February 2012

Taking your pet abroad on holiday has just become a lot easier and cheaper...

From January 1st 2012 the pet passport rules for dogs and cats returning to the UK after a holiday abroad have been considerably relaxed. To bring a pet into this country from Europe, either for the first time or after a holiday, you will need:

• Your pet to be microchipped

• A rabies vaccination AFTER your pet has been microchipped.  Three weeks needs to elapse after the vaccination before your pet can enter the UK

• A pet passport to be issued by your vet

• Tapeworm treatment (dogs only) not less than 24 hours or  more than 5 days before returning to UK.  Tick treatment is no longer required (but is still advisable) 

No rabies blood test in now required - previously your pet could not enter the UK after a trip abroad for 6 months after a positive blood test and so a lot of forward planning was required!!

If you are travelling out of Europe then you should check the DEFRA website for any different requirements for the country involved.

Pat Kinch - Legend of the Staffordshire Moorlands 

There is a vet down Churnet Way

Was fit and handsome back in the day.

You`d see him cycling through the town, a flash of black and yellow.

In skin tight lycra leggings, he was a handsome fellow!

He was a legend in the Moorlands, his name was known by all.

Just like that vet James Herriot, from All Creatures Great and Small!

The clients came from far and wide, with many a dog and cat

And all the ladies in town brought their pussies to Pat!

He spent hours with his clients,

He waffled on you know

They did their best to leave,

But he wouldn`t let them go!

He ruled us with an iron rod,

You`d often hear him shout

“Work faster girls!” I really don`t pay you to stand about.

More tea girls? How many`s that?

.You must be having a laugh!

Breaktime`s not till 1 `o clock

It`s not a bloody cafe!!”

Yes, he was a hard taskmaster

He made sure we earned our pay.

“You really should be grateful girls, for fifteen pounds a day!”

But he`s mellowed now, slowed down a touch

And the whip`s no longer cracked so much

The racing bike has long since gone

Been replaced by a scooter (a mobility one!),

He no longer wears lycra or that cool cycling hat,

And the ladies no longer bring their pussies to Pat!

Yes there is a vet down Churnet way,

Was fit and handsome back in the day

Now he wears tweed and corduroy and has a pass for the bus,

But he`ll always be a legend to us!

Author unknown (not me!)

Pat Kinch - Legend of the Staffordshire Moorlands 

There is a vet down Churnet Way

Was fit and handsome back in the day.

You`d see him cycling through the town, a flash of black and yellow.

In skin tight lycra leggings, he was a handsome fellow!

He was a legend in the Moorlands, his name was known by all.

Just like that vet James Herriot, from All Creatures Great and Small!

The clients came from far and wide, with many a dog and cat

And all the ladies in town brought their pussies to Pat!

He spent hours with his clients,

He waffled on you know

They did their best to leave,

But he wouldn`t let them go!

He ruled us with an iron rod,

You`d often hear him shout

“Work faster girls!” I really don`t pay you to stand about.

More tea girls? How many`s that?

.You must be having a laugh!

Breaktime`s not till 1 `o clock

It`s not a bloody cafe!!”

Yes, he was a hard taskmaster

He made sure we earned our pay.

“You really should be grateful girls, for fifteen pounds a day!”

But he`s mellowed now, slowed down a touch

And the whip`s no longer cracked so much

The racing bike has long since gone

Been replaced by a scooter (a mobility one!),

He no longer wears lycra or that cool cycling hat,

And the ladies no longer bring their pussies to Pat!

Yes there is a vet down Churnet way,

Was fit and handsome back in the day

Now he wears tweed and corduroy and has a pass for the bus,

But he`ll always be a legend to us!

Author unknown (not me!)

December 2011

Time is running out for free neutering for cats in the ST1-14 area

The RSPCA and Cat Protection have joined forces to try and tackle the growing problem of homeless cats in the Stoke on Trent area.

If you are on a low income, or state benefits, council tax benefit, housing benefit, retirement pension, or you are a full time student, and you live in the ST1-14 postcode areas, then you qualify to have your cat (whatever its age) neutered by us for FREE. You do not have to be an existing client of ours, you just need to satisfy the means testing criteria and you should be the rentpayer or householder of the house where the cat lives.

BUT...There are only 2000 of these vouchers available so it is very much on a first come first served basis. So get on that phone and book your place before it's too late!!

