The Itchy Issue of Fleas: A Risk for Your Pet and Your Family

Fleas – putting your family at risk all year round

Fleas are often considered to be a seasonal nuisance that are annoying for your pet, and annoying for you when you get nipped by one at home.  But they’re a more serious problem than this, are a year-long threat, and can cause serious distress to your pet and spread disease.  

Our centrally heated homes are the perfect year-round breeding ground for fleas who are attracted to the warm environment, so they aren’t just a spring and summer issue. Eggs can lay dormant in pet beds, carpets, rugs and upholstery for months before finding a host. In fact much of the life cycle of the flea takes place in the animal’s environment, not on the animal itself. Protecting your pet and your family requires this life-cycle to be broken by year round protection, and ideally by using a treatment that renders the eggs unable to hatch, so any that do transfer to the environment don’t start the cycle all over again.

Disease

Heavy infestations may lead to iron deficiency, anaemia and death, particularly in young animals. Diseases transmitted by fleas include pruritus (intense chronic itching), cat scratch disease, murine typhus, plague, flea typhus, tapeworm infection and flea bite allergies.

Why ad-hoc treatments just don’t work

By the time you notice fleas on your pet, they have already bitten their host and injected their saliva in to their blood stream and started laying eggs. In the same way, ticks transmit disease within the first 24 hours of being attached to a host, so once they are discovered and removed it’s too late to stop this transmission.  The chances are that they will already have laid eggs before treatment, and these are sitting in a warm and cosy environment just waiting to hatch and infest your pet all over again. Even if you use a treatment that remains active for a month, it’s possible that some eggs and/or fleas will be lurking for longer than this period and will get to work once the treatment has worn off.

So, reactive and one-off treatments are both insufficient in preventing the spread of disease AND do nothing to prevent the initial attack or to break the life cycle. We recommend monthly treatments with an integrated product which not only kills any fleas that attack your pet, but also stops the development of eggs and therefore breaks the life-cycle. This approach will stop any initial infestation and protect your home, your pet and your family throughout the year. 

Pet Heatlh Club

Quality care made easy

We’ve specifically developed the Pet Health Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and worming treatments and much more, all design to ensure your pet stays healthy.

Why ad-hoc treatments just don’t work

By the time you notice fleas on your pet, they have already bitten their host and injected their saliva in to their blood stream and started laying eggs. In the same way, ticks transmit disease within the first 24 hours of being attached to a host, so once they are discovered and removed it’s too late to stop this transmission.  The chances are that they will already have laid eggs before treatment, and these are sitting in a warm and cosy environment just waiting to hatch and infest your pet all over again. Even if you use a treatment that remains active for a month, it’s possible that some eggs and/or fleas will be lurking for longer than this period and will get to work once the treatment has worn off.

So, reactive and one-off treatments are both insufficient in preventing the spread of disease AND do nothing to prevent the initial attack or to break the life cycle. We recommend monthly treatments with an integrated product which not only kills any fleas that attack your pet, but also stops the development of eggs and therefore breaks the life-cycle. This approach will stop any initial infestation and protect your home, your pet and your family throughout the year. 

Pet Heatlh Club

Quality care made easy

We’ve specifically developed the Pet Health Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and worming treatments and much more, all design to ensure your pet stays healthy.

Just discovered your pet has fleas?

1. Treat your pet

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

3. Vacuum soft furnishings, bedding and carpets thoroughly

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

2. Treat your environment

The house (and car) will need to be treated with an insecticide spray. Indorex is the most effective mild insecticide for this and will kill and live fleas and stop eggs hatching. If your infestation is or becomes more severe, you will need to contact your local pest control agency who will have insecticides not generally available to the general public and will be able to come out and treat your house. 

4. Wash anything such as pet beds, rugs, blankets and cushions

Fleas and eggs are unlikely to survive a once round in the washing machine and it is another good way to make sure none have escaped treatment. (It’s still  important to treat first to kill as many as possible this way as movement and transfer is likely to make any unwelcome visitors spread around your home).

