During the summer, dogs love a splash about to keep cool. How can we ensure they stay safe when enjoying the water?
🏊♂️ Can they swim?
It may seem like an obvious question, but not all dogs are confident swimmers. Be especially careful with ‘flat-faced’ breeds who can struggle to breathe should they get water in their face.
🌊 Where is best?
Always avoid stagnant, fast-flowing, deep, very cold or currented water. Think rough seas, reservoirs and canals.
💉 Ensure their vaccinations are up to date
Leptospirosis is spread through contaminated water (usually with rats) and also be vigilant around water containing algae (blue-green) which is highly toxic.
💧Be mindful of seawater
Dogs often unintentionally gulp large mouthfuls of salt water when fetching a ball, for example. Be sure they are staying hydrated and try to keep playing fetch to the sand!
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #SwimmingSafety
☀️ It can sometimes be difficult to keep our pets entertained during the hottest parts of the day.
If you are walking early in the morning and later in the evening to avoid heat and peak sun times, whilst that is best for your pet, you may find they become restless in the middle of the day.
Providing enrichment will be the perfect boredom buster! There are so many ways to keep your pets entertained which doesn’t necessarily mean buying a new puzzle toy.
You can try:
🎁 Hiding treats wrapped in a towel
🥕 Creating frozen vegetables
Comment below with any ideas that may be helpful for other pet owners…
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #Enrichment
Here are some ideas for ‘cool treats’ for small furries during the warmer months!
💧 A frozen bowl of water (next to their usual water bowl). As it melts throughout the day, they have chilled water to enjoy!
🥕 Chilled veg! If you have any carrots, broccoli or bananas left over from the fridge, they make a perfect tasty snack. You can even pop cubes of them into the freezer first.
🍉 Create a pet-safe slushy by blending kale, ice and watermelon.
Let us know if you have any other ideas below!
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #Hydration #SmallFurries
We are thrilled to let you know that we have recently purchased a new laser therapy machine 🎉
Laser therapy targets your pet's damaged cells and helps them regenerate faster. Scientifically proven to reduce your pet's pain and inflammation, treatments are:
✅ Effective
✅ Non-invasive and non-surgical
✅ Short
✅ Pain-free
Laser therapy can be used to help a variety of conditions and ailments, such as:
🩺 Arthritis
🩺 Wound healing
🩺 Inflammation
🩺 Hot spots
🩺...to name only a few of the most common!
For more information, please contact our team via email, SMS, WhatsApp or telephone.
🥽📸 If your pet receives laser treatment, don't forget to snap a photo of them wearing their 'Doggles' to share on social media!
#HallVets #SheffieldVets #DinningtonVets #PetLaserTherapy
It’s Rabbit Awareness Week and for us, the perfect opportunity to highlight some common misconceptions about owning a pet rabbit.
🐰 Rabbits can be an only pet - FALSE.
Rabbits are highly social animals and they not only need another rabbit for warmth in the cooler months but also for companionship, allowing them to exhibit natural communication behaviours.
🐰 I can house a rabbit and guinea pig together - FALSE.
Ideally, they need to be with their own species as they have different housing and food requirements.
🐰 My rabbits are from the same litter so don’t need to be neutered - FALSE.
Siblings can and will mate.
🐰 Rabbits shouldn’t eat their own poo - FALSE.
And it’s really healthy for them! Rabbits need lots of fibre to stay healthy. Rabbits can’t get all the essential nutrients they need the first time they eat their food so by re-ingesting it, they can source all the vital nutrients.
🐰 I have only female rabbits so don’t need to worry about neutering - FALSE.
Around 80% of unneutered female rabbits develop cancer of the womb by the age of five so neutering is a preventative measure against disease as well as unwanted litters.
#RabbitAwarenessWeek #RAW #HallCourt #SheffiledVets
Summer safe dog walking 🦮
Who doesn’t love to be outside when the sun is shining? Here are our top tips to keep your pets safe whilst enjoying some summertime strolls.
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #SummerSafety #DogWalks
Do you recognise any of these signs?
