 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2002
Merry Christmas to all our Clients and their Pets
The Christmas season is on us again, a time of excitement and celebration. But just look at it from a pets point of view. Lots of new people coming and going and upset routines can be unsettling for many animals, keep their beds in a quiet area so they have a safe place to hide if it all gets too much.
There is always lots of rich food around both as tidbits and just lying around waiting to be gobbled up by an inquisitive face. At best your pet may get an upset tum, at worst a small portion of dark chocolate could be fatal. Give proper doggy treats instead and keep boxes full of tempting choccys well out of reach of scavenging noses.
Festive plants like poinsettia are poisonous so keep out of reach of plant loving cats .Watch out for Christmas tree needles which can get into tender paws and muzzles. House rabbits in particular can chew bark, needles, fairy lights and wrapping paper (the latter won't damage the rabbit but it will damage your presents!).
Don't forget the rabbits and guinea pigs in hutches outside. Check them every day to make sure their water isn't frozen and handle them frequently to check any other problems that may appear.
Remember there is a vet on duty every day over Christmas and New Year if you do have an emergency, but if we are all careful hopefully we can all have a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas
Insurance: Is your pet covered?
Did you know that insurance is available for dogs, cats, rabbits and even pets like guinea pigs can be covered?
Each year on average one in three pets will need vet treatment for illness or accident. 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. Treatments are becomingly increasingly sophisticated and complex operations such as hip replacements and cataract surgery are available but because of the cost are usually beyond the reach of most pets and their owners.
With pet insurance you have the peace of mind that should your pet become ill you won't have to worry about the cost of treatment. However it is important to take the time to shop around. Some cheaper "supermarket" policies put a limit of a year per condition, which may catch you unawares for illnesses like diabetes or even chronic skin conditions or arthritis.
With "alternative" therapies such as acupuncture (see our accupuncture page) becoming available it is worth checking to see if this type of treatment will be covered, as with behaviour therapy and inherited conditions. Some companies give multiple pet discounts and most will be happy to transfer you if you read the small print on your existing policy and discover you are not covered as well as you thought you were.
So, look around and find a policy which suits you and
your pets, we hope you will never need to use it , but if your pet falls
ill it enables everyone to concentrate on getting him back to health with
out worrying about building up bills.
STOP PRESS!!!
If you have a new puppy or kitten or if your dog is under 8 or cat under
10 and healthy ask about 6 weeks free insurance at their annual booster.
Nowadays we are moving more and more from the bunny in the hutch at the bottom of the garden who gets fed and watered but not really looked at much in the winter months to a new generation of house and indoor/outdoor bunnies who get as much care and attention as a dog or cat in the household. This is why the Bunny Bulletin will become a feature of our newsletters, to provide some seasonal tips and interesting information to benefit all rabbits and their owners.
Rabbit teeth- a growing issue
A lot of the problems we see in rabbits relate directly or indirectly to
their teeth. Rabbits teeth grow all through their lives and if they don't
meet properly they won't wear normally either. We divide rabbits teeth into
2 sorts: incisors (the front ones) and cheek teeth or molars which we can
only see well under anaesthetic. Both of these can overgrow. If the rabbit
is born with incisors that don't meet then they will overgrow and may cause
damage to the nose or lips, apart from stopping him eating. We used to clip
rabbits front teeth a lot, but this needs to be done very frequently, is
painful for the rabbit and can lead to abscesses.
Now we recommend extracting the incisors at a young age, they still use
their molars to chew food and are spared a lifetime of clipping.
Molar problems can develop later in life if the rabbits diet hasn't got enough fibre and calcium to make to jaw bones strong and allow the teeth to wear evenly. The first signs of these problems are "slobbers", wet chins and paws and a reduced appetite. The only way to help these problems once they have formed is to smooth the teeth under anaesthetic. Feeding your rabbit a balanced diet of a small amount of concentrates, hay and dark leafy greens will encourage strong healthy teeth. If you are getting a baby rabbit check its front teeth to make sure they meet. starting early in life with a good diet is the best way to lessen the chances of dental problems later.
Check out the new Forage Feasts from Burgess , organic compressed grass
cakes which are ideal for indoor bunnies (and outdoor rabbits in the winter
when there is little fresh grass) to help wear the teeth and provide fibre
for digestion.
This issue's useful rabbit website:
www.houserabbit.co.uk
Site of the Rabbit Welfare Fund (formerly British houserabbit association.
One of the best sites for friendly information, shopping and advice and
a good way to get in touch with other rabbity folk.
CLOSED: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day &
2nd January
24th December & 31st December: Surgery open until 5pm, phone for appointment
times.
There is a vet on call 24 hours every day of the year, in case of accident
or emergency phone the surgery on 01382 225422 and you will be given a mobile
number which will but you through to the duty vet. As is the growing trend
on the human medicine side we share our out-of-hours rota with Tay Vets
on Clepington Road. This means that you may need to go to their surgery
to be seen if they are on duty, and we will see their clients in our surgery
in Brook Street. Following emergency treatment each client can return to
their usual vet if further treatment is necessary. This ensures that you
and your animals will get prompt and professional service 365 days of the
year.
 |
 |