Parklife winter edition for the pets in your life your vet for life Twelve Dangers of a pet s Christmas Tips for a safe Christmas - page 10 Please don t throw sticks! Case study - page 9 Keeping Warm in Winter- page 6 Fighting Fleas - page 8
Parklife WELCOME In this issue of Parklife Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Welcome! Useful Information Practice News Keeping Warm in Winter Fighting Fleas Stick Injuries Page 10 12 Dangers of Christmas Page 12 Get in touch via Facebook or at vetsonthepark.co.uk Welcome to the latest edition of Vets on the Park s practice magazine, Park Life, packed with tips and information on pet health, as well as plenty of special offers for you and your pet. As always, we have plenty of practical information to help you keep the pets in your life in the best of health. On page six we give valuable and potentially lifesaving advice about keping your pets safe and warm this winter. There is also some seasonal advice about the hidden dangers for pets at Christmas. Many of you have been with the practice for some time now, and we d like to take this opportunity once again to say a big thank you from all the team for your continued support and friendship. If you re new to the practice, then welcome along! Our new website is now up and running and you can request appointments, repeat prescriptions and register online. Join us on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest practice news and special offers - simply search for Vets on the Park and like us! With best wishes from Alison and the team. 2
winter edition Useful information Opening hours We know that many of you have plenty of things to fit into your busy lives, so we work hard to ensure that you can get an appointment with us at a time convenient for you, with late evening opening and Saturday clinics. Our opening hours are 8am - 7pm, Monday to Friday and on Saturdays we are open from 8am 1pm. To book your appointment, simply call 01242 517199 When the surgery is closed, the emergency out of hours clinic ChelVets begins. The service is run from the Surgery at Cheltenham Racecourse. Simply call 01242 522022 for help and advice in the event of an emergency. We also offer free home visits! Coming into the surgery can sometimes be difficult so we are pleased to offer a free Vets at Home service to our clients who live within an 5 mile radius of our surgery. You can find out more on our website www.vetsonthepark.co.uk How to find us: Moorend Grove, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 0EX 01242 517199 www.vetsonthepark.co.uk SPECIAL OFFERS Recommend a friend and you both save 5! If you recommend Vets on the Park to a friend, we ll give each of you a voucher for 5 off * Simply fill in your details in part A of the form and pass it to the friend you wish to recommend us to. All your friend needs to do is fill in part B and hand in the completed form when they register their pet with us. N Bath Road Cheltenham Town Centre Shurdington Shurdington Road Leckhampton Road Church Road Charlton Lane Leckhampton Hill Once they have been in for a consultation, they can collect their 5 voucher* and we will send you your 5 voucher* by post. If you prefer you can donate your 5 to our chosen charity which this year is Medical Detection Dogs. *Please see our website for terms and conditions: www.vetsonthepark.co.uk 3
Parklife Practice news New Collars for winter We now stock a fantastic new product called the Lumitube perfect for dark winter walks. This light up collar is available in two lengths but can also be cut to size creating the perfect fi t for any dog. Quick release connectors allow the collar the to be fi tted in seconds and they will slip on and off your dog s head without needing to undo the loop. The Lumitube is powered by just one AAA battery, which is included, and replacements are inexpensive and widely available. The Lumitube Illuminated Safety Collar is waterproof so nocturnal adventurers can even indulge in a spot of night swimming without you losing sight of them. Proud as Punch! Five years ago the team at Vets on the Park worked really hard to become accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) is a voluntary initiative to accredit veterinary practices in the UK. Through setting standards and carrying out regular inspections, the Scheme aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care. It offers peace of mind to clients of accredited practices and a more informed choice to the animal-owning public. To become accredited, practices volunteer for rigorous inspection every four years and will have met a range of minimum standards including hygiene, 24-hour emergency cover, staff training, certain types of equipment and cost estimation procedures. Practices are also subject to spot-checks between inspections. In August we had our re-inspection and we are so please to announce that we passed with fl ying colours! 4
winter edition Staff Training Veterinary medicine moves on so quickly and as a practice we believe in making sure our staff keep up to date with their knowledge. We invest in ongoing training for everyone, this makes sure we know about the latest drugs and treatments for your pets. In September one of our qualifi ed nurses Jenny, did her training in South Africa and this is what she had to say about her wonderful trip: Registered vet nurses need to participate in at least 15hrs of training every year. This year (thanks to the lovely Alison) I was given the opportunity to visit Cape Town and attend the World Small Animal Veterinary Association 4 day congress! On my first day I attended lectures on skin disease, external parasite control and patient rehydration. Lecture theatres aren t that interesting to look at, so here s a lovely picture of Table Mountain The next day I was up bright and early for a 7am lecture on how to make Vets on the Park more cat friendly, as well as monitoring anaesthesia and patient nursing. I also managed to do some impromptu seal spotting at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront On day 3 I picked up some tips on how to keep our patients warm during procedures and how honey can be used for wound healing. I also got round to signing the WSAVA 2014 Oath Friday was the final day and my lectures included nursing the liver patient and the importance of vaccinations. I was so lucky to get this opportunity: not only to learn and increase my veterinary knowledge, so I can help our patients, but also to be given the opportunity to visit another continent that is simply breathtaking. The experiences I had whilst there will be with me forever. From seeing the Big Five, to riding a Harley Davidson down to Cape Point, Shark Diving with Great Whites, flying in a huey helicopter, seeing the penguins on Boulders Beach and the simple joy of chilling in a beautiful vineyards whilst sipping their delicous wine. I am really looking forward to sharing my new knowledge and ideas with everyone at Vets on the Park to help keep our surgery maintain its highest RCVS accreditation possible and to keep up to date with the latest veterinary skills and practices 5
