September is world Alzheimer’s awareness month
The theme this year is ‘know dementia, know Alzheimer’s’. But did you know that dogs can experience dementia as well? As we get older, all our organs experience ageing, and this includes the brain. When brain ageing affects a dog, we call this canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). Some dog owners might write this off as […]
Are algae dangerous to my pets?
Dog owners do need to be careful of blue-green algae. Whilst some are harmless, others do produce a variety of toxins that may cause a range of problems to animals that drink water containing the algae. Occasionally these toxins can be fatal. Possibly the worst-case scenario is a dog that swims and plays in a […]
Food Standards Agency in cats – feline pancytopenia
Last month the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) recognised that there was a sudden increase in the number of cats they were seeing with a usually rare condition called pancytopenia. The RVC is a centre for veterinary research, as well as where the London university vet students are trained. To date, around five hundred cases have […]
Guinea pigs are not mini rabbits
This may seem an obvious statement, but from a medical perspective it’s very important. One example of the differences between a rabbit and a guinea pig is in their dietary requirements Rabbits can create their own vitamin C from a fairly rough diet. However, guinea pigs, like people, are unable to do this. They depend […]
Myiasis in rabbits
I am hoping as I write this that we can look forward to some hot summer weather. I am not a fan of the sun, with my fair skin. But I do recognise how it improves everyone’s mood to see the blue sky and sunshine. However, it can also bring problems for pet rabbits in […]
Stop silent suffering
Cats are not good at letting us know when they are in pain. As cats get older, many develop joint pain as a result of osteoarthritis. But it can often be labelled as them ‘just getting older’. They lie around more, become more decorative than active, and it is easy to think they are fine. […]
Rat respiratory problems
Lima was having trouble breathing. She is just three months old, one of a new pair of pet rats. She had been fine until quite suddenly her owner noticed that her breathing sounded crackly. The owner made a recording of the sounds of her breathing, which was helpful because by the time I saw her, […]
Protect your dogs
I never know how much to trust social media. But I suppose I would be a fool to ignore the increasing number of reports of dogs being snatched by thieves. I find it hard to imagine the mindset of criminals who could do this, or the distress this might cause to a family to lose […]
Boredom in rabbits
Are you getting cabin-fever yet? We’ve been back in lockdown again for just two weeks, and, for some, it’s already getting hard to keep our spirits up. Imagine what it must be like for ‘hutch’ pets. I saw some interesting articles on how to combat boredom in pet rabbits, and wondered if perhaps we could […]
Exciting times are approaching
Halloween and Bonfire Night both fall within a week, and each present our pets with possible issues. I have just read my monthly newsletter from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. They report that these weeks running up to Halloween are one of their busiest periods. This reflects the risk of pets getting access to unusual […]
What is cystocentesis?
Medical stuff is not always polite. We are taught as children not to put anything (at all!) up our noses, but many of us are nowlearning how to do our own nasal swab for coronavirus testing. Flushing toilets mean the waste our bodies produce can be politely disposed of. But whatour body produces can provide […]
Autumn fruits and pet poisoning
Last week we received an urgent call. Milo the three month old cockerpoo puppy had been stung in the mouth by a bee. The receptionist invited him down at once, even though we were fully booked. It was lucky that his owner saw what happened, and was able to whisk him down to us, so […]
This Saturday 8th August, is International Cat Day
As a vet I am receiving lots of invitations to attend webinars and onlineprofessional discussions to improve my understanding of all kinds offeline topics from behaviour to allergies to their mental wellbeing. For cat owners it’s a day to take time out to connect with our felinefriends. On International Cat Day we can celebrate our […]
A sick hedgehog was brought into the Clinic last Saturday
He had been found wandering in the road in daytime, by a passerby. She knew that hedgehogs are nocturnal, and that those seen about in the daytime are usually moving withpurpose, so she knew he needed help. Every time I handle a hedgehog I fall back in love. They have such endearing little faces,and are […]
Hot Weather
The longest day of the year passed last weekend at the summer solstice. High summer is a glorious time, but for those of us caring for pets, it brings a new set oftroubles we need to watch out for. I have already taken my first grass awn of the year out of a dog’s ear […]
Welfare needs of pets
Late May brings back memories of exams. Thirty plus years ago I was seated alone, in front of three examiners being grilled on animal behaviour, welfare and ethics. My confidence was low. I was good on facts and figures, but this was the ‘wooliest’ topic that we had studied so far. Luckily, I was asked […]
Hedgehog Awareness Week
This week is hedgehog awareness week. It started for me with a phone call from a person who had found a large hedgehog in trouble. After assessing its problems remotely, we decided that it was suffering, and had a genuine welfare concern, and so I was permitted to see it, even in lockdown. It was […]
New arrival in the family?
Many families are taking advantage of the lock down to start a long term relationship – with a new pet. If you have a new puppy, kitten or rabbit joining your family – congratulations! This is a lovely time. You may be asking yourself what to do about their medical needs. The answer is simple. […]
Alabama Rot strikes in Burgess Hill
Earlier this month we were made aware of a probable case of Alabama Rot in a dog visiting a vets in Burgess Hill. We understand that their regular walks were in the Cowfold and Partridge Green area. This is not the first case in Mid Sussex. There was a confirmed case in April 2017 in […]
Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet?
I have been asked this question a few times, and the current understanding at the time of writing is that no, there is no evidence that pets can give you COVID-19. It is true that both dogs and cats have diseases that are caused by a type of coronavirus. But these are alpha-coronaviruses, and are […]
Get bunnies leaping in to the sunshine
This weekend we have a leap day to enjoy. Created by Julius Caesar in 45BC to balance out the calendar, we can use this special day to look forwards, leap ahead and set new intentions. As it’s spring, why not be leaping out into the garden? And if you are planning your planting, why not […]
It would be cruel to make your cat go vegan
Cats cannot be vegans January is the time of year when our minds turn to healthier living and good resolutions. If you are one of those who is taking up a new exercise programme, or giving up meat for the sake of the planet – congratulations! I salute you, and support your endeavour. However, please […]
What is best for rabbits in winter?
It can hard for rabbits to keep warm in winter if they are unable to move about and exercise. So what is best for these pets in winter: to be indoors or outdoors, or a bit of both? The answer is that it can be one, or the other, but definitely not both! Rabbits have […]
Sweet yet toxic
Did you know that Starburst the sweetie is now available as a chewing gum? When I was a kid, Opal Fruits were among my favourite sweets. The three of us used to have competitions to see who could keep one in our mouths the longest, but I was no good at all at sucking them […]
