DECEMBER NEWS
PETPLAN AWARDS
Last year we were lucky enough to be nominated for PetPlan practice and vet of the year. Nominations are now open again. If you are happy with the service that the practice has given you, nominating us could win you a glittering night out in Birmingham, or a stay at a luxury hotel in the Cotswolds. For more information see the Petplan websitehttp://www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards/
LINKS
We have added more links to local pet suppliers. Find out more about Barking Mad atLinks
NOVEMBER NEWS
Fireworks
If your pet finds this time of year stressful please contact us before 5th November. There are different options available and we can discuss what would be best for your pet. The Feliway offer (£19.50 for a plug in diffuser) will be continued until 5th November.
New Hours
Between now and Christmas we will have new opening hours. Please note that there will not be any Sunday openings during this time. Mary will still be available on call for emergencies. Morning consults on Monday and Friday have been increased and we are still open until 7pm on a Monday and Friday.
We would like to know what opening hours would suit our clients best for the New Year. Please e-mail the practice (mail@vetsinperth.com) with your preference from the following:
Morning (9-11) Afternoon (1-3) Early evening (4.30-5.30) or late evening (5-7)
Days of the week Mon - Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Please note - Mary or Simon is always on call to attend emergencies. We would just like to know what times would be best to offer consultations for our clients.
Pet Diabetes Month
In November we are raising awareness about diabetes in cats and dogs. Information is available in the practice and atPet Diabetes Month
OCTOBER NEWS
FIRST AID COURSE
There are still some places available for the Pet First Aid course in Bridge of Earn on Sunday 2nd October. Come along and find out how to handle an emergency with your cat or dog and try your hand at bandaging your pet.
ROYAL CANIN FOOD
If you have been in the practice lately you will have seen that we now stock Royal Canin dog and cat food. This is in response to requests from clients who have already seen how much their pets like it and the health benefits it can bring. Royal Canin diets come as lifestage for different ages of pets, but also as breed specific diets tailored for your pet's individual needs. Remember that if you are a member of our pet health club then you can benefit from an extra 10% discount on your food. Find out more about Royal Canin diets atRoyal Canin
FIREWORKS CAMPAIGN
Fireworks night will soon be here and so we wanted to remind you about the different options that are available for cats and dogs who get stressed at this time of year. We stock:
Adaptil collar We tried using this on Amy's dog. When I had to step over her to get to the pharmacy cupboard I was impressed!
Adaptil diffuser Similar to a plug in air freshener. Releases calming substances into the air to relax your dog
Zylkene supplement for cats and dogs
Royal Canin Calm diet fordogs andcats
VISIT TO CUBS
Last week Mary had a great time visiting the 10th Perth Cub pack. The boys (and a few girls) had brought in their pets for an evening discussing pet care. Thank you to the children and the animals for being so well behaved. BRAVO!
PETSAVERS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Calling all amateur photographers out there. If you like taking photographs of your pets then why not enter the petsavers photography competition. Find out more atPetsavers 2012
HENS FOR SALE
Mary has some hybrid cross hens for sale. If interested please contact the practice.
JULY NEWS
PET TRAVEL SCHEME CHANGES
With the onset of the summer holidays DEFRA has just announced changes to the Pet Travel Scheme which will come into force on 1st January 2012. In simple terms the rules are being relaxed - rabies vaccination is still required, but dogs entering the UK within the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme after this time do not need to have a blood test to confirm they have responded to vaccination. The rules around tick treatment before coming back into the UK are also relaxing. The vets in the practice still strongly advise owners to treat their pets for ticks before coming back home to minimise the risks of bringing infection back with them. If you are considering taking your pet abroad please talk to the vets here. Find out more about the changes at Changes to Pet Travel Scheme
DOGS IN KENNELS
Over the summer many dogs will be going into kennels. Please remember to make sure that your dog's vaccinations are up to date and that they have had their kennel cough vaccine. If your pet gets stressed whilst away from home then you might consider using an Adaptil collar (this used to be known as DAP). Find out more at the practice or atSecret to Happy Pets
SUMMERTIME FOR PARASITES
As the weather improves we see more and more animals affected by fleas and ticks. We are contuning our special offer on flea and tick treatments throughout the summer. Find out more at the practice! Find out more about parasites atWorm patrol
PRESCRIPTIONS
If you are ordering medication for your pet can we please ask that you give us 24 hrs notice. This includes flea treatment and wormers. This time is needed as all of the medication that we sell is prescription only and needs to be signed off by the vet. If the vet is not here when you call, then the front desk staff will not be able to provide you with the medication. We apologise for any inconvenience but hope you understand.