1. Treat your pet

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

2. Treat your environment

The house (and car) will need to be treated with an insecticide spray. Indorex is the most effective mild insecticide for this and will kill and live fleas and stop eggs hatching. If your infestation is or becomes more severe, you will need to contact your local pest control agency who will have insecticides not generally available to the general public and will be able to come out and treat your house. 

3. Vacuum soft furnishings, bedding and carpets thoroughly

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

4. Wash anything such as pet beds, rugs, blankets and cushions

Fleas and eggs are unlikely to survive a once round in the washing machine and it is another good way to make sure none have escaped treatment. (It’s still  important to treat first to kill as many as possible this way as movement and transfer is likely to make any unwelcome visitors spread around your home).

Managing treatments

Monthly application of product involves some organisation – remembering the date to treat, when they were last treated and making sure you have to product to hand. To make this simpler (and cheaper!) for you, membership of our Healthy Pet Club ensures you have the product every month without fail. From the day you join you know when each month to treat, and can do so without having to order your treatment and wait for it to arrive which is time consuming, liable to fail if only through the weight of our busy lives, and can be costly. It also ensures that you and your family are protected year round.

Pet Heatlh Club

Quality care made easy

We’ve specifically developed the Pet Health Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and worming treatments and much more, all design to ensure your pet stays healthy.

To find out more and book an appointment, call the practice on  01698 361 136

Pets and Fireworks | How To Help Pets Scared of Fireworks

Pets and Fireworks – Why Noise Annoys, and How Fears Can Turn Into Life-Limiting Phobias

Around 60% of our furry friends become agitated and afraid whilst fireworks are going off, so aside from being unpleasant for both them and your family, it’s little surprise that statistically more pets are reported missing on bonfire night than any other night during the year.

If the fear isn’t dealt with, it can quickly turn into a phobia. This is a lot more severe than anxiety and is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. It WILL NOT go away without help. Your dog isn’t going to grow out of it or get used to it and minor anxiety can quickly turn into a fear of thunder, then fear of sudden noise like people calling out in the street, or doors closing, and severely restrict their enjoyment of life – and yours. Scared dogs make difficult companions.

If you feel your pet would benefit from extra help, remember that Pet Health Club members get a 10% discount on consultation fees, which includes help with anxious pets, training and anything else you may need. (Not a member yet? Click here to read the full list of year-round benefits)

No one knows why pets develop fears and phobias, but it is known that dogs who have separation anxiety often also develop a fear of noise, so if you have a nervous puppy be extra vigilant for the early signs of noise fear.

The signs are different in all animals but can often include:

  • Hiding (cats like to do this more than dogs)
  • Urinating and defecating around the house in otherwise house-trained animals
  • Chewing
  • Panting
  • Pacing
  • Trying to escape (digging, trying to get out through windows, running away)
  • Dribbling
  • Over-dependence on the owner
  • Loss of appetite
  • Ignoring commands
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Uncharacteristic barking or meowing

Although it sounds wrong, it is important to try NOT to comfort nervous pets whilst they’re showing signs of fear or anxiety as it both rewards a fearful response and reinforces their belief that there is something to be fearful of.  Animals will also pick up on your anxiety which can make the problem worse, so try to remain calm and relaxed and carry on as if nothing is happening. Never punish your pet for fearful behaviour either, as they will associate the fear they feel with punishment and it will justify their fear to them.

 

Keep this information handy

If you have a potentially anxious pet – although it is generally a sensible list to keep handy – you should have the following information readily available to you during firework season. Storing it on your phone is a good way to do this.

You should note down:

  • Your pet’s microchip number/microchip database (microchips are now a legal requirement in dogs)
  • Local dog warden’s number
  • Local police contact
  • A clear photograph of your pet
  • Access to missing pet websites

Be aware that fireworks night is not just a night! As the date falls on a weekday this year, events will take place on the weekends either side and fireworks are sold well in advance of November 5th until after News Year’s Eve. If your pet is sensitive to them you need to ACT NOW to save them several months of distress.

