Stories about staff pets.
Please note we will be closed from Friday 3rd April until Monday 6th April inclusive over the Easter period. We will re-open as normal on Tuesday 7th April.
If you have an emergency during this time please contact our out of hours service for any appointments or advice.
This month is animal pain awareness month – if your dog has been slowing down recently or your cat has been a bit quieter or doesn’t seem their normal self you can take one of these online assessments to see if your pet might be suffering from arthritis or what you need to watch out for in the future.
For dogs – https://www.zoetispets.com/uk-en/dog/arthritis/quiz/
For cats – https://www.zoetispets.com/uk-en/cat/arthritis/quiz/
If afterwards you have any questions about your pet’s health please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Wondering how far is too far to walk your dog or puppy? Does everyone in your household want to walk the dog as part of their daily exercise? Watch our short video to understand where to draw the dog walking line!
Under normal circumstances we are open for emergencies in the mornings on bank holidays including Christmas and New Year’s day.
This year, however, has been (and continues to be) a particularly challenging and stressful time for all our staff. In a break from tradition we will be taking a short break over the Christmas and New Year period by closing whilst there is cover provided by our colleagues at Vets Now.
We will be closed from 12pm on Christmas Eve until 8:30am on Tuesday 29th December.
We will be open as normal from the 29th until 6pm on New Year’s Eve. We will then be closed until 8:30am on Monday 4th January.
If you have an emergency or need advice whilst we are closed please contact one of the Vets Now clinics below:
Click here for Vets Now Doncaster (01302 215 189) – open 7pm Christmas Eve until 8am 29th December and 7pm New Year’s Eve until 8am 4th January.
Click here for Vets Now Sheffield (0114 242 1929) – open 12pm Christmas Eve until 8:30am 29th December and 6pm New Year’s Eve until 8:30am 4th January.
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Photo by Vets Now via https://www.vets-now.com/fireworks-and-pets/
Bonfire night is almost upon us and fireworks are already going off most nights – here are some tips brought to you by our colleagues at Vets Now for helping to keep our dogs calm during this time!
There is a chance your dog could run off if they are spooked by loud bangs and sadly our vets regularly see pets who have been hit by cars as a result of this. During fireworks, make sure they are safely indoors with windows and doors securely closed. Be sure to walk them well in advance of fireworks starting and keep them on a lead.
The inescapable booming sounds are distressing enough for your dog without them feeling trapped. Help them feel more in control by keeping internal doors open so they can settle themselves wherever they want.
Ensure your dog has access to a comforting place they can settle in if they’re distressed, (their usual bed or a quiet spot with some of your old clothes are usually good bets).
Help block out the noise as much as possible, by drawing the curtains, for example.
Playing “white noise” such as the TV, radio or other music, in advance of the fireworks starting, can help drown out the noise.
Offering tasty, healthy treats while the fireworks are going off may distract and help calm your dog down.
If they are scared of the fireworks this can help calm and reassure your dog that there is nothing to worry about. Stroking and cuddling is fine if they need comforting, but if they choose to hide it’s best to let them.
While it’s ok to praise and comfort your dog if they are scared of the fireworks, be sure to stay calm to avoid reinforcing their behaviour. In other words, if you act worried your dog will think there is a reason for them to be worried. Acting as normal as possible is key.
Thundershirts, or pressure vests, provide consistent pressure on a dog’s core and are designed to have a calming effect. Studies suggest they may have a small but beneficial impact on anxiety. However, it’s unlikely your dog’s anxiety will be fully alleviated by wearing a thundershirt, and, in some cases, these products may have no beneficial effect at all.
The original article by Laura Playforth at Vets Now can found here.
There’s also some great tips for cats and rabbits during firework season which can be found by clicking here.