Have a lovely summer.
Mary.
Dolphin Rescue!
On Thursday Vet Stephanie and VN Vicky helped with the rescue of the dolphin stranded at Moncrieffe Island.
JUNE
There are lots of things happening in June:
Mary is lecturing on dermatology to other veterinary surgeons. This means that she will be out of the practice for a few days this month. Simon and Stephanie will be covering.
The new computer system is being installed. Please be patient if consultations take a little longer while I work out which button to press! However, it does mean that the vaccination reminder system will be more efficient, and we will be able to make direct claims for owners whose pets are insured with Pet Plan. If you would like us to make claims direct please bring your insurance documents with you. Please note, this service is currently only available for clients insured with Pet Plan.
Dental care month - Bring your dogs in for a FREE dental check and take home some dentastix for them. Either book an appointment or pop along to one of the open surgeries
ID chip month - to raise awareness of the importance of ID chipping your pets we are offering reduced price ID chipping in June. ID chips can be placed at a consultation, quickly and stress free, giving you peace of mind. Many of the dogs in the practice are already ID chipped, but remember that cats and other animals can also be ID chipped. Only recently we had a stray cat brought into the practice which had somehow found its way from Cupar to Perth - we were only able to return it to its owner because it had an ID chip. Find out more about ID chipping at ID chip month
Flea, tick and worm control - It is easy to forget to treat your pets for fleas or worms. Why not sign up to a reminder service so that you don't forget? Also don't forget that the practice still has flea and tick treatments on special offer! Find out more about reminder services at flea and tick reminders and worming reminder
If you find giving worming tablets to cats difficult then you might find Spot on wormer of interest. See the new TV ad, and enter the competition to find out if cat has cat-itude! You could win some great prizes.
Guide dog fun day in Perth 11th June is Guide Dog fun day in Perth. Mary spent 3 years working with the guide dogs in Forfar and is very enthusiastic about what they do. Find out more at Guide dog link
Bristol cat study - If you have a kitten between 8 and 16 weeks old then you could take part in the Bristol Vet School cat study. This study hopes to find out more about behaviour and diseases affecting young cats. If you would like to take part please go to Bristol cat study
Older cat study - Vet Professionals are also looking at cats, but this time the older ones. If your cat is 11 or older then it is eligible for this study. Find out more at Cat Professional study
Penguin cam - find out what the penguins at Edinburgh Zoo get up to! Check out the penguin cam
Enjoy the summer weather!
Mary.
May News
This month is National Vaccination Month. You may already have seen adverts for this in the national press. If your dog, cat or rabbit is behind with its vaccinations then you may be eligible for reduced price vaccination. Find out more at National Vaccination Month
May also sees Rabbit Awareness Week. From 23rd -29th May we will be offering free health checks for rabbits. We are lucky to have the only RCVS specialist in exotics in private practice in Scotland (Simon) working for us. Mary though is not to be outdone as she co-authored the core veterinary text on rabbits for vet nurses along with Simon.
Find out more at Rabbit Awareness Week or by contacting the practice.
Ticks and other parasites are as common this year as they were last. We are therefore continuing our special offer on flea and tick treatments. Contact the practice to find out more.
We are currently experiencing a kennel cough outbreak. If your dog is not vaccinated against this please consider giving them the vaccine. If you bring your dog into the practice with a persistent cough, please leave them outside until you are called to minimise the possibilities of spreading this condition.
