issue Save money & keep your pets healthy & happy with our special Seasonal Offers keeping fleas, flies, ticks and mites at bay

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1 issue 31 Save money & keep your pets healthy & happy with our special Seasonal Offers keeping fleas, flies, ticks and mites at bay

2 Welcome to the latest issue of Paws - Ark House Vets quarterly magazine Just when it seemed like it would never arrive, summer s finally upon us! And whilst the sunshine and long evenings are certainly very welcome, there are some aspects of summer that can be problematic for pets - why not take a look at our handy reminders on dealing with parasites and avoiding accidents and illness in the heat on pages 6&7? If you re lucky enough to be going abroad, hopefully you ve already taken care of all the paperwork and treatments required by law for pets travelling to Europe? If not, please do give us a call as soon as possible, as unless your pet is up to date with vaccinations and worming treatments, you may inadvertently be in breach of regulations and your pet could be facing quarantine on your return. At Ark House we are committed to keeping every pet in the very best of health, which means promoting routine preventative care as standard for every cat, dog and rabbit that we are privileged to care for. We work hard to keep our prices fair and bring you ways in which to save money - our Paws Club and the First Steps programme help you take the best care of your pet, whilst offering great value - find out more on page 5. As always, we love to hear from you with updates on our patients progress, news or photos of your own pets. You can speak with our reception team, give us a ring, or at enquires@arkhousevets.co.uk. There are some fantastic pictures in the Gallery section of our website, but we ve always got room for more! We hope to see you very soon, either in the practice or on our Facebook page, EMERGENCY SERVICE With best wishes to all our friends, from Kate Semple and the Ark House Vets team Because we use dedicated emergency services to give your pet the best care when we re not open we are able to provide emergency clinics in 4 locations to suit your needs. In an emergency call our normal number You will be given a choice of four clinics who can help. We will connect your call to them directly. Vets Now Milton Keynes, Vets Now Luton, Beds Vets Barton, Vets Now Hemel Hempstead All of these clinics through any notes to us at 7am each morning so we will always know what may have happened if you need to visit them. 2

3 Practice Mews There has been lots going on since the last issue of Paws: Congratulations to RVN Sophie and her partner Pat on the safe arrival of baby Alfie - we re so pleased for you all! Big congratulations to Becca, who has passed her Veterinary Care Assistant qualification with Merit and is now working hard as a Student Veterinary Nurse. Becca In June we held our Big Barking Bake Sale to support the fantastic work of the charity World Animal Protection. Not surprisingly, selling homemade human and doggy treats and cakes proved to be very popular, and we raised 168. And as always, the team have been out and about attending courses and events to ensure our skills remain up to date: Kate, Lorna, Linda and Becca went to Cx Congress at the end of June in Nottingham a full day of learning focused solely on Customer Service for veterinary practice teams. It was a really brilliant day and we each learned lots of practical tips that will help us further improve the customer care we provide for you, our lovely clients! Vets Jo and Cassia spent some really useful time at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in April. Several members of the vet and nursing teams have been on courses including skin disease, pain relief, cancer treatment and dental disease. Here for you, whenever you need us We continue to work hard to ensure that we are able to see your pet quickly when needed, so we offer long opening hours and a comprehensive emergency service. Our opening hours are currently: 8.00am pm Monday to Friday & 8.30am pm on Saturdays, whilst our emergency service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Did you know that you can book many appointments directly online through our live online booking system? Go to book-online 3

4 4 At Ark House we re here to help at every stage of your pet s life, and we know that in the early days you might need a little more help and advice than usual! FREE health checks - Is your puppy, kitten or rabbit less than 8 weeks old? They might be too young for his or her vaccinations, but we d love to see them anyway! Bring your newest family member along for a FREE veterinary health check and plenty of advice our friendly team are always on hand with handy tips to help settle your new pet into the family and keep them happy and healthy! Simply call reception on to arrange a convenient time to drop by. Online advice You ll find lots of help and advice for your new pet on our website, You can download a simple check list with tips, ideas and a list of key health care needs for your new bundle of joy! Also see details of our new FIRST STEPS packages on page 5, we can help you to get your furry friend on the right track, right at the beginning, and will save you money in the process!

