Happy New Year to you all!...
It has been so busy at work since Christmas that I've been running around like a headless chicken!
Lots of dogs and cats with colds and lots of vomiting too- just like us at this time of year I suppose!
In the two weeks since Christmas I have had to remove 'foreign bodies' from the intestines of two cats. This condition is much more commonly seen in dogs because they are much more likely, compared to cats, to eat everything in sight.
The first cat is called Boris and he had swallowed some string which had been used to tie up the Christmas cards for decoration. Of course he had been playing with the string but he was silly enough to actually eat it too- cats have no sense when it comes to this! Swallowing string is a disaster because it causes the intestine to 'consitina' on itself. It took me two hours and multiple intestinal incisions to fix him! Fortunately he's all healed and back to normal now... hopefully his owners have learnt NOT to leave string about for him to play with.
The second cat is called George and he had the foot from a doll stuck in his intestine! I have never seen a cat eat part of a child's toy before but there's always a first for everything! George isn't out of the woods yet but was healing well when I left work yesterday.
Hopefully next week will be a bit calmer....
Any way have fun!
May 2009 bring success, joy and love your way......
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Discover Dogs
I dropped in to Discover Dogs on 8th November for a few hours and that wasn't long enough at all! So many breeds of dog that I've never even heard of, let alone seen! It was great to speak with the breeders and realise that despite recent negative press, they are committed to the health and welfare of the breed that they love. Of course they only represent a small fraction of breeders in this country so diligence is needed when thinking of buying a pure-bred dog (you can find out loads more in my ebook Puppy Power). There are many unscrupulous breeders only interested in making money as I've written about in previous posts.
If you get a chance to go to the next Discover Dogs I would recommend it as a fun day out where you can also learn loads!
If you get a chance to go to the next Discover Dogs I would recommend it as a fun day out where you can also learn loads!
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
A few thoughts.
I went to Toronto at the end of last month for a 'city break' with my husband. Unfortunately I got a chest infection which I'm just recovering from, hence the lack of blog updates!
Now I'm sitting here listening to the fireworks and wondering how many animals are scared stiff. I know that lots of clients have been in recently asking how they can help their dogs. DAP diffuser is very useful for dogs to help calm them. Also you can use Rescue Remedy from the chemist which has a good sedative effect using herbs only.
It's not just the pets I worry about when there are fireworks. What about all the wild animals? It is probably terrifying for birds and very dangerous for hedgehogs hibernating in stacks of wood that will be used for bonfires.
I would like to see fireworks banned for private use and just used for public displays on Nov 5th and Dec 31st ONLY.
On another note I have been contemplating the huge effect euthanasing a pet can have on their family. This week has been miserable so far, I have euthansed four animals already and given the bad news that one of my patients probably has terminal cancer (I'm awaiting confirmation from tests).
I know the mixed bag of emotions that accompanies euthanasing a pet- grief, guilt, relief, a feeling of loss and emptiness. I also know that time IS a great healer and that slowly the sadness is replaced with wonderful memories of all the fantastic time spent with the beloved pet.
If you ever have to make that decision, let your vet guide you and remember that the quality of your pet's life is much more important then the quantity of their life. We all have to die eventually. I feel lucky to have the choice to euthanase animals to relieve their suffering and say goodbye peacefully, maintaining some dignity for them.
At least my day at work can be balanced by attending to happy, healthy animals when they come for vaccination- a great time to bond with my patients!
On Saturday I'm going to 'Discover Dogs' at London Earl's Court. I'm interested to find out what breed standards the Kennel Club will be putting in place for breeds showcased at the event, especially after all the bad press they have received recently. I'll let you know my thoughts next week.....
Now I'm sitting here listening to the fireworks and wondering how many animals are scared stiff. I know that lots of clients have been in recently asking how they can help their dogs. DAP diffuser is very useful for dogs to help calm them. Also you can use Rescue Remedy from the chemist which has a good sedative effect using herbs only.
It's not just the pets I worry about when there are fireworks. What about all the wild animals? It is probably terrifying for birds and very dangerous for hedgehogs hibernating in stacks of wood that will be used for bonfires.
I would like to see fireworks banned for private use and just used for public displays on Nov 5th and Dec 31st ONLY.
