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Spring tips for pet owners
December is our Dental Awareness Month
December is our Dental Awareness Month.
It is estimated that over 75% of dogs and cats over the age of 5 suffer with dental and periodontal problems. This makes it the most common health problem of our pets! However, it is often overlooked and poorly understood.
In December we are offering FREE dental checks by our qualified nurses. We are also offering 20% off dental procedures.
Common signs of dental problems in dogs and cats are:
• Smelly breath
• Inflamed/red gums
• Rubbing or pawing at the mouth
• Salivating
• Pain when mouth is touched
• Reluctance to play with toys
Please don’t let your pets suffer quietly have them checked by our qualified nurses if you suspect it
HELPING OUR PETS THROUGH THE FIREWORK SEASON
HELPING OUR PETS THROUGH THE FIREWORK SEASON:
Well the firework season is fast approaching so at Blackwater Valley Vets we hope that the following pointers will hopefully help our client’s pets have a less stressful time.
Loud bangs and bright lights can really frighten and confuse our pets which puts them under a great deal of emotional stress and a lack of control. Inappropriate or out of character behaviours can be exhibited by cats, dogs and even our small furries especially bunnies.
Unfortunately the firework season often starts at Halloween and goes right through until New Year’s Eve so anything we can do to alleviate the impact of these stressful events can help as stress increases activity in the central nervous system and the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol.
Our Feline Friends: Cats have coping strategies like fleeing or freezing so providing easily accessible bolt holes and hiding places can help them feel in more control.
These places can be areas under the bed, under the sofa, open cupboards or tops of wardrobes. Supermarket cardboard boxes make private hidey holes and resting places. Keeping your cat in when it starts to get dark and providing a litter tray placed in a quiet and private part of the house will help and our cats will feel safer inn their core” territory indoors. Try not to over compensate with giving your cat extra attention as this can make the situation worse over time, just try to ignore them and let them hide.
Placing a further feeding station and a second litter tray upstairs may be a handy addition if your cat flees under the bed. An upstairs landing has worked for me in the past. Pulling curtains across or pulling down blinds blocks the sight of bright lights and leaving a radio on or the TV can help muffle loud noises going on outside.
Our Canine Friends: Dogs are more vocal and more obvious with their body language than our feline friends which can be upsetting to us owners. Keeping to your pets usual routine will give them predictability, keeping the TV or Radio on as a background noise could help drown out some of the noise associated with firework displays.
Again block the view from bright lights by closing the curtains or pulling down blinds. Try not to give your dog extra attention although I appreciate this is not easy when your dog is shaking or trying to climb the walls! Taking your dog out for an earlier walk before dark and before any fireworks are set off is a good idea or even feeding earlier in the evening to encourage toileting afterwards.
** Please make sure your pet Dogs and Cats are microchipped, as this can be invaluable should your pet freak out, run off or escape.
Our Bunnies:
If your pet rabbit is outside in a hutch, place some towels or a blanket over most of the hutch to block out bright lights. Provide plenty of hay in the bedding area so that your Bunny can burrow.
Supplements which may help:
Adaptil for Dogs and Feliway for Cats are handy to help with emotional stress or anxiety. These omit appeasing pheromones which come in a diffuser plug in which lasts a month with refills available and also as a spray version. For puppies and adult dogs there is the Adaptil Collar which can be adjusted to fit and worn in conjunction with your own dog’s collar.
The Royal Canin Calm Food which is a dry diet for both cats and dogs contains a combination of Alpha Casozepine a milk peptide known for its calming effects and L-tryptophan an amino acid that regulates mood as it is a precursor for serotonin.
Serotonin plays an essential role in the regulation of mood, anxiety, sleep and appetite so thus has the properties of a natural anti-depressant without the side effects. The Calm diet is highly digestible, palatable and has added nutrients to support the skin, urinary tract and digestion. It comes in 2kg or 4kg bags and ideally needs to be fed a week or two before the proposed stressful event. The diet can be fed short or long term if needed unless your pet is on a special veterinary prescription diet or is an older pet.
Calmex for Dogs and Cats: This is another complimentary option to consider, it comes in a liquid form for cats and as a capsule for dogs. Calmex also contains L-tryptophan the precursor for Serotonin, a plant extract Piper Methysticum that helps with anxiety and B vitamins that support the nervous system. Calmex only needs to be given a day or so before the stressful event.
Finally there is Zylkene which can be given to cats and dogs which comes in a capsule form that you open and then sprinkle the powder contents onto the pet’s food. Zylkene is a milk peptide powder and mimics mum’s milk. In studies on puppies and kittens they found that they were at their most relaxed and content when sucking from their mothers. Ideally Zylkene needs to be given a week to ten days before the stressful event.
