Ash Vets' Blog

New Inventions/ Discoveries in Veterinary Science

2011-06-10T16:40:00.002+01:00

We always like to keep up to date here at Ash Veterinary Surgery, so I was very interested when one of our American colleagues sent us an article about recent developments. I think sometimes we use this technology so often that we take it in our stride. It's interesting to step back and look at what has happened recently. In this age of bionic pets, what else can be done?

I thought you might be interested to see it too. The article can be found
here.

Some of these procedures are only performed or required in America though, so don't be surprised if you haven't come across all of them

Don't Feed Your Dog Bones

2010-09-30T19:18:00.004+01:00

"Nick, nack padywack,
Give a dog a bone"
Goes the nursery rhyme, but like many other old wives tales, this is outdated and just plain wrong.

Every couple of weeks we see a dog who is having problems because they have eaten bones. Some of them have stolen a chicken, or something they shouldn't out on a walk, but unfortunately many of them have been fed bones by otherwise caring owners.

Dogs like bones. Their history and evolution as scavengers, means that they have adapted to eat many things and this includes bones. However they also like chocolate and we all know that can be harmful to them. Just because they like bones doesn't mean that they should be fed them. This applies to any sort of bone, including specially cooked bones, as chips can be easily broken off when the dog chews.

Bones can cause a variety of problems, including constipation, but most seriously large pieces of bone can cause blockages. As you can see from this X ray, this bone has stuck in the dog's oesophagus, require a serious operation to remove it.

A number of dogs and cats die and have to be put to sleep every year because of the damage bones cause, so we have a simple message for you. Please don't feed your dog (or cat) bones.

Sweetener Can Poison Animals

2010-08-20T13:44:00.006+01:00

A common artificial sweetener, used in many human food products has been linked with an increasing number of poisonings in dogs. The sweetener Xylitol is used as an artificial sugar in many sweets and biscuits and cake, but is also found in chewing gum, dental hygiene products and medicines.

If eaten by dogs, Xylitol causes a sudden release of insulin, which can lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), intestinal bleeding and liver failure. Signs of low blood sugar can include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, trembling or even fits. Immediately veterinary attention should be sought if your pet show any of these signs.

It is thought that cats and ferrets could be vulnerable to poisoning by the substance. However as cats do not taste "sweet" in the way we do, they are less likely to seek it out, although they might be attracted to dairy products such as ice cream which could contain it.

We would advise all our clients to be careful what sort of human food their pets have access to. Do not feed your dog any human food containing Xylitol, and of course avoid other toxins such as grapes, raisins and chocolate. Poisonings often occur because dogs raid unexpected sources of food; beware breath freshening gum, or that emergency bar of chocolate which lives in your handbag.

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

2010-08-18T15:48:00.011+01:00

We've seen a lot of rabbits and guinea pigs at the surgery in the last few weeks. They make fantastic, friendly pets for both adults and children and with many of them living in the house, they can be a real part of the family.

It's best not to mix rabbits and guinea pigs together. They're both friendly creatures and are best to be kept with company, but rabbits can often bully guinea pigs, so stick to rabbits or guinea pigs in one hunch.

It's important for both of them that they have plenty of fibre in their diet. Many of the rabbits and guinea pigs we see have dental problems and these are often preventable with the right diet. Their main diet should be good quality, dust free hay, with a small amount of a complete food, such as Burgess Excel rabbit or guinea pig pellets. They should also have fresh vegetable daily, such as cabbage, kale, winter greens, cauliflower leaves. A full list can be found at here. This is a fantastic website for general information on rabbits and their care.

Guinea pigs have a dietary requirement for Vitamin C, so it is especially important that they have fresh fruit and vegetables and in some cases need a vitamin supplement.

Rabbits should be vaccinated annually against myxomatosis and Viral Haemorraghic disease, even if they are indoor rabbits as diseases can be spread by biting insects. There are currently no vaccinations available or necessary for guinea pigs.

Male and female rabbits or guinea pigs can be kept together, but it is necessary to neuter (spay or castrate) them, to prevent unwanted babies. We recommend neutering all pets to prevent health problems.

Veterinary care for both rabbits and guinea pigs is advancing year on year, allowing vast improvements in their treatment. Modern, up to date veterinary care can be lengthy and expensive, so we would advise all rabbit and guinea pig owners to consider insurance. Companies offering suitable policies include Pet Plan and Exotics Direct.

Giacomo Goes to School

2010-03-14T20:39:00.002Z

Giacomo and I recently visited the playgroup at Gurnos School, Ystradgynlais to talk to the children about pet owning and veterinary care.

The children enjoyed using a stethoscope; looking at X rays, including dogs, cats and tortoises and using a scanner to find a microchip in both a teddy bear and later in Giacomo.