Parklife Keeping your pets warm in the winter months Its that time of year again, the nights are drawing in, the heating is on and there is nothing nicer than curling up on the sofa in your jammies with a mug of hot chocolate. But during the winter months we must also consider keeping our pets cosy too, here are a few tips to help and if the weather man is right then we could also be in for the coldest winters for more than 50 years! Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Keep your small furries in pairs, they are social animals and they will keep each other warm! However make sure they are neutered if you are mixing sexes! Also keep in mind that mixing rabbits and guinea pigs together is not a good idea- rabbits have been known to bully guinea pigs. Make sure you provide plenty of good quality hay and extra food, they will use up extra calories keeping warm Check the hutch, make sure it is water tight and there are no draughts. If you notice patches of damp then the roof may need replacing. Insulate the hutch using old blankets or carpet, it is possible to purchase specially designed hutch covers. Clean out the hutch daily, wet bedding will become cold Microwavable heat-pads can be used over night, they will give up to 10 hours of heat- Do not be tempted to use hot water bottles- they could easily be chewed. Check water bottles regularly, the nozzles can become frozen cutting off the water supply to your pet. Wine bottle insulators can be wrapped around water bottles so help stop them freezing. Guinea Pigs will require extra vitamin C during the winter months as they cannot synthesise their own so make sure the food you select has plenty. 6
winter edition Cats and Dogs Never leave your pets outside or in cars, unheated conservatories or caravans. Do not let your pets lie on frozen ground for long periods of time. If you have a dog breed with a fi ne coat invest in a warm coat for them we can order in a large selection of lovely coats for your dogs to try. Consider keeping cats indoors during winter nights If your dog gets wet during a walk make sure you dry them off as soon as possible. Salt used for de-icing pavements can cause irritation to the delicate pads of dogs feet so always dry them off after a walk. Ensure that your pets are microchipped and are wearing tags in case you lose them in the dark. Why not invest in a light up collar or tag for you dogs collar so you can see them when out on walks in the dark evenings? We have ordered in a range of fantastic new light up collars called Lumitubes plus some illuminated collar tags called B Seen. Available now at the surgery. Don t forget, wear some high visibility clothing yourselves when out walking in the Winter evenings. Be seen, be safe. 7
Parklife Fighting Fleas! Fleas are now a year round problem in the UK so just because it s getting colder outside does not mean those pesky creatures are gone for the year. Once you have an infestation it is very difficult to get it under control and can reasonably take up to 3 months. It is therefore important to keep up your preventative flea treatment throughout the year. Luckily we have a huge range of products available at the surgery and can be sure to find something to suit your pet. Spot-Ons work well as long as you remember to apply them at the correct intervals. To help you we have introduced a new free reminder service where, as long as we have your email or mobile number, we send you a reminder message on the day your pet s flea treatment is due. From now until the end of the year we are also offering a 20% discount on a 6 month course of an oral flea tablet. This tablet is given once a month with food and is particularly good for dogs that enjoy bathing or swimming where spot-ons would not be as effective To take advantage of this offer, or to discuss flea control, please contact us at the clinic today. Our nurses run free flea clinics and can even apply products for you if you struggle at home. 8
winter edition for the pets in your life - your vet for life Sticks... the hidden dangers! Throwing a stick for your dog is one of the most natural things to do, something we see on a daily basis in the park. Unfortunately sticks can cause horrific injuries and in extreme cases even death! When thrown, sticks can be lodged in the ground and the chasing dog can become impaled, usually causing injuries to the chest or mouth. Even small splinters from sticks can cause terrible infections and it can cost 1000 s in vet s bills to find and remove such splinters. However, this does not mean the end of fetch for your four legged friends! There are plenty of safe alternatives, for example Kong SafeStix or Pet Stix! Pop into the waiting room and have a look. Kong Pet Stix - the safe alternative. Floss s Story Floss enjoys her daily walk in the field just down the road from Vets on the Park. After Floss had been playing with a stick, her mum noticed that she was bleeding from her mouth and salivating so bought her straight to us to be examined by one of our vets. Once in the consulting room it was clear that Floss was uncomfortable but it was difficult to see the full extent of her injuries so we asked Floss s mum to sign a consent form so that we could admit her and give her a sedative, enabling us to examine her mouth further without causing her any discomfort. Whilst sedated the vet was able to see how much damage the stick had caused. Inside Floss mouth were three separate wounds each about 3 inches long. They all required stitches after being flushed with sterile saline to make sure all the tiny pieces of wood were removed. To be sure Floss did not get an infection she had a long course of antibiotics and also needed a course of painkillers to keep her comfortable. Floss, thankfully has recovered well from her ordeal, however if she does show any symptoms in the future it may be necessary to refer her for a CT scan to check no small splinters have been left behind. 9
