Category: SMALL

Fleas are tiny wingless insects which feed on the bloods of animals, including pets and wildlife. They reproduce very quickly producing hundreds of tiny eggs which quickly cause an infestation in the house. Anyone who has had this problem knows how difficult this can be to clear!

They can be very difficult to spot on your pet as they are extremely small and move very quickly. Often you will be more likely to find ‘flea dirt’ (poo) which are tiny, grainy dark flecks in your pet’s coat. Sometimes fleas can cause extreme itching and overgrooming, especially in cats. Then you may not find any fleas or dirts as they are being removed by the pet during grooming.

The best way to prevent an infestation is to use a regular effective flea product which kills fleas. It is much more difficult to clear an infestation once the fleas are in your home. This can take weeks.

A multitude of products are available for the treatment or prevention of fleas. Some products are more effective than others. Not all products available over the counter will be effective in killing fleas. Please ask one of our team for advice on this.

If you have an infestation, you will need to treat all the animals in the household with an effective product. Also, the house will need to be treated as this is where all those nasty eggs will be lurking (95% of the infestation is in the carpets etc). At one point in the flea life cycle the baby fleas turn into a pupal stage which is covered by a hard cocoon. These pupae are really difficult to kill. This is why it takes so long to clear an infestation. You need to wait until these pupal stages hatch so they can be killed by an insecticide.

Clearing an infestation

• turn up the heating – the fleas will hatch out quicker if it’s warm
• vacuum regularly – this will remove some of the fleas/pupae but also the vibration will also encourage them to hatch
• wash any pet bedding on a hot wash (don’t forget your own bedding if pets have slept there)
• treat furniture and carpets with effective flea spray (follow instructions/use test areas)
• don’t forget to treat the carpets in the car

Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD)

This is where the pet becomes allergic to flea saliva. Every time a flea bites it causes intense irritation. This leads to intense scratching and scabs especially around the head and neck and at the base of the tail. Often the pet, especially cats, will pull out a lot of fur with resulting bald areas.

Tapeworm

Parasites are clever beasts! Fleas and tapeworms have a combined life cycle where fleas themselves are infested with tapeworm. Any pet which has a flea infestation should also be treated for tapeworm. Again, ask a member of staff for best treatments for this.

Anaemia

Severe flea infestations can cause life threatening anaemia in extreme cases, especially in puppies or kittens. This is due to the sheer amount of blood they are sucking from the pet.

It’s much easier to avoid a flea infestation by the regular use of effective insecticides. Please ask one of our team about joining our 365 Care Plan which spreads the cost of your regular preventative health care and gives great savings!

There’s nothing better than enjoying a barbecue with loved ones during the great British summer. But there are a lot of potential dangers for our much-loved pets that we need to be mindful of.

Every summer we see a rise in injuries and poisonings, particularly when the weather is warm and sunny. Swallowing kebab skewers, eating cooked bones, developing food poisoning, or sustaining burn injuries from stealing piping hot food from the BBQ are the most common. Pets can also sustain traumatic injuries such as getting their tails stuck in patio doors and breaking their legs.

Follow these simple tips to make sure your barbecue is fun for everyone – including our furry friends!

1. Remember party food is not for pets​

Is your dog a master of puppy dog eyes? Don’t give in, and make sure your guests know the rules too! Be aware which human foods are dangerous to your pets: alcohol, corn on the cob and bones are particularly dangerous BBQ hazards.

Food scraps can upset your pet’s stomach and undercooked or fatty foods can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which can be very serious, and sometimes even fatal. Try giving them a healthy chew to chomp on or a fun toy to play with instead. It will keep them occupied while you enjoy your food in peace.

2. Bin it…securely!

We all know how skilled our pets, particularly dogs, can be when it comes to sniffing out tasty leftovers. If you don’t keep a close eye on them, pets can easily get hold of something they shouldn’t. A big problem at barbecues is pets eating things like kebab skewers or the core from a corn on the cob. These can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems, such as gut blockages and injuries for dogs and cats.

Make sure any leftovers and rubbish are thrown away in a lidded bin that your pet can’t raid. All those food smells will be super tempting for pets, so your bin needs to be secure!

3. Keep temptation out of reach

There’s likely to be several poisonous temptations at your barbecue; lighter fluid, alcoholic drinks, sugar-free treats and chocolate desserts to name a few. Remember how inquisitive pets can be and don’t underestimate how far they can reach when they want something! Keep anything harmful well out of harm’s way.

