Tag Archives: heart

Autumn Pet Poisons

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Autumn Pet Poisons

 

Autumn Pet Poisons

pet poisoning is a concern throughout the year, please keep an eye on what your dog is sniffing during his daily walks, especially if he is off the lead.

Conkers, acorns and rotting fruit are plentiful during the Autumn season and can cause upset tummies.

Our Autumn News discusses the other Autumn awareness issues that pet owners should consider, read our latest pet care blog here.

 

Caring for your pets teeth.

Did you know that dental problems are probably one of the most common issues our pets suffer from, yet concerns are often not mentioned, as bad breath is considered as “normal” by many pet owners.

If you have ever had a filling at the dentist you will understand how uncomfortable dental disease can be, sadly, cats and dogs are extremely good at hiding their pain. Our Autumn Pet Blog discusses what’s normal and the signs to watch out for. A home dental care routine can be started from when you first bring home your new pet, ask our friendly team to explain more at your puppy or kittens next appointment.

 

 

How the heart pumps,

The heart is a busy organ! It pumps an average of 4.5 litres of blood around the body of a dog every minute. Like humans, cats and dogs can sadly suffer heart disease, unlike humans, heart disease in pets is often genetic, and not caused by lifestyle. Read our Autumn pet blog here, to understand more about the most common types of heart disease we see here in practice and the signs to watch out for in your pet.

 

 

We hope you enjoy reading our latest pet care blog, if you have a concern about any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more information.

Foliage alert.

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Foliage alert 

Some plants such as ivy, poinsettia, holly berries and mistletoe can cause stomach upsets. Lilies, including their petals and pollen are VERY toxic to cats. They may brush against pollen and lick it off their fur, which can cause kidney failure. With the festive season just around the corner, the chances of pet poisoning can become higher. Our Winter Newsletter explains some of the other toxic alerts to be aware of.

 

 

The time of year is upon us where sweet treats are a plenty.

With the cold weather setting in, it’s a good idea to start making plans to avoid a Christmas calamity. From string and tinsel to turkey bones – all of these can cause an intestinal blockage and require life saving surgery. Our Winter Newsletter has arrived and it is bursting with advice on how to keep your pets happy and healthy over the festive period.

 

Winter Walkies : As the cold weather really sets in, make sure your pet is receiving enough exercise. If you have a dog, ensure they are ready for the colder weather. Thin coated breeds and older dogs may benefit from a snug coat to help keep them warm and dry. Don’t forget to do regular paw checks too, some salt mixtures on pavements can cause sore paws. Clean and wash your pets feet regularly to stop any sores occurring.

 

 

 

Update on Lungworm in dogs.

Lungworm are swallowed as tiny larvae, which migrate into your dogs circulation of the liver and travel to the right side of the heart. It’s here they develop into adult worms and really start to cause damage. Our Winter Newsletter explains the signs to watch out for in your dog, but more importantly how you can become your dogs hero and protect them from this potentially fatal parasite.

 

 

 

 

We hope your find our Winter Newsletter full of advice to help you care for your pet over the cold winter months. If you have any queries or would like advice on your pet contact our friendly team for help.

Ticker trouble – is my pet affected?

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Your pets heart is a large muscular pump, continuously pumping blood around the body. Like us, animals have four heart chambers, with valves to ensure the blood flows in the correct direction. Sadly, like humans, pets can suffer from heart disease, some are born with it and others develop problems over time. To understand more about heart disease, keep reading here, both cats and dogs can suffer heart problems so it is important to understand the signs to watch out for in your pet.

 

 

It’s getting hot out there! 

We all love the warmer weather, pets included, so we’ve put together some seasonal advice to keep your pets safe this summer. Not forgetting rabbits and guinea pigs, they need to be kept in cool shaded areas. In direct sunlight they can struggle to lose heat and can succumb to heat stroke, which can be fatal.

 

 

Be sure to insure!

Pet insurance is something we recommend for all pet owners. We understand that vet bills can mount up over time and are often unexpected, so having a good insurance policy can really take the worry out of caring for your unwell pets. For our top tips on choosing a policy continue reading here.

 

Should I have my pet neutered?

There are huge benefits to neutering your dogs, cats and rabbits, from the obvious – preventing pregnancy to reducing the risk of cancer. If your pet is un neutered carry on reading our summer news to help you make a decision on whether neutering your pet is the right decision for you and your family.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Summer Newsletter. If you need any more information on any of the articles printed don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for advice.

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Dog heart ultrasound

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Heart disease is common in many breeds as they get older. The two common problems seen are a leaky heart valve (mitral endocardiosis) and a weakened heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy).  It is important to have at least  an annual check up by your vet to detect any new heart murmur which may indicate the start of a heart problem.  Investigations often include x-rays and an ultrasound scan which can look inside the heart at the heart valves, and the heart muscle.  Certain breeds such as Cavalier king Charles Spaniels and Dobermann dogs are more susceptible to heart problems, and may need checking more regularly as they get older.

This is an ultrasound of a dogs heart, a commonly performed procedure at Young Veterinary Partnership.  See our website www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details of your local surgery.

Cat heart disease – veterinary ultrasound scan

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Cats can develop heart disease called cardiomyopathy. The most common form is caused by a thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

Unfortunately cats often hide this problem very well, and may show no symptoms until seriously ill.  Your vet may be able to hear a heart murmur or irregular rhythm, which could indicate a problem.  It is important to have regular check ups (at least yearly) so that your vet can check for problems like this. The best way to diagnose this disease is by ultrasound scan.

This video shows a normal cat heart on ultrasound scan. You can see the moving heart valves (mitral valves) of the left side of the heart towards the bottom of the picture. These  valves are between the top chamber called the atrium and the bottom chamber called the ventricles.