November 2011

Petplan Veterinary Awards 2012
in association with Veterinary Times and VN Times

Nominate the star of your practice today! Does your vet practice or an individual in the team deserve to be recognised for their commitment and dedication to their job? Then why not nominate them for the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2012, in association with Veterinary Times and VN Times? Everyone who makes a nomination will be entered into our prize draw and you could win one of our fantastic prizes below:

• Two tickets to the glittering awards ceremony plus an overnight stay for two at The Malmaison Hotel, Birmingham.
• A two-night luxury stay for two at the 'pet-friendly' Lords of the Manor Hotel, Cotswolds. The prize includes a six-course taster menu on one evening and a three course table d'hote on the other.

WIN WIN SITUATION!!

For more details check out www.petplan.co.uk

November 2011

Does your dog look like a coffee table and your cat like a stuffed cushion?

November is Pet Diabetes Month. Two thirds of pet cats and dogs are overweight,1 in 3 of these actually clinically obese. There are many adverse consequences of excessive body weight, including an increased tendency to arthritis and heart disease. And there's one specific hormonal disease that's highly correlated with obesity: diabetes.

Many people don't recognise the early signs of diabetes: they may think that their pet is just showing signs of old age. A simple online screening survey has been set up for owners to discover if their pet is likely to be suffering from diabetes. Early diagnosis of the problem, followed by early treatment, can reduce the severity of the physical consequences of diabetes.

 http://www.petdiabetesmonth.co.uk/survey-page.asp

A definitive diagnosis of diabetes requires urine or blood tests, but simple observation can be enough to have a strong suspicion about what's going on. Whenever a middle aged pet has lost weight despite eating the same diet, alarm bells go off. If the owner reports that the pet is also drinking more than usual, more alarm bells start ringing. But even then, simple laboratory work is needed to confirm the diagnosis: a dipstick test that demonstrates sugar in the urine, or a blood test that shows a higher than normal blood sugar level.

 If you have any concerns about this bring your pet along with a fresh urine sample and a dip stick will give a clue...

October 2011

GOOD NEWS FOR CAT OWNERS!

The RSPCA and Cat Protection have joined forces to try and tackle the growing problem of homeless cats in the Stoke on Trent area.  If you are on a low income, or state benefits, council tax benefit, housing benefit, retirement pension, or you are a full time student, and you live in the ST1-14 postcode areas, then you qualify to have your cat (whatever its age) neutered by us for FREE.  You do not have to be an existing client of ours, you just need to satisfy the means testing criteria and you should be the rentpayer or householder of the house where the cat lives

There are only 2000 of these vouchers available so it is very much on a first come first served basis.  So get on that phone and book your place before it's too late!!

October 2011

A new face at Churnet Valley Vets!

Those of you who have been lucky enough to visit Churnet Vets over the last week will have noticed a new face behind the desk. 

Debbie Fenton RVN has joined the team to replace Ann who has taken early (very early, I must add) retirement.  Debbie has worked in veterinary surgeries for many years, before finally biting the bullet and taking her veterinary nurse training exams.

Ann is going to continue doing this website  and Churnet Valley Vets facebook, as well as helping out with holiday cover when needed.

October 2011

Are the veterinary nurses at your practice qualified - or have you just assumed they must be....

Did you know that anyone can work in a veterinary practice and call themselves a veterinary nurse?  We all just assume that, in the NHS, there is some sort of regulation to ensure that the nurses who treat us are highly qualifed to do so.  Not so in the veterinary profession.

To be a listed or registered veterinary nurse there is a three or four year training course and this entitles the nurse to put VN or RVN after their name.  The RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council are using the occasion of their 50th anniversary of veterinary nursing to call for statutory regulation for the profession.

At Churnet Valley Vets, Pat only employs qualified veterinary nurses, and experienced ones at that, so rest assured that your pet is being cared for by someone who knows what they are doing!  If you are not registered with us it might be worth asking the question next time you are in your vets...

Alternatively you can check the registers yourself for nurses and vets at

http://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/check-the-registers/

October 2011

Mxyomatosis outbreak in Leek area

We are seeing a large number of pet rabbits suffering from myxomatosis at the moment.  Unvaccinated rabbits are so ill that they cannot be treated and have to be put down.

It is possible for vaccinated rabbits to catch myxomatosis but their symptoms tend to be mild and treatable.  Outdoor rabbits are obviously more susceptible than indoor rabbits.