What can I do?!

Download our FREE guide!

You can download our handy guide on Firework Fears and Phobias where we detail what you can do to help your cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals during the weeks before and the day of the event. It’s packed with good ideas and will help get your pet through this potentially stressful time.

If you think your pet suffers from more than just minor anxiety or would like to discuss any behavioural issues, book an appointment to come and chat to us about it. We can offer behavioural consultations, supplements and plug-ins to help calm them, and in really bad situations we can prescribe sedatives.

Don’t let your pet suffer unnecessary anxiety.

To find out more and book an appointment, call the practice on  01698 361 136

Remember…

Pet Health Club members get a 10% discount on consultation fees, which includes help with anxious pets, training and anything else you may need. (Not a member yet? Click here to read the full list of year-round benefits)

Covid-19 Important Update from Wishing Well Vets

Coronavirus update from Wishing Well Vets in Wishaw

‼️ ⚠️ ‼️Covid-19 Update ‼️ ⚠️ ‼️

 
🐾During the government lockdown, we want to ensure that our clients, patients and staff are kept safe and that social interaction is kept to a minimum.
 
🐾Do not turn up to the practice, please phone first.
 
🐾Following the government’s instructions we are only seeing emergency appointments and allowing clients to pick up repeat prescriptions. We will not be doing routine checks, operations, or dispensing flea and worming treatment.
 
🐾Our vets will be carrying out phone consultations to decide whether your pet needs urgent veterinary treatment. We will be carrying out these consultations as scheduled appointments, this ensures that each client will have the time dedicated to their pet and that they can be treated accordingly.
 
🐾If your pet needs to come down to the practice, or if you need to pick up medication, you will not be permitted into the building. Please call us once you have arrived and follow the instructions provided.
 
🐾 Please be patient, we are doing what we can during this difficult time.
 

‼️ ⚠️ ‼️Stay at home, protect the NHS, Save lives  ‼️ ⚠️ ‼️

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Notice

Dear Clients,

Re COVID-19

We have set up some protocols to help manage staff and client health risks and still enable us to treat your sick pets. Please bear with us as these may need to change as the government brings in new advice.

If you have been abroad, have symptoms or have been told to self-isolate but also require our assistance in the care of your pet please phone us for advice.

We will not be refusing to help you but may elect to conduct a consultation over the phone if safe and appropriate for your pet rather than face to face. Or ask you to wait in the car while we examine your pet.

We will continue to see routine appointments and operations as we can, staff sickness may mean that some procedures could be cancelled at short notice.

Please give plenty of notice for repeat prescriptions

Please could all clients keep a distance from other clients in the waiting room or wait in your car.

Where possible please pay by card not cash

With your help and cooperation, we will be to keep our service open for you

Thank you
Regards
Claire Webster

Obesity and weight loss

It is estimated that over half of cats and dogs are overweight or obese, and here at our veterinary centre, obesity is a huge issue for our clients. Being overweight can lead to huge reduction in quality of life for pets, not only in day to day life, but it can lead to a host of other conditions, such as arthritis and diabetes. These problems can be very expensive to treat, as well as debilitating for the animal, and a reduction in weight can vastly improve or even eliminate some of these issues.

 

Is my pet overweight?

A huge part of the problem is that many pet owners are unaware of how heavy their pets should be, or how they should look. Many sighthounds in good health can look emaciated to the untrained eye, and for many “working” breeds, such as the Labrador, overweight animals seems to have become the norm.

Along with a standard weight range for different breeds, our vets use a scale known as the body condition score, to assess an animals weight. When viewed from above, the animal should have a noticeable waist, and from the side, there should be a visible tuck up at the stomach. You should also be able to feel your pets ribs fairly easily, with a minimal covering of fat.