4. Too hot to handle!

Keep pets a safe distance away from the barbecue by establishing boundaries. Sizzling sausages can be hard for a dog to resist, but a stolen sausage off the BBQ grill is way too hot to handle. Plus, when swallowed whole they can cause stomach ulcers and dehydration.

Hot food, hot coals and ashes can all cause serious burns. Always make sure the BBQ is cooled down quickly once you’ve finished cooking and never leave pets on their own around it while it’s still hot.

5. Beware of smoke

Fumes can be very irritating for pets, especially as many of them have sensitive airways. Make sure your pets are far away from the BBQ and not downwind of any smoke. This is especially important for small pets and birds; you might need to move their enclosure or the BBQ so they are away from the smoke.

6. Keep them cool and hydrated

Barbecues are hot work – the open flame, the smoky and sizzling food, not to mention the heat of the summer’s day – and our furry friends can quickly overheat! Make sure they can head into the shade or indoors whenever they need to cool down. And if you hear there’s a heatwave coming, think about having your barbecue later in the evening so your pet won’t get too much excitement at the hottest part of the day.

In all the excitement, we often forget to keep ourselves hydrated and the same goes for our pets, who often can’t tell us they’re thirsty and in all their excitement, may not even realise it themselves. Always make sure that your pet has access to fresh, clean water, in a shaded area and encourage them to drink it at regular intervals.

7. Slap on the sun cream

Sun safety is just as important for our pets as it is for us. If you’re feeling the need to slather on the sun cream, it’s likely your pet will need some too especially if they have thin fur, white fur, or pink skin exposed such as the tips of the ears or on the end of the nose. Make sure you use a pet-safe sun cream – your vet will be able to recommend one for you if you’re not sure what to look for.

8. Set up a safe space

Get-togethers can be a busy time with visiting family and friends, so ahead of party time it’s worth making sure your garden is secure and pet safe. With all the distractions, you might not be able to watch your pet as closely, especially while you’re cooking food, entertaining guests or enjoying a well-earned feast. Check the fences and plants ahead of time so you can relax and know your pet is safe and having as much fun as you.

If you’re planning to spruce up your garden, make sure you know which plants are poisonous to your pet. For example, laburnum is poisonous to dogs, lilies are particularly poisonous to cats, and daffodils, rhododendron and yew are poisonous to both dogs and cats.

9. Give them room to take a break

Having a house full of strangers might be a bit stressful for your pet, so it may be worth making sure there’s an unoccupied room for them to relax in. But be careful they don’t get shut into a conservatory or greenhouse, as these can heat up very easily in summer and cause heat stroke which is often life-threatening.

Dogs are usually eager to please and might not want to take a rest even if they’re getting worked up or too hot. Look for warning signs that they’re getting over excited or finding the situation stressful and give them some time to themselves.

Pets who live in the garden, like some rabbits and guinea pigs, might be frightened by the noise of a big group of people. Try to home, cover part of their cage so they can hide away or move their enclosure into a quieter part of the garden.

10. Treat them too

It’s all well and good us saying, ‘Keep your pet away from this, that and the other,’ but this is easier said than done, right? The best way of distracting your pets is by using objects and treats that they’re familiar with. Why not scatter some treats around the garden to keep their minds and taste buds occupied?

This could be a thirst-quenching pet-safe snack, or a puzzle feeder filled with kibble. If you’re having lots of dogs at the barbecue, why not make a batch of dog-safe cakes to share in a few different sizes to suit all your pet’s furry friends?

As warmer weather approaches, a lot of animals may start becoming itchy. If this itching becomes excessive, skin infections and irritation can make your pet miserable. There are many possible reasons for the itch: parasites, bacterial infections and allergic skin disease are some of the main causes, and in some cases all of these may be seen together. 

Dogs and cats with allergic skin disease can be itchy all over, or the irritation can be localised to the feet, face, ears and stomach – or even just one of these areas. 

Allergic skin disease (or atopy) is particularly common at this time of year. The three most common types of allergies are: 

Flea allergic dermatitis (FAD): 

Some pets develop an allergic reaction to the fleas’ saliva. An itchy dog and its environment must be thoroughly treated for fleas before FAD can be ruled out. 