He was real star, allowing himself to be stroked by all the class and giving them a chance to get some hands on experience with pets.

BBC Discusses Pet Bereavement

2010-01-13T16:36:00.003Z

Many of you would, no doubt, describe your pet as your best friend. However the subject of pet bereavement is not often discussed in the mainstream media. An interesting article was published on the BBC website today, discussing the loss that many people feel when a much-loved pet is put to sleep.

People who do not own pets, or have not felt a real bond with an animal, can be unsympathetic to the loss of a pet, so I'm grateful to anything which brings the subject to the attention of the public. If it means that people are more understanding, it can only help.

Our staff are of course sympathetic to your loss; we all understand what it is to lose a pet and what it feels like. Some of our staff have gone further and have trained as pet bereavement councillors, so we are able to offer as much help and support as we can.

Owner of Starving Dog Banned From Keeping Animals for Ten Years

2009-11-22T20:03:00.004Z

This story was featured in last week's Merthyr Express. (please click on the article to see a bigger, easier to read picture)

We at Ash Veterinary Surgery are pleased to help stamp out animal cruelty. Our vets have been involved in giving evidence in a number of animal successful cruelty prosecutions.

On The Buses

2009-09-18T22:50:00.000+01:00

I was heartily amused by the story of Casper, a cat from Plymouth in Devon who gets on a bus when he fancies a rest and settles down to sleep on the back seat. You can read the story here.

A client pointed out a similar story about a white cat called Macavity who takes the bus 400m down the road to the fish and chip shop. His story is here.

I'm intrigued now. We've got plenty of patients who arrive by bus for treatment, but I've yet to meet one who comes by bus on his own. Perhaps it's just a matter of time.

Obesity in animals

2009-07-10T09:04:00.004+01:00

Obesity is not just a problem for people, many animals are becoming overweight as well. Some surveys of veterinary surgeons suggest that almost half the animals we see are overweight.

When told that their pet is overweight, some owners do not feel that this is a problem, but being obesity can lead to joint pain, heart conditions, liver problems, cystitis and diabetes. Overweight animals cannot exercise and enjoy life as much as their slimline friends.

Recently a man in Brighton has been prosecuted by the RSPCA for animal cruelty because his dog was seriously overweight. Details can be found in http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8048356.stm

The hope is that this publicity educates the public and makes people treat obesity in animals as it deserves; as a serious medical condition.

We at Ash Veterinary Surgery are very concerned about obesity and offer free nurse clinics to help your overweight pet lose weight. We have a range of special diets, behavioural therapies, advice and even drugs if necessary to help with the weight loss.

Please phone to make an appointment and we will be delighted to help. If you are not sure if your pet is actually overweight, please book a into our nurse clinic and they will be happy to advise you.

More advice about weight loss and healthy lifestyles for your pet can be found at http://www.petsgetslim.co.uk/home/

Is It Worming Time?

2009-06-24T17:20:00.007+01:00

When did you last worm your pets? Can you remember, or was it "some time ago, I can't remember exactly when" like most of us?

Generally we remember to worm our puppies and kittens regularly. When you are doing it every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old, then every month until they are 6 months, it's not too hard to remember. But adult dogs and cats? Then it gets more difficult.

Adult dogs and cats should be wormed every 3 months. No matter how organised you are, it's easy for this to slip your mind; we're all terribly busy after all. Even if you buy our year's supply of wormers and get the 25% discount you still have to remember to give them.

Novartis, the manufactures of our milbemax wormers have provided a website to help you remember. If you log onto their website, you can arrange to have emails sent by either text message or email. Just look at
http://www.wormfree.co.uk/worming_reminder/en/treatment_reminder.shtml

That's one less thing for us all to remember.

Helping Ty Hafan

2009-05-05T22:04:00.002+01:00

At Ash Veterinary Surgery we don't just help animals, we're interested in helping people too.

Last weekend Leanne, one of nurses, and I took part in Ty Hafan's first sleepwalk. The 8 mile walk started at midnight in the Millennium Stadium and went all the way to Cardiff Bay and back.

We raised over £350 in sponsorship between us, contributing to a total amount of £54,000 for the night. It costs Ty Hafan £2.5 million pounds a year to keep running, but this goes some way towards their costs.

Many thanks to everyone who sponsored us, from both of us.

Is Insurance Worth It?

2009-04-14T14:33:00.002+01:00

After our insurance training session last week, I started to wonder just how much money I had saved by having my pets insured.

I sat down with a calculator and worked out exactly what I had spent in the last year

Giacomo has been the most expensive of the cats, especially after his argument with a car a fortnight ago. (He's doing very well by the way. He's walking as normal now and really can't understand why he has to be confined in a cage or a room at all times. His tail has now stopped itching, as the hair is growing back, which has also improved his mood!)

