The Beck Veterinary Practice, Whitby

26/12/2024

*** UPDATE: OWNER FOUND***

FOUND unfortunately deceased. Male entire, tabby and white DSH cat, on chip or collar. Found on Green Lane near St Hilda’s Business Centre, Whitby.
Please the clinic if he could be yours.

15/12/2024

Shared on behalf of community member:

For colleagues who are also AVMA members (and anyone concerned about animal welfare standards and/or transparency and independence in veterinary decision making) .

The AVMA has quietly released a new draft of the Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals for use when events such as contagious animal diseases and pandemics occur.

The draft includes the use of ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+), which is a controversial method for pigs (tier 3) and poultry birds (tier 2). This approach essentially comprises shutting off the ventilation systems in large scale animal units leading to animals suffering from heatstroke, as they are deprived of air and exposed to excessive heat. Eventually this causes their death due to hyperthermia, often over many hours. This is a veterinary-sanctioned approach.

This method is not used in the UK or EU due to the significant suffering caused and more humane methods are available.
A summary of some concerns is outlined here https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/do/10.1002/vetr.00200007

The AVMA didn’t allow vets who opposed VSD+ to attend their Cargill-sponsored Humane Endings Symposium, aiming to keep a “safe space” for discussing depopulation methods. This is such a a different to approach to the UK where spaces such as the BVA’s Animal welfare forum allow for robust discussion of difficult topics.

The lack of transparency and the AVMA support for this approach in the USA is something we should all be concerned about
AVMA members have until January 30th to comment on these guidelines- you can still make a difference!

👉 How You Can Help:
📢 Share this info on social media to spread the word.
🩺 Talk to colleagues about this issue.
🔎 Learn more about the Guidelines and their impact.

15/12/2024

Blue Tongue Virus.
BTV-3: there is a new updated restriction zone RZ in North Yorkshire.

We advise all livestock owners to be vigilant, and call us to order any vaccines they need if you haven’t already.

If you own livestock, please look out for the signs described on the government website.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue -suspected-bluetongue

11/12/2024

Happy Birthday to Henry who is 15 years old. How relaxed was he when he was in for his monthly arthritis injection today.

06/12/2024

Winter poses unique risks for horses, including an increased likelihood of colic. Reduced water intake, reliance on dry feeds like hay, and limited exercise can disrupt gut function, leading to impaction or gas colic. Sudden changes in routine and cold-induced stress further exacerbate these risks.....

06/12/2024

XL BULLY OWNERS: if your pet has not yet been neutered, please ring and book this in urgently before the deadline.

Neutering deadlines – XL Bully dogs

Was your XL Bully Type Dog aged at least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old on the 31 January 2024? They MUST be neutered by 31 December 2024. PLEASE contact your veterinary surgery ASAP if you have not already and need an appointment.

The deadline for neutering the youngest XL Bully dogs is to be extended following engagement with the veterinary industry.

The deadline to neuter XL Bully dogs that were less than 7 months old on the 31 January 2024 will be 30 June 2025.

It remains an offence to breed or rehome an XL Bully dog regardless of its age.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/neutering-deadlines-xl-bully-dogs

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs

03/12/2024

Can you spot fake sellers of dogs and puppies on social media? Our research with Cats Protection shows that one in five pet ads on social media are potential scams and 80% don’t show young animals with their mother, which is concerning for their welfare 😔

We are urging social media platforms to enforce stricter policies and close loopholes that put people and animals at risk. Read our advice for adopting puppies online, here: https://bit.ly/3W86I7L

This photo is an example of what a scam could look like on social media. You might also see accounts called 'Puppies for sale' or similar, or people may reply to your comments asking you to contact them if you'd like to buy a puppy. Please be vigilant.

[Image description: This is a screenshot which shows a Facebook post with the text 'Staffirdshire bull terrier puppy for sale whatsapp me for dets' alongside a photo of a small white puppy with floppy ears.]

30/11/2024

UPDATE: forever home together found ☺️☺️☺️
Could you give a loving forever home to this brother and sister?
The girls has the smudge on her face. They are both very friendly and well handled, as well as being litter trained. They are around 11 weeks old.

If you would like to apply, please email
[email protected]

A home check will be needed.

29/11/2024

✅'Hypoallergenic' diets is quite a confusing term and can leave you wondering what is the difference between brands?

✅If your vet recommends a hypoallergenic diet, and you grab a bag of a different 'hypoallergenic' food from the local pet shop or supermarket instead. Will it do the same job?

The short answer is no, it might not, although for some pets it may help.

