Happy World Chocolate Day! 🍫
Although World Chocolate Day is a joyous occasion for chocolate enthusiasts, it's essential to be mindful that chocolate can be highly dangerous to pets, especially dogs and cats. 🐶😺
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are harmful to animals. The darker the chocolate, the more harmful it can be. Even small quantities can lead to serious health problems such as vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, and, in severe instances, seizures or, worse, death.
By taking a few simple precautions, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable World Chocolate Day for all, including our pets. Here are some pet-friendly tips to consider:
🍫Keep chocolate out of reach: Store your tempting chocolates in secure containers or cabinets to prevent dogs from reaching them.
🍫 Educate friends and family: Inform your loved ones about the dangers of chocolate for dogs and ask them to keep chocolate products away from your dog.
🍫 Avoid sharing: Refrain from sharing chocolate with your pet, as even a small amount can be detrimental.
🍫 Stay alert: Be observant of signs of chocolate ingestion in your dog, such as restlessness, increased heart rate, vomiting, or diarrhoea. If you suspect your pet has consumed chocolate, contact your vet without delay.
If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate and is experiencing vomiting or any of these symptoms, please get in touch with us immediately.
#WorldChocolateDay #PetHazards
Neutering pets can save you a world of trouble! From avoiding certain types of cancer to eliminating unwanted behaviours, neutering is the best option for the large majority of pets and the sooner you do this, the better.
Do you have any questions about this routine procedure? We’re here for you📲
Have you ever heard a heartbeat? ❤️
When the heart muscle contracts to pump blood, it makes two distinct sounds – one from the contraction of the atriums, which send blood to the ventricles, and the other, of the ventricles, which send blood to the whole body.
This happens over and over again to keep the blood flowing, between 60 and 160 times per minute in dogs! This is what we call the heart rate.
A heart murmur occurs when a different sound join these two regular beats. This sound can be caused by turbulent blood flow due to a heart problem, changes in blood thickness or can have no apparent cause.
A heart murmur is easy to hear on a physical exam using a stethoscope, and then we can determine the precise cause with a special ultrasound exam called an echocardiography. 🩺
Our routine health consultations are the best way to ensure your pet doesn't have a hidden heart problem, so schedule yours today!
What pet insurance can mean for you and your pet. 🩺
It truly is a privilege to own and care for a pet. However, you must consider the different costs when becoming a pet owner.
Even when you have everything planned and budgeted, you cannot predict the future and any unexpected veterinary or pet-related costs that might arise.
⏰ As the clocks go back in a few weekends to herald the start of Winter, we can now pull out our winter woollies and don our winter boots for walks with our dogs through colourful lanes in the crisp autumn air! 🧤🧣👢
However, you might walk your dog after dark due to the decreased daylight hours. Here are some autumn dog walking tips to consider when exercising during these times to keep yourself and your pet safe…
#AutumnHazards #DaylightSaving
🐰🐹🐇🐭
The loud bangs and flashing lights of fireworks can be distressing for small animals. As Bonfire Night approaches, ensuring that your pets are well-prepared for the occasion is important. If you own small animals like rabbits or guinea pigs, here are some tips to help them remain calm and happy.
🧶Provide extra bedding if your pet lives outdoors so they can burrow down and feel safe from any bright lights and loud noises. This will give them a comfortable and secure space to hide away from the excitement.
🏡Consider bringing your pet indoors for the night to shield them from the noise and commotion of the evening. Playing some relaxing music can also help to muffle the sound of fireworks and create a calming atmosphere.
🚪If your pet already lives indoors, close curtains and windows to dampen the sound of loud bangs and create a more peaceful environment.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
#BonfireNight #Fireworks
🍂 🐱 As autumn sets in and the nights grow longer, it's time to prepare for Bonfire Night. However, while fireworks bring us joy, they can be distressing for our feline friends.
As clever creatures, cats require extra care during this time. Here are some tips to help keep your cat safe and comfortable:
🏠 Keep your cat indoors where possible and make sure they are microchipped
🤫Create a cosy and quiet space inside where they can relax and avoid the noise.
🐱Consider giving them calming treats or supplements to help them stay calm. A pheromone diffuser may also be beneficial, particularly to start using ahead of the celebration season.
Do you have any additional tips to help fellow cat owners? Share your top tips in the comments below.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.