Parklife The Twelve Dangers of a Pet s Christmas Christmas is filled with festive fun, family, food, and drink but as wonderful as these are, any of these can cause stress and even danger for the pets in your life. Deck the halls with bows of holly by all means but watch out for your pets as many unknown dangers are lurking. The holiday season is one of the busiest for us but armed with a little knowledge you should be able to spend Christmas on the sofa with the mince pies and not in our waiting room. 10 1. Tinsel it s not just us that like the look of shiny festive tinsel. Cats do too and they can end up playing with it and swallowing it leading to gut obstructions and a trip to the emergency vet. So if you have cats and you want tinsel remember to put it towards the top of the tree out of paw s reach. 2. Christmas Lights pets can chew on the electric cords and sustain burns to their tongues and even electric shocks, this is especially true with new puppies and even house rabbits 3. Glass Baubles can cause cuts to paws if knocked off the tree and gut obstructions if they are swallowed. Cats are often attracted to what look like shiny cat toys to them. They will bat then down off the tree with their paws and may then go on to swallow them with serious consequences 4. Mince pies, Christmas pudding and cake all contain raisins which along with currants and grapes can be very toxic to your dog s kidneys. Don t leave festive fare within the reach of your pets dogs especially will sniff out the mince pies from the next room with possible fatal consequences! 5. Poinsettas and Cyclamen are potentially toxic festive plants and inquisitive pets may decide to chew on their leaves leading to vomiting, diarrhoea and painful irritation of the mouth 6. Chocolate most of our clients already know how toxic chocolate is for dogs but there s usually so much of it around at Christmas that every year we get at least one case of chocolate poisoning. Remember hang those chocolate tree decorations high enough that your furry friend can t sniff them out! Dogs will smell chocolate wrapped in parcels under the tree so it s best not to leave the family dog to guard the gifts!.
winter edition 7. Mistletoe who doesn t like a quick kiss under the Christmas mistletoe? But if a few berries drop on the carpet and are guzzled up by your pet it can cause severe heart and neurological problems. Make sure you cut any berries off the sprigs before you pucker up! 8. Batteries we all know Christmas means lots of toys that need batteries. Dogs have been known to play with discarded batteries and even swallow them causing acid burns and gut obstructions 9. Ribbons and Bows just like tinsel, all those shiny ribbons and bows decorating your Christmas gifts under the tree can be enticing for cats triggering their inner hunter. If swallowed they act as foreign bodies and may obstruct the gut requiring emergency surgery. Not how you want to spend your Christmas Day! 10. Lilies are commonly part of Christmas bouquets and both their pollen and petals are highly toxic to cats causing, often fatal, acute renal failure. If you ve got cats in the house you be better off binning those lilies, no matter how lovely they look 11. Antifreeze if often left lying about garages during cold Christmas snaps and can be very attractive to dogs and cats who lap it up because it tastes sweet. This causes renal failure and bladder crystals. 12. Houseguests well Christmas wouldn t be Christmas without friends and family visiting we know this can bring a whole array of potential dangers for your pets. New prescription medications they may inadvertently leave lying around or sugar free chewing gum packets left in their coats which can cause vomiting and even liver failure if eaten by your dog. If your pet is stressed by strangers then allowing them a safe place to get away or using destressing pheromones (such as Feliway and Adaptil) can avoid embarrassing bites and scratches to the in-laws. Every year we are amazed by the scrapes our client s pets manage to get themselves into over Christmas. Probably the most unusual one was several years ago during a particularly icy Christmas weekend a boxer dog went racing out of the front door to greet the latest round of visitors, only to slip on the icy steps and take a rather painful tumble. The somewhat embarrassed owners did have to admit that the Santa hat the dog was wearing at the time may have hindered his vision! Wishing all the family a happy and safe holiday! 11
Parklife winter edition ONLINE ALL THE TIME! At Vets on the Park we work hard to ensure that you always have access to help and advice when you need it - we offer evening opening and Saturday clinics, as well as 24 hour emergency cover through our partnership with ChelVets, so that you can organise your pet s care to fit in with your busy life. However, we know that sometimes you might remember the appointment you meant to book, or the repeat prescription you needed to arrange, just as you re putting the children to bed, or washing your hair. Or is that just us? If so, you ll be pleased to know that you can book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and so much more on our new website: www.vetsonthepark.co.uk We also have a facebook page where we add news and special offers that we think might be of interest to our friends. You can share photos and funny stories, as well as ask for advice, so don t forget to like us at Vets on the Park. Vets on the Park Moorend Grove, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 OEX 01242 517 199 www.vetsonthepark.co.uk Follow us on Tweet us on www.facebook.com/vetsonthepark www.twitter.com/vetsonthepark 12