Coming Home Veterinary Services

03/07/2025

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LIFE AFTER EUTHANASIA FOR BEREAVED PET CARERS

The decision to have a pet ‘put to sleep’, to choose euthanasia to end their life, is one of the hardest decisions a pet carer may ever have to make.

Even when an animal is suffering and has no hope of recovery, the decision is rarely as clear cut as you might expect. Will tomorrow be a better day? Is it too soon? Have I left it too late? Will they think I’ve given up on them? Will I be able to be strong for them?

These thoughts are all common.

It might be helpful to know that, whatever your thoughts and feelings, you’re not alone.

Read more below:

http://theralphsiteshop.com/life-after-pet-euthanasia/

02/07/2025

Job opportunities Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

Are you passionate about animal welfare and empowering people through education, outreach, and events? Join us at Raystede and help shape our brand-new Prevention and Education Team! 🐾

We’re recruiting for:
• Education and Events Manager – Lead on-site education programmes and public events.
• Community and Outreach Education Manager – Develop and deliver outreach initiatives in local communities.

What we’re looking for:
• Strong project management and delivery skills.
• Experience in education, outreach or events.
• Passion for making a difference for animals and people.

You’re welcome to apply for one or both roles (please specify in your application).

Closing date to apply, Sunday 13 July 2025: www.raystede.org/our-charity/careers/

For details or an informal chat, contact Gemma Price: [email protected] / 01825 880461

02/07/2025

Flystrike is more common in summer🐰 🪰

As the weather gets warmer, it's important to be extra vigilant when it comes to insects in your rabbits' enclosure. Flystrike is a condition that’s caused by flies laying eggs in your rabbits’ fur. These eggs then hatch and grow into maggots that burrow into your rabbits' skin and eat the flesh.

Not only is it painful and extremely unpleasant for rabbits and their owners, but it can also be life-threatening if not spotted and treated quickly. All rabbits can be at risk of developing flystrike, but it's particularly risky if they have a dirty bottom, open wounds, or live in a dirty environment.

Fortunately, it's easy to prevent flystrike by:

- Keeping your rabbits' home clean, clean up p*e and poo at lease once a day.
- Checking your rabbits daily.
- Feeding them a good diet to prevent their poo from sticking to their bottoms.
- Giving them space to exercise, overweight rabbits are more likely to struggle to clean themselves which can attract flies.
- Grooming long-haired rabbits regularly to stop dirt getting matted in their fur.
- Monitoring any wounds closely and keeping them clean and dry while they heal.
- Taking them for regular vet checks to stay ahead of any hidden health problems.

Learn more about flystrike ➡️ https://pdsa.me/LLM3

[Visual description: Three rabbits are nibbling on the same blade of grass outside. One rabbit is tan coloured and the other two are white with tan markings around their ears and face.]

30/06/2025

Summer holidays are here (for some)! You might have some lovely trips planned but your fluffy family member will need some looking after while you’re away. Our cat sitter checklist is here to help: http://spr.ly/CatSitterChecklist 🏖️

[Image description: A white desk with pens, a pair of glasses, and a printed-out cat sitter checklist.]

30/06/2025

Never walk your dog in the heat of the day. Dogs can suffer heatstroke in minutes. Unlike us, they can’t sweat it out – and thick fur coats and hot pavements make it worse. So, please stick to early morning or late evening walks when it’s cooler. Always test pavements with your hand – if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot for paws and make sure there’s shade, fresh water and time to rest. Let’s keep tails wagging, not overheating.

29/06/2025

Yummy in this hot weather 🍧

28/06/2025

⚠️ Keep your dogs safe in this heat and avoid walks in the middle of the day - stick to early mornings or late evenings to prevent sunstroke and overheating.

Remember, if in doubt, don't go out.

For more summer safety advice 👉 https://ow.ly/njuz50WhysU

28/06/2025

Pets can become dehydrated easily in hot weather. As with any illness, prevention is always best. Here are some suggestions to help prevent summer dehydration.

💦 Always provide plenty of clean water and monitor intake.
💦 Wash your pet’s water bowl every day to prevent bacterial growth and change the water out frequently to ensure freshness.
💦 Take along water and a water bowl wherever you go. Don’t rely on natural water sources being available. Ponds and pools can be a source of bacteria and chemicals. A collapsible canvas bowl works well and is convenient to pack and carry.
💦 When out in the heat, be sure to provide a water stop, for you and your dog, at least once every 15 to 20 minutes.
💦 Exercise your dog in the cooler parts of the day. Schedule exercise early in the morning or evening hours to avoid the most intense heat of the day.
💦 Allow for plenty of rest and water breaks during play activity and exercise.

Signs of dehydration include lethargy, loss of appetite, dry nose and gums, sunken eyes, and decreased skin elasticity. If your pet is experiencing these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek veterinary advice.