He has started physiotherapy again to build up his muscles after the accident.

In the last 9 months, since we got him, he has suffered from the following

Diarrhoea
£369.65

Hip Dysplasia
£514.09 here at Ash
£661.00 for physiotherapy

Respiratory Infection
£1642.01

Road Traffic Accident
£809.74 for initial treatment
£1336.30 for specialist surgery

This means I would have spent a total of £5332.79 in the first year of his life. However, because he is insured with Petplan, I have only spent the excesses of £60 per condition; a total of £240.

How much does his insurance cost? Well he has the Supercat Cover, which means that he is covered for up to £12,000 on each individual condition per year. We pay £13.89 per month; a total of £166.68 per year. This is the most expensive of the Petplan policies and cheaper monthly premiums can be arranged.

As well as covering you for illnesses and accidents involving your pet, Petplan also cover for other related problems. For example; we were supposed to be going to London to see a show the weekend that Giacomo had his accident. If we hadn't managed to cancel the travel and hotel we had arranged, they would have reimbursed us for that.

The other cats haven't been cheap either. Bellini has had the same respiratory infection which cost £2486.53 to treat. As this was a single condition, I paid only £60 excess on this treatment.

Rungo is slightly more expensive to treat. Because he's 12 years old, I have to pay the first £90 of treatment for each condition and 20% of each claim after that.

He has been treated for

Arthritis
£601.14 here at Ash
£551 physiotherapy

Oral Pain (including dental treatment)
£272.95

This is a total of £1425.09, of which I have paid £429.02

He has the Budget Plan insurance, which means that he is covered for up to £4000 treatment on each condition, and this costs £12.79 per month for a cat his age.

So as you can see, I'm very grateful to Petplan for the level of cover they provide for all my pets. If your animals are not insured, then it is well worth thinking about. How would you manage if you were faced with bills like these?

Insurance companies will not cover what they all pre-existing conditions. This means they will exclude diseases which your pet suffered from before you took out the policy. This is why we recommend insurance to everyone with a new pet. They will also charge an excess on any condition treated. However, even with these criteria, it's worth your while insuring your pet in most cases.

Murphy the Hypnodog

2009-03-25T23:01:00.011Z

One of the questions I am often asked is whether I've seen anything interesting at work.

I'm not always sure what other people think are interesting. Some things I consider fascinating have just made my friends or practice clients go green. But here's something I think everyone should consider interesting.

At Ash Veterinary Surgery, we treat a dog who can hypnotise people.

Don't believe me? Have a look at his performance. Murphy appears about 3/4 of the way through this clip and shows what he can do.

He has appeared on all sorts of TV shows including last week on "Richard and Judy" and has had pieces written about him in national magazines, including "Chat". He even features in Danny Wallace's book "Yes Man."

So do we treat Murphy in a special way because he's a celebrity?

We think all our patients are special, so he doesn't get the red carpet treatment I'm afraid, we treat him just like everyone else. Just with one noticeable exception. I'm always very careful not to look into his eyes...

Unluckiest Cat Around?

2009-03-09T22:15:00.004Z

February was not a good month in the Thomas household. My boyfriend Ian was rushed into hospital with appendicitis and had to have surgery. When I returned from visiting him in the hospital one Sunday night, I couldn't find Giacomo. It's most unlike him not to be either around at tea time or to appear immediately when called.

Eventually I found him; hiding under my bed and refusing to come out. Again, most unlike him. When I crawled under and slid him out, I found that he was breathing very heavily and quickly and didn't want to stand. It was every cat owner's nightmare - he'd been hit by a car.

I checked him over and discovered that he had a painful hip and pelvis and was shocked, but the rapid breathing didn't indicate anything more sinister going on in his chest. He'd also got a nasty wound on his tail.

He needed pain relief quickly. Living in Cardiff, I didn't want to take him up to Merthyr and back to get treatment, nor did I want to leave him at home whilst I went to fetch it. Luckily VETS, our emergency clinic have a branch close by at Galbalfa, along with the clinic that we usually use in Ystrad Mynach.

VETS are open from six o'clock at night, to eight o'clock the next morning and have a vet and veterinary nurse on site at all times to deal with emergencies through the night. They are also staffed all weekends and bank holidays, even Christmas Day. If we are not at the surgery, you can always contact them for advice or to be seen. They monitor our hospitalised animals overnight; the ambulance takes them there in the evening and returns them to us the next morning.

Giacomo was swiftly seen, painkillers and antibiotics were administered and his tail wounds clipped and cleaned. As with all emergency cases, they faxed his details to the practice the next day; they also have a website so that we can access comprehensive records when their vets are in bed recovering from their busy nights.

