Tag Archives: rabbits

Beat the heat.

Keeping your pet cool.

Keeping your pet cool.

 

Summer is here and so is the heat! Our Summer Pet Blog is busting with top tips to keep your pet cool during the summer heat. Be the first to read it here.

It’s not just cats and dogs that can be affected by the heat, rabbits, guinea pigs and indoor pets can struggle too! For any pets kept in a cage and / or run during the day time, make sure they have constant shade over their enclosure and plenty of fresh cool water. Click here for our summer care pet tips.

 

Anal gland issues – is your pet affected?

Does your dog scoot their bottom along the floor or constantly nibble at the base of their tail area? This could indicate a blocked anal gland! Understand more about this common problem and how to manage the condition here.

 

Booster alert!

We all know that pets should receive once yearly vaccinations after their puppy and kitten vaccines, but do you know what diseases we actually vaccinate against? Our Summer pet blog explains the disease we vaccinate against in the UK and why.

The diseases we vaccinate against can be extremely challenging and sometimes fatal to pets. Here at Young Vets, we believe that prevention is better than cure and in support of this we have Healthcare Clubs available for cats, dogs and rabbits.

Choose the Healthcare Plan and payment date that suits your pet and your lifestyle here. Our healthcare plans include vaccinations, health checks with one of our friendly vets, nail clips, parasite protection and a 10% discount off all other products and services we offer. T&c’s apply. Why not join today and see how much you could save!

 

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Summer News Blog if you have a question on any of the articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more information.

 

Beat The Heat This Summer 2020

Beat The Heat This Summer 2020

 

Beat The Heat This Summer 2020

The summer heat is a huge problem for many pets and it is essential to ensure free access to cool water at all times. Dogs can easily overheat and become dangerously unwell, our Summer News explains the signs of heat stroke that all dog owners should be aware of to keep their pets safe. Not forgetting rabbits and guinea pigs always ensure that they have access to plenty of shade, plus cool water – preferably in a bowl.

 

 

Age is not a disease in itself,

but it brings with it some conditions that owners of senior kitties need to be aware of. Thanks to improved nutrition and veterinary care, cats are living longer, healthier lives. Our Summer News discusses some of the most common conditions affecting older cats and the signs to watch out for.

 

 

A healthy mouth,

typically has bright white teeth and pink (or pigmented gums). However over time, plaque can accumulate on the tooth surface and start to cause bad breath and painful dental disease. Our Summer News explains the stages of dental disease to watch out for and how to manage them.

 

happy labrador

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Beat The Heat Summer News 2020, if you have a query on any of articles mentioned please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more advice.

 

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Preparing for your new rabbit

 

Preparing for your new rabbit

 

Are you bringing a rabbit home soon? Have you considered rabbits can live for 10 + years and require almost as much exercise as a dog? You may not need to walk your rabbit on a lead but they require a lot of space to run, skip and jump. Did you know bunnies can even be trained to jump and do agility courses, just like dogs!

 

 

 

 

House or outdoor

Although rabbits are traditionally kept as outdoor pets in a hutch, house rabbits are becoming very popular too! However you decide to keep your new pet, they will require a large exercise area, this could be a run or fenced off area of your garden with access to grass. Ensure they have lots of tunnels and entertainment. Many activities can be made from household items including plant pots, shoe boxes and tubes.

 

 

Preparing for your new rabbit

The most important parts of a rabbits diet.

 

Cleaning and hygiene

It is essential that your rabbits cage is kept as clean as possible, particularly if the enclosure is outdoors in summer. You should check your rabbits twice daily, especially in summer, for any signs of matted droppings or maggots around their rear ends. Clean the enclosure at least twice weekly, and if possible remove any urine-soaked bedding each day. The hutch may be cleaned with a dilute disinfectant.

 

Rabbits cannot sweat

Indoor rabbits should be kept in the coolest and least humid part of the house. The optimum room temperature range for rabbits is 15–21ºC. Rabbits cannot sweat or pant and if the environmental temperature rises above 27ºC a rabbit may get heat stroke. Outdoor rabbits must have access to shade in the summer. Do not place the hutch in direct sun if the rabbit is confined within it, as the rabbit may overheat. Outdoor rabbits must also be kept free from draughts, wind and driving rain, and should be protected from dogs, cats and other predators. Plenty of straw bedding in the winter and covering the front of the cage with a blanket at night will prevent them from getting hypothermia. Water bowls and bottles should be changed daily in the winter as they may freeze.

