Julia’s weekly column for the middy
A Vet’s life certainly isn’t always glamorous! “Don’t panic! Don’t panic….” My brain had frozen, I was in a cold sweat, and everything was going horribly wrong. I was a final year Vet student, proudly conducting one of my first solo consultations. My patient was a portly Staffie, and I was taking his temperature. Another […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Our Pyramid of Care is built to support ageing pets just when they need it They say you know you are middle-aged when you sigh just after you have sat down. Or is it when you wince as you get up? Perhaps doing both is focusing my mind on arthritis and mobility issues in my […]
Julia Mewes Weekly Column For The Middy
Life as a Vet student was hard work but presented some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities too! My time at Whipsnade Zoo was a magical experience for me. I spent some weeks living within the zoo, sharing a run-down old bungalow with other like-minded students. We were within an enclosure, but its only inhabitants were some awful peacocks […]
Julia’s Column for the Middy!
Nausea in pets can be the result of several different causes, but fortunately we have the equipment available to investigate any problems Chino is a magnificent Ragdoll pedigree cat, just 12 years old, and exceptionally gorgeous. But he just couldn’t stop being sick.It had been going on for months. At first his owner blamed it on fur […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Could your pet be living with diabetes? Some of my favourite patients are diabetics. These little cats and dogs teach us about dignity and patience in the face of a long term illness, some of them even reminding their owners when their insulin injections are due! November is Pet Diabetes Month at The Mewes Vets […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Are you one of the many people who don’t believe in the healing properties of acupuncture? I didn’t either, until I tried it for myself… “How can you be such a baby? You are always giving pets injections!” Ok, so just because I am regularly on the giving end of a needle does not mean […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
“She doesn’t much like being poked about…” I’m not generally too pleased when a loving owner shares this with me at the start of a consultation. Does my paying customer really think that I am ‘poking their pet about’? I imagine that what they are trying to tell me is either “My pet will bite […]
Julia’s column for The Middy
Have you ever noticed how some rugby players have a ‘cauliflower ear’? I see this a great deal in pets too. Tarquin was just such a case. He was a fabulous Weimeraner, due to attend his owner’s wedding in just 2 weeks, and he had an ear infection. He used his big back paw to […]
Julia’s Weekly Middy Column
Sometimes technology really can be your best friend… I had a lovely compliment recently. My client mentioned that his cat has never seemed better since we sorted out his mouth problems. Leo is an older feline friend, and had several rotten teeth. At the practice we had recently invested in some new equipment and were […]
julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Hibernation stations… I’m a bit of a warm weather person, but living here in the UK, I have to cope with the winter. But there are some lucky creatures that get to sleep right through the cold weather. Tortoises need very special conditions to stay healthy in a UK environment, and this includes a winter […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble…for this little black cat, at least! It was Hallowe’en, and I was forcefully reminded of this, when I heard the most awful screaming approaching our door. It was Alfie, the black cat. He arrived yowling, as only a deeply distressed cat can. It was the kind of yowl that can […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy
Staying slim is as important for your pet as it would be for you… “Marley is in fabulous condition!” It’s what all pet owners want to hear: that their pet is fit and healthy, and that I am going to help them make sure he stays that way. Marley is a gorgeous black Labrador, with […]
Julia’s Weekly Middy Column
Are you free next Wednesday 30th September? I’ve got a big event coming up that I would love your support with… I am getting a bit nervous now. I’ve booked the hairdresser, bought a pretty dress and written my speech, but I am still anxious. Next week I’m going to be one of the guest […]
Julia’s Weekly Column for the Middy – Being a Vet
Being a vet has its perks, and they’re not always what you might expect! Learn more in this weekly column At a conference last month I was amazed to bump into a Vet I used to practice with nearly 30 years ago, at a time when he was newly qualified and I was a student […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column – Pet heaven
The experience of losing a pet rarely gets any easier, even for professionals but I believe in pet heaven Every now and again a pet touches my heart more than most. As a professional I try not to get too attached, because I need to be objective when offering advice to pet owners who rely […]
Julia’s Weekly Column for the Middy
When it comes to being a dog owner, you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth! There is nothing worse than stepping into a pile of dog poo. Not only does it smell awful, but you have to stop whatever you were doing, not walk anywhere for fear of smearing it […]
Julia’s Weekly Column for the Middy – Family Day for The Donkeys
Join us at the Family Day for The Donkeys to help support these beautiful animals! My whole family have always been a bit crazy about horses, ponies and all things equine. My parents loved going to the races, and were members of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which is where I met my first boss […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column – A Weekend with the Travelers
A Weekend with the Travelers The first summer after I qualified was a magical time for me. Every day brought new challenges and I was beginning to feel that I could rise to each one. I had spent the last ten summers cramming for exams, so having the opportunity to be out in the lovely […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column – Why Dogs and Chocolate Don’t Mix
Dogs and chocolate don’t mix. Easter is a brilliant time of year. At last we can get outside, and there is all that chocolate to look forward to! But for me this Easter is going to be harder. I recently discovered I am lactose intolerant, which means I am ill if I eat any milk-based […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column – Making holiday arrangements for your pets
Holiday season is almost upon us, but have you made arrangements for your pets too? When it comes to booking holidays, I hope you are not like me – a ‘last minute Minnie’? when it comes to making arrangements for your pets. I find it incredibly hard to make a decision, so often leave it […]
Julia’s Midsussex Times Weekly Column – High blood pressure in cats
High blood pressure in cats can cause blindness, unless they are treated immediately “Quick! We need to see the Vet straight away! Socks has gone blind!” Not a phrase you want to hear, but Socks’ owner was told to bring him straight to me. In that same month I had had two cats seek my […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column
My early experience with pig farms ensured that I never wanted to become a pig vet! “Just take off all your clothes and hop into the shower,” wasn’t a phrase I was expecting first thing on arriving at work! It was a lovely summer morning one Monday, and I had joined a team of pig […]
Julia’s Weekly Midsussex Times Column
Celebrate your bunny in Rabbit Awareness Week! Rabbit Awareness Week starts this weekend. It is a week in which we celebrate all things good about rabbit ownership, but also recognise that some rabbits get a raw deal. At The Mewes Vets, we are offering a free rabbit health check-up, together with the opportunity to discuss […]
Julia’s Weekly Column For The Middy – Cuddling Dogs
In times of crisis, remember ‘cuddling dogs’ – dogs can rarely resist cuddles! “Help! Scooby’s escaped!” Scooby, the four month old beagle puppy that I was supposed to be looking after was racing towards the road. What should I do? I was still at school, volunteering at a local dog kennels to improve my chances […]