We X-rayed Giacomo at the practice once his breathing was back to normal and discovered that he had broken his hip. His was an incredibly tricky fracture to fix, especially in a young cat, so we referred him to the orthopaedic specialist Steve Butterworth at the Weighbridge Referral Centre in Swansea. It was a familiar route for Giacomo; they operate in the same building as the SMART clinic. His fracture was repaired, he was home the same day and by the next day he was walking almost perfectly on his leg and was back to being his normal, purry self.

Now I just have to keep him rested for eight weeks. We can't explain to him what is going on and he doesn't understand why he can't run and jump as normal, so he is confined. Here you can see visiting time in the living room.

Initially and some of the time now he is kept in the big cage we used to introduce the kittens to Rungo. We have also cleared a room of all furniture except a mattress on the floor and he is allowed out and about in there (it has a very low windowsill, otherwise it would not be suitable).

Thank goodness we got him insured. The bill for this accident alone is over £2200; I'm so glad we have PetPlan cover and can give him the treatment he deserves.

Now we just all need to stay sane whilst he's in jail. We're considering getting him a TV with a DVD of a fish tank just to keep him interested!

Arthritis in cats

2009-01-26T14:45:00.009Z

As you may have seen from the last blog entry, Giacomo has been treated for hip dysplasia using physiotherapy. Rungo has also been receiving treatment at the SMART Clinic. In his case, this was for arthritis.

More than 80% of cats over 10 are thought to suffer with arthritis, although many cats are never brought to the vet for diagnosis or investigation of the problem. Signs of arthritis in older cats include

sleeping more
reluctance to play
jumping up less (you may just notice that your cat is choosing to sit on lower resting points)
hesitating before jumping up or down
becoming less keen to interact with you
changes in temperament - generally becoming more grumpy
matted or scurfy coat
long nails which catch in carpets or clothing

If you cat is showing any, or especially several of these signs, you should consider that they may be suffering from arthritis. This is a painful degenerative joint condition which can cause a significant decline in the quality of life of may older cats.

Don't put off bringing your cat to the vet because you think it's just old age or that nothing can be done. If you have any suspicion of arthritis please consult your veterinary surgeon as it is a painful, progressive condition, meaning that the longer it is left, the more uncomfortable your cat will become. Arthritis may be suspected on examination, but X-rays are often needed to diagnose the condition.

The good news though, is that the condition is treatable. We use a combination of several different treatments to achieve the best control of the painful signs of arthritis

Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation
Chondritin and Glucosamine supplements to improve the condition of cartilage and joint fluid (these need to be specially formulated for cats)
Special food containing supplements to help maintain joint health
Physiotherapy, including exercise and acupuncture (available by referral)

For more information about arthritis in cats click here.

Arthritis is also found in dogs. They generally show a slowing down when exercising, may become more reluctant or slower to rise and look stiff after they have been lying down. Again, early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference to your dog's quality of life.

If you are interested in finding out about the SMART Clinic click here.

Physiotherapy for Cats

2009-01-18T20:56:00.010Z

Giacomo has been having physiotherapy...

He has a problem called hip dysplasia; meaning that his hips have not formed properly. The condition is not uncommon in dogs, especially big dogs but is rare in cats. Maine Coons are known to be prone to it, so when he was about 5 months old I X-rayed his hips to make sure he was not suffering from dyspastic hips. Unfortunately he was.

The best way to deal with the problem in a young dog or cat is to use physiotherapy to build up the muscles in the hind legs to stabilise the hips in the sockets. He has also been receiving joint supplements to make sure his joint cartilage is as healthy as possible.

His physiotherapy has been taking place at the SMART Clinic, a dedicated animal physiotherapy clinic which has branches in both Cardiff and Swansea. He has made a huge improvement in the last 5 months and can now jump onto the top of our 6 foot garden fence and run along the top.

I thought you might like to see what physiotherapy in cats looked like. As well as the treadmill exercise show in the video, he has also be receiving acupuncture and we have doing exercises with him at home.

Hip dysplasia is a more common problem in dogs than cats, where is tends to affect large breed dogs such as Labradors and German Shepherd dogs. Young dogs which are reluctant to exercise, have hip pain, are unwilling to jump or bunny hop when running, may be showing signs of hip dysplasia. Left untreated it progresses relatively quickly to arthritis, but with treatment, most dogs and cats with hip dysplasia cat live a normal life.

Anyone considering breeding from a animal in a breed know to have hip dysplasia should have their animal screened before breeding. In dogs there is a Kennel Club scheme to screen dogs of affected breed before breeding, with recognised low breed values.

If you are an Ash Veterinary Surgery client and think your pet could have hip dysplasia or feel that your pet would benefit from referral to the SMART Clinic then please contact Ash Veterinary Surgery to arrange an appointment.

