1. CHRISTMAS EDITION As December is drawing near and we all have lots to do, we thought we would get the newlsetter out early. Boness Veterinary Clinic will be opening in Flitwick on December 13 2010 - come in and have a look around while you are doing your shopping. MAP - http://bit.ly/d612lw Here is an image of the shop front - it will look nicer than this when refurbished! We are extending the 'win a digital photo frame' until December 20 - email us to request a copy of our new brochure and be put into a prize draw for a digital photo frame. 2. PANCREATITIS We thought it particularly appropriate to talk about this in December as one of the commonest causes of Pancreatitis in dogs is bingeing on rich food and we all know a story about a dog that has stolen some rich food item at Christmas! However not all cases have a known cause; sometimes pancreatitis can result from diabetes and sometimes it is just that some dogs or cats are unlucky. Certain breeds are definitely more prone to diabetes. Overview Pancreatitis is an important disease that affects many animals world-wide every year. It can affect both dogs and cats. What is the pancreas? The pancreas is an important digestive organ. It produces and stores many of the enzymes that are necessary to break down proteins, fat and carbohydrates in food. It is also produces hormones such as insulin which helps to control how much glucose is the blood stream. When and what is eaten affects the function of this organ to a large extent.
What is Pancreatitis? This is when the pancreas becomes inflamed. Because the pancreas stores digestive enzymes, damage can result in leakage of these enzymes into the blood and into the abdomen which can have grave consequences where the pancreas starts to become digested away by its own enzymes. Affected animals have painful abdomens and are very lethargic. They can be very ill and uncomfortable, other symptoms include fever, jaundice, vomiting and diarrhoea. If left untreated the disease can result in death. The cause of each individual case can be difficult to isolate but factors such as: -Obesity -Malnutrition -High fat diet -Certain drugs have been shown to increase the risk of this disease occurring. It can be acute; these animals are very sick and often stand like a praying mantis because their bellies hurt so much. They feel so nauseous that even the sight or smell of food may stimulate them to start retching. They cannot even hold water down. These patients become transiently diabetic as well â sometimes this may be permanent. It can also be chronic where the signs are not so dramatic and can develop over several days. Chronic or repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis can result in irreversible damage to the pancreas and irreversible diabetes. Certain breeds such as Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Siamese appear to be at greater risk of getting this condition. Can it be treated? Once you notice that your pet is unwell and showing some of the symptoms described above it is important to contact us for advice as soon as possible. As with many diseases, the sooner the veterinary staff is notified and can get started with treatment, the better it is for all parties concerned.
Management of this disease centres around speedy intervention, diagnostic blood tests, possibly ultrasound scans and x-rays, and intensive medical therapy. In serious cases animals need to be admitted and often stay in hospital on a drip and various medications for a few days in order to save them. These cases require patience and a very high standard of nursing care; high grade pain relief is essential. Some animals recover more quickly or fully than others. With the right amount of vigilance on the part of owners and veterinary staff alike, early diagnosis, appropriate therapy and, of course, tender loving care may animals can recover from this potentially deadly disease. Julia Boness MRCVS 3. CHRISTMAS TREATS So what can your pet dog or cat have as a Christmas Treat? Avoiding all the rich food and tempting things that can upset a dog or cats tummy leaves us with conundrum â what can we give them? Below are some recipes for some festive treats that will not harm your pet. They are quick to make and easy to make look festive with Christmas shaped pastry cutters. All the ingredients are easy to source from the supermarket or health food store and should be fit for human consumption so there should be no problem making them in your kitchen and using your normal utensils. Christmas Dog Bones Mini green dog bones with mint (for dog breath and digestion) and apples for health. Your dog will love this dog bone recipe, all year long! These Christmas dog treats are low fat, low calorie, have a pleasant minty smell