On another note I have been contemplating the huge effect euthanasing a pet can have on their family. This week has been miserable so far, I have euthansed four animals already and given the bad news that one of my patients probably has terminal cancer (I'm awaiting confirmation from tests).
I know the mixed bag of emotions that accompanies euthanasing a pet- grief, guilt, relief, a feeling of loss and emptiness. I also know that time IS a great healer and that slowly the sadness is replaced with wonderful memories of all the fantastic time spent with the beloved pet.
If you ever have to make that decision, let your vet guide you and remember that the quality of your pet's life is much more important then the quantity of their life. We all have to die eventually. I feel lucky to have the choice to euthanase animals to relieve their suffering and say goodbye peacefully, maintaining some dignity for them.
At least my day at work can be balanced by attending to happy, healthy animals when they come for vaccination- a great time to bond with my patients!
On Saturday I'm going to 'Discover Dogs' at London Earl's Court. I'm interested to find out what breed standards the Kennel Club will be putting in place for breeds showcased at the event, especially after all the bad press they have received recently. I'll let you know my thoughts next week.....
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Update on Harvey
I spoke with the Kennel Club about Harvey ( see my blog entitled 'Harvey the Docked Puppy' written on 11th Sept 08). They said that there is nothing they could do about the fact that Harvey was docked because it is still legal in Ireland and the person buying the puppy has the obligation to search for a puppy with a full length tail if they want one. They don't actually encourage breeders to stop docking within the confines of the law which I find appaling and I will be writing to them about this in due course...
In fact Mr Whelan is not even registered with them and so they advised I speak to Trading Standards and report him for false advertising. Harvey's owners have still not received any KC registered documents for him because he ISN'T actually registered! I asked Harvey's owner if I could report Mr Whelan but she doesn't want me to, because he has all her bank details and is obviously an unscrupulous person.
So, lessons learnt-
1) search for puppies with full length tails AFTER making sure you know what a full length tail actually looks like. See 'anti-dockingalliance' for pictures and a list of breeders.
2) if buying a pure-bred puppy, get breed documents at the point of sale, don't expect to get them later in the post.
3) don't give your bank details to anyone.
4) get a puppy from a rescue centre.
In fact Mr Whelan is not even registered with them and so they advised I speak to Trading Standards and report him for false advertising. Harvey's owners have still not received any KC registered documents for him because he ISN'T actually registered! I asked Harvey's owner if I could report Mr Whelan but she doesn't want me to, because he has all her bank details and is obviously an unscrupulous person.
So, lessons learnt-
1) search for puppies with full length tails AFTER making sure you know what a full length tail actually looks like. See 'anti-dockingalliance' for pictures and a list of breeders.
2) if buying a pure-bred puppy, get breed documents at the point of sale, don't expect to get them later in the post.
3) don't give your bank details to anyone.
4) get a puppy from a rescue centre.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
DEATHROWPETS
Unfortunately the number of animals being taken to rescue centres is increasing every year.
Why are pets being abandoned or relinquished?
The reasons for this are varied and include the owner experiencing financial or personal difficulties, moving into rented accommodation not allowing pets, changes in circumstance resulting in not enough time for the pet, the pet becoming ill or having behavioural problems, new children in the household, owners developing pet allergies, a new pet not getting on with existing pets. Unfortunately, sometimes people just buy pets on a whim and then realise a few months later that they made a mistake and take the pet for re homing.
Pets being taken to rescue centres are often young and not neutered (de-sexed), usually having only been owned for 7-12months. Many of these pets are taken on from friends with unwanted animals, often they have never been to a vet and many of the dogs have never had any obedience training.
In my opinion, not training and neutering your pet is just a sign of being irresponsible.
Rescue centres obviously make a huge effort to rehome these pets in a responsible fashion.
However the sad truth is that many are just on 'death row' and end up being euthanased. Often euthanasia boils down to inadequate funds to look after the animals rather then the animals having uncorrectable behavioural or veterinary problems.
My friends at 'DeathrowPets.net' are raising awareness of the plight of many animals in rescue centres that are ultimately waiting to die in cages in a rescue centre through no fault of their own.
Please be responsible, make informed decisions before getting a pet and make looking after them for their whole lifespan a priority.
