This week is #RabbitAwarenessWeek so we’re sharing a few simple tips on rabbit ownership🐇✨.
During the warmer months you need to watch out for flystrike. Flystrike happens when flies lay their eggs on your rabbit’s fur, these eggs then hatch out into maggots which will then begin to eat into the rabbit’s flesh. This is obviously very painful and can cause death in under 24 hours if left untreated.
There are a number of things you should be doing to prevent flystrike:
1) Check your rabbit’s bottom at least once a day - and more frequently in warm weather🕶️
2) If there is any urine or faeces stuck in the fur around their bottom, clean and dry the area thoroughly
3) Keep your rabbits’ environment clean so that flies are not attracted. Remove dirty litter and bedding frequently.
Rabbits that are overweight or have mobility issues are higher risk for flystrike so you need to be extra vigilant with the steps listed above.
The Month of June is National Microchip Month! Microchips have been used as early as the 1980’s; however, for a much different purpose: to track wild animals (such as fish) and follow their migration patterns!
Nowadays, microchips are small rice sized data chips that are placed between the shoulder blades of an animal (usually cat or dog but can even be used in other animals like tortoises and rabbits). They have yet to develop into ‘live trackers’ but instead the data is shared when scanned by a microchip scanner. This means when you move house or change phone numbers, the database must be updated to keep the information up to date. Doing this will help to reunite you quickly with your pet, should they go missing.
You can find out which database your pet’s microchip is registered with by putting the chip number into the Check-a-Chip website: https://www.check-a-chip.co.uk
** 5 days to go!! **
Compulsory microchipping of cats starts 10th of June.
📣Meet The Team📣
Veterinary Practice Assistant (VPA) Vanessa joined Larkmead in December 2023! Originally having a background in working with larger zoo animals🐢🦏; Vanessa wanted to learn more about the medical aspects and terminology behind working with smaller animals🐈🐕. Vanessa chose Larkmead as she had prior experience using us as her local vets and has been loving her journey into small animal care! Vanessa has two Romanian dogs🐶 and a bearded dragon (named Dragon🐲✨)! If Vanessa was an animal, she'd chose to be a cockatoo as loves the idea of flying🐣✨
Planning on taking your pet abroad this summer? Our video will tell you what you need to know . . .
A number of our vets are Official Veterinarians and can issue Animal Health Certificates, so please contact us in good time before you travel to book your AHC appointment.
https://www.larkmead.co.uk/small-animal-vets/services/pet-travel
The Month of May is ✨ #VeterinaryNurseAwarenessMonth ✨ and we'd like to give a shoutout and thank you to our brilliant Veterinary Nurse Team!!👏 We truly couldn't do what we do without all of you!!🩺✨Please share some love with our team💙💜
Samson is a gorgeous German Shepherd 🐕 who visited our Great Western Park branch recently✨ He originally came in for his poorly leg🩹 but stayed to help out on the front desk! Perhaps a summer job maybe? 😎☀️✨
📣Meet the team📣
Veterinary Nursing Assistant (VNA) Stacey joined Larkmead in November 2022 and would like to train to become an RVN (Registered Veterinary Nurse) in the future. Before working for Larkmead Vets, Stacey worked at a local boarding kennels, as she's always had a love for dogs🐶✨Stacey loves looking after our patients and takes great pride in her work👏!!
In her spare time, Stacey loves to go on hikes with her Golden Retriever named Denver and nurturing her two tortoises🐢🐢. In her next life Stacey would like to be a parrot as she loves the idea of flying!! 🦜✨
This week we have been getting together for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. Team Larkmead have been out walking and chatting, vibing💃✨ to Texas Hold 'Em at a dance lesson🤠🎶 (with nurse Lucy leading the charge!) and getting a cheeky stretchercise in with @Nixercise on the beautiful @earthtrust Wittenham Clumps! 🧘♂️What a great week!
How do you look after your mental health?💗
Kali is a beautiful Domestic Short Haired silver tabby🐈 who has recently seen the perks of her weight loss journey after losing almost half of her original body weight!🏋️
Over the past few years, Kali has managed to lose 2.4kg which is a fantastic achievement for her and her family, and she is definitely seeing the health benefits and has more energy👟✨
This was achieved under the watchful gaze of our Head Clinic Nurse Kate, who put Kali on a special low fat/high fibre weight reducing diet and slowly reduced her intake to allow for a gradual but sustainable weight loss without Kali noticing the difference. Kali had regular, safe weigh in sessions every two weeks to help Kali’s owners keep her on track, resulting in a drop from 8.29kg to 5.8kg! This is hugely beneficial for Kali as when an animal is at a healthy weight, their life expectancy can be raised by up to two years on average. We just want to say a big congratulations from the Larkmead team!!👏✨
If your pet is overweight, please feel free to book in for a weight check appointment with one of our qualified nurses who can help you to start your pet’s weight loss journey and support you all the way through! https://www.larkmead.co.uk/small-animal-vets/services/nurse-clinics
📣Meet the Team📣
Receptionist Jodie joined Larkmead in April 2024. Originally from Bicester, Jodie has loved the move to Larkmead as she enjoys meeting so many people on reception and meeting all the gorgeous pets!