OUR DISCOUNTS:
Until the end of December 2016 we are offering a 15% discount on all of the supplements mentioned at both our Gordon House Veterinary Surgery and our Elm Cottage Veterinary Surgery. We really hope this helps our clients and helps our beloved pets cope a bit better during stressful events. Our pets are part of the family after all.
A Handy Website;
You may want to visit Sound Therapy 4 Pets which allows you to download a therapy pack for Dogs which may help with de sensitising them before the Fireworks start.
The Veterinary Poisons Information Service
The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) is the only specialist animal poisons helpline in the UK. They have been supporting vets in treating poisoned animals since 1992.
VPIS handle enquiries on all poisonings in all animals, including drugs, household products, plants, agro-chemicals and venomous bites and stings.
VPIS are delighted to announce that they are now offering services to the general public. They will be able to tell owners if their pet is at risk and if they need to go to the vet for treatment.
Calls cost £30 per enquiry and this includes any follow up calls from both owners and vets throughout the duration of the case. VIPS are open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday currently and hope to extend these hours very soon so keep an eye on their website!
If you think your pet has been poisoned, please call them on
+44 (0)2073 055 055
Client Tips for Taking Your Cat to the Vets
I often look around our waiting rooms to see how our feline friends cope in what is often a busy and noisy environment. I have two cats myself, both of which are anxious personality types so hopefully my feline tips will help our lovely and valued clients make their cat’s vet visits less stressful.
Bear in mind that familiar territory is extremely important to our cats so when we take them away from this we inadvertently take away their control and the cat carrier and car journey becomes a frightening issue for them. Cats have three coping strategies which is to flee, freeze or as a last resort fight. A cat’s wild ancestry remains in our domestic cats.
Firstly we need to consider the cat carrier and to get your cat used to this you could try leaving it with the door open in the main room of your home for a week for your cat to explore, line it with soft fleeces and place a few cat treats in there to encourage curiosity and pleasant associations. Hopefully when the time has come for the Vet visit, your cat will be less fearful of going in the carrier. Top opening ones like the Catit design “Cabrio” carrier works well as it is easy for owners to get their cat in and out of it and the Vet can examine your cat whilst it is in the carrier. The Cabrio carrier is widely available online.
With regards to the car journey this can be made less stressful if you spray Feliway in the car about 15 minutes before you travel, leave the windows closed in the car for maximum effect. I myself have tested this option and it did make my cat calmer and less vocal whilst travelling. On the journey keep your car radio on as a background noise, Classic FM or in studies Radio 4 works well. Talking in a gentle and soft tone will comfort your cat as your voice will be familiar to him. Keep the carrier securely on the passenger seat or in the foot well if space allows. Cover the cat carrier with a big towel or fleece and spray this with Feliway for added reassurance for your cat. This covered den will help your cat cope better in a waiting room that has dogs waiting as the cover will block the view.
At our Frimley Green surgery we have a tiered cat stand that allows owners to put their cat carrier on as cats feel safer higher up and means they are not nose to nose with a dog. Unfortunately, space at our Camberley surgery is limited and it has been logistically impossible to place one of these stands in the waiting room. I will keep looking for a smaller version though to help our feline friends.
After the actual Veterinary consultation, you are more than welcome to elevate your cat’s carrier up onto the Reception desk whilst you settle the bill as again it is a higher surface.
We have a lovely Vet called Audra who specialises and understands our feline friends very well, she is calm and gentle around them and even the grumpiest cat seems to behave in her presence. Audra works on Thursdays mornings at our Camberley surgery and then the afternoon and evening at our Frimley Green surgery. She has quite a following!
I hope these tips help you “think cat” and that your next visit to the Vets is less stressful for both you and your cat.
Best wishes, Debbie.
New Rabbit Disease and Vaccine
Viral haemorrhagic disease – Two strains (RHD1 and RHD
This disease was first noticed in China many years ago but now has an almost world-wide distribution and is seen more and more in the UK. Viral haemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus and, although the incubation period is up to three days, animals may die suddenly without any clinical signs. If there are signs they include anorexia (not eating), fever, apathy and exhaustion. There may be convulsions and coma, difficulty breathing, a mucoid foaming at the mouth or a bloody nasal discharge. Some animals survive this acute phase but die a few weeks later of liver disease and jaundice.
Given the horrendous death experienced by affected rabbits, every rabbit should be vaccinated annually.
In the UK several vaccines are available that contain inactivated haemorrhagic disease virus (VHD). Rabbits should be vaccinated at 2½-3 months of age. Annual boosters are recommended.
