Blythwood

VeterinarY GROUP News

A complete and caring service for your pet. Summer/Autumn 2010

Hills launch Vetessentials range

Hills launch new Vet Essentials Diets
Following extensive clinical research and feedback from both vets and pet owners Hills have launched their new VetEssentials range of foods for puppies, kittens, dogs and cats.
The new diet combines all the best features from the previous Science Plan range and provides optimal nutrition throughout your pets life. All the adult and mature adult canine ranges are also available in mini size for our smaller breeds of dogs, and there is also the large breed puppy which specifically caters for the different nutritional requirements of large breed dogs. We are confident that the VetEssentials diet range offers the best possible nutrition for cats and dogs. The key features of the new diets are outlined below.

Featured

Articles
TOP TIPS
Top tips for health and wellbeing of indoor cats

Veterinary Nurses
Meet our veterinary nurses!

Rabbits
Fly strike alert
Immunity
Clinically proven antioxidants with high levels of vitamin E to support a healthy immune system

Digestion
Highly digestible proteins and a balance of fibres to support a healthy digestive tract

Urinary
Helps maintain healthy urinary tract through controlled mineral and pH levels

Oral Health
Precise balance of vitamins and minerals for healthy development of teeth

Skin & Coat

High levels of omega-6 fatty acids help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat

Weight
Appropriate levels of protein and fat to help maintain ideal weight for adults / optimal growth for puppies and kittens

Vital Organs
Controlled levels of sodium and phosphorus to support healthy vital organ function, particularly kidneys

Vitality
Precise balance of minerals and omega-3 fatty acids for healthy bones and joints

UP close & Personal

Hot gossip about the team!

Pet Pensioners Fund Update

Well Animal Clinic and Blythwood are continuing to support the RSPCA NW Middlesex Pet Pensioners Fund and so far have raised nearly 1000 through donations from our clients and sales of our Bags for Life. Allan Harper, director of the branch, has updated us with how some of the fund has been allocated so far:

Suzie is about 12 years old and had been living as a semi feral cat. She was lucky enough to be befriended by her current owner who is a pensioner and thus she meets the criteria we set for help from the Pet Pensioner Fund. She is now quite friendly but was suffering from stomatitis (inflammation of the gums and mouth) which her elderly owner was not able to afford to get treated. The Branch stepped in and arranged treatment, she needed two dental procedures to remove teeth plus follow up visits and is now a much happier and healthier cat. The second cat is one that we have taken in to find a new home. Flicks is about 11 years old and

he came into our care as his owner was killed and there was no one willing to care for him. He suffers from diabetes and so will require ongoing drug therapy and as he is over 10 years old his treatment while he is in our care will be met from the fund. Being a black and white cat and fairly elderly it will be quite a challenge to find Flicks a new home. The Pet Pensioner Fund is a big help with cats like Flicks as it allows us to meet his treatment costs while he is in our care waiting for a new home. Typically it costs about 60-65 a month to treat a diabetic cat.
On behalf of the RSPCA and all at Blythwood and Well Animal Clinic we would like to say a big thank you to all our clients for their generous support.

Top tips for health and wellbeing of indoor cats

Feel the pressure!
Well documented in humans, high blood pressure is now increasingly being recognised as a cause of problems in both dogs and cats as they get older. It can occur on its own, especially in cats, or secondary to other conditions such as kidney disease, an overactive thyroid and Cushings disease. Left untreated it can lead to strokes, sudden onset blindness and heart disease. Fortunately we are now able to measure blood pressure accurately and treat it easily in most cases. This can be done on its own or as part of our Senior Pet Program. Please ask us about getting your pets blood pressure checked.

Cats that do not go outside can be more prone to a variety of health related issues. However, by being aware of them it is simple to enrich and adapt their environment to minimise the risks of these problems developing.
We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is not good for us as humans, and to some extent the same applies to our feline companions who live indoors. They tend to sleep a lot more and be less active, and one of the commonest problems we see in indoor cats is obesity which can lead to diabetes, arthritis and many other weight related problems. Make sure you do not ad lib feed, but instead measure out the daily amount of food your cat eats. Try putting the food bowl up somewhere high so your cat has to jump or climb to reach it, and you can also vary where the food bowl is put which means they will have to hunt it out. Exercise can be encouraged by having plenty of toys and devoting time each day to playing with them. A ping-pong ball in the (empty) bath can keep them entertained for hours on end, and catnip toys can really get them excited! If you are concerned about your cat gaining weight please call us and we can arrange a free weight check up and dietary advice with one of our nurses. Another very common problem is cystitis or FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) this is a complex condition, the causes of which are beyond the scope of this brief article, but it is known that reduced water intake and infrequent urination are some of the contributing factors. Indoor cats tend to pass urine less frequently and drink less water than their outdoor companions. Encourage your cat to drink by getting a cat water fountain (available at all our clinics) which cats love to drink from its certainly more hygienic than them using the kitchen taps or toilet bowl! Make sure the litter trays are regularly cleaned, and also that there is AT LEAST one litter tray per cat, preferably more. If cats do not have access to a clean tray they will hold onto the urine which means it becomes more concentrated and can lead to cystitis. Try and recreate a natural environment in your home cats love to climb, explore and also scratch if you have space for a cat climbing frame and scratching posts then these are a great way for them to exercise their normal behaviour note that cats love both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces. Cats also have a very small but significant requirement to chew grass so make sure some is available you can grow this yourself or come and pick up a tray of cat grass from our clinics. Stress in indoor cats can manifest in many different ways and be due to a variety of reasons, not all of which we would necessarily associate with stress in ourselves. Guests, building work (sometimes not even in your house but nearby), a new cat, dog or child in the household, even something as simple as changing where the litter tray is placed can potentially upset the daily routine. Stressed cats will often toilet inappropriately, develop cystitis, become withdrawn or occasionally become aggressive. Thankfully by following the above ideas you can minimise the risks of this happening. However, should there still be a problem then there is help at hand. Feliway is a cat pheromone which matches the scent that cats leave when they rub their cheeks on table legs, door frames and you. This marking behaviour helps them feel more comfortable in their own environment, so by having more of it around they generally feel more content. It comes in a spray and also a plug-in diffuser and can really help for stress related issues. Please ask at reception if you would like further advice on this product. Finally, as in all medicine, prevention is better than cure and a regular (at least annual) health check and appropriate vaccinations are vital to enable early detection and management of any potential problems as well as preventative disease control.