27/06/2025

Things are hotting up again! 🥵

27/06/2025

Adder bites are most common from June to August; would you know what to do if your pet ever encountered one? 🐍

Although rare, it's a good idea to get clued up on what to do if your pet is ever bitten by a snake - especially adders, the UK's only venomous snake species. Usually, adders aren't a threat, but they might defend themselves if a curious pooch gets too close.

If your pet gets bitten by an adder, you must treat it as an emergency by following the first aid advice below and contacting your vet immediately. Cats can also suffer from adder bites (although it's less common), and the same first aid should apply.

You can reduce the chance of encountering adders by avoiding areas known for them; staying out of long grass, woodland, moorland, and along the coast (sand dunes/coastal paths); and researching any unfamiliar areas for adder 'hot-spots' before walking your dog 🐕

Learn more:
Dogs - https://pdsa.me/FSOC
Cats - https://pdsa.me/HlSH

[Visual description: An infographic showing photos of an adder and its markings. Alongside this is the following text: Adder bites in dogs. If your dog has been bitten by an adder, their symptoms will depend on where the bite is and where the venom spreads to. If the venom stays in the tissues around the bite, it will cause pain and swelling, but if it spreads further and gets into the bloodstream, it can cause much more serious problems, such as damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. First aid for a snake bite. 1. If you see the snake, try to remember what it looks like or take a photo from a distance. Do not try to find the snake, get close to it, touch it, or harm it. Adders are a protected species, so it's illegal to hurt or kill them, and they can bite people if disturbed. 2. Keep your dog as still as possible to prevent the venom from spreading around their body. 3. Leave the bite alone, don't apply a bandage or tourniquet. 4. Call your vet to let them know you are coming down to the practice. 5. If possible, bring a car to your dog or, depending on their weight, carry them to it. Snake bites are an emergency - if your dog has been bitten, follow our first aid advice and take them to a vet ASAP.]

24/06/2025

DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF MULTIPLE PETS IN A BRIEF PERIOD

If you’ve experienced the loss of multiple pets within a relatively brief period, you may be feeling overwhelmed.

It’s a surprisingly common scenario because many people have pets who are siblings or similar ages because of the companionship they provide to each other throughout their lives. Sadly, this means the pets reach old age together.

Accidents and even unrelated events and coincidences can also take our animal companions from us in one fell swoop or one after the other.

Dealing with multiple pet losses in quick succession is often confusing and distressing. You may feel like it’s hard to recognise which parts of your grief belong to which animal companion or that you’re doing a disservice to each pet because you can’t focus exclusively on mourning them.

This type of grief even has its own name (or several, in fact); it’s known as “cumulative grief”, “compounded grief”, or “grief overload”.

Read more: https://theralphsiteshop.com/dealing-with-the-loss-of-multiple-pets-in-a-brief-period/

21/06/2025

☀️⚠️ Highs of 29°c today ⚠️ ☀️

HEAT STROKE MYTH BUSTING

Myth: You should only use tepid water to cool a dog with heatstroke. Cold water can cause shock.
Truth: Use the closest cool or cold water immediately, rapid cooling saves lives. A hose (run through any warm standing water) paddling pool, pond can be used if close to hand. Tepid water is not effective enough. Get them wet, get them to a vet.

Myth - Dogs in other hot countries cope just fine
TRUTH - Dogs raised in the UK are not ‘used’ to consistently hot temperature, this spike in temperature is new to them and difficult to suddenly adjust to.

Myth - Only dogs can get heat stroke.
TRUTH - All pets are at risk of heat stroke. Rabbit hutches can turn in to saunas, so adding ice blocks can help to cool them down or bringing them inside your home, even just for the day.

Myth - You must never give ice cubes to dogs
TRUTH - Unless you are concerned that your dog has heat stroke, it is okay to give occasionally to healthy dogs.

Myth - If a dog has heat stroke, squirting lemon juice into their mouth will help by reducing the amount of saliva the dog is producing.
TRUTH - This absolutely does not work. The dog is producing additional saliva whilst panting, in an attempt to reduce their core temperature. Not only does putting lemon juice in their mouth not work, but you may be delaying lifesaving veterinary treatment.

Myth - As long as you walk in the shade, it’s fine
TRUTH - In the shade, you may feel 10-15 degrees cooler, but the air temperature is the same as the temperature in full sunlight. Shade only feels cooler because you are avoiding solar radiation. The temperature you see on your phone is the measurement of air temperature, not the temperature of the sun hitting you.

Myth - You need direct sunlight to get heat stroke
TRUTH - You only need heat to get heat stroke

Myth - Some dogs just love the sun and will lay in it for hours, so they must be okay
TRUTH - Some dogs, if given the chance, would make lots of dangerous choices ie eating things they shouldn’t, running into the road, they rely on us to keep them safe.

Myth - It’s okay to leave a dog in the car IF you are only going to be a few minutes
TRUTH - It can take as little as 6 minutes for a dog to die in a hot car and most people passing won’t know how long you’ve been gone.

⚠️ If you have any concerns that your pet has heat stroke please seek veterinary advice immediately.