Emily Makes Headlines

2009-01-03T16:55:00.003Z

Emily, collie with a badly broken leg was brought to Ash Veterinary Surgery when she was found by Mr and Mrs Sturgess. They adopted her and a year later she has been adopted by the Merthyr branch of the RSPCA as their mascot.

Your can read her story here

Share Christmas with Your Pets

2008-12-11T22:21:00.004Z

Tinsel, Toys and Turkey

Over Christmas, dogs and cats have access to all sorts of things they would not normally see. Please enjoy the festive season with your pets, but be careful of the following:

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. There's a lot of it about at this time of year. Be careful,especially with chocolate advent calendars and Christmas tree decorations

Tinsel can cause blockages in the intestine; do not allow pets to chase or eat it. The same applies to gift ribbon.

Don't feed your pets rich foods they are not used to. These can cause sickness and diarrhoea. Stick to a good quality dog or cat food as usual.

Give good quality, safe toys to you pets as Christmas presents. Make sure that the toys are tough enough and of the correct size for the recipient. Remove any features which your pet could chew off and eat.

If you have any Veterinary problems over Christmas or New Year, please telephone us as usual. If we are not available, our emergency services will be on call ensure your pets have the best treatment available.

Firework Treatment Starts Now

2008-10-10T20:52:00.007+01:00

I love fireworks and look forward to Bonfire night, but there are lots of people and pets out there who don't.

Many dogs and cats are scared of fireworks, and need treatment to help them cope. For more information, read the article on our new look website.

Every year we treat pets who are terrified of fireworks and we have found that the best ways to help your pets are

Medicate - treat them and treat them early. The medications work best if they are started several weeks before fireworks are expected and continue for at least a week afterwards. There are several drugs which are used in combination to treat this phobia.

Change your behaviour - don't reassure them, either distract them or jolly them along. Shutting the curtains and playing music to block out noises can also help. (Just avoid the 1812 overture, 'cause they might not like the cannons!)

Den - make your pet a den where they can feel safe and secure

Prevention - use the special CDs to teach your pet not to be scared.

Additional excellent information can be found at the sound therapy website.

Not just dogs and cats

2008-09-25T19:19:00.006+01:00

I thought you'd like to see a picture of one of the more unusual creatures we have treated recently.

We commonly have tortoises visiting the practice, as Mike Jessop, one of our partners has a special interest in tortoises and reptiles. This Sulcata tortoise was a rather memorable patient. It took two of us to carry him.

He had an operation under a general anaesthetic and is doing well.

Here's Leanne, our trainee nurse helping him back to bed.

Pet Smile Month

2008-09-02T21:43:00.004+01:00

September is National Pet Smile Month and we are doing our bit to support dental care by offering free dental checks to any dogs or cats registered at the practice.

Dental disease is vastly under diagnosed and under treated in the UK. Studies show that 80% of dogs and cats have gum disease by the time they are three years old.

Initially dental disease is reversible, but it leads to reddened painful gums, tooth root exposure, holes through the enamel into the sensitive pulp and eventually loss of teeth. This is of course painful for your pet.

The trouble for many owners is that animals do not show signs of having a painful mouth until late in the course of the disease. Many owners never check their pet's mouths and are surprised when we show them what is going on. Yellowing tartar, broken teeth and smelly breath may be lurking inside your pet's mouth. Have a look today, or even better, let us look for you.

All pets who have a dental examination during Pet Smile Month will be given a free dental care guide and a goodie bag containing a fingerbrush, toothpaste and information about dental care. For owners we are offering 10% off dental procedures booked and performed during September and the same discount on dental care products.

To find out more about Pet Smile Month visit
http://www.petsmile.org/home.html
or ask one of our vets, nurses or receptionists and look out for more about dental disease during the month of September.

Congratulations to Leanne

2008-08-20T09:34:00.003+01:00

Sorry for the silence on the blog, but I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to update recently. With the schools off, our vets, like most other families have been on holiday, so those of us who were left behind have been really busy.

I wanted to use this blog to congratulate Leanne Roberts, our trainee veterinary nurse who passed her first set of nursing exams this week. Leanne has worked very hard all year and we're very proud of her.

Veterinary nursing takes a lot of commitment from the students. Most veterinary nurses work full time; attending college once a week on a day release basis and studying in the evenings and at weekends. The two year course involves college assignments, examinations and a portfolio based on the cases they help to treat whilst they are in practice.

The portfolio involves a large number of case reports, of varying lengths covering all aspects of animal management and veterinary care. In order to complete it, the nurses have to research and learn a huge amount of information.

One of our other nurse trainees attends a full time four year course at Bristol University. This will give her a degree in veterinary nursing, which includes equine nursing and advanced medical and surgical nursing.