June will see Dental Care Month when we be offering free dental checks for all dogs. All dogs that attend will receive free samples of dentastix. June is also Pet ID month, during which ID chips will available at a £10 discount. Contact the practice to find out more.
April News
This month we are highlighting:
- Thank you!!!!
- Be lungworm aware
- Parasite control
- National pet month
- Referral services
- Pet Health Club
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who nominated the practice and Mary for the PetPlan Veterinary Awards 2011. We were delighted to receive our certificates in the post and are flattered that you thought of us, and went to the effort to nominate us.
Be lungworm aware
You may have seen press coverage of the lungworm awareness campaign running this month. We have previously mentioned that cases of the canine lungworm (Angionstrongylus) have increased in Scotland over recent months. The risk of dogs becoming infected with this parasite can be minimised by using a specific wormer on a monthly basis. Not all wormers will treat for this parasite. Dogs are infected by eating slugs / snails which carry the parasite. For more information have a look at lungworm awareness
Parasite control
As the weather gets warmer fleas and ticks are making a come back. We have already seen lots of animals with ticks and if you haven't done so already, now is the time to start using flea and tick treatments. There are lots of different things available - from spot on to collars. Why not visit the practice and talk to us about what would be best for your pet. Special offers are available on the most popular flea / tick treatments during April.
National Pet Month
April is National Pet Month. Find out more about what's happening at National Pet Month
Referral services
For clients of other practices, the referral side of the practice offers more in depth consultations in skin and ear disease, exotics and keyhole surgery. We have had clients visit us from all over Scotland. All you need to do is ask your own vet for a referral.
Preview of events in May
May is National Vaccination Month. Sadly we still see cats and dogs affected by preventable diseases because they aren't vaccinated. Vaccination prevents your family pet from catching a number of different diseases including parvovirus and cat flu. More information on these diseases can be found at infectious diseases Many owners believe that if their pets are in the country then they are not at risk of disease. However, if your dog is in contact with waterways where rats could be found, then they are at risk of leptospirosis. The viral condition parvovirus can also be brought back from towns and cities to home on our shoes as this virus is very resisitant and can survive in the environment for weeks.
To help owners vaccinate their pets, May will be National Vaccination Month. If your cat or dog is over 18 months old, and has not been vaccinated in the last 18 months; or if your rabbit is over 9 months of age and has not received a myxomatosis vaccine in the last 9 months then you can benefit from reduced cost vaccination. This offer only applies to animals meeting these criteria, and vaccinated during May. If you would like to take up this offer and have access to the internet please visit nvm voucher to print off your voucher. If you can't print the voucher let us know. Don't forget though, this offer only applies to vaccinations given during May, so make your May appointment now.
Don't forget though, you can also spread the cost of vaccination, worming and flea treatment over the year by joining our pet health club. 2010 prices have been held for 2011 - and start at £8.38 a month for a cat and £9.30 for a dog. This not only covers vaccination, flea treatment and wormer, but also entitles you to 2 yearly health checks, dental checks, and money off neutering, dentals, blood tests, call outs and food. You can either join up in the practice or by phoning the Pet Health Plan team on 0800 169 9958.
March News
Ticks are back!
Last year saw a dramatic increase in the number of ticks on dogs and cats. We don't know what this year will be like, but the first tick of the year has already been spotted by a client. As well as causing irritation and infection at the site of a bite, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, and they can bite humans. Protect your pet by using a spot on tick treatment every month, or use a specific anti-tick collar which lasts for 6 months (collar info ). Find out more about the diseases which ticks can transmit at BADA
SPECIAL OFFER
We now have a special offer on flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs. Contact the practice to find out more!
Planning for your holidays
If you are thinking of taking your pet on holiday with you, or booking them into kennels / cattery, then some of the following tips may be of help:
- Pet passport - if you are going to take your pet abroad then this needs to be planned months in advance. Identichipping, rabies vaccination and a pet passport need to be organised for European travel. If you are going further afield then other blood tests may also be required. Please contact the practice to discuss your requirements.
