1. Should I pull or twist?
2. Do I try to kill it first?
3. Does it matter if I leave the head?

In the UK, ticks are capable of transmitting Lyme disease to both humans and animals, and should never be left attached to the skin for more than 24 hours. When abroad, there are also other diseases that can be transmitted by ticks.

There are top-spot treatments which are available to help prevent attachment. Frontline is one of these top-spot treatments. There are also prescription only products available. Please speak to us about which treatment is best for your dog.

We would recommend that you check your dogs for ticks every day if roaming in tick prone areas such as Richmond Park or the countryside. Ticks are usually found on the front half of the body, but can be found anywhere including more intimate areas. Both cats and dogs can be affected by ticks.

Once found, a tick should be removed immediately. The best method of removing ticks is to use a tick hook such as the O’Tom hook. The hook should be placed under the offending tick, then twisted until the tick detaches. There is no need to pull with this method. It should ensure also that you do not leave the head embedded. You do not need to try to kill the tick first, and this is not recommended.

If the head is accidentally left in the skin, then it is possible for this area to become infected. Some of these animals will require antibiotics. Please call us if you are concerned.

Tick removal with O'TOM Tick Twister by H3D

As exciting as this may be, it is important not forget our furry friends’ needs when we’re all having fun.

Food around this time of year is loved by all but remember that too much of anything can cause many problems in cats and dogs. Rich and fatty meats (sausages) and other summer delights can trigger nasty upset tummies (sometimes worse) in our pets. Equally cooked or small (chicken) bones can lead to life threatening problems. So, the occasional treat in moderation is acceptable but remember to avoid too many scraps.

Another consideration this time of year is the heat. Dogs, unlike people, don’t sweat. They regulate their core temperature via their respiratory system, hence why they pant when they are hot. Given that the majority of dogs have a thick hairy coat; it’s worth considering a nice short clip to help them cool down. Breeds with shorter noses (English and French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers etc) struggle more than other breeds at staying cool as their anatomy makes it more difficult for them to pant. So extra care must be taken during the summer.

A few tips to keep your dog cool:

• Always carry drinking water when on walks. Collapsible bowls and special doggie bottle are very useful and practical.
• Spray your dog with cool water before and after walks
• NEVER leave your dog in a car unattended (even with the windows open) for any period of time
• Provide shade when possible
• Avoid strenuous exercise in sunny weather

Lastly, parasites also love the sunshine and the heat! Make sure to stay up to date with flea, worming and tick treatments.

Some tips for our rabbit friends especially if living outdoors:

• Check for any signs of soiled fur at least twice a day and to keep the cage and bedding clean
• Fresh water and food must be provided everyday. Rabbit food should be almost all hay, with only a few pellets and some green vegetables. Any amount of grass is ok.
• Use Rearguard to prevent fly strike (maggot infestation) every 10 weeks
• If you are suspicious of fly strike (maggot infestation) then you must make an emergency appointment
• Beware or predators becoming more curious in warmer weather

Lillies and cats just don’t go together. Every part of the plant is poisonous, even the pollen. Affected cats are often obvious because they tend to stain their nose with pollen as they investigate the flowers (cute but scary). Owners are often aware of the dangers, and try to restrict access to the plant. However, cats are very clever getting into places where they shouldn’t be, so it is safer to keep lillies out of the household altogether (and out of your garden as well!).

If you have a dog, then our previous warning about chocolate and raisins/sultanas is again important. Watch those hot cross buns.

If you have an emergency over the Easter break (and we hope you don’t!), the contact details for our emergency clinic are:

We re-open after the Easter break at 7am on Tuesday morning, and we look forward to seeing you then.

In the meantime, we’re thinking about rabbits and the upcoming Rabbit Awareness Week. We’ll be giving away free health checks to rabbits, with plenty of advice on diet and general health care. If you have a rabbit, please phone us to make your appointment. It should be a fun week!

Alice in Surgery

It wasn’t long after we opened that we had a chance to be glad that we have invested in the facilities that we have. In our opening week, we saw Schmitty, a vomiting bulldog who was very unwell indeed. Our digital xray system picked up a collection of spiky lumps in his abdomen and he was immediately taken to surgery, where we removed a chewed up toy that was blocking his stomach. We were able to closely monitor Schmitty’s anaesthetic and keep him warm in surgery with our special warm air blankets which ensure a quick recovery. He also benefited from precise delivery of IV fluids from our drip pumps to treat his dehydration. A few days later, he came bounding into the building for his first post-operative check, a very happy and boistrous patient, tail wagging and so happy to see us. Schmitty has not looked back.

More recently we saw Pepito, a poor kitten who had fallen from the 5th storey of a building in Putney. We were able to treat him for shock with our intensive care cage which delivers oxygen and warmth and with IV fluids to support his circulation. We were able to quickly assess his chest, abdomen and bones using our digital x-ray system. He spent a week in intensive care, benefiting from Belle’s expertise in nursing critical patients. Once Pepito was stable, we took him to surgery and discovered that his fracture was just too severe, and the decision was made to amputate his leg.  Pepito was back walking on the day of his surgery, thanks to Alice’s excellent surgical skills and his plucky nature. What a lovely and brave cat.