Myxomatosis is spread by rabbit to rabbit contact - this can be pet rabbit contact with wild rabbits - or by the rabbit being bitten by infected fleas or mosquitoes in the hay.

We advise you vaccinate your rabbit against myxomatosis.  The vaccination lasts a year and could prevent a painful and traumatic death for your rabbit.

September 2011

and he just gets better and better...

Who can this handsome, athletic man be?  Could it be, no surely not, but yes, I think it possibly is,it is  our very own Patrick!  Pat's triathlon season is still going well - 11th overall out of 150 in the Anglesey Newborough Sandman Triathlon.  This involved:

• 60 km Road Cycle circular route taking riders via Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and back along the west coast of Anglesey
• 10 km Trail Run along Llanddwyn forest trails, sand dunes and beach
• 1000m Sea Swim off Llanddwyn beach

This is a tremendous achievement as this event is known to be particularly gruelling as it is a sea swim (and the weather was not good that day!!!,  a 60km bike ride) followed by a 10km run up and down sand dunes.  Not for the faint hearted.

August 2011

Rabies in France - is it the right time to be lowering our defences?

According to our roving reporter in France (Pat) there has been a confirmed rabies case in a puppy in France.  The dog was a three month old puppy illegally imported from Morocco that presented with behavioural changes on August 1 and was admitted to a veterinary clinic on 6 August.  It died the following day and post mortem confirmed rabies.  During that time the puppy had managed to bite nineteen people and they are all being treated as at high risk of developing rabies.

The puppy was brought into France by a French family holidaying in Morocco.  Back at home they had another dog and a cat with two kittens.  The dog had been vaccinated against rabies and microchipped and so only had to have a rabies booster.  Unfortunately the cat and two kittens had not and so had to be put down.

All this at a time when we over here are relaxing the rabies regulations for animals entering the country.  After January 2012 pets will still need a rabies vaccination, but will no longer have to have a blood test to show if they have rabies immunity to be brought into the UK.  The vaccine itself is by no means 100% effective, which is why it is often advisable to have two vaccinations (unless a blood test shows it has worked).

Should we be doing all this when our rabies free status is so precious to us??

August 2011

What on earth is Dawn up to???

July 2011

Chollywood!

What do Churnet Vets and Hollywood have in common?  There's always a chance you will meet someone famous.... Young Bailey Barlow's son starred in The King's Speech as one of the Queen's corgis!

July 2011

Big changes afoot..

Significant changes are being made to the pet passport rules from January 2012.

The status quo is that your pet requires a rabies vaccine, a month later he requires a blood test to see that the vaccine has worked.  If he passes that test then he can leave the country any time, but he would not be able to return to this country for six months.  The reasoning behind this is that the incubation period for rabies in dogs is 6 months - so the six month rule covers the possibility that the dog was incubating rabies before the vaccination and test.

From January 2012 your pet will only need a rabies vaccination and no blood test.  Your pet will be able to leave the country straightaway as before, but will only have to wait 21 days after the vaccination to return to the country.  Pets entering this country from Non-EU countries will not need quarantine if they fulfill the rabies vacccination requirements (which includes a blood test and three month wait), again from January 2012.

The tick and tapeworm requirements of the pet travel scheme are being removed straightaway, but we still recommend that you follow them with your pet as before.

Until January 2012 the 6 month rule will still apply.

June 2011

We are very proud....

Not content with being a saviour of many a cat and dog, Pat has just finished 2nd out of 103 competitors in the Corby Triathlon, involving a swim, cycle and run. 

The competition involved a 750m sprint pool swim. The bike course was 28k (2 laps sprint), west of Corby past Rockingham Castle and into the Welland Valley. The run course was 3 laps around the centre of Corby, fast and flat, totalling 4.8k.

Blimey - I'm exhausted just typing about it!

June 2011

June 2011 is Dental Care Month!

Top Tips

• Make sure that your dog has regular oral health examinations by a vet

• Train your dog as a puppy to get hime used to having his teeth brushed.   Remember to use dog toothpaste that does not contain fluoride

• Start brushing an older dog's teeth as soon as they have been cleaned by your vet - it's never too late!

• Only give your dog toys and food sepcifically designed for dogs.   Bones, stones, sticks, frisbees, hard nylon chew toys and tennis balls all commonly damage teeth and gums

• We are giving away free Pedigree Dentastix in the month of June (whilst stocks last, as they say!)  So call in for yours, and book a free dental check..

