Funny Talking Cats England Vacation Insurance

If you are planning to travel to the EU post Brexit with your pet, it is important you contact us as soon as possible for an update of any potential new requirements.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal then it is likely that EU pet passports issued by a UK Official Veterinarian will no longer be valid. An Animal Health Certificate will need to be issued instead, this would be valid for:

• A single trip
• 10 days after the date of issue for entry into the EU
• 4 months of onward travel within the EU after the date of entry to the EU
• Re-entry to the UK for 4 months after the date of issue.

The final arrangements have still to be confirmed depending on any negotiations but your veterinary surgery will be able to advise further.

For more detailed information in regards to pet passports after Brexit, please visit the GOV website.

Coming home with a mini meower or boundless pup will offer you many precious moments with plenty of cuddles and fun. But kittens and puppies are a curious bunch and can sometimes find themselves in tricky situations, meaning a visit to the vets can come sooner than you'd expect.

Our veterinary experts have created kitten insurance and puppy insurance policies that offer your new best friend the cover they deserve.

Start them off on the right paw with MiPet Cover's FREE four week Instant policy * while you're choosing the right level of pet insurance to suit both you and your fluffy friend.

To find out more about MiPet Cover's four weeks' FREE pet insurance, please speak to reception or visit mipetcover.co.uk/referral

*Kitten or puppy must be between 8 weeks and 1 year old and is subject to a CVS health check. Instant cover is for illness and a 24 hours exclusion for accidents. Not all breeds of dog are eligible.

Colleagues across our practices have voted to support StreetVet, a non-profit organisation providing free and accessible veterinary care for homeless owners and their pets.

Run by volunteer vets and veterinary nurses, StreetVet has grown extensively since it started in 2016, set up by just two vets working on the streets of London to help homeless pets. The charity has grown to have over 250 volunteers across nine cities in London, Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Cornwall, Plymouth, Birmingham and Southampton.

They depend entirely on donations and can perform most procedures you would come across in any normal veterinary practice. Any funds raised will go towards medicines, microchips, food and other necessities for any pets in their care. With the support of local veterinary practices in their outreach cities StreetVet can also provide out of hours care, hospital treatment and surgery where needed.

And it's not only the pets they try to help, where possible StreetVet will assist owners in any way they can, whether it's with hostel facilities, their own medical treatment or just a listening ear.

Pets have been shown to provide enormous benefits to their owners through companionship, affection, security and warmth. They can also improve mental health and feeling of wellbeing, whilst decreasing drug dependency and suicidal thoughts. Whilst on the streets homeless dogs can provide assistance to their owners and are active, stimulated, cared for and loved unconditionally.

StreetVet would not be possible without the support of local veterinary practices and their army of volunteers, as well as the generosity of the general public who help by purchasing items from their Amazon gift list, fundraising, supporting their social media campaigns and offering words of encouragement.

If you would like to find out more about StreetVet or would like to get involved please see their website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Christmas is always a busy time, and with people, food and decorations everywhere sometimes our pets get up to things that aren't always good for them. Read on and you will discover how to avoid some of the hazards that can befall our pets around the festive season.

Christmas dinner

The biggest cause of poorly dogs and cats over the festive season is sometimes our own fault. We want to treat our beloved pets as part of the family during the festivities including giving them a taste of our own Christmas indulgences. This is not just the Christmas dinner itself, but anything that your pet is not used to.

Most owners in this country feed their pets a consistent diet throughout the year. The digestive system of our modern pets has adapted to this type of diet, so when they are suddenly faced with turkey and all the trimmings, gastroenteritis (an upset stomach) is often the result. No laughing matter when you have a houseful of guests and your veterinary surgery is shut!

Even rabbits and guinea pigs can suffer the same problem when given a Christmas treat, such as unfamiliar sprout peelings. In most cases, the gastrointestinal upset will resolve with no need for treatment, but an alarming number of pets each year get seriously ill as a result.

So remember this December…

• Carry on feeding your petas normal this Christmas.
• Find non-edible ways of involving them in the fun. Toys, walks and attention are just as good!
• Avoid giving any new food treats (even ones designed for pets) if they are unfamiliar.
• Store food carefully. Beware of dogs and cats helping themselves to uncovered food on surfaces and low tables.

Don't eat that! It's poisonous!

Although there are a few things which really are poisonous to our pets, most of the things they may eat (which they're not meant to), will just make them poorly. The golden rule is – if in doubt, give your veterinary practice a shout!

Things that are very toxic to dogs

• Chocolate – contains a toxic ingredient called theobromine. Dark chocolate contains the highest level of this substance. Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain lower levels. If you know how much your dog weighs and how much and what type of chocolate they have eaten, your vet will be able to work out whether enough has been eaten to cause a problem. It is worth noting that garden mulches made from cocoa shells contain very high levels of theobromine – so gardeners beware if you have a dog.
• Raisins – in mince pies, Christmas pudding and fruit cake. These are very toxic and can cause kidney failure in some dogs. Not all dogs will be sensitive but unfortunately there is no way of knowing which will be affected. Give us a call if you are unsure.

