Winter News 2011

Insurance Information
As from 1st January 2012 a fee of £2.50 will be charged for processing insurance claims.

Toxic Alert
Permethrin spot-on poisoning in cats. Many over the counter canine spot-on flea products brought from supermarkets and pet shops contain permethrins or similar products. While these are perfectly safe for dogs, they should never be applied to cats, since permethrins are very poisonous to cats, causing fits and sometimes death. Whilst this is a year round hazard, a seasonal rise in fleas in the Autumn makes this a particular risk at this time of year. We have an excellent range of safe and effective flea products for your pets - please ask us to advise you on the best one for you.

Firework Frenzy!
With New Years approaching, it is important to prepare early to reduce the stressful effects that fireworks may have on our pets. The following tips will help:

*Keep your pets inside during the firework period

*Provide your pets with a ‘den’ to hide in such as behind the sofa

*If your pet is showing signs of fearful behavior, do your best to ignore the fireworks and carry on as usual

We would recommend installing a DAP or Feliway diffuser in or near your pet’s den to decrease stress levels.

Please contact us for further information!

Calming Diets
Royal Canin have recently introduced two new diets.
Calm Diet: Designed for cats and small dogs that suffer from anxiety or stress. Please see our reception team for advice. 
Fibre Diet: Designed for cats and dogs that suffer from constipation. This is a prescription diet and can only be prescribed by a vet. Please speak to our reception team for further assistance. 

Winter Aches
With the cooler, damper Winter weather upon us, now is the time when we all start to feel our aches and pains, and your pets are no exception. Look out for limps and difficulty in rising after rest - these are signs that your pet may have joint stiffness and pain which can be made much worse by cold or damp weather.
The joints that are most susceptible to arthritis are those associated with limb movement; these joints are called synovial joints. The ends of the bones are covered by very smooth articular cartilage and the joints are also lubricated with synovial fluid - allowing friction free movement.
Arthritic joints typically show a progressive breakdown and thinning of the cartilage lining the ends of the bones and formation of secondary new bone around the joint. Affected joints usually appear stiff, swollen and painful.
In the majority of cases, arthritis occurs secondary to a lifetime of wear and tear on the joints. Arthritis may also occur following trauma or due to a malformation of the joint.
The good news is that novel forms of medication together with weight control (which is also very important), can make a huge difference to the lives of affected pets. If your pet is showing signs of stiffness, come and see us for a check-up!