summer2010

							                           7 Lostock Road, Urmston, M41 OSU
                                    Tel: 0161 747 9002
Opening times                                       Cons ulting times
Monday – Friday         8.30am – 6.45pm             Monday-Friday                9.00-10.30am
                                                                                 2.00- 3.00pm
                                                                                 4.00- 6.30pm
Saturday                9.00am -12.00 pm           Saturday                      9.30-11.30am
                             Cons ultations by appointment



Practice News
We would like to welcome Stephani e to our prac tice as a new member of staff .


Congratulations Shelley!
                Just to let you know, Shelley our VN is expecting her 1st child in
                September and will be off on maternity leave from the middle of July.
                Shelley currently fills in the insurance forms, but we would appreciate
                your pati ence as the rest of us get used to filling in the forms.



                 Don’t get caught out by the cough!
                   KENNEL COUGH, otherwise known as infectious bronchitis, is a highly
                   contagious disease of the dog’s respiratory tract. The cough is passed from
                   dog to dog wherever they meet - out on walks, on the beach in the summer,
                   at training classes, dog shows and of course boarding kennels.
Dogs of all ages can be affected and signs include a harsh, dry whooping -type cough. Whilst
some dogs recover relatively quickly, others may cough for weeks and some may get serious
complications such as pneumonia.
This disease can be prevented easily with a simple yearly vaccination! Ask at rec eption for
more d etails.

Parasites: Spring into Action!
The warmer months are peak season for pesky parasites and two of the most annoying are fleas
and ticks.

                Fleas need little introduction to most pet owners! Adult fleas are 2-3mm in
                length and can been seen without magnification. These tiny wingless insects
                survive by feeding on your pet’s blood, causing very intense irritation and
                sometimes allergic skin disease. Fleas also play a major role in transmitting
                tapeworm in dogs and cats.

                Ticks tend to be a problem in the warmer months and commonly live in areas
                of heathland, moorland and woodland, waiting to attach themselves to passing
                animals. Ticks feed on your pet’s blood and can cause problems in two ways –
                firstly they can cause a tissue reaction at their site of attachment and secondly
                they can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease and Babesiosis.

                Don’t let fleas and ticks make your life a mis ery – Please let us advise you
on the b est form of flea and tick contr ol for your pet!
                                     Beat the heat this summer!
                                As we enjoy the warm sunny summer weather it’s worth sparing a thought for our four
                                legged friends. Here we look at a few steps you can take to keep them fit and well!

                                            Make sure fresh clean water is available to all pets – you may even need to
                                             take some on walks and avoid exercise in the heat of the day – particularly
                                             with old, overweight dogs with heart problems; stick to early mornings and
                                             evenings

                                            Cats are natural sun bathers, but cats with white noses and ear tips are
                                             particularly vulnerable to sun burn and subsequent skin cancer. This risk
  Ear tip of cat showing                     can be reduced by keeping them out of the sun, or by applying sunblock to
  cancerous changes                          these areas during the summer months.

                                            Watch out also for grass seeds (awns) of the meadow grasses. They
                                             commonly become trapped in dog’s ears – causing violent head shaking, or
                                             may become embedded in the feet or other areas.

                                            Bee and wasp stings are another seasonal problem. Some pets are allergic
                                             to their stings and may need prompt veterinary attention.
Bees and wasps can be a
summer hazard for inquisitive
pets                                        If your pet is going into kennels this summer, don’t forget to make sure
                                             they are up to date with their vaccinations!

                                            Don’t forget to keep treating your pets regularly against fleas, ticks and
                                             worms and never ever leave a p et in a car on a hot day!




                      If Dogs are too hot and unable to reduce               immediately. Dogs suffering from
                      their body temperature, they will develop              heatstroke urgently need have their body
                      heatstroke. In warm weather, heatstroke                temperature gradually lowered:
                      can be caused by leaving your dog
                      somewhere that is too hot or by allowing it                        Immediately dous e your dog
                      to exercise ex cessively                                            with cool (not c old) water, to
                                                                                          avoid shock – you c ould put
                      Some signs     to look for include                                  your dog in a shower and run
                                    Heavy panting                                        cool water over him/her, or
                                    A rapid pulse                                        use a spray filled with cool
                                    Very red gum/tongue                                  water and place your dog in
                                    Lethargy                                             the breeze of a fan.
                                    Lack of c o-ordination                              Let your dog drink small
                                    Reluctance or inability to rise                      amounts of c ool water
                                     after collapsing                                    Continue to dous e your dog
                                    Vomiting                                             with cool water until his/her
                                    Diarrhoea                                            breathing starts to settle –
                                    Loss of consciousness in                             never cool your dog so much
                                     extr eme circumstances                               he/she b egins to shiver

                      If your dog shows any sym ptoms of                     Once you have cooled your dog
                      heatstroke, move him/her to a shaded cool              down you should take him/her
                      area and ring the vet for advice                       straight to the vets!