Because they have this level of knowledge and understanding of a range of subjects, we encourage our nurses to promote pet health in their free nursing clinic. These cover a variety of conditions including dental care, pain clinics, puppy and kitten health monitoring, weight loss clubs and the after eight club for senior pets. As with human nurses they can measure blood pressure, analyse urine and take and process blood samples.

We're really proud of our nurses and the commitment they show to pet health care. Look out for them the next time you're in the practice and if you have a question about your pet's health, then ask away.

New Ultrasound Machine

2008-07-15T21:35:00.001+01:00

We've just had out new ultrasound machine delivered and we're very pleased with it. We had an older machine, which was top of the range when we got it ten years ago, but obviously technology has moved on since then and we felt that we should do so too.

Whilst the images on the old machine were ok, we wanted something better - picture the difference between a old black and white television and a high definition, flatscreen tv.

We were particularly interested in getting better pictures of dog and cats' abdomens. With an ultrasound machine we can look at all sorts of organs in a conscious animal, avoiding the need for anaesthetics. Of course we can look for pregnancies and the reproductive tract in both males and females, but we can study other organs including their liver, kidneys, spleen, intestines and bladder.

Because the new machine also has a Doppler function, we can look a blood flow within blood vessels and the heart. This will allow us to investigate a whole range of heart and other conditions. We can watch the blood flow in different directions, as with this picture of jugular blood vessels.

We can also measure across the heart to see if the chambers are narrowed or the heart wall is thickened.

We're looking forward to using the new machine to help treat dogs and cats. I think it looks a bit like Wall-E, the robot in Pixar's new film; I'm hoping it's not smart enough to develop a life of its own, whilst we're out.

Identichips Reunited

2008-07-10T21:19:00.006+01:00

In a lovely finish to our microchip month, there was a fantastic example of why it is worth having your pet identichipped. A dog who belongs to one of our clients, had been missing for almost a year, when he was taken in to our emergency service in Ystrad Mynach.

They scanned him, because he had been found as a stray and he was reunited with his owners later that evening.

The same week, two dogs who had been involved in a road traffic accident were brought in to our surgery in Merthyr Tydfil. Because they had been identichipped, we were able to contact the owner and after treatment, they were returned home.

Articles in the Merthyr Express and Cynon Valley Leader telling Cringer's story can be found at

The chips are up for Cringer

Cringer comes home

Other Staffordshire Bull Terriers helped by Jac

2008-06-16T21:40:00.008+01:00

One of our patients has appeared in the Merthyr Express, to support others of his breed. Jac and his owner were interviewed to set the record straight on Staffordshire Bull terriers, a breed that the RSPCA commonly have a problem rehoming from their centres.

Family softy with a ruff reputation

Jun 12 2008 by Ian Caleb, Merthyr Express

Family softy with a ruff reputation

UNWANTED and unloved – the image of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a snarling menace is turning people away in droves.

According to latest RSPCA figures, the feisty canine is being ignored because of its supposedly aggressive and dangerous behaviour.

But in a week where the number of Staffies looking for a home is one and a half times bigger than any other dog, the charity is asking potential owners to pause for thought when plumbing for a pooch.

Ray Rees, a patron of Merthyr Tydfil’s Ash Veterinary Surgery, is the proud owner of seven-month old Jac – and has sworn by the breed for 37 years.

He said: “The idea they are nasty is rubbish. They are full of life, the most faithful, mischievous dogs you could ever find.

“They sometimes don't like other dogs, but they are great with children."

“It’s all about the upbringing. I hate to see them being trained to be aggressive, but they don’t know any better if they are trained to be that way.

“I bring mine up to be friendly, and they are. As long as they have been brought up that way, they make brilliant pets.”

The RSPCA Manager for Wales Kate Jones said it is bad and ill informed owners who are to blame for their reputation and, in a week where they are encouraging people to rehouse dogs, breeds such as Staffies should be considered by anyone looking for a loving companion.

She said: “Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making – in fact they're wonderful dogs.

“If well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions.

“Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie’s desire to please by training them to show aggression.

“If you're thinking of getting an animal, please visit an RSPCA centre during Pet Adoption Week – ending June 15 – and get to know one of the thousands of animals in our care.

“If you end up taking a Staffie or one of the other dogs on our most unwanted list back, you'll know you've given an extra special animal a much-needed new home.”

For an information pack about adopting an animal from the RSPCA, call the dedicated Pet Adoption Week phone line on 0300 123 8484 or find out more by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/paw

The article can be found at

http://www.walesonline.co.uk

(apologies for the poor picture, it's the same in the original)

Choosing a puppy or kitten

2008-06-10T12:31:00.010+01:00

On Sunday we went to the breeder of the Maine Coon kitten we are having, to choose the one we wanted. As you can understand, I'm sure, this was a pretty exciting day. When we walked in and the kittens looked like this, it was even harder.