May 2011

Dawn, Head Nurse Extraordinaire, has returned from her maternity leave this week - all very exciting as it now means we no longer have to make ANY decisions!   Unfortunately this does mean that Mel, our 18 month long locum, will be leaving next week.  It will be strange for a while...

Mel has been offered an exciting post at Abbey Vets in Derby and we wish her all the best in this and thank her for her tremendous contribution in the last 18 months. 

May 2011

The truth about lungworm...

We have had many enquiries over the last few weeks about lungworm.  The following is an article by vet Peter Wedderburn who writes for the Daily Telegraph, dated 8 April.

"The Daily Mail has it in for foxes. Today’s headline about canine lungworm – “Deadly urban fox disease spreading to dogs” – is what I’d call pure anti-fox propaganda. The headline gives the impression, quite incorrectly, that some new killer disease is being brought into our homes by a burgeoning population of foxes in towns and cities.

The truth about the lungworm? As it happens, I’m able to give you a state-of-the-science update. Last week, I was at the BSAVA Congress in Birmingham, a four-day educational blitz attended by nearly six thousand vets, nurses and students. One of the lectures provided a summary of our current understanding of the disease, drawing on research papers that have been published in the past six years.

It’s true that the incidence of lungworm is increasing. In 2008, only 16 per cent of vets in the UK had seen a confirmed case of lungworm; in a recent survey, this figure has reached 37 per cent. The disease used to be confined to the south-west regions of the UK, but it’s now being seen as far north as Scotland.

Predictive mapping shows that the parasite will continue to spread so that within a decade it will be common across the entire country. Climate change is cited as the most likely reason for this upsurge, with “warmer, wetter weather” creating conditions that favour the environmental stage of the parasite. The lecturer did say that “the wild fox population may act as a reservoir for infection” – but this wasn’t regarded as a major factor.

Some of the nastier details: dogs become infected by eating common garden slugs and snails carrying the larvae (or even just by chewing grass that can act as homes for tiny slugs and snails).  Once eaten, the lungworm larvae travel through the dog’s body, eventually ending up in the heart. If the infection is left untreated, adult lungworms develop, causing a range of signs that can include breathing difficulties, lethargy and coughing. The lungworm also causes a different manifestation of disease, by stopping the blood from clotting. Some dogs then develop serious internal haemorrhage, including bleeding into the brain, which is far more lethal than the slower-onset lung disease.

Although the disease has been described as “deadly”, nearly all dogs make a full recovery with treatment. Most cases that I’ve seen have been brought to me with a cough which has been investigated by taking X-rays. These show the likely cause, treatment is given, and the problem is sorted. The rare cases that have developed brain haemorrhages are much more difficult to treat because of the rapid onset of life threatening signs. I’ve seen two dogs die of this complication in the past two years.

The disease can be prevented by giving a once-monthly spot-on special worm treatment (normal wormers aren’t licensed for this purpose). Do all dog owners need to do this? Well, if your dog is known to eat slugs or snails, or even just to graze on grass (as many dogs do), it’s certainly the safest option.

So,  complete urban fox eradication, or a once-monthly wormer? As a vet and a dog-owner, I’d go for the second."

The spot on we sell for this purpose is Advocate.

April 2011

Be a Mug, Buy a Mug Appeal

Thank you to everyone who gave a donation for a Churnet Vets mug on behalf of Greenfields Greyhound Rescue.   A total of £48.75 was presented to Caroline for the greyhounds

April 2011

Dogs can get sunstroke too!

Dogs can get just as excited as us humans when the sun comes out and will run and play until they drop, literally!  On hot days it is best to restrict your dog's exercise in full sun and keep them well hydrated with water.  Also muzzles can restrict the dog's panting

The problem is that dogs do not have an efficient cooling system - they can only cool down through their paws and by panting and in hot conditions this is not sufficient.   The dogs most at risk are adults, hairy dogs, overweight, black in colour or those with short snouts.

Symptoms of sunstroke in dogs are excessive panting and feeling hot to the touch, red insides of their ears and their lips sticking to their gums,  In extreme sunstroke the dog collapses and can't stand and may become comatose.

Immediate first aid can be to allow the dog to lick ice cubes, hose him down with cool water and wrap him in wet towels to take to the vets.

Cats could, in theory, get sunstroke as well, but they are much too dignified to run round and get hot and sweaty in the sun!

Archie Biswas showing how it should be done....

April 2011

Livvy gets stoned!