 

Picture credits Karla Wakefield

 

Feeding your new rabbit

Grass and hay should make up to 80 % of your bunnies diet. Feeding the correct diet is fundamental to maintaining health, particularly of the teeth and digestive system. We recommend feeding a small amount of rabbit pellets or nuggets, NOT museli (as they will only pick out the bits they like) alongside hay and leafy greens. New plants should be introduced gradually to weanling rabbits. Examples are broccoli, cabbage, chicory, chard, parsley, watercress, celery leaves, endive, radicchio, dock, basil and other herbs, kale, carrot and beet tops. Wild plants such as bramble, groundsel, chickweed, and dandelion can also be given if available. All green foods should be washed before feeding. Fresh drinking water must always be available.

 

Register your new pet with our team today here, our Ealing surgery is open and available 7 days a week and our phones will give you access to veterinary advice 24/7. If your bunny needs a health check don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.

 

This blog has been produced by PetSavers. PetSavers is dedicated to improving the health of the nation’s pets. Petsavers do this by funding clinical research projects and Master’s degrees by research. Clinical research projects give us a better understanding of pets’ illnesses. This leads to improved diagnosis and treatment so that pets can have longer and healthier lives. A Master’s degree by research develops the skills of vets so they can apply the results of the research and their expertise to pets as soon as possible. No experimental animals are used in PetSavers studies. To learn more about this charity visit www.petsavers.org.uk 

 

 

 

 

Stay Flea Free This Spring!

Stay Flea Free This Spring!

 

With Spring on its way and hopefully some warmer weather, the potential for parasite infection is greatly increased on your pet and in your home! Fleas are extremely fast so just because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Our Spring News gives some great seasonal tips on the pet parasites that are out and about and ready to hitch a ride on your pet.

 

Condition scoring your pet.

 

If your pet is looking a little broad in the beam, we can help you. Our Spring News gives some top tips on how to body score your pet from home. We understand it can be a real challenge helping your pets to lose weight. Our newsletter provides you with some top diet advice for your pet, plus don’t forget all four of our West London surgeries offer free weight checks and diet advice for your pet.

 

 

 

Easter Alert!

 

With Easter and Mothering Sunday on the horizon this can bring a whole host of new pet poisons into your home, from chocolate to lilies. Our Spring News discusses the seasonal poisons that could be lurking and what to do if you suspect your pet has ingested them.

 

 

We hope that you enjoy reading our Spring 2020 News, if you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more advice.

 

 

We are passionate about pets, and have been providing a caring service to our clients and their pets from across West London for over 50 years. We believe that preventative healthcare is very important and offer a Pet Healthcare Club to help support this. Many diseases can be prevented or treated more effectively with earlier interventions. Annual health check-ups are an essential part of our healthcare plan, why not take a look at our Pet healthcare club here and see how we can help your pet.

Foliage alert.

 

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.

Autumn Alert!

 

Autumn Alert! 

Autumn is a fabulous time of year and with the warm weather fading, many people feel it is a better time of year for their pets, but that doesn’t mean we can take our eye off the ball when looking after them. Our newsletter will give you some top tips to keep your pet healthy going into the changing seasons.

 

Autumn joint alert! 

Older pets will often start feeling the cold in their joints; becoming sluggish and stiff. If your golden oldie is starting to slow down, don’t ignore the signs ask us about how you can put the spring back into their step.

 

Autumn Alert!

Autumn weather can cause older pets to feel the cold in their joints.

 

Poisonings

are also a concern at this time of year, so keep a close eye on your dog when you are out walking! Conkers, acorns and rotting fruit can all cause sorts of digestive upsets our Autumn news notes the other issues to be aware of at this time of year.

 

Acorns

Our Autumn newsletter has arrived.

Parasites

are sadly still a big issue! Some of these horrible beasties enjoy the cooler, damp conditions. Ask us if you need parasite protection for your pet. Our News explains the different parasites to watch out for and the diseases that they can spread.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Autumn Newsletter and learn some useful tips to help keep your pet fit and well in the run up to winter. If you have any concerns about your pet do not hesitate to contact our team who are on call until 10pm 365 days a year.

 

Don’t forget we’re not just ‘In The Surgery’ we have an active Facebook page – give us a ‘like’ to keep up to date with other news and competitions. Our Twitter feed is buzzing with free pet advice and pet pictures and our You Tube channel is crammed with 2 minute videos to keep your pet fit and well.

 

Ticker trouble – is my pet affected?

 

 

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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