Although it's bound to be exciting, it can be pretty daunting to decide on an animal you are going to spend many (hopefully happy) years with.

The first thing to think about is whether your chosen pet is going to fit into your lifestyle. I would love a dog, but I work full time and really don't feel I could spend enough time with it to make life fun for it. Think about the time and space you can commit to a pet and how it will fit in the with rest of the people and pets you share your home with.

A friend lodges with a couple who have just bought a Doberman puppy. They both work full time and this young active dog ends up spending most of its time in an indoor kennel in the kitchen - this is not fair on the puppy, or the lodgers, who end up cleaning him out and amusing him most of the time.

Having decided on an animal and a breed you might like, spend a bit of time finding out about it. Many pedigree breeds are prone to inherited problems. Some of these can be reduced by good breeding, e.g. hip dysplasia in large breed dogs, so find out if there is a scheme within the breed to eradicate these problems. Moggies and mongrels tend to be free of may inherited problems as they have a wider gene pool.

I know that Maine Coons (Giacomo's breed) suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart condition causing thickening of the muscle of the heart) and hip dysplasia (a malformation of the hip joints). His father has been screened clear of cardiomyopathy and I can monitor any signs of both diseases by making sure he has regular check ups. Pedigree cats are also in danger of catching FIP (feline infectious peritonitis, a horrible and often fatal disease) in breeding colonies, but breeders can take special steps of avoid this, which his breeder has done.

Once you have decided on a breed, or you know someone who has moggies or mongrel dogs you are interested in, arrange to go and see the litter. You should also take the chance to meet at least the mother, and if possible the father. In cats, the friendliness of the kittens comes mainly from the father, not the mother, so meet the stud if at all possible (obviously if no one knows who dad was, you can't do this).

When you get to the breeder, have a good look round and ask lots of questions. Have the puppies or kittens been in the house, or do they live in a kennel outside? How much contact have they had with people? Have they been handled regularly? Are they used to being groomed? Have they met children and other animals?

It is very important to socialise puppies and kittens well in their early life (up to 10 weeks in cats, up to 14 weeks in dogs). Anything that they meet in this early period, they will take in their stride, things they meet later, they will assume are scary and may take a lot of convincing otherwise. For this reason you want puppies and kittens which familiar with all sorts of different people and household events and have been handled regularly.

Sadly, many dogs are still bred by puppy farmers and are kept in outbuildings for these vital first weeks of life. This means that the puppy you get is nervous of virtually everything he comes across. These are often the dogs who develop behavioural problems and aggression in later life and many are put down because of it.

When you get to see the litter, stay calm and quiet and let the puppies and kittens approach you. Temperament wise, you are looking for an outgoing puppy or kitten- one which is not too boisterous, but not the one that hangs back and won't approach. You want one of the litter who is somewhere in the middle.

Do not pick the runt, or the smallest one because you feel sorry for it. You want a healthy, happy animal which will enjoy life with you, not one who may be prone to problems.

Look around for signs of sickness or diarrhoea - if so avoid these animals. All the litter should be about the same size and should be well covered in flesh - not too fat or too thin. Check the following

eyes - should be bright and clear with no discharge
ears - clean with no matting or brown wax (this can be a sign of ear mites)
coat - the coat should be clean and not matted, with no sign of black dirt, fleas or scurf, which can be a sign of mites. There should be no bald patches (although sometimes you will get little grazes from puppies and kittens playing together)
abdomen - their tummy should not be bloated as this can be a sign of worms
walking - watch them walk and play. There should be no sign of lameness or pain

If all the puppies and kittens are healthy, then it's a matter of personal choice. There were two kittens which we were tempted by in this litter and in the end, Ian chose the one he preferred. And here he is - Giacomo. We can take him home in two weeks, when he has had his second vaccination.

Before you take your puppy or kitten home, remember to ask

When were they wormed, how often and what with?
Have they been vaccinated (you should be given a certificate to prove this)
What are they used to being fed? (most breeders will send you home with some food. Feed them on this for the next few days, then change it gradually to a good quality food (we use Hills)
Have they been flea treated and if so, what with?
What sort of litter are the kittens used to (make sure you start them off on the same one)

Arrange a check up with your vet as soon as possible, to ensure that they are healthy and that there are no unpleasant surprises you should know about. Also arrange a lifetime cover insurance policy for them. This can be set up before you actually collect the puppy or kitten so that they are covered as soon as you get them.

Then...
take them home and enjoy them. Puppies and kittens are great fun and a pleasure to spend time with. My tip; be prepared for all the hours you'll waste, just watching them!