Heat Stroke Warning

With the warmer weather approaching dogs are at risk of heat stroke. It can happen to any dog but breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Pekinese are particularly susceptible. If it is a hot day it is best to walk your dog early and/or late, and avoid exercising them during the hottest part of the day. Even with the windows slightly open a car can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures (for dogs) if in direct sunlight.

 6-monthly 10 Point Health Checks Annual vaccinations Flea, worm and parasite treatments Pet Health Check Record Book Chip check Neutering and Microchipping for Puppies and Kittens

Ask about Pet Health Plans from Blythwood Veterinary Group

Provide your cat, dog or rabbit with essential veterinary care in easy MONEY-SAVING monthly payments

Meet our Veterinary Nurses!

At Blythwood and Well Animal Clinic we are lucky enough to have a fantastic team of highly qualified and skilled RVNs (registered veterinary nurses) on hand to help with patient care.
They have a wealth of experience and are here to help you and your pet. Our team of nurses carry out blood samples, blood pressure measurements, change dressings, monitor anaesthetics, manage the day to day running of the hospital and operating theatres and along with the veterinary surgeons ensure all our inpatients receive the best possible care. Our nurses can offer advice and support on a wide range of health related issues and we offer free nurse clinics for: dietary and nutrition advice weight clinics flea and worming - advice on prevention dental checks and preventative dental care post operative checks and stitch removals new puppy/kitten/rabbit consultations

Rabbits - Fly Strike Alert

Flystrike is a common, extremely distressing and often fatal disease which mainly occurs during the summer months.
It happens when rabbits get damp and dirty around their bottoms and their skin becomes sore. These skin sores then attract flies which lay eggs in the sore areas. The eggs hatch into maggots which literally eat away at the surrounding live tissue. The problem can get so bad that the maggots eat into the abdominal cavity, and if this happens unfortunately it is kinder to put the rabbit to sleep. If you see any maggots on your rabbit please contact us immediately. Flystrike can be prevented by: Keeping hutches clean and dry Feeding the right diet to ensure faeces are firm and well formed Checking your rabbit at least twice a day especially round its bottom Keep your rabbit fit and healthy overweight rabbits are often unable to groom themselves properly Using a fly repellent called Rearguard which will help keep flies away

Please do enquire about any of the above, our nurses are always happy to help!

Up Close and Personal

Hot gossip about the Blythwood team
Vet Jacqui Skelly gave birth to a beautiful baby boy called Ruben on 21st March - Mum, Dad and baby are all doing well Adam Jenkinson, branch manager at Stanmore got married to Taylor in May this year

Vet Graham Finch has a new Grandson called Scott who was born in March and weighed in at another mighty 9lb 7oz

In February Christian LeVan announced his engagement to gorgeous Katharine, and is getting married in September.

Marj Davies branch manager at Hatch end is delighted to announce the arrival of her new Grandson Matthew William born onthe 16th of May weighing in at a mighty 9lb 4oz.

Vet Oliver Viner has just got engaged to the lovely Lara

Practice Standards Accreditation

Blythwood Veterinary Group and the Well Animal Clinic have recently been reassessed for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme. This scheme is a voluntary initiative to accredit veterinary practices in the UK. Through setting standards and carrying out regular inspections, the Scheme aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care. It offers peace of mind to clients of accredited practices and more informed choice to the animalowning public. To become accredited, practices volunteer for rigorous inspection every four years and will have met a wide range of high standards including clinic hygiene, staff training, up to date equipment and hospital management We are pleased to announce that all our clinics have maintained their RCVS accreditation.

HATCH END
500 Uxbridge Road, Pinner, Middx, HA5 4SL

STANMORE
103-105 Stanmore Hill, Stanmore, Middx, HA7 3DZ

NORTHWOOD
Waterlane House, Sandy Lane, Northwood, HA6 3HA

BUSHEY
2 High Street, Bushey, Herts, WD23 3DN

Tel: 020 8421 0510

Open on weekdays from 8am - 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am - 2pm
Our main clinic, where the practice was first established in 1979, is on the Uxbridge Road, close to St. Thomas Drive.

Tel: 020 8954 0554

Open on weekdays from 8.30am - 5.30pm and on Saturday from 10am - Midday
The newest of our surgeries, welcoming all pets, but incorporating our World of Cats - a special clinic and merchandise area for cat lovers.

Tel: 01923 820059

Open on weekdays from 8.30am - Midday, and 3pm - 7pm and on Saturday from 2pm - 4.00pm
This site has recently been extensively redeveloped and is now ideal for wheelchair access

Tel: 020 8950 2002

Open on weekdays from 8am 7pm and Weekends Sat 9am Midday and Sun 10am - Midday
Open for routine appointments seven days a week. Recently redeveloped to improve the on-site surgical facilities.