🐾 Excessive thirst and urination
🐾Weight loss
🐾Increased hunger
🐾Blindness/eye issues
🐾Weakness and lethargy
🐾Poor skin condition (such as excessive dandruff or dry coat)
They could be signs of diabetes. Whilst it’s more common in overweight and older pets, some are more predisposed.
If you have any concerns that your pet may be showing these signs, get in touch with our team today!
If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t need to panic. We are here to support you in managing your pets' condition at home, so they can live as normal a life as possible.
#HallCourtVets #DinningtonVets #HandsworthVets #VetsInSheffield #PetDiabetes #DiabetesWeek
🥳 It’s here - June 10th 2024. This means it is now a legal requirement for your cat to be microchipped before the age of 20 weeks.
The aim is to make it easier for lost or stray cats to be reunited with their owners and return home safely.
The new rules mean cats must:
🐱 Be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks
🐱 Have contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database
🐱 All owners must have their cat microchipped by 10 June 2024
🐱 Owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or may face a fine of up to £500.
This was a manifesto commitment from the government and an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge that will revolutionise the treatment of animals in the UK - sounds great to us!
If you have yet to microchip your cat, please get in touch ASAP.
#HallCourt #SheffiledVets #CatMicrochipping
It’s National BBQ Week 🌽🍔
If your pets will be joining you as you fire up the BBQ, not that they will need much encouragement with the smell of burgers and sausages cooking, here are our top dangers to be aware of…
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #SummerSafety #NationalBBQWeek
What is your cat telling you?
When we are happy, we appear relaxed and often have a large smile! We can even verbally communicate this. What about our pets though?
Cats, in particular, show their happiness in other ways.
So what are the happy signs we may notice in our felines?
🙂Slow blinking
🙂Social roll
🙂Hop up
🙂Tail up
🙂Head butt or cheek rub
🙂Purring and kneading
These are all positive signs that our felines are content - let us know if you spot any of these in your cat.
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #Cats
Flystrike is a life-threatening condition caused by flies laying eggs on your bunny's body.
Flystrike is fast and often fatal! When the eggs hatch, they develop into maggots that burrow under the skin and feed on their flesh. This process can happen within hours.
Whilst there are many causes of flystrike, the most common are:
🐇 Warmer weather
🐇Poor/dirty living conditions (particularly in hutches with rotting food or faeces)
🐇Wounds
🐇Poor diet which can lead to a ‘mucky’ bottom
Contact us immediately if your rabbit is showing any of the following signs:
⚠️ Reduced appetite
⚠️ Lethargy
⚠️ Patches of wet or dirty fur
⚠️ Fur loss, wounds
⚠️ Unpleasant smell around your rabbit
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #Flystrike
Today is World Veterinary Day!
It’s not just a day to celebrate vets, but everyone in our profession who plays an integral part in caring for sick or injured animals, providing vital care daily for wildlife and our beloved furry, feathered and scaled family members.
This year's theme is ‘vets are essential health workers’ so if you have had a lovely experience when your pets have been in need, we would love to hear your stories…
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #WorldVeterinaryDay
♀️🐱Did you know that if a female cat hasn’t been spayed, she will continue to come on heat every year from around February (once the days become longer), until around October (unless of course, they become pregnant or have a phantom pregnancy)?
You may have heard the term ‘on heat’ sometimes being referred to as ‘having a season’. Both terms refer to when a female cat is fertile and can get pregnant.
We recommend spaying all female cats where you have no intention to breed from them, from the age of 4 months old. This will not only stop your cat from having a litter of kittens when she is a kitten herself but is also a good idea because of the numerous health and well-being benefits neutering provides.
If you need any further information on spaying your cat, give us a call and our team will be happy to answer any questions you have.
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #Spaying #Cats #InSeason
If you are considering welcoming a rabbit into your family, there is a lot to consider. These wonderful pets have their own set of unique needs which are often not well known. To ensure your bunny lives a happy, fulfilled and healthy life, here is what you will need to consider…
🐰 Lifespan
Rabbits can live up to 12 years with the right environment and care.
