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What to do if your pet goes missing.

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What to do if your pet goes missing.

 

  Did you know

It is a legal requirement for all dogs over the age of 8 weeks old to be micro-chipped. Here at Young Vets we always recommend micro-chipping your cat too, as it is the most reliable form of identification and cannot be lost unlike a collar or harness. Should your dog disappear whilst out on a walk or your cat hasn’t turned up at breakfast time, firstly don’t panic, have a read through our vets advice below. Hopefully you will never need it but its good to know.

 

Missing cats.

The first thing to do if your cat is missing is triple check your home. Cats are extremely good at hide and seek so make sure you search all areas, If you are sure your feline is not at home we recommend knocking on your neighbours doors and posting flyers in letterboxes. Curious cats often get shut in garages and sheds by accident so ask around where you live.

 

Missing dogs.

If your dog has left the park without you or sneaked out of your front door, walk an extra lap of the park, or around the area where you live calling their name and rustling a treat packet. If you have a usual ‘toilet spot’ area check there. If you are at the park use your mobile to call home, your dog may of taken himself home and be waiting on the doorstep.

 

Remember do not panic. Contact all local vets, dog wardens and animal charities in the area. They will ask you for additional including:

A description of your pet – colour, sex, breed, age.

Their microchip number.

What area they are all missing from.

Your contact information. 

 

Contact your pets microchip company.

Inform them of your missing pet and ensure they have your up to date contact details – You may even want to do this today so should the event ever happen, you pet will be reunited quicker if your details are correct.

 

Pet Insurance.

Your insurance company may be able to help you with the search of your pet. The small print of your policy may also require the company to be notified of lost pets in-case it results in a claim.

 

Social media.

Like it or hate it – In the event of a missing pet the power of social media can be very handy. In a matter of hours hundreds of people can be aware of your missing pet and help spread the word.

 

Social media can be a useful tool when you’ve lost a pet.

 

Everyone loves a selfie! Take lots of pictures of your pet so in the event of an emergency you have recent pictures to use on a missing poster or social media post.

 

Neutering your pet.

This can reduce your cats need to stray too far from home and will minimise your cat wanting to fight with others. Castrating your male dog will reduce testosterone levels and a need to mate. In females, neutering can reduce unwanted male dog attention which can panic your dog causing them to bolt.

 

Some Top Tips :

If your dog or puppy has unreliable recall – work with a dog trainer to improve this but if you have to let your dog off lead for exercise ensure they are in an enclosed area. Attach a long line to their harness, this will make catching them a lot easier.

Top Vet Tip : When practicing recall no matter how long it takes, when your dog comes back to you make a big fuss and give them a treat. If you tell them off they are even less likely to come back next time!

 

Microchip your pet and ensure that your details are up to date.

 

When letting your cat or kitten out either for the first time or if you move house, try to keep them in for around 2 weeks.  Following this period they should be feel settled and understand where home is. When you let them out, do it when you are not in a rush and before you feed them so they are hungry so they are less likely to stray.

If your pet isn’t yet micro-chipped, don’t delay, contact one of our 4 West London surgeries to arrange this for your pet. Microchips can be implanted in a routine consultation with one of our experienced veterinary surgeons.

 

Has your older cat developed an ‘Attitude’ recently?

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   Has your older cat developed an ‘Attitude’ recently? Or perhaps had a few accidents around the home?

 

   Hyperthyroidism is a common disease in teenage cats, sadly sometimes, their symptoms are missed and referred to as just ‘old age’. Overactive thyroid gland (another name for the condition) is something we see quite regularly in older cats, the good news is diagnosis is fairly simple and there are different treatment options available to suit the individual patient.

Signs to watch out for :

Weight loss – but often eating well, if not more than usual

Vomiting

Dull coat

Change in attitude

Increased thirst

Urinating more and having accidents around your home.

 

 

   The thyroid glands are found in your cats neck, either side of the wind pipe. The glands produce a hormone which controls the body’s metabolism, which is why owners commonly report weight loss as one of the first symptom’s they notice.

 

   If your cat is showing some or all of the above signs – Don’t Panic. The first thing to do is book an appointment with your local vets. The vet will be able to give your cat an all over health and weight check. To diagnose an over active thyroid gland we recommend a blood test, results are prompt and usually back from the lab the next working day.

Results day. 

   Once the diagnosis has been confirmed there are 2 types of treatment that we offer here at Young Vets :

 

  • A daily dose of medication given at home, (usually tablets) to stop the overproduction of the hormone. If choosing the medication from home option, the owner will need to ensure the cat is receiving the specified dose at regular intervals (the same time each day).

 

 

 

 

  • An operation to remove either one or both thyroid glands. We would often recommend 14 days of medication prior to surgery to help stabilize the hormones but following on from the surgery medication would cease. A speedy recovery is usually followed and the patient can go home either the same or following day.

 

 

Hyperthyroidism in cats

 

  • If left untreated it can lead to blindness, heart conditions and in extreme cases even death.

