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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2000
Pet Insurance: The Ins and Outs of Caring for Your Pet the Worry-Free Way
Now-a-days there is virtually nothing that can’t be done for animals that can be done for Humans, but with cataract surgery at over £500 per eye and hip replacements up to £1500 there are few animals that can enjoy these benefits. Although we try to keep our costs down as much as possible even a routine investigation with blood tests and x-rays can add up and up. Pet insurance will cover any of these eventualities but it is important to shop around. Some policies put a limit of a year per condition, which is not much use for illnesses like diabetes or even chronic skin conditions. There will always be an excess, but this only excludes from claiming for minor ailments. Once you find a policy, which is right for you, rest assured that your pet will he able to enjoy the very best modern Veterinary medicine can offer. (If your dog is under 8 or cat under 10 and healthy ask about 6 weeks free insurance at their annual booster).
What are ticks?
Ticks belong to the spider family. They are important skin parasites of
dogs, cats, other mammals and birds.
Where does my pet get ticks?
Ticks live in areas or moorland but are also found in gardens and parks.
Hedgehogs and sheep also carry ticks. They are most common in the warmr
months when humidity is high.
How long will a tick stay attached?
An individual tick only feeds once a year but will stay on the skin for
3-10 days before dropping off to develop to its next stage - shown in the
diagram above.
Why are ticks a problem?
Ticks can transmit serious diseases through their saliva. They can also
cause nasty lumps or infection at the site where they attach. In puppies
and kittens, heavy infestations may lead to serious blood loss.
How can I remove ticks?
The most important thing is to remove the tick's mouthparts with the body
of the tick. To do this, effectively, the tick must be "unscrewed"
from the skin. There are many ways of doing this, the easiest is with a
hook-like tool which lets you twist off the tick without squeezing the body.
How do I prevent ticks?
There is nothing that will stop ticks attaching altogether but FRONTLINE™
flea spray and spot-on (at the higher dose rate of 6ml/kg) will kill them
within 48 hours, minimising disease and infection.
Ask your vet about the best tick control for your pet.
O'Tom tick removing hooks are available from reception.
CONFUSED BY YOUR DOG'S BEHAVIOUR?
Our pet dogs exhibit many aspects of canine
behaviour causing us confusion and frustration, and we can sometimes feel
at the end of our tether. Help is at hand. Keeping up with the advances
in this field we are now able to offer advice from Tracy, one of our nurses.
"Before moving to the Dundee area I ran obedience and agility classes.
To add to my knowledge, I have recently passed the canine-human interface
course, which gives a large insight into the dogs natural behaviour and
teaches certain behavioural modification techniques that can help many a
dog and their owners.Some advice can be briefly discussed over the phone
but it is often of more use to book in for a behavioural consultation. These
can last up to an hour and a half and take place in the surgery. This is
a relaxed atmosphere away from the vet’s environment that all dogs
are wary of.There may he more than one session if necessary for follow-up
and a written summary of the consultation can be provided if desired."
So if you are experiencing a problem, no matter how small, feel free to contact the surgery and ask to speak to Tracy.
BLACKNESS VETS BACK TO BROOK STREET AT LAST!
On Monday 17th July 2000 at 9am there was a devastating fire in the Larchfield Works yards from the surgery at 82 Brooks St. Within minutes we were forced to evacuate the premises, lodging the resident patients in various cars. Although we had hoped to return to business as normal the next day, it became apparent that due to the demolition of the old mill we would not be allowed back for some time.
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We adopted the tiny Monifieth branch surgery
as our temporary home and thanks to all the efforts of the staff, managed
to keep the engines running until finally we were permitted to return. Our
sincere thanks to all our clients for their support and understanding at
the time. A huge thanks also to the Tay Vets and Parkside Vets for helping
to deal with not only our emergencies but with patients who required more
intensive investigations than we are able to offer from Monifieth.
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