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) is one of the worst viruses out there. It has evolved to survive outside of a host for over 200 days and can live on pretty much any surface at all, this includes shoes, clothes, hay, the feet of wild rodents and birds, grass, dandelion leaves etc. This means that while direct contact between infected rabbit and uninfected rabbit is the best means for the virus to pass to a new host, it is by far the least common cause of an outbreak in domestic rabbits. This means that keeping your rabbits indoors just reduces the probability but does NOT become a magical barrier to prevent infection.
Two VHD strains
VHD has two strains, RHD1 and RHD2. RHD1 has long been established in the UK, kills quickly and has a 100 per cent mortality rate, whereas RHD2 is an emerging strain that kills slowly, has a mortality rate between 20 and 50 per cent and also kills baby rabbits.
So what is RHD2? The VHD virus appears to have mutated into a strain which kills the host more slowly, meaning the virus is present in a single rabbit for a longer period of time increasing the rate of infection between animals. While it does appear to a have a lower mortality rate than RHD1 it is no less dangerous and needs to be vaccinated against. The vaccine for RHD2 has also been particularly troublesome and we have to show a great debt of thanks to The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund who have been instrumental in getting this vaccine available the UK. This has only really happened within the last couple of months.
To make matters worse, many vets are not aware of this new strain of RHD. We have been aware of concerned rabbit owners, contacting vets about RHD2, only to be told that they have been covered for the disease with the standard Myxo-RHD vaccine. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. This vaccine only covers RDH1 and DOES NOT protect against RHD2. Rabbits which were up to date with their Nobiva Myxo-RHD vaccine have been confirmed to die from RHD2 under pathology.
RHD2 vaccine is not readily available and requires a special import permit. We have applied for this and have the first lot of vaccines in. We would advise concerned rabbit owners to contact us regarding vaccinating their rabbits.
Feliway Friends
Hello all our lovely clients
I just wanted to tell you all about a new product that has been added to the Feliway range called Feliway Friends.
As some of you already know I am interested in anything feline so I was encouraged when I heard about something that could help in multi cat households and I was keen to find out more.
Feliway Friends is a plug in diffuser that omits a cat appeasing pheromone naturally produced by the Queen after giving birth to her kittens. This pheromone has been shown to have a similar calming and wellbeing effect on adult cats. (Reference source Ceva Animal Health)
Feline body language and tensions within a multi cat household of two or more cats can be subtle. Things to look out for in regard to feline emotional stress are obvious signs like fighting, chasing or stalking or more non obvious signs like staring or blocking access to litter trays, cat flaps or other feline resources.
This is where Feliway Friends can come in handy as it has been clinically proven to help reduce feline tensions in multi cat households. Visible improvements have been seen as early as 7 days from when the diffuser has been plugged in. Feliway Friends could be a handy tool for when you go away and have a pet sitter, friend or neighbour coming in to look after your cats as even harmonious multi cat households can change dynamics when the owner leaves the home. Our pet cats need consistency, predictability and a regular routine.
Feline resources are vital to help reduce conflicts between our pet cats so always provide ample litter trays, resting places, food and water bowls, scratching posts, toys and bolt holes to accommodate the number of cats that co habit within your home.
Bear in mind that the established Feliway classic range of diffusers and sprays can help with travelling, moving home, indoor scratching and urine spraying.
We are pleased to offer a promotional discount on any of the Feliway and Adaptil ranges until the end of October to help with the holiday season. Also there is a new loyalty scheme that Ceva have introduced for the Feliway and Adaptil range so that after so many purchases you can get a free one.
May I wish you all Happy Holidays and a feline stress free Summer.
Best wishes, Debbie.
Qualified Veterinary Nurse
We are looking for a Qualified Veterinary Nurse to join our growing team. If you love animals, and would like to work with a happy progressive team, please let us know.
Debbie’s Springtime Tips for Felines
Debbie’s Springtime Tips for Felines:
Well as I look out of my window and see the welcome sight of our Magnolia tree bursting with pretty white flowers and catch a glimpse of clumps of cheery Daffodils I know that the promise of spring has finally arrived.
As the daylight hours increase and the weather gets warmer just like us, our cats including my two couch potatoes will hopefully want to venture outside and potter about more so I am going to give you all some pointers on making your outside spaces “cat friendly” ready for the spring and summer.