Environmental allergens: 

This is an allergic reaction to a substance (allergens) in the environment. These allergens can be seasonal (grass and tree pollens) or non-seasonal (house dust mites). The causative agents can be determined by either a blood test or intra dermal skin testing. This condition is more common in dogs compared to cats. It usually affects dogs initially between the ages of 1-3 years and the condition can last a lifetime. There appears to be an inherited predisposition with certain breeds such as Westies, Labradors, Shar Peis and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, although it can be seen in any breed. 

Food allergy or intolerance: 

This is the least common cause of allergic skin disease. Pets can be allergic to particular components of the food. A strict food trial (please speak to your vet for the appropriate diet recommendation) for a period of 4-6 weeks is needed followed by re-introduction of food components to confirm a diagnosis. 

The approach to investigating an itchy dog can be intensive and time consuming, but depending on the cause of your pet’s itchiness we have a wide variety of treatments available to control their symptoms and keep them comfortable and happy. Please ring to book a consultation at the surgery to discuss both investigation and treatment with one of our vets.

As February was Pet Dental Health Month, we thought we would share some top tips for maintaining your pet’s healthy mouth

Although small, your pet’s teeth are a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and just like us, they can benefit from having good oral hygiene. It can be easy to forget about your pets’ pearly whites, but since February is Pet Dental Health Month, it’s the perfect time to look at the benefits of keeping on top of your pet’s dental care. 

Why is it Important for My Pet to Have Healthy Teeth?  

Good oral hygiene can help improve your pet’s overall well-being. Plaque can start to form on your pet’s teeth a couple of hours after eating. Over time, plaque can harden and turn to tartar, providing the perfect environment for bacterial growth which can lead to a variety of problems, including tooth decay. Once plaque hardens to tartar, it can only be removed via a dental procedure requiring a general anaesthetic.

Excess plaque and tartar can cause gum inflammation. Gum disease can affect the deep supportive structures of your pet’s teeth and is one of the most common disease pets suffer from today. Inflammation of the gums can also lead to infections within the mouth, these can be extremely painful for your dog often causing excessive drooling, pain when eating or playing with toys, and bad breath.

Checking your pet’s teeth daily can reduce the severity of these conditions and help bring any concerns to your vet’s attention quickly before they cause too many problems. 

How Often Should I Brush My Pet’s Teeth? 

We recommend that you brush your pet’s teeth 2-4 times a week, but brushing their teeth every day gives the best results. However, it is important to use the right equipment; a soft bristled brush is best, and ensure you use a special pet toothpaste (as the fluoride in human toothpaste can be toxic to pets).

If you pet is averse to you brushing their teeth, try letting them lick the toothpaste off your finger initially, then work up to running your finger over their teeth, before eventually swapping to a toothbrush.

Other ways to Maintain Healthy Teeth 

It can be useful to train your pet to have their teeth brushed at a young age, as some older pets don’t like people going near their mouths. However, there are lots of other ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums:

• Dental chews: Some chews can work by reducing plaque accumulation on your pets’ teeth. However, these treats can be high in calories, so it’s important to reduce your dog’s food intake accordingly and use them sparingly.
• Toys: Pet-safe toys can make cleaning pets teeth enjoyable. Toys carrying the VOHC seal of approval will help to maintain a healthy mouth.
• Dental diets: Some pet foods are specially designed to keep your pet’s teeth clean by scraping away plaque as they eat. The vets at Oakhill are always happy to discuss the most reliable dental diets for your pet.

Dental Needs for Different Types of Animals

This blog focuses mainly on dental care for domestic cats and dogs. If you would like to find out more about how to look after the teeth of your rabbits, guinea pigs, horses or any other furry friends, please feel free to speak with a vet at your pets next visit.

Should dogs be kept on leads all the time? 

Whilst it is not necessary to always keep your dogs (or other pets) on leads when out and about, it is wise to be aware of designated areas and pedestrian zones where leads may be required.

Another instance requiring lead control, especially important to Oakhill as we have a farm vet team, are areas where livestock are present – on farms, in the countryside or on a local ramble through the fields. An NSA (National Sheep Association) survey showed that there was a 67% increase of people witnessing an dog attack on sheep during COVID. (https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/for-the-public/culture/sheep-worrying/survey-results/)

As stated in the survey, ‘more than half of all respondents had experienced abuse or intimidation when personally asking dog owners to put their pet on a lead.’ 

Land managed or owned by farmers will have footpaths clearly signposted and most will also have signs showing where livestock may be free roaming. Being aware of these signs means we can both allow our pets to enjoy their walks and protect other animals.