 

Following either treatment option, your cats progress will need to be monitored regularly by yourself and your vet but there is no reason that your cat should not live a happy, healthy life.

 

If you have concerns about your teenage cat, don’t hesitate to contact your local Young Veterinary Partnership to discuss your cats case with our of our friendly, experienced team members.

Young Veterinary Partnership have four surgeries based across West London. We have been treating pets in the area since 1950 and we understand that each pet is an individual, we will listen closely to any worries that you may have. Why not contact our friendly team today and visit a vet who is passionate about your pet.

 

Heat stroke

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Heat stroke is caused by a drastic increase in body temperature, usually from periods of exercise in the sun. Sadly, most dogs do not know when to stop and will keep chasing balls despite becoming over-heated. Guinea pigs and rabbits also need to be kept cool, in a shaded area of your garden or house. If in direct sunlight they struggle to lose heat and can quickly succumb to heat stroke.

 

Ticker trouble – is my pet affected? 

Heart disease can develop in both cats and dogs. Some pets are born with heart defects and others develop over time and age. With around 1 in 7 cats of all ages affected, it is important to know the signs to watch out for. If you are concerned your pet is showing signs of heart disease, please do not delay come and see us for a check up.

 

Should you neuter your pet? 

We understand that neutering your pet is a family decision and the thought of surgery can cause some concerns with owners so we’ve included some of the top reasons to neuter your pets, this summer. The benefits can be applied to most species from cats and dogs to rabbits too! Besides the obvious – pregnancy, did you know neutering your pet can dramatically reduce the risks of some cancers? If you want to know more about neutering or arrange this for your pet, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today!

 

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Summer News. Please don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube for more FREE pet advice.

Our 2018 Spring Newsletter has arrived!

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Our Spring 2018 newsletter has arrived – its filled with advice on how to keep your pet happy and healthy in 2018. Read it here.

 

Below is a few snippets of what’s included in this seasons newsletter. Including some top tips to keep your pets happy and healthy in 2018.

 

Parasite alert! 

 

As the weather warms up, parasites become more and more of an issue. The key amongst these are fleas and ticks! Fleas love the warm weather and eggs from last year will rapidly hatch out into adult fleas, hopping on to passing pets and hitching a ride into your home. This is why year round flea protection is so important. Don’t forget if you want to spread the cost of parasite protection join our pet healthcare club. To understand the other parasites that could be lurking read our newsletter here.

 

 

Kennel Cough – is your dog protected? 

 

The condition can involve several infectious agents including viruses and a bacteria. Read our newsletter to understand why some dogs are more vulnerable than others. Also explained are the common symptoms to look out for in your dog. To reduce the risk of your dog developing the disease contact our surgery to arrange your dogs kennel cough intranasal vaccine.

 

Thyroid problems – are surprisingly common in pets.

 

 

The Thyroid glands consist of two lobes, located either side of your pets wind pipe. Two conditions which can effect the glands are Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism – to understand they difference and learn the signs to watch out for in your pet, read our newsletter here.

 

What should you feed your Guinea Pig?

 

 

Guinea Pigs are sociable animals and should be kept in pairs or groups. Our Newsletter will help you decide where is best to put your hutch and run. Owners should also provide branches for gnawing on, this is really important to keep dental disease at bay. Understand more about a guinea pigs diet here.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter, if you have any questions on any of the articles don’t hesitate to contact our team.

Are you anxious about a trip to the vets?

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We want your pet to be as happy to see us as we are to see them!

 

One of the first things we would recommend as soon as you bring your new pet home, once they have settled drop in and see us. The more you and your pet drop in the less anxious you both will be. Why not take advantage of our free weight checks? Regular weight checks ensure that your puppy or kitten is growing at a healthy rate. Perhaps you’ve adopted a dog from a re homing center – drop in and say hi to the team we love meeting your pets.

 

If you or your pet are nervous, don’t be! Our staff are here to help you and we have seen and heard it all before. No question is too silly, if it is concerning you. We understand that you know your pet better than anyone else. Remain calm and ‘normal’ your pet can easily pick up on your anxiety.

 

When visiting with cats we strongly recommend travelling your cat in a secure carrier not in your arms, even the calmest of cats can get stressed. If you have time, leave your carrier out a few days before your appointment, so your cat can climb in without being rushed. Try leaving a few treats and toys inside to tempt an investigation! Placing a towel over your carrier in the waiting room can help anxious cats if you need one just ask us.

Visit a vet

 

When travelling with dogs Invest in a doggie ‘seat belt’ or secure caged area of your car. If your dog suffers car sickness travel them on an empty stomach. Allow plenty of travel time so you are not rushed or late. Please keep your dog by your side in the waiting room. A vet practice can be a stressful place for pets and your laid back family dog could become stressed and snappy towards other dogs.