Jodie previously studied business studies, English literature + Language, Philosophy and Ethics. In her spare time Jodie enjoys going to the gym🏋️, walking her maltipoo named Bruce🐩 and trying new cuisines👩🍳. In Jodie's next life she'd like to be a Poodle🐩✨! What would you be?
This week is #HedgehogAwarenessWeek so we're sharing some facts about hedgehogs in the wild!!✨
🦔Hedgehogs are more active during the night time. This makes them nocturnal creatures! If you see any weary travellers in the day be aware that they'll move slower (especially as they have limited eye sight)🌙👀✨.
🦔Hedgehogs can use their quills to indicate their feelings! If they lie flat this is an indicator that they are calmer and feel minimal threat. However, if they are raised, this is not a good sign; as it's a big indicator to them feeling stressed and in need of defending themselves🛡️
🦔Wild hedgehogs are naturally very sharp and dangerous to pick up (especially when balled up). In an emergency use gardening gloves or a hand towel to pick them up. This should prevent any damage to you or them🩹
🦔If a hedgehog can ball up this is a positive sign. This is because it proves they are at a healthier weight and have strong orbicularis muscles💪
🦔Baby Hedgehogs (referred to as Hoglets) are usually to young to venture out until 4-6 weeks. Then they can start to forage for food!!🍼
🦔Hedgehogs are as susceptible to flystrike as rabbits. If you see a hoard of flies surrounding a hedgehog, it is likely to need veterinary/specialist care🩺
This Week is #HedgehogAwarenessWeek 🦔 so we're sharing a few simple tips on making your green space more hedgehog friendly!
✨ How can I make my green space MORE hedgehog friendly?
🦔Hedgehogs love piles of leaves, compost and logs as this provides shelter and attracts food sources like bugs. Maybe see if you can find a corner of your garden where you can provide a hedgehog friendly spot?
🦔Ensure your garden provides easy hedgehog access (known as hedgehog highways). Leave a 13cm square gap at the bottom of your fence or boundary walls to allow hedgehogs to get in and out easily.
🦔If you have a garden pond, ensure there is a sloping edge so that hedgehogs can get out easily.
✨How can I look after my garden without disturbing hedgehogs?
🦔Make sure holes in the garden are covered (in case any fall down and get stuck). Check for hedgehogs before mowing or strimming (especially during the day time as hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures and will be asleep).
🦔Move/check whether pre-bonfire piles of leaves have any hedgehogs in them. This is because hedgehogs love to nest and rest in these areas🍂
✨ How can I maintain/look after my green space?
🦔Make sure to pick up litter as this can majorly affect hedgehogs who can get their heads stuck in things like yoghurt pots or cans.
🦔Pick up/move football or tennis nets so hedgehogs don't get tangled and trapped. This can cause major stress for hedgehogs as they have limited eye sight and can easily get stuck♻️
For further information you can visit The British Hedgehog Preservation Society:
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-awareness-week-5th-11th-may-2024/?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com#:~:text=Welcome%20Wildlife%20this%20Hedgehog%20Awareness,how%20you%20can%20help%20them.
This week is #HedgehogAwarenessWeek so we're sharing a few tips and tricks about our prickly little friends✨!!
If you find a wild hedgehog in your garden these are some of the do's and don'ts of what to feed them!
✔️Cat or dog food is a great option for them as they need wet (tinned) and dry (small kibble) food as this will provide a high source of protein🏋️
❌ Don't feed them dairy milk as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and may get an upset tummy. A small bowl of fresh water is ideal, especially in warmer weather💧
✔️ (Feed with caution) mealworms are a great source of protein for hedgehogs; however, if too many are consumed this can affect their calcium levels🐛 so only offer small quantities.
❌ Don't feed hedgehogs bread which lacks relevant nutrients and can cause bloating🍞.
For further information you can visit The British Hedgehog Preservation Society:
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-awareness-week-5th-11th-may-2024
📣Meet The Team Monday📣
Veterinary nurse Delilah (RVN) joined Larkmead in 2012. Delilah completed her veterinary nursing apprenticeship in 2018 through Larkmead as well as attending Sparsholt College regularly. Delilah has always had a love for animals as she has fond memories of visiting her Nan's farm. Delilah loves reading, swimming at the beach and taking her beautiful Hungarian Vizsla named Belle on Countryside Walks!!🐕 🌲 ✨
We're getting ready to go to the @earth_trust Spring Festival over the next couple of weekends 🌞✨.
Join us down on the Earth Trust farm as we celebrate the joys of spring, with newborn lambs frolicking in the fields and a whole farmyard of fun activities for your family to explore. 🐑🐐🐄🚜
We’ll have our lambing simulator there for you to have a go at being a vet and helping a ewe to deliver a lamb!🐏
Tickets are available from the Earth Trust website: https://earthtrust.org.uk/events/spring-festival
Or, for your chance to win a family ticket (for a day of your choice), please enter your details here: https://forms.office.com/e/W9jnRGn30U?
#larkmeadvets #independentvets #earthtrust #earthtrustspringfestival #daysoutoxfordshire
This week is #VeterinaryReceptionistWeek and we'd like to give a big shoutout and thank you to our amazing receptionist team!!🎉 We would not be the same without their hard work and dedication to their craft! Here are just a few of them🎊💌✨:
Spring into action with Douglas the stunning Clumber cross Springer Spaniel! Wow! What a leap!!🌼🌞✨
Compulsory microchipping of cats starts 10th of June.