✅The term “hypoallergenic” is often used when a diet has been formulated with ingredients that the manufacturer thinks are less likely to be associated with allergies, although there are no official requirements. The difficulty is that every pet is different, and a diet that is “hypoallergenic” for one animal may contain allergens that are a problem for another.

✅It’s common for vets to want to rule out dietary allergies when dogs and cats are showing signs such as itchy skin, ear infections and upset stomachs and they may recommend a special veterinary diet to help them do that. There are some important points to understand and pitfalls to avoid if your veterinary team recommend a diet:

➡An elimination diet trial needs to be performed to diagnose food allergies in dogs and cats. Blood and other tests are not reliable. Your vets will recommend a special diet such as one containing hydrolysed or novel proteins. You will typically need to feed your pet this and nothing else for 1-3 months, initially.
➡Allergic reactions to food happen when the pet’s immune system inappropriately reacts to proteins it has seen before. In hydrolysed diets, the proteins are broken into smaller pieces that the immune system doesn’t recognise.
➡In novel protein diets, the pet’s immune system hasn’t been exposed to the protein before, so it doesn’t recognise it.

It’s vital that you use the diet that your veterinary team has recommended. If a veterinary hypoallergenic diet has been recommended, it may have special features that make it suitable for pets with a variety of allergies, such as containing only hydrolysed protein.

We understand that avoiding all other food sources during a diet trial is challenging. It’s vital that you’re completely honest with your veterinary team about what your pet is being fed and any difficulties you are experiencing. This will allow them to reach an accurate diagnosis and manage your pet’s condition optimally.

Read more below: https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/hypoallergenic-diets-what-are-they-and-are-they-all-equal

25/11/2024

Is this your keyring?
It has been found in the reception area.
Please call 01947 820333 if it could be yours.
A description of the keyring will be needed.

24/11/2024

Cinders is looking for her forever home. She was found on Bonfire Night, on the streets, with poorly eyes. She has recovered well, and is estimated to now be 9 weeks old. She will be ready to go to a new home this week. She is playful and likes cuddles.
If you think you could give Cinders a 5* home forever please email [email protected]
A home check will be required.

19/11/2024

Supporting British Farmers.

14/11/2024

XL BULLY OWNERS

Upcoming Neutering Deadline
Owners of XL Bully dogs who were at least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old on
31 January 2024 must provide Defra with evidence that their XL Bully dog has been neutered on or before 31 December 2024.

If they do not provide evidence that their dog has been neutered by the relevant deadline, the Certificate of Exemption for their dog will no longer be valid and their dog will no longer be exempt.

Owners must arrange to have their XL Bully dog permanently neutered. Male dogs must be neutered through castration, and female dogs must be spayed. The procedure must be carried out by a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)-registered veterinary surgeon, or an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon must confirm that it has been previously neutered.
Owners must use the Confirmation of Neutering form (VCN01) which is completed by the vet and the owner, to tell Defra their dog has been neutered. They must provide the completed form to Defra on or before the relevant deadline.

09/11/2024

LIVESTOCK OWNERS: UPDATE on Blue Tongue Virus: BTV-3 is SPREADING: Parts of North Yorkshire are now within the Restricted Zone. The map below shows the red Restricted Zone.
If you want to order Blue Tongue vaccine, please call the clinic on 01947 820333.

Keepers of cattle, sheep, camelids and other ruminants (deer and goats) must remain vigilant. Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and must be reported by law. Livestock keepers are not permitted to move any animal showing these clinical signs and if you see any of these signs you must report it to APHA. Follow the restrictions on animal and germinal product movements that apply.

Animals in the Restricted Zone must only be moved where it’s absolutely necessary.

Signs of bluetongue:
If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.

The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.

In SHEEP🐏
Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:
ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)

Other clinical signs include:
red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface
fever
lameness
breathing problems
abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
death

IN LAMBS 🐑
Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:

lambs born small, weak, deformed or blind
death of lambs within a few days of birth
stillbirths

IN CATTLE🐄
Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:

lethargy
crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
reddening of the skin above the hoof
nasal discharge
reddening and erosions on the teats
fever
milk drop
not eating
abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).

IN CALVES 🐮
Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:

calves born small, weak, deformed or blind
death of calves within a few days of birth
stillbirths.

The APHA interactive map link is https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea

08/11/2024

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR HORSE IS ACCIDENT-PRONE...🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

Do you know what to do if your horse is cut or bleeding? The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing, and maintaining your presence of mind could save your horse's life. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency; how you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances, and on the advice you receive from your veterinarian.