#BonfireNight #Fireworks
The fireworks season is just around the corner, but for many dogs, this time of year can be quite distressing. To ensure that your canine companion feels safe and secure during this period, it's essential to prepare them ahead of time.
Here are our top three tips for keeping your pet as comfortable as possible:
🚪Keep your dog from escaping the house by securely closing all doors and windows.
🎆Close curtains and blinds to help muffle the sounds and flashing lights of fireworks.
🦮Walk your dog before it gets dark.
🔒 In case of an unexpected event, ensure your pet has an up-to-date microchip with current information.
❤️Give your dog plenty of love, attention, and fun activities to distract them.
🐶 Avoid leaving your dog alone during this time.
🎶 Have some calming music playing in the background to mask out the loud bangs of fireworks.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.
#BonfireNight #Fireworks
Do you have a pet first aid kit? Would you know what to do in an emergency? 🤔 These are vital questions for any pet owner!
Take a look at our video and learn the basics of a well-stocked pet first aid kit 🩹 🐾 And if you find yourself facing an urgent situation, call us as soon as you see it so we can help you get your pet to us safely.
A good insurance plan for your pet is vital to make sure they are always protected in case of emergency situations but choosing the most adequate plan for you and your pet is not always easy!
Check our video on how to choose the best policy for your pet 👇
Need help? We are here for you so don’t hesitate to contact us.
📆 👨⚕️👩⚕️ Throughout May, to celebrate Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, we will recognise and appreciate the vital role of our empowered veterinary nurses.
On behalf of the whole team, we would like to thank all our veterinary nurses, who are truly valued among our veterinary teams.
If you have any stories about how our veterinary nurses have supported you and your pet, please comment below, and we will share them with our team! 🥰
#VNAM2023 #WhatVNsDo #EmpowerOurVNs #LinnaeusNurses
There are a number of diseases that can cause nausea and vomiting in dogs, from life-threatening intoxications to something as harmless as motion sickness from car rides.
A frequent cause of sickness that often results in dramatic episodes of vomiting is scavenging behaviour, which is natural to dogs 🐶
Depending on its intensity, duration and cause, vomiting can result in severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which will affect all of your pets’ bodily functions.
So, what can you do in these situations? Watch our video to find out 👀
Watching your pet have a seizure can be very frightening, and owners can be caught off guard when this happens.
Fits can have different presentations ranging from localised tremors to pets losing consciousness, shaking uncontrollably, vocalising, and paddling.
Afterwards, it is normal that they feel disoriented for a while.
If your pet has a fit, please try to remain calm as this will be the only way you can help them.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a frequently diagnosed problem in cats, with overweight animals and those who don't exercise often seeming to be more at risk.
As there are many conditions that can cause FLUTD, please talk to our team if you notice your cat is having problems urinating. Some of these, like complete urethral obstructions, are medical emergencies and can be fatal if left untreated ⚠️
Put your knowledge to the test with our video quiz! ✔️
Do you have an osteoarthritic pet? What works best to keep them pain-free? 🤔
There are several options to help us manage osteoarthritis in pets – talk to us if your pet is struggling!
#dogsofinstagram #catsofinstagram #pethealth #petadvice #vetadvice #preventivecare #bestcare #veterinarypractice
Cardiac disease in dogs is very common, especially in our golden oldies! ❤️ There are several causes for it, many of which get worse with age, the two most common being dilated cardiomyopathy and issues in the mitral valve.
Keep an eye out for symptoms of heart disease, and if you feel your furry friend isn’t doing so well, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
We hope this video helps explain why our antibiotic amnesty is so important - just drop in any unwanted or unused antibiotics to our reception area and we will ensure they are disposed of safely. Thank you for helping us look after both human and animal health. #antibioticamnesty #mypetsvets
Deciding to neuter your pet can be challenging, as many factors influence this decision.
It is important that you base your decision on reliable information, though, so we’re going to debunk some common myths associated with this procedure 👇
What is involved in microchipping your pet? 🤔 Have a look 👇
Microchipping is a simple, pain-free procedure. If your pet is not microchipped yet, talk to us!
We can’t recommend a good quality pet insurance policy highly enough ✔ Veterinary science is constantly evolving, and we can do so much for pets that we once didn’t have the equipment and knowledge to do 🔬📚 With these advancements naturally come costs, and owners can be surprised at the price of some veterinary treatments. Here are some things to bear in mind when choosing a policy for your pet 👇