🐇 Company
Rabbits need the company of their own species (for communication, warmth and grooming). If you are looking to get a rabbit, you’ll need to consider a bonded pair.
🥕Diet
Their teeth never stop growing, so they will need plenty of good-quality hay (at least their body size in hay, daily). Their diet is key in helping maintain healthy teeth and guts.
🏃♂️Exercise
Rabbits need plenty of exercise and stimulation. This means they need a safe environment to run, jump, stand up, dig and hide - all natural behaviours from the wild. A hutch isn’t enough for a bunny to live.
🩺 Health
With rabbits needing company, assuming you therefore have 2, they will need to be neutered not only to stop reproduction but also to stop males exhibiting more aggressive behaviour. In addition, rabbits need vaccinations and preventative care like every other pet.
❤️ Hygiene
A rabbit's home needs to be kept clean (to lower the risk of things such as flystrike, which can be fatal) and well-insulated so they have warmth in the winter and shade in the summer. This can also help lower the risk of diseases and illnesses.
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #RabbitWelfare
When it comes to puppy socialisation, the window of opportunity is small, so it’s important to know what you need to do and when.
There is a window of opportunity that lasts up until a puppy is 16 weeks of age. Puppy socialisation is one of the most important things that you can do as it helps them to grow into a confident adult dog, that is comfortable in a variety of situations, enhancing their wellbeing. Their early experiences will become a key part of their personality.
How do I socialise my puppy?
🐾 Consider attending a local puppy socialisation class
If you want to give it a go yourself, here are the most important aspects…
🏡 Home: get them used to handling, grooming, noises (hoover/doorbell), new people
🚗 Outside: get them used to people, traffic, other dogs, other animals, putting on a harness/collar/lead, surroundings (shop/open space)
Remember, your puppy will need their second vaccination at 12-14 weeks before they can explore outside their own home.
#HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #PuppySocialisation
If you're looking for trusted and helpful pet owner information, be sure to visit the factsheet section of our website!
#HallCourt #HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #PetOwners
Many clients are finding our WhatsApp/texting service the most convenient way of getting in touch with us.
You can use this feature to:
> Ask us a question
> Book a nurse appointment
> Make general enquiries
> Order repeat medication
Simply scan the QR code to open a new WhatsApp conversation with us directly, use our website, or text +44 7897030183 to conveniently message our team.
We look forward to chatting with you soon!
#HallCourt #HallCourtVets #SheffieldVets #WhatsApp
Happy Mother’s Day to all our pet parents out there!
Will you be celebrating with your pet today?
#HallCourt #SheffieldVets #HappyMothersDay
It’s International Women’s Day!
…and the perfect opportunity to acknowledge our primarily female workforce, who go above and beyond to provide the best veterinary care possible, each and every day.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. We are incredibly proud of our team. The women are integral to the running of our practice, and they are at every touch point! From our owner to our vets, nurses, and admin team.
Today is about celebrating them, their achievements, and equality.
#InspireInclusion #InternationalWomensDay #HallCourt #HallCourtVets
We tend to think of spring grass as the trigger for many laminitis cases in horses. But, the problem isn't caused by the grass alone and actually, can happen at any time of year.
❓ What is laminitis?
Laminitis is an extremely painful yet common condition and can cause permanent damage to your horse’s hooves (most commonly the front). Laminitis affects tissue (called sensitive laminae) found in the hoof. These tissues act like velcro to form a strong bond that supports the pedal bone within the hoof. Laminitis causes the tissues to weaken and become damaged. As a result, the pedal bone can move, and in severe cases, rotate and/or drop through the sole.
❓ What do I need to be aware of?
Laminitis is usually a consequence of an underlying condition
The inflammatory response can be caused by a variety of reasons e.g. carbohydrate increase (plenty of sweet rich grass, for example!).
🐴 Overweight horses are at a higher risk
🐴 Recurring issues are more likely
🐴 Foot soreness after shoeing or trimming has been shown to almost triple the likelihood of it occurring
If you have any concerns, give our team a call!
#HallCourt #SheffieldVets #Laminitis
