Tag Archives: flystrike

Handling the heat!

Handling the heat!

Handling the heat! The summer has arrived, but it brings with it its own set of challenges for pet owners. We’ve put together some top tips to help support you and your pet at home throughout the summer season. Be the first to read our latest pet blog here.

From flies to heat stroke, these are all real concerns for many pet owners over the warmer months. Please take extra care if your pet is brachycephalic (meaning your pet has a shorter, flatter head) or if your pet is elderly. From cool mats to frozen water bottles or missing a walk, take care to consider your pets individual needs on the really warm days.

Don’t forget to keep a close eye on your rabbits, guinea pigs and indoor pets ensuring they have constant shade and close your curtains to help keep the heat out. If your pets cage is plastic you can place cool mats underneath the cage to help keep the temperature down.

 

Booster alert!

Annual vaccinations (also know as boosters) are a great opportunity for our team to give your pet a nose-to-tail check up and answer any questions that you might have. Our Summer Pet Blog discusses the different conditions that we vaccinate against here in the UK.

We recommend vaccinations for both cats, dogs and rabbits to help keep them fit and well. The good news is booster vaccinations are included in our Pet Healthcare Club. Why not spread the cost of your pets healthcare essentials across affordable monthly payments on a date that suits you, join our Pet Healthcare Club here.

 

 

Could it be an allergy?

Our Summer News discusses the range of problems that the heat can bring with it for our pets! From parasites to allergies, does your pet get more itchy when the weather gets warmer? If you have concerns about your pets skin or coat condition don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for more advice on your pets individual case. It can be difficult to cure allergies, but modern treatments can be very effective in making pets less itchy and managing their conditions.

 

Handling the heat!

We hope you enjoy reading our latest Pet Blog, if you have a question on any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our teams for more advice.

 

Summer News 2020

Summer News 2020

Summer News 2020

 

Summer News 2020

has arrived! Our newsletter is jammed packed with top pet tips on how to help your pet beat the heat this summer. Don’t forget to take extra care with your white pets, particularly cats with white ears. Our Summer News offers some great advice on how to keep them safe this summer, read it here.

 

 

Pet Travel Update! 

Do you want to holiday with your pet in the future? Do you know the Pet Travel requirements? Our Summer News explains the requirements and criteria required for the Pet Travel scheme. Also keep an eye on GOV.UK for the very latest government updates.

 

Pet Passport

 

Did you know dental disease is common 

and affects both cats and dogs. Our Summer News discusses the signs of dental disease to watch out for in your pet and how to try and prevent it. Most pets will start life with a full set of bright white teeth, but overtime, dental issues can become painful and prevent your pet from comfortably eating their dinner.

 

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Summer News, if you have a query on any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our team for more help and advice.

 

 

 

Getting a Rabbit- what do I need to know ?

rabbit vaccination

 

Getting a Rabbit:

  • Rabbits are becoming increasingly popular as pets for both children and adults in the UK. They are very sociable animals and should be kept in pairs if possible. Animals from the same litter will normally get on well, but any pair that are newly introduced must be monitored closely. Females will tolerate each other, but un-castrated males will fight. It is not recommended to keep rabbits and guinea pigs together, as both have very different requirements.
  • The average bunny will live for 5 – 10 years, so they are a big commitment.

What to feed your new bunny:

  • The most important part of a rabbit’s diet is hay, alongside fresh grass. Rabbits should be allowed to eat as much hay and grass as they like. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their life, and so hay is vitally important to keep them worn down. Rabbits that are not fed enough hay will often encounter painful problems with overgrown teeth later in life, which can be very difficult to resolve.
  • You should also feed green leafy foods and vegetables, such as cabbage, chard, parsley, watercress, broccoli, basil, carrot, brambles, and dandelions. All of these foods should be washed before feeding to your pet. Fruits should be avoided as they are very sugary.
  • Rabbits can also be fed a pre-packaged food in the form of pellets or muesli. This is the least important part of the diet, and only a small handful should be given daily. Pelleted rabbit foods are better than mueslies, as they cannot pick and choose what to eat out of the bowl!
  • Always ensure fresh water is available.

Neutering your rabbit:

  • Rabbits can be neutered from 4 months of age. In female rabbits, this prevents uterine tumours and can greatly reduce the chances of mammary tumours developing. It also stops any unwanted pregnancies. In male rabbits, castration prevents aggressive behaviour and inappropriate mounting of objects.

Rabbit.

Does my rabbit need vaccinations:

  • Rabbits should be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD). Even rabbits who live indoors should be vaccinated, as the viruses can be spread via contact with flies, and biting insects. Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age. Vaccinations should be repeated annually to ensure protection is maintained.

The signs to look out for to avoid Flystrike:

  • Rabbits will naturally eat some of their faeces (called caecotrophs) daily. These are the soft pellets that are normally passed at night so you may not see them. However, if a rabbit suffers from certain conditions such as obesity, arthritis, etc, it will be unable to reach around to it’s rear end to collect them. This can lead to a build up of sticky faeces, which will attract flies. If the flies lay eggs onto the rabbit’s coat, the developing maggots will eat away at the rabbit’s skin. This is an extremely painful condition called flystrike and needs prompt treatment from your vet. It is therefore important to check a rabbit’s rear end everyday for faeces and to bathe away anything that becomes stuck.
  • We recommend protecting rabbits from flystrike by using an insecticide twice yearly, which can be picked up from the surgery in May and July.