5 the smart way to keep your pet & your purse healthy in 2017 and beyond... At Ark House Vets, we know that prevention is always better than cure. And we understand that sometimes when all those essential treatments and vaccinations are due at once, the cost can be significant. What s included? That s why we created our Paws Club; helping you keep your pets in the best of health whilst also keeping costs manageable. So it s better for your pet, and better for you! Four routine worming treatments per year A year s supply of flea treatments (dispensed every 6 months) Vaccinations and boosters o For dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis o For cats: Flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia o For Rabbits: Myxomatosis and Classic RHD1 only A fantastic 10% discount* on all other Annual vaccination and clinical examination with a Vet, maintaining good general health and highlighting any problems early One additional Consultation with a Vet when your pet is unwell every year OR a routine health check between booster vaccinations Preventative treatment for Fly strike (rabbits) Specialist dietary advice Convenient monthly payments by Direct Debit products and services at Ark House Vets You can find out much more online at or ask at reception for more details. LITTLE PAWS FIRST STEPS FOR YOUR PUPPY, KITTEN OR BUNNY Getting a new bundle of fun is so exciting and just as you want to do what s best for your little one, so do we! Our FIRST STEPS packages help you to get your furry friend on the right track, right at the beginning, and will save you money in the process! PUPPY FIRST STEPS includes: KITTEN FIRST STEPS includes: Vaccination course Flea treatment Worming treatment Barking Heads puppy food Health check at 7 months Advice, vouchers and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s plus a gorgeous bandana Vaccination course Flea treatment Worming treatment Microchip Miaowing Heads kitten food Health check at six months Advice, vouchers, recommendations plus a fabulous cat nip mini cushion And with all this for just 50, you ll enjoy savings of more than 20 too! And with all this for just 60, you ll also enjoy savings of 29! BABY BUNNY FIRST STEPS includes: Vaccination against Myxomatosis and RHD1 Vaccination against new variant RHD2 Supa Rabbit Excel 2kg Health Check at 6 months old Advice, vouchers and recommendations! And with all this for 45, you ll also be saving 10! Don t forget that you ll find lots more advice and information on new puppies and kittens on our website, arkhousevets.co.uk 5

6 With the warmer weather and longer days we re spending more time outside - unfortunately sometimes that can bring potential hazards for our furry friends, so here are some reminders to help keep your pets safe and happy. Heatstroke As most of us all are all too aware, there is a serious risk of distress and heatstroke for pets left in vehicles or conservatories, even for a short time on a hot day. A life threatening heatstroke can develop very quickly when the interior temperature soars - when it s 22 o C outside, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 o C within the hour. If you see a distressed dog in this situation, the RSPCA advise you to call this is a genuine emergency. 6

7 Top tips to keep your pets cool: Avoid walking older dogs and short-nosed breeds such as Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs and Bull terriers in the middle of the day when temperatures are at their highest. Remember that hot roads and pavements can burn your pet s paws - if you can t lay the back of your hand on the surface for at least five seconds, don t let your dog walk on it Don t allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather Groom your pets regularly and give long-coated breeds a haircut at the start of the summer, and later in the season if necessary Get the hosepipe, sprinkler and paddling pool out and let everybody in! Always ensure that your pet has access to a cooler spot and keep all water bottles and bowls topped up regularly Move hutches and runs out of direct sunlight and place in a part of the garden where there is shade Barbeques and picnics Whilst they are a staple of summer living, barbeques can pose a serious danger to dogs and cats: Always position the barbeque well away from inquisitive pets (and children) until it is completely cool Place kebab skewers, cooked meat with bones and any other hot food and utensils well out of reach of hungry cats and dogs Several of our popular summertime dishes can be hazardous to pets: Onions can cause upset stomachs Pieces of corn on the cob are indigestible if swallowed whole by your dog, potentially causing intestinal blockages. Chocolate can be toxic for pets As well as being a choking hazard, some nuts are poisonous. Grapes (including raisins, sultanas, currants) are incredibly toxic to some dogs and cats Grass seeds With their pointed ends, these tiny seeds can easily become painfully lodged into your dog s feet and ears on a walk. It is possible for them then to travel through a pet s body tissues and cause significant damage, so we recommend that you always check your dog s feet and ears after walks. 7

8 Travelling abroad If you re travelling abroad with your pet, by law they must meet a number of requirements before they are allowed back into the UK: Have a valid Pets Passport signed by an Official Veterinarian (we have 5) Be microchipped Have been vaccinated against rabies at least three weeks before travel Your pet will also need a blood test if you re travelling from an unlisted country Dogs must usually have a tapeworm treatment. In parts of Europe, the threat from ticks and tick-borne disease is significant, and so if you are taking your pet abroad through the Pets Travel Scheme you must ensure your pets are fully protected against ticks whilst you are away. Depending on where you are going, you may need Sandfly protection against Leishmania and also Heartworm protection. These conditions are not present in the UK but are found in southern Europe and cause significant problems. Talk to us for specific advice that suits both your plans and your pet. 8 Before setting off on your foreign holidays with your pet, we recommend that you: Pop into the practice and get your pet s microchip checked. Ensure you have not run out of space in your Pet Passport - if you need a new one it will involve one of our Official Veterinarians scanning your pet and filling out new paperwork, all of which can take time and potentially delay your departure. Check the rabies vaccination is current - the passport indicates the date it runs out. Ensure you have tick protection for your pet for the whole time you are away. Always check your pet for ticks after walks and remove any you find with a tick remover. Make sure you understand the rules about coming back into the UK and seeing a Vet beforehand for tapeworm treatment. For up-to-date information on your legal obligations when travelling abroad with your pet, please visit