- If your dog is going into kennels then it should be vaccinated against kennel cough. Vaccination should be given at least 2 weeks prior to entering the kennels to give the best chance of protection. Routine vaccination against parvo, lepto (and other conditions) will also need to be up to date.
- Some dogs get very stressed in kennels. Recent work by CEVA has shown that using a pheromone collar can reduce stress levels in kennelled dogs. Find out more about DAP collars at DAP
- Cat owners - if you are looking for a cattery, then why not consult the Feline Advisory Bureau website (FAB ) for advice on how to choose a cattery and for a list of FAB approved catteries.
Tortoise post-hibernation checks
Has your tortoise woken up yet? If so, then now is the time to book a post-hibernation check with Simon. These are available every Wednesday. Please phone for an appointment.
Lungworm campaign
You may remember last year we highlighted a new emerging parasite which can affect your dog. More cases have been reported in Scotland, and therefore we are advising owners to regularly treat their dogs for all kinds of parasites including lungworm. Animals are infected by eating slugs or snails which carry the parasite. Not all wormers will treat or prevent lungworm. For more information visit Be lungworm aware or contact the practice.
VHD in rabbits
VHD continues to spread to Scotland with more cases being seen. VHD kills rabbits, often without any clinical signs. Even where clinical signs are found, it cannot be treated. Rabbits can become infected with VHD by coming in contact with infected hay, birds or rodents carrying the virus, or it just being blown in by the wind. More information can be found at Rabbit Welfare Association
Pet Health Club
Why not join our pet health club and benefit from reduced priced vaccination, worming, flea treatment and ID chipping as well as receiving discounts on food and emergency procedures? Find out more at Pet Health Club or from reception.
February News
VHD
Many of you may already be aware that Viral Haemorrhagic Disease is currently spreading through Scotland. This Fatal Condition can be transmitted to pet rabbits through contact with infected hay, wild animals or can be even blown in on the wind. We are encouraging all rabbit owners to have their pet rabbits vaccinated. Find out more about VHD on the Rabbit Welfare Association website or at British Bunnies
Puppy Training
If you've never had a dog before puppy training can seem daunting. The Dogs Trust has produced a series of helpful videos on youtube which tackle all aspects of puppy training. Find out more at www.youtube.com/dogstrusttraining
Vicky will also be running some puppy parties over the coming weeks. Please let us know if you are interested.
Pet Food
Many of you are already aware of the benefits of Hills pet food for cats and dogs. Tailored programmes are available for puppies/kittens, weight management or joint health with useful tips and advice and money off coupons. You can either register online at www.hillspet.co.uk or ask at the practice next time you're in.
Exciting News
Recently Romain Pizzi who is part of our referral team, traveled to Vietnam and preformed the world's first keyhole surgery on a bear. The surgical procedure was to remove the gallballder of the bear in order to protect him from liver and gallballder tumours.This can be caused by illegal farming to collect the endangered species bile, which the local people believe to be benifical to human medicine. To find out more visit - Zoo News digest and the BBC
January
Christmas and New Year seem like a distant memory and the snow is almost gone. I hope you all had a lovely time and that the festive season wasn't too stressful.
If you are finding the finances a bit tight this month don't forget about the Pet Health Plan. Spread the cost of vacination and routine care over the year. What's more prices are held at 2010 levels.
Finally, congratulations to Vicky our vet nurse who successfully completed her vet nursing qualification. Well done!!!
NEWS - December
Did you know your dog can donate blood just like us. Helping other dogs throughout the UK. The criteria for your dog to get involved:
· Good Temperament
· Be Aged between 1-8 years old
· Weigh 25kg or more
· Not traveled abroad
· Vaccinations up to date
· Fit and Healthy
If you want to get involved visit their website - Pet Blood Bank or Facebook