 

So you’ve done ‘Puppy School’ but have you ever though about practicing ‘Vet Checks’ on your dog or cat. Your pet is never to old to start this type of training: Gently look inside your pets eyes and ears, teeth and mouth, practice lifting each paw in turn. Feel your pet all over from toe to tail. Spend 5 minutes a day practicing the ‘all over’ handling and your pet will find an examination ‘normal’, when they come to us.

Passionate about pets

If you are coming in for a specific problem i.e. behaviour or tummy troubles write a diary of events and problems. Try to include; Anything they’ve eaten, where they have been and times of day all of these things may be useful when finding a diagnosis.

If you are nervous or worried, please ask our vet to write notes for you to take home and help you understand anything that was mentioned. Alternatively bring a friend or family member along for support.

In practice emergencies can and do sometimes happen, we will do our best to see you at your appointment time but please bear with us if we are running a few minutes late. Our reception team will keep you as updated as possible.

We understand that each pet is an individual and that owners know their pets better than anyone else, we will listen to your concerns and worries that you may have. You are welcome to visit any of our surgeries and meet our friendly, knowledgeable teams.

 We look forward to meeting you and your pet soon.

 

 

Our Winter Newsletter has arrvied – read it here!

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Our Winter Newsletter is packed with advice on how to keep your pets happy and healthy this festive season. The cold winter months bring particular challenges for our pets, and as their owners, we need to be alert to the problems they can suffer at this time of year.

 

Healthy eyes:

Read our Winter Newsletter and understand the ocular signs to watch out for and when to treat an eye condition as an emergency. Our newsletter discusses the three most common eye conditions that we see in our surgeries.

 

Bunny upsets! 

We always recommend keeping a close watch on how much your rabbits are eating. Our Winter Newsletter explains how a loss in appetite can indicate an underlying medical issue for your bunny and a visit to the vet should not be delayed, if your rabbit stops eating.

 

Festive alert:

Make sure fairy lights and electric wires for your Christmas decorations are ‘chew-proof’ from inquisitive puppies, kittens and even rabbits too! Our Winter Newsletter explains some of the festive dangers that may be lurking around your home.

 

Worming worries – is your pet affected?

Our Winter Newsletter highlights the three main worms that your pet will be meeting in their everyday environments. Before looking at prevention it is important to understand the ‘enemy’ and the signs to watch out for. We have a variety of treatments to prevent worm infections which are easy to apply and suitable for cats and dogs.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our 2017 Winter Newsletter if you have any questions or concerns about any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact your local surgery for further advice.

Nail clipping

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Clipping your pets nails is an essential part of grooming your pet and with a little knowledge it is possible to do this at home.

 

  • What type of clippers should I use?

There are many types of clippers available to buy for dogs and cats choose a size according to how big the animal is. These are the ones we regularly use in practice (see below). We try to avoid using the “guillotine” type as we find dogs seem to resent the crushing action that occurs with this type, and it is more difficult to see exactly what you are cutting.

 

  • How do I cut the nails? 

With dogs there is lots of variation in the pigmentation in dogs’ nails, from completely black, to the whiter type through which it is possible to see the pink colouration associated with the blood vessels and the quick. The quick is the sensative part of the nail that contains the blood vessels and must be AVOIDED.

 

Ideally it is a two person task, and is easier performed on a table at waist height (particually with cats and small dogs). Whilst one person holds the animal still, with their leg outstretched, the other person holds the paw and clips each nail tip. Have a look at the diagram below you will see an area of the claw marked with dotted lines called the ungual process. This is the sensitive part of the nail which has the blood supply (know as “the quick”) and should NOT be cut.

 

If you look at the claw from the side, often the tip of the nail will be much finer, and then it thickens as you look towards the base. The fine tip is the part that needs to be clipped – if in doubt clip less not more.

 

  • What if I cut the quick? 

Dogs generally have a very good blood supply to the quick, and if cut it can bleed profusely. We would suggest applying pressure to the cut surface of the nail with a cotton wool or pad of kitchen roll. You can use a silver nitrate or styptic pen if available. You may need to apply a light bandage to apply pressure to the cut end of the nail and bandage the whole foot, if it is still bleeding after applying pressure. If the nail is bleeding after 10 – 15 minutes, you’ll need to call your vet.

 

  • How often should I cut my pets’ nails?

If your dog walks on concrete or other hard ground regularly this should wear the nails down naturally, and you may not need to clip them at all. Other dogs may need them cutting more frequently if walked on soft ground, every few months. If your cat goes outside, or uses a scratching post you may never need to clip their nails. However nails can grow quickly, and so can be clipped whenever the sharp points have regrown. If in doubt every 3 months should be sufficient.

 

  • Dew claws on dogs.

These may not wear down as quickly as other claws, so clip these following the same instruction as above.

 

  • Back paws VS front paws.

The nails on the back paws often wear down more that the nails on the front paws, and so usually don’t require as much to be clipped off.

 

Don’t forget clipping your pets nails, can be tricky, so if in doubt then take your dog into your vet.