9 keeping fleas, flies, ticks and mites at bay Pets can come into contact with parasites all year round, but the hot weather brings them out in force and so we thought a reminder on what you can do to nobble the nasties might be helpful. Our lovely nurses are always happy to advise further and can also help you with applying treatments (as well as removing ticks!) Please do give us a call on if we can be of assistance in any way. Ticks Ticks normally feed on sheep, cattle and wildlife but can often end up on our pets and sometimes even on us! They can t jump or fly, so they wait until an animal or person brushes past, then they climb on. It may take several days for them to feed completely, after which time they will drop off. Apart from being unpleasant, ticks can transmit bacteria, causing a range of potentially serious conditions such as Lyme disease and Babesiosis. Help protect your dog or cat from ticks: Use a monthly tablet or spot on treatments. Do ask us for advice about which product to use, and please be aware that supermarketbought tick dog spot-ons can be fatal to cats. Check your pet for ticks after a walk and carefully remove any you find, taking care not to leave the mouthparts behind. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can and pull upwards, slowly and firmly - we know that this makes some people squeamish; so do call us if you would like us to help! If your pet becomes ill, please call for advice. Fleas As well as being unpleasant and spreading tapeworm, fleas can cause severe anaemia in young animals, as well as allergies and skin disease in adults. They breed rapidly and therefore in order to ensure your home remains free from fleas, you must control them both on your pets and in the environment. We recommend that cats and dogs should be treated monthly for fleas throughout their lives and our nurses are happy to advise you on the various types of products available. Flystrike As you are probably aware, Flystrike is a nasty condition that affects rabbits - it can be extremely serious if not caught early. Flies will target a healthy animal who may have loose stools, and whose fur may therefore not be as well groomed as usual. The flies lay their eggs in the fur around the bottom, so the maggots that hatch out have a ready, and rabbit-shaped, source of food. Growing maggots then burrow into the skin, causing pain, shock and subsequent infection, which can often be fatal. Fortunately, with regular checks, good basic hygiene and the application of Rearguard (available at reception) it is possible to prevent the condition occurring, or at least to catch it in the very early stages when effective action can be taken. If you spot any signs of possible problems on your rabbit, call us immediately - Flystrike is a genuine emergency and waiting until morning to seek help may be too late. Remove any visible maggots with tweezers and bring your rabbit in as soon as possible. Harvest mites (Trombiculae) The larvae are tiny 0.2mm orange/yellow insects that can cause significant skin disease in susceptible animals, usually in late summer. Keep an eye out for the tell tale orange/yellow colour and contact us for advice if you think your pet is affected. 9

10 FREE screening for Dry Eye during July Take advantage of our special offer this July and have a FREE quick, easy and painfree screening test for your pet. To take advantage of this special offer and to book your appointment call Terms & conditions - only one voucher per offer, photocopies not accepted Summer offers Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or Dry Eye can affect all dogs and is caused by a lack of tears. However some breeds of dog are more than twice as likely to suffer with dry eye: West Highland White Terrier Lhasa Apso Shih-Tzu Cocker Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel English Bulldog The disease occurs when not enough tears are produced to keep the surface of the eye healthy. The surface of the eye dries out leading to pain, inflammation and the spread of pigment over the surface of the eye, which can eventually lead to blindness. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine (hormone) problems in cats and dogs, occurring when there is too much sugar in the blood. 10 This can be because the body does not produce enough insulin to control sugar levels (Type 1) or because the body has become insensitive in some way to the action of Insulin as well as reduced production (Type 2). Dogs mainly suffer with Type 1 disease whereas cats usually have Type 2. Canine diabetes is quite common, with up to 1 in every 100 dogs developing the condition. Diabetes typically occurs when dogs are between 4 and 14 years old, and females are twice as likely as males to suffer from diabetes. In contrast, in the cat, males are twice as likely to be affected and obese cats are at increased risk. Again, diabetes is surprisingly common with around 1 in 200 cats being affected.burmese cats are known to be particularly predisposed. Any dog can develop diabetes, but certain breeds are more susceptible: Miniature and Standard Schnauzers Bichon Frise Spitz Samoyed Fox terrier Cairn terrier Miniature poodle Fortunately, diabetes can be successfully treated using insulin, along with some changes to diet and lifestyle. Obese animals will also need to lose weight. We run Diabetic Clinics at the practice to support our clients and pets, as without treatment diabetes leads to severe and life threatening disease. This August we are running FREE urine screening for Diabetes. Simply drop a sample of your pet s urine in at the practice, in a clean pot, and we will screen the sample for Diabetes.

11 We always like to welcome new faces to Ark House, so when you recommend a friend, we ll give you both a 10 voucher to spend in the practice! Once your friend registers with us, we ll give you a 10 voucher and they will also receive the same discount off their first transaction. Ask at reception for further details, or your friend can fill in their details quickly and simply online at mentioning your name on the registration form. *Refers to vouchers for 10 off when you spend 40 or more on professional services. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Visit our website for full terms and conditions. 11

12 issue 31 Surgery hours Monday to Friday Saturday 8.00am pm 8.30am pm 22 Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 1HJ Tel: Fax: enquiries@arkhousevets.co.uk Out of hours emergencies In an emergency call our normal number You will be given a choice of four clinics who can help. We will connect your call to them directly. Vets Now Milton Keynes Vets Now Luton Beds Vets Barton Vets Now Hemel Hempstead All of these clinics through any notes to us at 7am each morning so we will always know what may have happened if you need to visit them. Designed and produced by Onswitch Limited