Whilst barking is a natural means of communication for dogs, too much yappy means no one's happy (sorry, we couldn't help ourselves!) Here are our top tips to help reduce bothersome barking: Work out why Before we can start to work on your pet's excessive barking,...
Unfortunately, nail trim phobias in pets are reasonably common. They can result from a negative experience (such as a nail accidentally being cut too short previously) or may develop in naturally anxious pets or puppies who didn't receive adequate positive...
If you’ve watched any funny animal video compilations, you may have giggled once or twice at footage of dogs chasing their own tails in a ridiculous fashion. But is this behaviour a harmless canine quirk, or does it represent a problem? What is tail chasing? Tail...
Anxiety is being increasingly recognised in pets, with up to 20% of dogs believed to have an anxiety problem. Anxiety may be situation-specific (e.g. triggered by thunderstorms or unfamiliar visitors) or more generalised. If you think your pet might be affected by...
We get it! Not every cat is cooperative with administering necessary medications, and they can be remarkably ninja-like and adept at using their natural defences. So here are our top tips for low-stress tabletting of tricky cats. 1. Bribes A spoonful of sugar sure...
If your dog is elderly or significantly overweight, coexisting health issues could make exercise a bit of a struggle for all involved. However, daily activity is important for your pet’s mental and physical well-being, and if performed in an appropriate manner, can be...
With so much contradictory information out there, choosing a pet food has never seemed so complicated! To help you feel confident in selecting the healthiest, safest, and tastiest diet for your pet, we’ve broken down some key recommendations into bite-sized chunks: 1....
In any pet with recurrent skin irritation or gut upset symptoms, the possibility of an underlying food allergy should be considered. Read on for the ins and outs of food allergies in pets. Causes of food allergies Food allergies occur when pets develop an allergic...
A frequent question that we field from pet owners is, “Is it OK to keep my cat indoors?” Yes! Keeping your cat inside not only helps to keep them safe by reducing their likelihood of traumatic injuries and contagious diseases, but also protects our beloved wildlife...
This Spey/Neuter Awareness month, we’re discussing the post-desexing period in pets and how your care can help your pet stay in tip-top condition after their “snip!” The benefits of desexing Unless you are planning to breed responsibly from your pet, then it is...
The team had a very fun photo shoot with Krysta Guille Photography in September, to upgrade our head-shots and to capture the new clinic signage. We all learned that Dr Jialin can do the splits, although getting her up onto the wall took quite an effort! Thank you to...
Are you planning to host a barbeque this January? If so, we recommend checking out these pet-related safety reminders. Feed your pet the wrong food; their well-being could be at 'steak'. (Yes, when it comes to making BBQ puns, we are silly sausages!) Here's how to...
We understand visiting the vet can sometimes be a hassle, so we want our appointments to be as efficient and fruitful as possible. We want to show you how to prepare and communicate to ensure every appointment allows us to examine thoroughly and catch issues early...
The reception team are the first friendly faces (or voices) you'll encounter when you enter or phone our veterinary clinic. They're an essential part of our team, and they do fantastic work! Here are some ways our reception team members support our animal patients and...
This month, we’d love to celebrate some of the less glamorous but still essential jobs our vets do to help keep patients comfortable and well. Here are our team’s top 3 “icky but important” veterinary tasks: Anal sac expression The anal sacs (also called anal glands)...
Whilst many pets will bounce happily through the clinic doors for each visit, others may feel neutral or anxious about anticipated veterinary treatments. A pet’s resilience to unfamiliar or challenging situations will be governed by their natural genetics (with some...
If you enjoy including your pet in the Christmas Day festivities, check out this list that our team has compiled of Naughty vs Nice Christmas foods for dogs and cats! Unless your pet has previously been diagnosed with special dietary requirements, it should be safe to...
What makes the Christmas season better? Why, participating in fun seasonal activities with your pet, of course! Here are our team’s top ideas for getting into the Christmas spirit with your pet: Pet presents There are few things more wholesomely enjoyable than...
Are you looking to spread seasonal cheer to your canine family members? If your pet doesn’t have any known dietary sensitivities, you can try whipping up these dog-friendly Snowball Pupcakes (devised by the UK Kennel Club). Your pet will think that Christmas has come...
Whilst summertime means fun in the sun for you and your dog, it can also bring some hot weather hazards. To avoid dampening your sunny season, read on for these tips on keeping your pet safe! Hot pavement, sad paws Did you know that on a 25-degree day, pavement...
Percy the beagle had squashed his generous frame through a hole in the fence to go on a friendly neighbourhood visit (a.k.a. begging for treats), which wasn't unusual for him. However, when his owner, Alex, spotted him at the back door an hour later, she quickly...
Due to their immature immune systems, young pups are unfortunately more susceptible to infectious illnesses than adult dogs. However, if your pup is a toy breed, it can be even more prone to serious unwellness complications. Toy-breed puppies are prone to these...
One of the most common emergency issues seen in general veterinary practice is urinary disease in cats. In such cases, the critical point for our team to ascertain is whether the cat is simply having urinary-related discomfort or whether they are unable to pass urine...
When an active dog goes lame on a hindleg, five common issues could be the potential cause. Can you guess what they are? Answers below! 1. Cruciate disease Cruciate disease involves damage to the cranial cruciate ligament (a key ligament) in the knee joint of the...