You can find out everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a PUPPY in my ebook 'Puppy Power'.
'Compassion for animals, passion for nature'
Why are pets being abandoned or relinquished?
The reasons for this are varied and include the owner experiencing financial or personal difficulties, moving into rented accommodation not allowing pets, changes in circumstance resulting in not enough time for the pet, the pet becoming ill or having behavioural problems, new children in the household, owners developing pet allergies, a new pet not getting on with existing pets. Unfortunately, sometimes people just buy pets on a whim and then realise a few months later that they made a mistake and take the pet for re homing.
Pets being taken to rescue centres are often young and not neutered (de-sexed), usually having only been owned for 7-12months. Many of these pets are taken on from friends with unwanted animals, often they have never been to a vet and many of the dogs have never had any obedience training.
In my opinion, not training and neutering your pet is just a sign of being irresponsible.
Rescue centres obviously make a huge effort to rehome these pets in a responsible fashion.
However the sad truth is that many are just on 'death row' and end up being euthanased. Often euthanasia boils down to inadequate funds to look after the animals rather then the animals having uncorrectable behavioural or veterinary problems.
My friends at 'DeathrowPets.net' are raising awareness of the plight of many animals in rescue centres that are ultimately waiting to die in cages in a rescue centre through no fault of their own.
Please be responsible, make informed decisions before getting a pet and make looking after them for their whole lifespan a priority.
You can find out everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a PUPPY in my ebook 'Puppy Power'.
'Compassion for animals, passion for nature'
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Harvey the docked puppy
Despite the recent change in legislation in England which should mean an end to docked dogs, I recently had a docked puppy presented to me at work. He is a cocker spaniel named Harvey and he is very cute! His owner had purchased him in Dunstable from Mr Whelan, a licensed registered breeder with the Kennel Club.
Harvey's owner didn't want a docked dog and didn't realise Harvey had been docked. She was also under the impression that Harvey had been born in Dunstable. Unfortunately the legislation in Ireland allows docking and in fact Harvey had been born there and then transported all the way to England for sale.
SO- there was no way that we can know the environment Harvey was born into or what age he was removed from his mum. Was he born on a puppy farm?
I have spoken to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and they say that it is impossible to do anything if the puppy was docked in Ireland, as Mr Whelan says he was, because it is still legal there.
I have spoken to Mr Whelan and he says he thinks ALL working dogs should be docked. He doesn't care if they are in fact going to be pets and docks them anyway. He actually told me 'he doesn't care what happens to them after he has sold them and got his money'.
I asked him to consider that some people actually want to buy puppies with natural length tails and could he consider NOT docking! Hopefully he will think about this.
Mr Whelan says he has many breeding bitches but is not a puppy farm. Who knows the truth?
If YOU want to buy a puppy with a full length tail, please make it your business to ask questions about your future puppy and make sure he or she is NOT docked before you buy. YOU HOLD THE POWER TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF PEOPLE LIKE Mr WHELAN.
As Mr Whelan is registered with the Kennel Club I want to ask them their opinion of what is actually happening. I am waiting to speak with someone and will let you know the outcome.....
Please see my post 'Dogs with tails!' from May 2008 and my ebook 'Puppy Power- everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a puppy' for more information.
'Compassion for animals, passion for nature'
Harvey's owner didn't want a docked dog and didn't realise Harvey had been docked. She was also under the impression that Harvey had been born in Dunstable. Unfortunately the legislation in Ireland allows docking and in fact Harvey had been born there and then transported all the way to England for sale.
SO- there was no way that we can know the environment Harvey was born into or what age he was removed from his mum. Was he born on a puppy farm?
I have spoken to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and they say that it is impossible to do anything if the puppy was docked in Ireland, as Mr Whelan says he was, because it is still legal there.
I have spoken to Mr Whelan and he says he thinks ALL working dogs should be docked. He doesn't care if they are in fact going to be pets and docks them anyway. He actually told me 'he doesn't care what happens to them after he has sold them and got his money'.
I asked him to consider that some people actually want to buy puppies with natural length tails and could he consider NOT docking! Hopefully he will think about this.
Mr Whelan says he has many breeding bitches but is not a puppy farm. Who knows the truth?
