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NEWSLETTER
WINTER 2011
BBBBBBRRRRRRRRR
Yes, the winter season has landed. We can’t believe it either! Where have the last 12 months gone?
At this time of year, you may be busy doing your Christmas shopping, and stashing away those boxes of yummy chocolates, selection boxes, etc, etc. Please please do make sure you put these in a secure place, i.e out of the reach of our furry friends. Did you know that doses of chocolate as low as 0.7 grams per kilogram can be toxic to dogs! A canine chocolate thief should always be treated as an emergency and veterinary assistance should be sought as soon as possible! Also, make sure that your dog or cat can’t get at the decorations, a mad dash to the emergency vets on 25th December with a suspected ingested bauble doesn’t make for a Happy Christmas!
Also, just because we are all cosy inside, we mustn’t forget our ‘outdoor’ pets, i.e our bunnies, guinea pigs and hens, etc. Unless the temperature drops to the extremes of last winter, staying outdoors is less stressful for them than bringing hutches inside, HOWEVER, please make sure that they have plenty of bedding to snuggle up in, their water doesn’t freeze and that their hutches are wind and rain-proof.
On the subject of winter and all it brings, we would like to draw your attention to our opening hours over the ‘festive’ period. We are open as normal, except Monday 26th December, 2011 (Boxing Day), when our out of hours provider will be covering any emergencies. We are open AS NORMAL over the New Year, including Monday 2nd January 2012. If you have any questions regarding our opening hours, please don’t hesitate to ring the surgery.
OUR TILLY GOES TO WEIGHT WATCHERS!
Oh HOW embarrassing …. A few months’ ago, we realised our surgery cat (Tilly) had been piling on the pounds. Clearly the easy life and the odd bit of sausage roll had taken their toll on her previously sylph-like figure.
We knew something had to be done about this, so started her on a weight loss regime, of measured portions, strictly NO SAUSAGE ROLL BITS and a special diet. Back at the start of September, she weighed in at a hefty 5.8 kgs! Lordy! Nowadays, she’s 5.2 kgs, still a bit to lose but a definite improvement! Well done Tilly. Unfortunately, her diet has been complicated by the fact that we very recently discovered crystals in her urine which are more common in overweight animals. This has meant a change of food, but unfortunately for her, the portions remain the same.
INFORMATION GATHERING
We are always looking at ways of improving our communication with clients and so we are considering using e-mails as another method. We are also keen to make sure we hold clients’ correct address/e-mail address/contact details, so we shall now be encouraging clients, with internet access, to e-mail their details to us to assist with ‘housekeeping’ (please send e-mails to <client-updates@marshallandtill.co.uk>), or alternatively you can fill in a form when you visit us.
HARD TIMES
In these times of recession, where animal health is concerned, as the old saying goes ….”prevention is better than cure” (AND cheaper too!). Some people may consider that perhaps skipping that booster vaccination for their dog or cat, or not continuing with their worming or flea prevention regime, will save some of their hard-earned dosh. Obviously, we don’t want to lecture our clients on how to spend their money, but we CAN point out that if an animal unfortunately requires treatment for a condition which is preventable, then they potentially could be spending much more and, in the most severe cases, lose their beloved pet if the condition was severe. Just something to think about …..
SLUGS AND SNAILS AND LUNGWORM TALES ….
We know that lungworm has been a big news item and we have just recently had our first case (for some considerable time) confirmed here at the surgery. For some reason (only known to some dogs!) great enjoyment is experienced from the taste of all things slimy! If your dog has a taste for molluscs then there is a risk of lungworm, as it is caught from eating these creatures. The most common sign is a cough, although some dogs with a low level of worms may not display any signs at all. Several of the wormers that we use routinely are effective against lungworm, but only if used more frequently or at a different dose, so just because your animal is wormed it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are lungworm-free. If you think your dog may be at risk or you have any questions on this slimy matter, then please don’t hesitate to ring the surgery for advice.
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