Livvy the boxer was brought in for a routine booster appointment on Thursday morning.  Her owner reported that she had been vomiting and not well the last day or so.  When he examined her Pat was concerned about Livvy's condition and admitted her for investigations.

It didn't take long to realise there was a serious problem.  X-rays showed a stomachful of something very dense and it was necessary to operate to find out what she had swallowed.  To everyone's amazement, amusement and horror, all at the same time, Livvy was found to have a stomachful of stones - 950gms of them!  Some of them has managed to pass beyond the stomach and so it was a stressful procedure for Pat to get them all out.

Poor old Livvie was on a drip for a couple of days, but finally went home on Saturday.  Hopefully she will make a quick recovery - and won't eat any more stones.

Livvy's pre-op dinner!

Livvy recovering after her ordeal

April 2011

A success story!

Gypsy Dale came to see Pat with swollen neck glands and was diagnosed with low grade lymphoma in July 2007. 

Her owners were devastated but decided to give Gypsy a chance with chemotherapy.  Thankfully she responded well, and continues to keep the cancer at bay with monthly chemotherapy sessions.  She's used to spending a day a month with us whilst we run a drip containing the chemotherapy through. 

Three and a half years and still going!  Well done Gypsy, well done Pat!

As an aside, if anyone wants to know a good reason for having pet insurance, ask Mrs Dale - she's very thankful she had Gypsy insured!

Pictured here is our nurse Jo with Gypsy after one of her monthly sessions

March 2011

We do have some lovely clients....

When Anna and Rich Thomas-Holland saw Bo in the dogs' home they wanted him as they thought no-one else would adopt him because of his age and state of his health.  That was a year ago - since then Bo has been diagnosed as having an underactive thyroid, treated for it, and put on a diet.  The difference is astounding - not only has he lost a heap of weight, he  has also grown a new long haired coat!   Is it the same dog you ask yourselves? - honestly it is!  It was Bo's red letter day when Anna and Rich visited the dogs' home - without them he undoubtedly would not be with us now.

Bo, before and after

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Join Isla Clark, Bark Busters dog behaviourist expert for Staffordshire, on a community dog walk.  An ideal opportunity to practice basic socialisation for your dog or puppy.

Ramblers Retreat
Dimmingsdale
Nr Cheadle, Staffs

11am on the last Wednesday of every month

Tel 0808 100 4071

www.barkbusters.co.uk

Petplan Vet of the Year Awards

Pat has once again been nominated by his clients for the Petplan Vet of the Year.  He did not make the final three, but it is tremendously touching for him that his clients have taken the time and effort to put his name forward.

Thank you very much everyone!

March 2011

And then there were five....

What is it about Fridays?  A seemingly "normal" day today, it's Pat's birthday tomorrow so Jo, Emily and I were looking forward to the secret M&S chocolate cake we had for elevenses.  One phone call and it's all hands to the deck again.  Megan, a black labrador and first time mum, came in having had some pups already.   Her labour had stopped and so it was an emergency Caesararian.  A couple of hours later Mr and Mrs Edwards from Oaklea Kennels Dilhorne left with Megan and four more pups - oh and two pieces of chocolate cake!

February 2011

The dangers of throwing sticks for your dog...

Paddy, a 5 year old border collie, was brought to see Pat one Monday morning.  He had been really miserable since playing with a stick on the Sunday.   His breath smelt, but nothing could be seen in his mouth at that time.  Paddy was admitted and under general anaesthetic Pat found a 3 cm hole under Paddy's tongue - it was full of pus already.  The stick had obviously gone in one side of Paddy's tongue and out the other!  The wound was flushed out and stitched.

We always advise owners not to throw stones or sticks for their dogs - and Paddy and his mum would vouch for that!

February 2011

Webcams have been installed to our cages at Churnet Vets so that Pat can check on the in-patients regularly throughout the night.  Either Pat or the nurse on duty (or both!) visit regularly throughout the night to check drips, clean cages etc but it is always reassuring to know that your pet is being watched in-between as well.  Using modern technology to care for your pets...

This is the image seen on the remote computer, the patients in question this time are Daisy Kinch's squeaky ducks:

February 2011

2½ months and counting til Dawn comes back....

February 2011

Whippet Freyja was brought in to the surgery by her owners, she had delivered five pups overnight but was struggling to deliver any more.  X-rays showed that there were five more pups left and so an emergency Caesarian was called for.

