When science sounds fictional / How animals help medical research
Have you heard of fluorescent felines? They have been genetically engineered to try to help our understanding of viral diseases in people. One of the most recent human viral outbreaks was the AIDS epidemic. It sparked an enormous amount of charity fund-raising to support the effort to find cures for viruses. It was noted that […]
Bunnies and Winter
With winter just around the corner, let’s spare a thought for our hutch friends. Experienced rabbit and guinea pig owners will be used to watching out for signs of frost or freezing weather. This could cause our hutch friends’ water bottles to freeze, putting them at risk of dehydration. Consider using a water bottle ‘warmer’, […]
Ermie and his purse string suture
At twelve years of age, Ernie is a cat of strong opinions. For instance, he knows he prefers vets kept at claws-length. He wants our relationship to be strictly hands-off! But when he started passing blood and diarrhoea, and getting more sickness than usual, his owner knew he needed us. And although he was reluctant […]
Celebrate Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month with us
Outside of the consulting room, most of the attention and medical care your pet receives is at the hands of a veterinary nurse. It is this we celebrate each May, as Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) gives us an opportunity to talk about our role in caring for your pets. In any given day a […]
Thoughts return to university days
At this time of year, my thoughts return to memories of my early days at University. My first two years at Vet School involved taking many of my lectures with the students training to become doctors. We shared Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology and Pharmacology lecture halls. Only for the Anatomy classes were the Veterinary students separated […]
Diabetes: The need for regular check-ups
“I cannot bear to see Tatiana suffer: please put her down!” Tatiana was ill, but I was shocked when her owner requested euthanasia. We were only a few minutes into our consultation. I suspected I knew what her problem was, but had not yet had time to confirm anything. So I was unprepared for such […]
Are you scared of snakes?
A few years ago, my son was on a field trip with students from his primary school, bonding in Wales. It seems that he has not picked up much in the way of wildlife respect from his mother, the vet. He noted the profusion of grass snakes, and that the girls in his class had […]
Pupdate
6 chihuahua pups born in the British Chihuahua Club Rescue on the 5th September. The Mum is a bit on the big side, and they are likely to be the same. Just been inoculated and microchipped and ready to go to approved homes. Very lively!Please contact Margaret Foote, 01444 400384 for further details.
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
A story of a horse that wouldn’t say boo to a goose With Easter approaching, I wonder if you are thinking of goose for your special Easter Sunday roast? I am not fond of geese, although I see that they have their place. In particular they are famed as ‘guards’, sometimes better even than a […]
BB’s story: a complex little person, Part 1
For this story, I am handing over to Clive, a long standing client: “We rescued BB when she was about a year old. A mix of Chihuahua and Norfolk terrier, she is as soft as a marshmallow, until crossed. “At only 3 years of age BB had needed both her cruciate ligaments repaired. This markedly […]
Snap into action with the Mewes Vets for Smokey Paws!
It’s the time of year we all look forward to at The Mewes Vets. We have once again begun our Pet Photo Calendar Competition! For those of you who aren’t aware of our Calendar Competition, owners are invited to send in their favourite cute, action or funny photo of their pet, to enter them into […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Let’s not forget, cats can get dementia too! Cleo was driving her owners mad with the volume of her mewing – especially at night. They just could not seem to make her happy, or figure out what she wanted. Nothing helped her to settle down: not food, fresh water, a cuddle or a trip outside. […]
If you’re a dog owner, learn a bit more about the Babesiosis outbreak
Last month you may have heard reports on the radio and local press about a nasty dog disease spread by blood sucking ticks, occurring in Kent. Many of my clients have asked me to tell them whether their own pets are at risk or not, and how to protect them. This new (to the UK) […]
Ginger the guinea pig and his itchy guinea wig
“He is scratching himself to pieces!” Ginger and Snowy were a pair of much loved guinea pig brothers. They belonged to Mrs Mitcham, a lady who was very attached to them. She had initially believed that Snowy had been biting Ginger. But with some careful monitoring of the hutch, she had not in fact noticed […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy – You never stop learning as a Vet, and sometimes new information can help you save a pet’s life
One of the things that I really love about my job is that I never stop learning new stuff. But one thing I really hate is seeing an animal suffering, most especially being eaten alive by maggots – that makes my skin crawl too in sympathy. Maggots are particularly a problem at this time of […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Being the vet on duty at night is not easy! It’s hard to gather your wits when you have been woken from a deep sleep by the emergency phone. You need to sound caring, professional and in control, which is not always straight-forward when the person at the other end is panicking. When I was […]
My path to Finals: Part two
Last week I wrote about the commitment I had made to attempt to become a veterinary surgeon. I had spent ten years of my life sacrificing all fun to achieve my dream to join this amazing profession. At last it was nearly over: just the Finals to face. I had studied every day, seven days […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Fireworks can send your pet up the wall – so give The Mewes Vets a call! As I’m sure you’re aware, all pets have different personality traits that make us love them as a part of the family. Some pets can be cheeky and bound around confidently, and some pets are quieter and have a […]
Don’t make a ‘dog’s dinner’ out of your dog’s diet: How to tell if your pet is the right weight
“Am I feeding him the right amount?” I get asked this question a great deal in the consulting room, so I know that it is something that pet owners are constantly anxious about. At the Mewes Vets we have now been a Royal Canin © Approved Weight Management Clinic for well over a year. This […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Many people aren’t keen on foxes, but sometimes they just need a little TLC too As a newly qualified Vet I had to follow my boss’ rules. She was a chicken keeper, so to her all foxes were vermin. She told us stories about how a fox would creep into her chicken coop at night […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Good things might come in small packages, but that doesn’t make them easy to operate on! Today I was asked to spay two sister mini rabbits. Each weighed just over 1kg. It is incredibly important to me that every patient of mine gets the same high level of care and the same rights to good […]
This is a great time of year to find a new kitten
Cats prefer to breed in the spring, so kittens are likely to be available in every rescue centre right now. Try contacting the Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Service (The Mewes Vets’ chosen charity of 2017), Raystede, the Cats Protection or the RSPCA if you and your family are ready to give a forever home […]
Claws for paws: nails for doors. Watch where you keep your nails!
I’ve got this thing about sharp nails. It’s not a phobia exactly, but I am a bit obsessive about not leaving them lying around. It might have something to do with an early experience I had as a young Vet working in Burgess Hill. We received a phone call towards the end of the day […]
Rabbit Awareness Week and what you should be aware of
This week is Rabbit Awareness Week, RAW. RAW is organised by a coalition of experts, organisations and welfare charities who have come together with a mission to improve rabbit welfare. I am particularly thrilled that this year RAW are focussing on a message that I have been banging on about since I was a young […]