June is National Microchipping Month

2008-06-01T21:27:00.001+01:00

Microchips seem to be in everything now. They are found in computers of course; TVs, sky boxes and DVD players obviously contain them. I'd guess it's likely that even things like microwaves do now; but animals? Why would an animal need a microchip?

So your pet can find their way home safely.

The microchip, which can be easily implanted, has a unique number stored in it. This is registered on a central database, which allows anyone phoning with the code number; police, dog wardens, rescue centres or vets to contact the owner. Consequently lost pets and their owners can be reunited quickly and easily.

Chips can be injected in most animals when they are awake - it's just a slightly bigger needle than we would normally use. Like any injection, it stings for a second, but soon forget about it, especially if there's a tasty treat on offer. We do chip some animals under anaesthetic; if the animal is coming in for another procedure, we offer chipping under the anaesthetic so they don't feel a thing.

The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and has a special coating to stop the body reacting to it. The chip is injected into the animal and sits under the skin or in the muscle (the site varies from animal to animal, but in dogs or cats they are injected into the back of the neck). Chips are read by a special scanner which is passed over the skin and beeps when it finds the chip, displaying a code number. If anyone thinks this sounds rather like being at the till at a supermarket, then you are right. We move the scanner over the animal though, rather than trying to swipe the dog over a stationary scanner.

It is these chips which are used to prove the identity of animals travelling in and out of the UK on pet passports

In the picture you can see Idris, who belongs to one of our nurses, having his chipped checked.

Even if your animal has a collar and name tag, these can be removed or pull off. Cat collars should always have a quick release catch, in case they get caught in something. Even with those I don't like collars on cats, because they can get caught under the front legs and rub, causing nasty wounds, so I would always favour micrcochips over collars. The advantage of a chip is that it cannot be removed, or fall off; because it's in the animal, it's always there to be found.

June is National Microchip month. It's organised jointly by the Kennel Club and the database which holds your pet's information. To do our bit, we have a special offer on microchips during the month of June. If you are a registered client as the practice, we can arrange an appointment, just telephone us to do so. There may be special events organised by other organisations as well.

If your pet is microchipped, then please make sure you change the details if you move house. We see several animals a year where the owners have gone to the trouble of having them chipped, but have not changed the details, so these poor animals remain lost. In some cases, the animal has been rehomed several times, but the chip shows the details of the original owner. Some of these lost animals are never reunited with their owners.

So if you care about your animal, consider getting them microchipped, so if there is an accident, or they get lost, you will get them back.

Just don't take them to the supermarket to check the chip. We'll be happy to do that for you.

My first post

2008-05-29T15:03:00.012+01:00

Hello, and welcome to the first Ash Veterinary Surgery blog post.

Right, that bit was easy, what do I say next? Well I guess a little about what this is. Ash Veterinary Surgery is a small animal veterinary surgery based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. We have three surgeries; Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash and Abercrave and employ six vets and a number of support staff. We treat all small animals, from the more usual dogs, cats and rabbits to marmosets, snakes and tortoises.

So why blog?

Lots of people have pets. Lots of people care for their pets very much, but don't always do the best for them. This isn't because they are being cruel; often they just don't realise that what their pet is doing isn't normal, or that something can be done for them. They don't understand that some diseases or situations can be prevented if action is taken early.

I often hear people saying "I never knew you could do that," or "I wish someone had told me that before." This is an attempt to help some of the animals we rarely get to see, by helping their owners find out what is best for them. I really don't mind whether this is for our clients, or people who go to a different surgery, if it helps even a single animal to have a better life.

Some of our clients come in virtually every week and so have ample chance to find out what is going on within the practice. However some of you are only seen once a year for vaccination boosters, or twice a year if you take up our offer of a free six monthly MOT, so you might miss out on all sorts of things that are going on within the practice.

I hope this blog will give you more of an idea about what is happening at Ash and give you the chance to get involved if you are interested. National Microchip month is coming up and we are planning other events such as a blood donor session for dogs.

We are working on our website too; as soon as it's on line, I'll let you know.

Another reason I wanted to blog was that I really enjoy veterinary practice. Although there are sad occasions there are so many rewarding moments and I wanted to share those. It'd be great tell you about patients who have made a fantastic recovery (or done something really funny) so with their owner's permission I'll tell you about those too. You might get the occasional story about my own pets too.

I suppose it might be a good idea to tell you a little about myself too. My name is Rachel and I have been working at Ash Vets as a veterinary surgeon for five years. I have just become a partner in the business, so I'm more involved than ever now. I live with my boyfriend Ian and my cat called Rungo. That's him in the photo (Rungo that is, not Ian). In about three weeks, we're getting another two kittens, so I'm sure I'll be telling you about them and sharing photos soon.

Bye for now, please look back soon and I'll try to post regularly.

Rachel