It was all hands to the deck - nurses Jo and Mel, receptionist Ann, Freyja's mum and dad and the man mending the computers.  Everyone had their towels and rubbed the pups to get them breathing as Pat delivered them and handed them over! 

A few hours later Mummy Freyja and ten squeaking pups went happily home.

January 2011

You will now be able to order your pet food and repeat prescriptions from this website.  Click the button on the home page and this will take you to a form. 

So, if you're in from work, tired and hungry and you forget to ring us before half six, despair not!  You can now order it online and then relax with your glass of wine.  We do keep most prescription drugs in stock but on the off chance that we have sold a lot that day, or it is something we normally get in especially for you, then you need to give us 2 working days to get it ordered and delivered.  If this causes problems you can say so in your form submission and we will inform you of the situation.

If the form does not go through to the acknowledgment page when you click submit, it will be because you have a pop-up blocker on - disable this for www.churnetsvets.co.uk (usually click on it on your toolbar and it will give you the option).  Your order will have gone through anyway and you will get the email acknowledgment, just not the acknowledgment web page.

Any problems or queries contact Ann at the surgery and she will do her best to help you.

23 December 2010

Christmas raffle for Greenfields Greyhound Rescue

Caroline, from Greenfields Greyhound Rescue called for coffee, mince pies and to draw the raffle for the rescue.

After initially pulling her own name out of the bag Caroline graciously put it back and drew another!  The winners are Mr and Mrs McKee from Cheddleton and Mary Boston from Kingsley Holt.

Thank you to everyone who donated. 

Mr and Mrs McKee with their prize

December 2010

Milly eats, shoots and leaves

Milly, a ten year old pointer, presented to Pat with a week of not eating properly, vomiting and a swollen stomach.  Blood results and x-rays indicated a possible blockage, but not really a clue what this could be.  It was decided that an exploratory laparotomy was the only option and she was duly opened up.   Nothing could have prepared Pat and the nurses for what they found - Milly had a stomach FULL of grass, leaves and twigs.  These were duly removed and Milly continues to make a good recovery - you would think she would know better at her age!

The contents of Milly's stomach...

December 2010

Churnet Valley Vets has joined Facebook!  Never let it be said that we are behind the times!  Find our page by searching for Churnet Valley Vets, feel free to comment, add photos, anything!!  If you are a fan then click "like" on the page and stay informed...

November 2010

Mr Tom uses his catnav! 

Mr Tom was born in the garden of Mrs Price, a client of Churnet Vets, one of a litter of three.  Mrs Price has found homes for the others but is keeping Mr Tom and his mum. 

He was attending the surgery last week for neutering and, understandably he was not too impressed with the idea.  When Mrs Price was taking him out of the car he burst out of the basket and disappeared up Cheadle Road.  Mrs Price, who lives in Rownall, about 3.5 miles away from the surgery  hunted all day for him around Cheddleton, but to no avail. 

Late that night she heard a miaowing at the back door and to her amazement and delight there was Mr Tom!

(update - since then he has been back to the surgery in a reinforced cat basket and had his "minor op")

October 2010

Is your pet scared of fireworks?

If so, you are not alone - recent research suggests that almost half of dogs in the UK show some level of fearful response to loud noises.

Fears of fireworks don't get better on their own - in fact they are likely to get worse over time and lead to other behavioural problems.     There are various "cures" on the market - however, although desensitising CDs are thought to work eventually, they do require daily input by the owner for many months before bonfire night (in fact if you haven't started yet this year you are way too late!!)

At Churnet Vets we are promoting a unique product, called Zylkène.   It is a novel product proven to help manage stress in cats and dogs.  It can also help you pet adapt to change.  Zylkène is natural, palatable and easy to give with food and only needs to be given once daily.

Zylkène contains a-casozepine, a protein made from cow's milk, which has relaxing properties.  It can be used both for short-term stress, eg kennel or cattery stay, fireworks, or long-term eg multi-cat household.

Zylkène should be started 1-2 days before the fireworks are anticipated.  It can then be continued throughout the firework period and then stopped.

What can you do straightaway?

• Provide a den or hiding place, a "bolt hole" - animals naturally hide when they are scared and it can help to provide a "safe place" which they can squeeze into, like an understairs cupboard or an indoor kennel with blankets over the top and inside.
  

• Muffle the sound of the fireworks - close curtains, shut outside doors and windows, and have your pet as near to the centre of the house as possible.   Put on the TV or radio to mask the sound.
  