and taste, and the little green homemade dog treats have healthy ingredients. If you are not keen on green food colouring, simply substitute cooked and chopped spinach for the colouring. Add as much as you need to get the shade of green that you like. Or, just leave it out - your dog will like the mini dog bones (or big ones) whether they are green or not! - 1½ cups whole wheat flour - 1 cup plain flour - 1/2 cup oats - 1/3 cup bran - 2 tablespoons dry milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry yeast - 1 tablespoon peppermint tea leaves soaked in a little hot water or 1 teaspoon peppermint flavouring - 1/2 cup applesauce - 2 teaspoons green food colouring or1 tablespoon spinach cooked and chopped (to get the colour desired) - 7/8 cup water You can use a mixer with a dough hook or a bread machine. Place everything in the bread machine on the dough cycle. - When the dough is ready, roll it to1/4" thick with a rolling pin. - Cut into mini dog bone shapes and bake at 250 degrees F for about an hour. Check to make sure that they don't get too brown. - Turn off the oven and let the mini dog bones dry completely in the oven-this works best overnight. These Christmas dog treats will keep for at least a month, so you can make them well ahead of the holidays. Dogs love the mint flavour, and mint is helpful to dogs with digestive problems and it also helps to keep dog's breath fresh. Spiced Pumpkin Dog Treats These are delicious and festive for the holidays. They are also high in fibre because of the pumpkin and are can help dogs who drag their bottoms or have problems with their anal glands. 2-1/2 cups whole wheat flour 2 eggs 3/4 can 100% pure pumpkin 2 tbsp peanut butter 3/4 tsp cinnamon Preheat oven to 200C; mix all ingredients Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth; add flour if sticky Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes; bake 40 minutes - Many believe that dogs have no taste for cinnamon, so this ingredient can be omitted, though it does make the treats smell very festive and delicious! - cut treats can be brushed with egg white before baking for a crunchier, shiny glaze - Oats can be added to this recipe. I generally use 3/4 cup oats and 3/4 cup flour Cat Mouseburger Bites 3 oz sausage meat or finely ground beef 2 table spoon oatmeal 1 egg, to bind Whisker of catnip, finely chopped Serves one Knead the ingredients together very thoroughly and form into a flat oval. Broil under a medium heat for 5-7 minutes, turning frequently, until the outside is crisp. Wait until cool, and then slice into bite-sized chunks.
Precious Kitty Treats 1 12-oz can salmon with liquid 1 egg 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup instant oatmeal, ground in a blender Combine the salmon and egg in a blender; mix until smooth. Add the oatmeal and blend well. Spray cooking spray on a 9-by-13inch pan and spread the mixture in the pan. Bake at 200 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool, and then cut into bite-sized squares. Store in the freezer. Makes about 24 treats. Julia Boness MRCVS 4. Pet Photo Competition The October prize goes to Benson. Â 30 Voucher for the winner To enter this month's competition, just send an email with your pet pics to mypet@vetlinks.co.uk. 5. 10 HOT TIPS FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS 1. Do not give your pets alcohol â most do not like it and it is dangerous for them. It is not funny! 2. Do not leave your pet with free access to the Christmas tree â cats will climb them and pull them down, dogs will try to eat the chocolates and any of our pet species may chew through the wires to the lights and get a nasty electric shock.
3. Do not let your pet play with the wrapping paper and tinsel â they can choke on these. 4. Do not leave your pets outside at night unattended â there are fireworks about 5. If you are going away and putting your pet into a boarding kennel and cattery make sure his or her vaccinations are up to date â they will be turned away if they are not valid. 6. If you are taking your pet away with you make sure you have remembered adequate food and water, and if he or she gets sick in the car get some anti sickness tablets from us. 7. Do not give your pet a Christmas dinner â rich human food can seriously damage your pet's health. 8. If you are taking your dog out for a walk over the holidays, remember there will be lots of other dogs about so be careful to keep your dog under control so that he or she does not get involved in any fights. 9. Turkey bones are not good for dogs or cats â they are brittle and sharp and can get stuck in their throats or lower down. 10. Do not give your dog chocolate or grapes â they are poisonous - and keep your cat away from any lilies Julia Boness MRCVS