 

Looking closer at your pets diet

Many owners today are unaware of just how much food their pets should be eating on a day to day basis. You should always check the packaging of food for the manufacturers feeding guidelines, however be aware that it is just that – a guide. Amounts of food should be given based on your pets ideal weight, not their current weight and can be adjusted as needed – if you adjust feeding amounts and your pet is losing or gaining weight quicker than a vet has advised, readjust your amounts to compensate slightly for this. We would always recommend that you use a set of kitchen scales or a measuring cup that is designed for the food you are feeding. Too many people are confident in “eyeballing” the amount but are really feeding far too much.

As well as the amount, it’s also worth looking at the food itself that you are feeding. Many of the cheaper (and some of the expensive) brands of food are full of cereals and grains, before any meat, as well as being packed with colours and preservatives. As well as not being good for their waistline, certain additives in food can negatively affect behaviour – think of the way sweets packed with sugar and e-numbers would affect a child! A good dog food should have meat as the first ingredient listed, and as few additives as possible. At certain stages of your pets life, a change in food may be appropriate. Specific kitten and puppy foods are formulated with extra calories to help them grow, senior foods often have fewer calories to compensate for reduced activity and maybe some extras to help with stiff joints! There is no one size fits all in terms of food – a working dog food is designed to keep a working gundog going all day, but the calories and fat might be much more than your chilled out pooch requires!

 

Avoiding those begging eyes

If your pet has been used to a certain amount of food, it can be a struggle to get them to adjust to something new. Always reduce or change brands of food gradually – their digestive systems need time to adjust to different foods, as well as trying to avoid rumbly bellies! Keep in mind there are loads of ways to make the transition easier on them and you.

Try to think of any healthy swaps that can be made. If your dog is used to getting a big fatty chew stick to keep it busy, see if they’re interested in raw veggies, like carrot or turnip. Many pets will be just as happy having something to chew on, and most will love the taste too. You can even freeze some natural yoghurt or wet food in a Kong toy for them.

If it’s only their food that they’re willing to eat, get creative in using it. If they gulp their food, you could invest in a slow feeder bowl or a puzzle feeder, or if you’re on a budget, scattering dry food around the garden is a great way to get some extra mental and physical exercise, as well as making their food last much longer.

 

Get your running shoes on!

While diet is usually the key to any sort of weight loss, exercise can play a huge part, and is often easier to implement than a human exercise regime – unlike us, most pets love a bit of extra exercise! It’s important that any sort of increased exercise is done gradually, and particularly in obese or elderly pets, you should consult a vet before starting. Sometimes vigorous exercise can do more harm than good!

Most dogs will jump at the chance for an extra walk or game of fetch, or even just playing with a toy at home can get their heart rates going. If your dog begins to look tired, cut the walk a little shorter next time – we’re not trying to walk their hind legs off!

Cats can be more difficult to manage, especially if they’re outdoor. While they might be getting plenty of exercise while they’re out, they could be eating all sorts of things that they find or could even be getting full meals at someone else’s door! Consider putting a tag on your cats collar that says “Please do not feed me”, since many people will not have considered that they could be doing your cat any harm.

For indoor cats, regulating their food intake can be much easier, but you might have to convince them to exercise a bit more. While it is getting increasingly more common to pop a lead and harness on your cat and take him for a walk, this can also be extremely stressful for a cat who has never been outside. Encourage your cat to play with you by using chase and tug toys, or even a tall cat climbing tower can get them moving a bit more.

 

We are here whenever you need us

Although we’ve tried to get you started here, if you need any more advice or have any concerns about your pets weight, give us a call! A weight check up with our nurse is free and if you want a more thorough check up before starting any weight loss plans with your pet, please see one of our vets.

Remember – any behavioural or sudden weight change in your pet usually warrants at least a call to us, and preferably a check up with the vet.

Good luck with your pets weight loss journey, they will thank you for it in the end.