• Keep them inside - don't let pets outside when fireworks are likely or during a display.  Take dogs out for toilet purposes before it gets dark and then keep them in.  A firework going off when they are outside can lead to a fear of going out.
  

• Don't over-fuss them - This can be difficult, but if they rely on you for comfort during scary events, they will be less able to cope when you are not at home and make matters worse in the long term.
  

• Stay calm yourself - most pets can sense when their owners are worried, and this increases their stress.  Let them hide in the den, and leave them there until the fireworks have finished and they come out.  You can give your pet lots of fuss once they emerge.
  

• Don't get angry - although your pet's behaviour may be annoying it is happening because they are scared and getting cross will only make them worse.   Don't try and take your pet out of its hiding place - this increases their stress and could lead to aggression.
  

• Prepare for unusual behaviour - fear can make your pet behave out of character.  For example, if they anticipate that going into the garden predicts a loud noise, they may hide or show aggression to avoid going outside.
  

• Talk to us - we can advise short-term measures wshich may include medications, particularly if they don't settle but pace around in distress.  This will help reduce you pet's stress during upcoming firework events and help prevent their fears becoming worse.

September 2010

Thinking of insuring your pet?  You can read about our views on pet insurance on the Factsheets page.   At Churnet Vet we recommend Petplan as the best pet insurance company.  If you wish to try before you commit register for 4 weeks free, no obligation, cover today by clicking on the logo below:

September 2010

We had a special visitor this week -Dawn with baby Scarlett - both looking very well

9 August 2010 

Congratulations to Dawn, Darren and Isabelle on the birth of Scarlett Ava.

Scarlett arrived on the morning of 9 August weighing 7lb 6oz and baby and mother are both doing well!

August 2010 

Izzie is an "alert seizure dog" - she is trained to inform her owners when their toddler is about to have a fit.  Her owner says she is absolutely brilliant and needed hardly any training - it all seemed to come naturally!  As well as that she is friendly and absolutely adorable.

Do you have a heroic pet story like this?  If so email us and tell us about it!!

churnetvalleyvet@aol.com

July 2010 

We, at Churnet Vets, were as horrified as anyone to watch the recent Panorama programme on BBC1 about a veterinary corporate chain in the south of England.

We would like to stress that ALL of our nurses are trained, registered veterinary college nurses.  There are strict guidelines from the Royal Veterinary College of Surgeons on what procedures should be done by a vet and which procedures can be carried out by a qualified nurse.  Recently Churnet Vets underwent a vigorous and thorough RCVS standards inspection and, as a result of this, we have been awarded RCVS standards accreditation.

You can be assured that your pet will be treated as we would treat our own at Churnet Valley Vets.  We all felt the same about the programme - that none of us could work ANYWHERE that had such a dreadful work and moral ethic.

WE NEED YOU!! (well, your photos anyway)

We would like your favourite pet photo for our 'Pin up of the month' booster reminders. 

Would you like to see your photo in print? 

If so send it to us by email and each month we'll select a cat, dog and if possible rabbit photo to be printed onto our reminder cards.

It has to be in the form of .jpeg, .jpg, .pdf, .tif, .tiff, .PS or .EPS and be of medium to high resolution.  Any queries telephone or email Ann at the surgery

churnetvalleyvet@aol.com

For our latest Pin ups of the Month click here...

Check out the Infinite Cat Project - it started in 2004 with a picture of Frankie and a flower, followed by a picture of Frankie looking at a picture of himself, followed by a picture of Poozy looking at a picture of Frankie looking at a picture of himself. 

Everyone is invited to add their own picture of their cat looking at the cat who is looking at the cat......etc etc.  It is now up to cat number 1681.

www.infinitecat.com

July 2010

Dawn is leaving us this month for her maternity leave - we will miss her enormously and wish her, Darren and daughter Isobelle all the best for the imminent arrival of baby Edwards.

Come back soon Dawn!!

May 2010 -

We've done it!!

After a very lengthy and gruelling process, Churnet Valley Vets has been granted RCVS Practice Standards Accreditation.  We are extremely proud of this as it is testimony to all aspects of the practice - hygiene, health and safety, clinical governance, facilities and treatments offered to name but a few.  This is a voluntary scheme and we feel that the fact we have subjected ourselves to it shows our commitment to our clients and their pets.  All of our nurses are RVN veterinary trained - this is not the case with all veterinary surgeries.  As a result of this award we are entitled to display the logo on all of our paperwork, handouts and letters.