Less serious

• The holly and the ivy! Both these festive plants, often used as decorations, can cause dogs to get poorly if eaten. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Similarly mistletoe and peanuts can make your pooch poorly if they eat enough.

Things that are very toxic to cats

• Lilies – Often we like to adorn our houses with these big beautiful blooms at Christmas. However make sure they are out of the way of our feline friends who are extremely susceptible to kidney failure from ingestion of any part of this plant. Even licking their fur having rubbed against the plant can cause a problem.
• Paracetamol – Us humans may have good reason over the festive season to take the odd painkiller but don't leave them lying around so your cat can get hold of them. Paracetamol poisoning in cats is invariably fatal.

Less serious

Peace lilies, Cyclamen and Poinsettia are all very popular Christmas plants but can cause sickness, drooling and depression if eaten. Fortunately the symptoms are self-limiting and the prognosis is excellent.

Batteries, electricals and tinsel can present a hidden hazard

• Pets are inquisitive, especially young cats and dogs, and will play with, chew or swallow batteries. Batteries can cause electrical or chemical burns inside the body. Some contain mercury (especially the little disc ones) which is a poison and can be a problem if the battery is inside the body for a long time. However, the good news is that severe effects are rare and as long as the battery has been swallowed whole, it will pass through the gut intact without causing a problem.
• Do supervise young curious puppies, kittens and house rabbits at all times. It is not uncommon for them to chew through the Christmas tree lights and give themselves a bit of a shock!
• Tinsel and ribbon is beautiful around the house at Christmas, but pets can find it an incredibly eye-catching toy. If eaten, these pretty decorations can cause gut impactions which can cause serious injury to your pet.

Christmas is a time to look forward to every year and it's nearly here again! We of course look forward to spending the festive season with members of our family and our pets too. We want to involve them and of course indulge them. The supermarkets and pet stores are full of merchandise to tempt us, but what would really be on our pet's Christmas wish list if they could talk? The best presents are ones that will be beneficial to our pet's health and welfare, and of course they need to be safe.

One of the best gifts you can give your pet, is a membership to the Healthy Pet Club. This way you will provide all year round preventative healthcare for your dog, cat or rabbit, AND you could save over £200 a year*!

You can also pop into your local veterinary practice and pick up a Christmas present for your pet – don't forget, Healthy Pet Club members benefit from 10% off all products and services in practice !

When choosing presents for pets, try not to think that dogs and cats have the same needs as small children. Whatever you buy, make sure it is of good quality and cannot be destroyed or swallowed. This is particularly important if dogs and cats live together.

Great present ideas include

• Treat balls and other fun puzzle dispensers for dogs. These deliver kibble or treats and will keep your dog entertained, active and using their brain. A lot more engaging than just eating out of a bowl!
• Robust soft toys with or without a squeak. If your dog loves retrieving, then these make great fun presents and encourage play and activity. Beware of cheap, easy to destroy toys.
• There is an amazing variety of scratching apparatus these days for your cat. Remember if buying a post, cats prefer it if they can really stretch up high, so get a tall one!
• Cat nip products are always a favourite with cats.
• Interactive cat toys where they chase a toy mouse or ball around a specially designed track keep them occupied for ages, and are also fun for us to watch!
• If your pet is getting older, and spends less time playing and more sleeping, a new bed with a memory foam mattress would make an ideal gift.
• Silicone grooming brushes are easy to use and deliver more of a massage than a brush. Again, a nice idea for an older pet who enjoys a bit of pampering!
• There are even Christmas stockings for rabbits and guinea pigs in stores. Rather than introducing any new food over Christmas (which could disturb their digestion) our advice would be to stick to familiar treats only.

Gifts to avoid

• Unnecessary clothing – Dogs already have a coat and most of the clothing that is designed for them isn't necessary and almost certainly would not be on their Christmas wish list. Very old or thin coated dogs may benefit from a simple coat butno hats please!
• Unfamiliar chews and treats – Although it is fun to give stockings full of treats, and chews in the shape and colour of Santa, they may cause vomiting and diarrhoea, causing your pet to be poorly, just when you don't need it!

Give your pet a stress free Christmas

Christmas is great fun but also stressful for our pets. If you have a lot of family and friends visiting this Christmas, take a moment to think about how your pet may feel about it all. Dogs are sociable animals and usually enjoy the company of visitors but cats will often make themselves scarce until all the hubbub has passed and their normal routine is back. Here are some tips for a fun, festive and stress free holiday.

• Have pheromone diffusers plugged in from now.
• Ask your friends and familynot to bring their pets with them when visiting.
• Make sure your cats have a place to go to get away from the activities, provide food, water and a litter tray.
• Make sure to give your dog a good walk before the festivities begin. If he seems stressed or excited, allow him to go and relax in another room, away from the festive fun for a while.
• Never leave your dog unsupervised with young children visiting, however trustworthy they normally are.
• Donot alter the diet of your pet, or give them a Christmas dinner.
• Beware of any children's toys that may be left lying around, as these could be swallowed by your pets.

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Source: https://anchoragevets.co.uk/author/jonholt/page/5/

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