One Injection. One Year Protection.

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You can protect your Dog year round with a 12 month injection!

As the weather finally warms up, so does the risk of fleas and ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance – they can carry serious health risks, including Lyme disease, tapeworm infections, and flea allergy dermatitis. Many pet owners can mistakenly believe fleas and ticks are only a summer problem, but they can survive year-round, especially inside our warm homes.

How does the injection work?
The drug targets the parasite’s nervous system, killing fleas and ticks quickly and effectively. With a long acting injection, your dog is protected without gaps, keeping them itch-free and safe from parasite-borne diseases all year long.

Why choose a 12 month parasite injection?

  • Twelve months of continuous protection – just one injection provides a full year of flea and tick defence.
  • Hassle-free and vet-administered: a single injection, professionally administered to ensure precise dosing.
  • No gaps! No more worrying about forgetting to apply spot-ons or giving tablets.
  • Fast-acting and highly effective – the injection starts working within hours, eliminating fleas and ticks.

If you would like to learn more, please contact us on 01606 880890 or 01606 717969 to book your FREE flea and worming consultation.

Spring into Trouble!! Seasonal Toxins That Can Harm Your Pets!

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Spring brings warmer weather, beautiful blooms, and seasonal treats—but it also introduces seasonal toxins that can put your pets at risk. From tempting Easter chocolates to toxic plants and outdoor hazards, here’s what you need to know to keep your furry friends safe.

Food – Spring celebrations often come with delicious treats, but some can be dangerous for our pets.

Chocolate – A favourite Easter indulgence, but they are highly toxic for our pets due to theobromine, a caffeine-related compound. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, and loss of coordination.

Hot Cross Buns and Simnel Cake – These seasonal favourites often contain raisins, sultanas, or currants, all of which can cause fatal kidney failure in pets, as there is no known dose-response relationship. Symptoms to look out for include vomiting and lethargy. 

Plants -Springtime blooms may be beautiful, but some are highly toxic to pets.

Lilies (including hybrids)– Cats are highly sensitive, and ingestion can lead to fatal kidney disease. Symptoms include drooling, vomiting, lethargy, increased thirst,
urination, and seizures. Hybrid lilies can also cause oral pain, stomach upset, or even heart issues in both cats and dogs.

Tulips, Daffodils and Spring bulbs – These popular flowers contain compounds that can cause severe oral irritation, vomiting, and in severe cases, neurological or cardiac issues. Symptoms to look for include drooling, diarrhoea, and lethargy.

Outdoor Hazards -Warm weather brings more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors but it’s important to be aware of potential risks.

Fertiliser – While some fertilizers cause mild stomach upset, others can be life-threatening. Blood and bone meal can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, pancreatitis, or
intestinal blockage. Fertilizers containing organophosphates can cause drooling, tremors, seizures, and breathing difficulties.

Mushrooms – Thousands of mushroom species grow in the wild, with varying levels of toxicity. Effects can range from stomach upset to neurological issues, liver or
kidney failure. If your pet eats a mushroom, safely collect a sample or take photos of the top and underside for accurate identification. Always wash your hands after handling mushrooms.

Adder Bites – These protected snakes emerge in spring as temperatures rise. A bite can cause severe pain, swelling, and collapse in pets. Seek immediate veterinary care if your pet is bitten.

Remember if you think your dog or cat has eaten poison, S.P.E.E.D. is of the essence! 
S Stop the pet from eating any more suspected poison
P Phone the vets
E Emergency appointment
E Evidence – bring labels/samples/vomit (in a safe manner)
D Don’t delay! 
 
If you are concerned that your pet has eaten something dangerous, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01606 880890 or 01606 717969.

Pet Dental Awareness Month-Canine Dentistry

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Like cats, dogs can also get dental disease if their teeth are not looked after at home.

We encourage owners to brush their dog’s teeth from a young age to get them used to this and to be tolerant of dental exams. Brushing your dog’s teeth is the most effective way to prevent tartar build up, gingivitis and the development of periodontal disease. We provide guidance on tooth brushing a at our puppy clubs and then later in life as needed during our free oral care clinics.

Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums and the tissues that hold the teeth in place. It can lead to jawbone loss and loose teeth meaning teeth will need extracting. It is caused by plaque and bacteria in the mouth which can be prevented by preventative dental care. Tooth brushing is ideal, but alternative options such as food and water additives can be helpful and are also discussed in our oral care clinics.

Despite our best efforts, it is still possible to develop periodontal disease and for this to be treated, dogs must come in for a dental procedure. All of our dental procedures are performed under general anaesthesia to allow a full and adequate oral examination. Although humans can undergo conscious dental treatment, this is not safe for our furry patients and could cause more pain. It’s also really important to examine and remove tartar below the gum line; without this, dental disease will still progress despite the tooth on the surface looking clean and this can only be done in an anaesthetised patient.

For our dental exams, the first thing we do once the patient is under anaesthetic is to make up a chart of the patient’s mouth. This notes down a gingivitis and calculus score for each tooth. It also allows identification of loose teeth, fractures, root exposure and spaces around the tooth consistent with periodontal disease.

Once we have charted the patient’s mouth we will then scale the teeth, removing calculus and tartar and also cleaning under the gum line. The necessary extractions will then be performed with the aid of dental x-rays if needed. Finally, the teeth are polished and any extraction sites are flushed with an antibacterial wash.

Your dog will likely go home with further pain relief and occasionally antibiotics. A post op check will take place around 5 days later to ensure the mouth is healing well. We would advise coming for an oral health clinic about a month after this in order to try and help you maintain any remaining teeth as best you can.

Dog Specific problems

We may see tooth fractures and other oral injuries in dogs that chew inappropriate items. These may be sticks, bones or very hard chews.

We have seen patients with fractured teeth from chewing items that are too hard. These fractured teeth usually need to be extracted as the pulp cavity and nerve of the tooth can be exposed, causing pain and opening the tooth to infection. Dogs that chew sticks can be prone to injuries anywhere on the body but oral injuries due to sticks are common. Pieces of wood may get lodged between teeth, or in the roof of the mouth, or splinters of wood could penetrate the gum. This could go unnoticed for a while but may develop a swelling or abscess which may need surgical treatment.

Many dental problems in dogs can be prevented or slowed down with at-home care which highlights the importance of our RVN oral care clinics. If you have any concerns with your pet’s mouth then we encourage you to contact us on 01606 880890 or 01606 717969 for an appointment