Cats feel more vulnerable in open spaces like patios, courtyards and lawns and this can be troublesome for them if there are a few neighbourhood cats in the area that will roam and cross into the resident cats outside territory. This can cause emotional upheaval for our resident cats as they will feel intimidated by even just the very sight of a strange cat and territorial altercations can take place, especially in the spring and summer when more cats will spend more time outdoors. To try and alleviate any feline stress outside try placing an item of garden furniture or a large BBQ near to the exit of your cat flap to allow your cat to retreat behind allowing more privacy to survey the area ahead. A row of pot plants can create a private corridor leading from the cat flap to the outside. High vantage points in the garden will help our cats to feel in more control and safer higher up. Densely stocked flowerbeds with shrubs and bushes of differing heights will allow our cats a more private hidey hole to survey from. Providing a private latrine sight somewhere in the garden will help as cats feel more vulnerable whilst eliminating and hate being overlooked. Provide a secluded sun spot and shady areas as these will all be appreciated too. These cat friendly pointers will be really welcomed by our older and more anxious felines as they tend to feel much more vulnerable outside.
A list of cat friendly plants is available at the ISFM website.
As neighbourhood cats can pose a threat and emotional stress to the resident cat, consider installing a cat flap that only recognises your own cat’s microchip as this deters any strange cat from entering the sanctity of the resident cat’s “core territory” which is the inside of the home, as this is associated with warmth, comfort and security. The one I recommend is the Sure Flap cat flap as it was easy to install fitted my old Staywell hole and runs off normal AA batteries that last up to a year. The Sure Flap model can be programmed to read up to 32 microchips. The company also does a microchip sure feeder which can really help in a multi cat household especially if one cat is on a diet or fed a veterinary prescribed prescription food. Often marauding neighbourhood cats will try their luck with entering the sanctity of the resident cat’s home for a food reward so a sure feeder will stop this too.
I have secured a really good price for our clients to purchase a Sure Flap and the customer service team are very helpful and knowledgeable to help you with any query that you might have. Take a look at the Sure Flap website at sureflap.com
Also Please note: In our attempt to help all our pets and client we are selling the sure flaps for less than the RRP and less than the people who make them
As your cat ventures outside more in the spring and summer months it is important to adhere to a strict flea and worm regime each month, as these parasites can be caught through prey and other sources. There is a product available through our veterinary surgeries called “Broadline” which I use on my cats as it treats fleas and ticks but also deals with Tapeworm and Roundworm. It is a monthly spot on treatment which avoids the stress of administering worm tablets. Our Pet Health Club offers you discounts on flea and worm products please ask our Reception staff for more details or have a look on our website.
Finally, as the weather gets brighter and warmer you may have more visitors over to enjoy time spent outside and will want your doors and windows open which may make outside noise like DIY and any neighbouring building works more acute for our cats. So I would recommend plugging a Feliway diffuser into your kitchen, utility room or lounge area as these rooms tend to lead into the garden and the diffuser will omit a reassuring pheromone to help calm a worried or anxious cat. We can offer a discount on any of the Feliway range and the Adaptil range for Dogs at our Camberley and Frimley Green surgeries for the spring and summer months.
Once spring arrives our minds tend to turn towards holiday planning and taking trips away, this may mean that your cat will go into a Cattery so the Royal Canin dry food called Calm can be a useful tool to use short term as it helps to support your cat through times of stress. For the spring and summer months we are offering a discount on this food for both cats and dogs so please ask our Reception staff at either of our two surgeries for more details.
If you are using a Cattery for the first time you may find my information sheet useful please look at our website for more details or e/mail me at Debbie@blackwatervalleyvets if you would like a copy sent to you.
I hope that my pointers will help and may I wish you all a very warm, enjoyable and happy springtime and that it is feline stress free.
Enjoy, best wishes, Debbie.
Debbie Turner
Feline Behaviour Advisor for Blackwater Valley Vets
Gordon House Vet Centre
216 Gordon Avenue
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 2NT
Important message to all our clients and fellow cat and animal lovers
You may have seen the latest very disturbing news about “Croydon cat Killers”. Sadly, these horrendous acts seem to have taken place in Richmond and Kingston and even Frimley Green.
A local family was left devastated having found their cats decapitated body in the garden.
The story was followed in the local news as well:
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/family-heartbroken-after-kitten-found-11060035
We do not aim to spread panic but in the interest of safety of these innocent creatures we need to help make everyone ware of the problem. Further we would like to give some basic information to keep your loved ones safe:
If you notice any strange behaviour in your area, then please contact Det Sgt Andy Collin from the Metropolitan Police on 0208 6490216 or SNARL on 07957830490.
We recommend for cats that are generally indoor/outdoor, especially at this time of year, is to keep them in after dark and before dusk. This reduces the risk of road traffic incidents, hunting garden birds in breeding season and now we believe this may help keep your little one safe from these attacks.
If you have any concerns over keeping your little one indoors as they are used to going out then please give us a call. Our nurses and behaviourist will be very happy to give you professional advice on enriching your cats’ environment. If your’ cats have never used a litter tray then we can advise on what type of litter to use, and the best place to put a tray.
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