As the nights draw in there is definitely more than a hint of frost in the air and the antifreeze may be coming out to keep our cars running smoothly…. but did you know that antifreeze is highly toxic to dogs and cats?? Antifreeze may appeal to our pets as a tasty festive drink – usually lapped up from the [...]
Louise and Gillian recently visited sunny Surrey for a conference. Unlike the usual veterinary conferences, this one was set outdoors and had a "festival" feel. So called, VET festival, this is the brain child of Noel Fitzpatrick ("Supervet"). In recent years there has been a move within the profession to improve mental wellbeing, with the recognition that, as a profession, [...]
This issue we bring you Rocket the 4 year old rescue rabbit. Rocket's favourite place to sleep is anywhere that isn't his bedroom! He always pulls all the bedding out and redistributes it all over the hutch! His favourite toy is a wooden chew which is filled with hay, unfortunately, one of Rocket’s naughtiest habits is chewing things other than [...]
This is a particularly frightening time of year for pets with all the bangs, flashes and strangers knocking on our doors. Our team has put together some essential information for pet owners to ensure your furry friends are kept safe. Much of the information below relates to dogs, but all our pets are likely to be affected by fireworks, they [...]
POTENTIAL AUTUMNAL POISONS IN PETS - acorns, conkers and beech nuts. Please don't let your pets eat acorns, conkers and beechnuts which are shed from trees at this time of year. They can be highly toxic if ingested in high quantities. If you have any concerns about your pet please bring them in to Team Westport to be checked over. [...]
Spring has definitely sprung and with the brighter days and evenings we will be spending more time outside with our pets. At Westport Vets we are aware of all the dangers that come with the change of seasons and pets owners need to know too. Toxic Plants - gardens, parks and woods are full of colourful flowers at this time [...]
15% of UK dogs are infested with ticks at any one time, according to a recent study. Ticks are most prevalent in rural areas, favouring moist undergrowth and long grasses. They lie in vegetation and attach to your dog or cat as they brush past. The most common species of tick found in the UK is Ixodes ricinus. Ixodes ricinus [...]
General Guidelines For those of you who are looking to travel this year with your pet, we thought it an appropriate time of year to give you an update on travel recommendations!If you are looking to travel within the EU and listed countries (check with Pet Passport Helpline 08702411710 to find out if your country is listed), then the following [...]
Over the past years obesity has become more common in UK pets. Just as we hear about in people, we are also facing an “obesity epidemic” in our dogs and cats. There are many health risks associated with dogs and cat that are overweight. Animals that are overweight are more prone to diabetes, urinary tract disease, pancreatitis and osteoarthritis/lameness. Obesity [...]
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) (also referred to as the anterior cruciate ligament in people), is a tough, fibrous band found within the knee. This ligament attaches the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and in doing so provides stability of the knee joint. We often hear of cruciate injury causing career threatening injury in our top sports [...]