enjoying Sunday?