This accreditation coincides with our tenth anniversary - a fitting way to celebrate.   We expect the next ten years to be even better - onwards and upwards!

May 2010 - National Flea Month

It’s that time of year again –  the start of flea season.

As spring arrives, so does the flea problem. Fleas are more active and breed faster in the warmer weather so in just 21 days, one flea on a pet can become 1,000.

National Flea Month aims to raise awareness of this and encourage you, the pet owner, to regularly protect your pets. At Churnet Valley Vets we recommend Frontline as the flea treatment of choice, and to show our commitment to this we are offering a free Frontline pipette with every pack of 6 Frontline - worth up to £9!

The irritation that fleas, ticks and lice can cause your pet may be only part of the problem. And possibly the least serious part too. Fleas and ticks have the potential to pass on diseases that can affect your pet and, sometimes but rarely, you too. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re up against and the best way to prevent problems.

Fleas are a very common problem. They’re all around and jump onto your pet from infested environments such as homes, gardens and parks – but not usually from other infested pets as is often thought.  Once a flea has found a suitable host it will tend to stay there.

If you have a cat or dog, the chances are they’ll experience a flea infestation at some time in their life.

A 2005 survey shows that nearly 1 in 10 dogs and over 1 in 5 cats may be suffering from fleas at any one time. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs in 1 day or up to 1,000 in a month.

Churnet Valley Vets is participating in Rabbit Awareness Week - RAW - because rabbits so often get a raw deal.

www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk

At Churnet Vets we can help and advise you on all of the following:

Contact us to book an appointment or to ask for help on looking after your rabbit

For more rabbit facts check out our Factsheets page

April 2010

It is rather noticeable that most of the pets in our Pets' Gallery are dogs, rather than cats. Could this be one of the reasons....  

Another reason is that they tend to be escape artists if released in the waiting room!

March 2010

For the sixth year running Churnet Valley Vets have been nominated for the Petplan Practice of the Year.  

Also known as the 'Vet Oscars', this award gives pet owners the opportunity to thank their practices for their exceptional service over the year and for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Thank you again for nominating us!

March 2010

We had a visit from Emily, our practice nurse on maternity leave, along with young Stanley.  Emily is coming back to work in September, and at the moment is enjoying her fulltime mum role!

March 2010

This month is oral care month on the veterinary calendar.  Whilst we, at Churnet Valley Vets, believe that every month should be oral care month it does no harm to use this opportunity to promote teeth cleaning for our pets. 

All this month we are giving away Pedigree dentasticks to our clients, along with a money off voucher.  Also we are offering free nurse dental check appointments at times which fit in with our busy daily schedule - generally between 11am and 3pm.  Please ring to book an appointment.

We have advice on our factsheets page to help you with your pet's toothbrushing.  As our dogs and cats can live anything up to 15 years and beyond, it is perhaps naive to think that we do not have to clean their teeth

If you never cleaned your teeth would you expect to have problems?  

February 2010

Spring on its way - thinking of having a new puppy?

If so then we recommend you ring us first and speak to Pat or one of the nurses on what sort of dog to have and what to look for in a good puppy.

Having a new puppy can be a wonderful experience for you and your family - or with a bad choice could be distressing and leave you all traumatised.  Should you go for a crossbreed or pedigree? Big or small?  What known genetic problems are in the breed you are thinking about?  Puppy or rescue adult dog?  How to spot a puppy farm or a family bred well socialised puppy.  Should you go for the quiet one hiding under the table or the one who's nibbling your shoelaces within minutes?

These may sound like small decisions, but believe us they can make all the difference to the success of your relationship with your new pet.

January 2010

Check out the new page on our website - Local Services.  We aim to provide a comprehensive list of local pet services for the benefit of our clients.

If you are a client, and run a pet related service, please feel free to email us details and a short description/illustration and we will advertise your services free of charge on our website.

Email to churnetvalleyvet@aol.com

November 2009

Churnet Valley Vets has applied for veterinary hospital accreditation through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme.

This month we have been subjected to a rigorous practice standards inspection by a qualified Royal College Inspector.  We are expected to meet very high standards in all aspects of veterinary practice - from patients' care, up to date methods and equipment to complying to legal and health and safety requirements.

We are eagerly awaiting the results - we are hoping that the hard work put in by the whole team will pay dividends

Watch this space!