We have been running a Polite Pets competition to celebrate March being Polite Pets' Month. Entries have been posted to our Facebook page and it was hard to pick a winner however we have chosen a stand out to take out the prize this month. 

Lottie leading her friend Bella stole our hearts....a wonderful helping hand or rather mouth! Lottie wins a bag of Hills Vet Essentials Dog Food courtesy Hills Pet Nutrition, a new dinner bowl and a ball and thrower for playtime. Congratulations Lottie!

To check out Lottie in action click on this link

Jimmy is a 9 year old Maltese cross. This boisterous little man was thirstier than normal and had suddenly started to wee in the house. His owners noticed he had a bit of a pot belly but had put this down to Jimmy getting older.

A veterinary examination was just what the doctor ordered and blood and urine testing revealed that Jimmy had an endocrine disorder known as Cushing's disease.

Cushing's is a common endocrine disease seen in dogs. It is slow and progressive and is caused by the overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is a normal hormone produced by the adrenal gland and is essential for normal body function. However in some animals this gland produces too much cortisol and this can have a serious impact on your pet’s quality of life.

Sometimes Cushing's can be caused by an external source of cortisol, such as the long term administration of cortisone.

Common symptoms of Cushing's disease include:

• Excessive thirst, appetite and urination
• Pot belly
• Skin problems, thin skin and hair loss
• Heat intolerance and excessive panting
• Lethargy

Jimmy has now commenced daily medication and requires close and careful monitoring but he is thankfully doing very well.

This is just another reason why we need to perform regular health checks on your pet. If we are able to detect and commence treatment early we can slow the progression of diseases and help your pet live a longer and healthier life.

If you have any concerns about your pet, please call us to arrange a check up - 63618388.

Sadly, we often see pets that have eaten rat bait. This can be extremely upsetting especially when ingestion can often be prevented. 

Here are our top tips for prevention rat bait toxicity: 

1. The first, and probably most obvious, is do not have rodenticide products on your property. And what about your neighbour's place? If you've moved to a new property, have you thoroughly checked it is safe?

2. Ensure that places you visit with your pet (friend's houses, holiday rentals) are rat bait free. That means always check for rat bait before letting your pet loose in a new environment.

3. If you must have rat bait, please store packets of these poisons in a secure place away from animals and children.

Don't forget that your pet may actively seek out rat bait - dogs have knack for getting under the house and cats love to explore the ceiling.

We are always here to offer advice and help - phone us if you are worried.