If YOU want to buy a puppy with a full length tail, please make it your business to ask questions about your future puppy and make sure he or she is NOT docked before you buy. YOU HOLD THE POWER TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF PEOPLE LIKE Mr WHELAN.
As Mr Whelan is registered with the Kennel Club I want to ask them their opinion of what is actually happening. I am waiting to speak with someone and will let you know the outcome.....
Please see my post 'Dogs with tails!' from May 2008 and my ebook 'Puppy Power- everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a puppy' for more information.
'Compassion for animals, passion for nature'
Monday, 1 September 2008
chickens
It's odd- suddenly I'm seeing quite a few chickens at work! After 'Spirit' the cockerel I saw a little ex-battery hen called 'Esmerelda'.
I don't know how much you know about chicken and egg production so I'll just outline the basics- There are two distinct types of chickens- 1) broiler chickens which grow very rapidly and have a lot of meat on them and are slaughtered young for us to eat and 2) egg-producing chickens which are quite scrawny and are kept purely for their eggs, they are slaughtered at the end of their productive lives and go into pet food.
In western countries both of these types are generally reared intensively on massive farms in their hundreds.
It is difficult to tell what type of system broiler chickens have been raised in because even if they are organic it does not mean they have been raised in an extensive way. The RSPCA is starting to label some supermarket chickens to help the consumer identify which broiler chickens have been raised in a more welfare conscious way. See links below.
At the supermarket eggs are labelled as battery, barn or free range. Without seeing the actual facilities I am always a bit skeptical about the labelling! That's just me! Free range should be the best in respect to welfare and battery the worst- battery chickens are kept in very small cages and often are unable to even stretch out their wings. Personally I'm dubious about the welfare of chickens kept in barns.
All types of intensive farming have their problems with respect to animal welfare. Unfortunately chickens fare poorly in the welfare stakes.
Because chickens aren't mammals, it is easy to not feel as sympathetic as you might towards a cute calf or lamb.
Personally I have been reminded, by seeing Spirit and Esmerelda, just how beautiful chickens actually are.
Whenever possible I get my eggs from friends or small local farms where the chickens truly are free-range. As soon as I can, I will get some ex-battery hens myself. The RSPCA re home ex-battery hens to afford them at least a bit of quality life before they die. Unfortunately they often only live for about a year after they have been rescued from battery cages because they are often completely physically exhausted.
check out more info here-
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=chickens
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=consumerhomepage
Please make an informed decision the next time you buy chicken or eggs....
I don't know how much you know about chicken and egg production so I'll just outline the basics- There are two distinct types of chickens- 1) broiler chickens which grow very rapidly and have a lot of meat on them and are slaughtered young for us to eat and 2) egg-producing chickens which are quite scrawny and are kept purely for their eggs, they are slaughtered at the end of their productive lives and go into pet food.
In western countries both of these types are generally reared intensively on massive farms in their hundreds.
It is difficult to tell what type of system broiler chickens have been raised in because even if they are organic it does not mean they have been raised in an extensive way. The RSPCA is starting to label some supermarket chickens to help the consumer identify which broiler chickens have been raised in a more welfare conscious way. See links below.
At the supermarket eggs are labelled as battery, barn or free range. Without seeing the actual facilities I am always a bit skeptical about the labelling! That's just me! Free range should be the best in respect to welfare and battery the worst- battery chickens are kept in very small cages and often are unable to even stretch out their wings. Personally I'm dubious about the welfare of chickens kept in barns.
All types of intensive farming have their problems with respect to animal welfare. Unfortunately chickens fare poorly in the welfare stakes.
Because chickens aren't mammals, it is easy to not feel as sympathetic as you might towards a cute calf or lamb.
Personally I have been reminded, by seeing Spirit and Esmerelda, just how beautiful chickens actually are.
Whenever possible I get my eggs from friends or small local farms where the chickens truly are free-range. As soon as I can, I will get some ex-battery hens myself. The RSPCA re home ex-battery hens to afford them at least a bit of quality life before they die. Unfortunately they often only live for about a year after they have been rescued from battery cages because they are often completely physically exhausted.
check out more info here-
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=chickens
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=consumerhomepage
Please make an informed decision the next time you buy chicken or eggs....
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