The other potential issue to be aware of is Christmas time poisonings. Chocolate can be a big hazard, especially if dark. Raisins and grapes can cause failure of the kidneys. Swallowed bits of ornaments can be a problem for any pet. Lilies can make cats very sick. Anti-freeze from cars is very often fatal if swallowed, and unfortunately pets like the taste due to its sweetness. The British Veterinary Association- Animal Welfare Foundation is currently trying to raise awareness of Christmas dangers and has relaunched their pamphlet on common household poisons and the BVA has launched a press release on the topic. It is highly recommended reading.

The problem is that these treatments are actually very important for both your pet and your family. You don’t want your pet uncomfortable, or even worse, ill. You also don’t want your children to be catching any of those nasties, which unfortunately is possible. There is also that horrible new lungworm that dogs can catch which makes them very ill indeed.

Now you can have an email or SMS sent at regular intervals to remind you to do both treatments, if you register your details at www.drontal.com. This is an excellent service for pet owners and highly recommended. You can use this service regardless of which wormer you give your dog. Alternatively, set up a regular alarm though your electronic diary in your computer or mobile phone.

Hip dysplasia is a disease that results in osteoarthritis in the hips of a large percentage of medium and large breed dogs around the world, although it can also affect small dogs and cats. It is caused by a loose hip joint which leads to trauma to the joint. The arthritis can develop at any age, in some dogs at less than a year of age, right through to older dogs. These poor dogs are often in pain, become lame, find it difficult to get up and get around.

Currently the British Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club run a voluntary hip scoring scheme in which vets submit x-rays of the hips of dogs for measurements which may indicate that dog’s potential to develop hip dysplasia. Breeders are encouraged to hip score their dogs and only breed from dogs who score better than the breed average. This scheme is far from perfect and progress has been slow. For many years now, an alternative scheme called PennHIP has been available in the United States. This method has been illegal in the UK as it required vets and veterinary nurses to hold the legs of the dog whilst the x-ray was being taken. Now a British vet has developed a hands free method of taking these x-rays which will allow us to use this scoring system in future.

PennHIP, which was developed by the University of Pennsylvania, has several advantages over the traditional tests for hip dysplasia:

1) Puppies can be tested as early as 16 weeks old, as opposed to 1 year of age for the BVA/KC scheme. With pets, this means that we can try to stop hip dysplasia from developing rather than just treat the symptoms once it develops. Breeders can chose the best dogs to breed from at a much earlier age.

2) The heritability is very high, meaning that a dog with hips that score well is much more likely to have puppies that score well and also don’t get hip dysplasia. This means that we can help breed healthier dogs much more easily.

3) A good score almost guarantees good hips, and a bad score also reliably predicts the likelihood of hip dysplasia in future. We can manage these dogs to reduce the incidence of the disease, usually by a combination of diet and hydrotherapy. There is also now surgery available for puppies which can make bad hips more stable for the future. This will lead to healthier pets.

Only PennHIP certified vets are allowed to take these x-rays, to ensure that the x-rays are taken properly. We will be proud to be one of only a handful of private practices in the UK that are offering this service. Dogs that may benefit include breeding dogs, any dogs showing signs of lameness due to pain in the hips, and puppies of 4-5 months old so that we can catch this disease early and stop it in its tracks. If you are interested in PennHIP, please ask us for further information.

As our pets fly further afield, they become exposed to a number of ‘exotic’ diseases that we don’t see here in the British Isles. We protect against some of these diseases by just getting onto the pet passport scheme (rabies and ecchinococcus tapeworm), but really the scheme is more about protecting other pets (and people) still in the UK.

The best way to find out which diseases are prevalent in the part of the world you are travelling to is to ask a local vet. But in the meantime, if you’re travelling to southern Europe, you’ll probably need to think about:

1. tick prevention, and checking daily for ticks whilst away
2. sand fly repellent (and staying in at dusk and dawn)
3. heartworm prevention

Even with these measures, you may not be able to completely mitigate the risk. If the local vet advises that there is a particular problem in their area, it may be worth discussing with us whether it would be better to leave Max at home this time.

To improve awareness of these exotic diseases, the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation has released this pamphlet on protecting your pets against these diseases.

Please email us if you have any further questions regarding the pet passport scheme- we are more than willing to help!

Everyone has heard of the RSPCA and most would know the Blue Cross, the PDSA and Cats Protection, but have you heard of the Feline Advisory Bureau? The FAB really does an amazing job and here at Molly and Max it is one of our favourite charities. We think they do such a great job in promoting the health and welfare of cats that we sincerely wish there was an equivalent for dogs!

The FAB helps owners, breeders, catteries and vets. If you have an interest in cats- they will have something for you. One of their initiatives is the Cat Friendly Practice, which advises vets how to make their practice as nice a place to be for their feline patients as possible. We had these guidelines very much in mind whilst designing our premises and we really believe that it’s made a big difference. The FAB also makes recommendations for catteries and has a list of approved catteries which follow their guidelines. For owners, they will keep you up to date with feline health, behaviour and general cat care, publish cat-friendly books and even hold conferences!

One of the FAB’s more recent initiatives is the Well Cat programme. This helps owners and vets to monitor cats’ health from kitten to old age, giving key recommendations for preventative health care for all life stages. You can order a health log booklet, where your cat’s health can be recorded for your own reference and, at the end of your cat’s life, can be submitted so that the FAB can build a knowledge base which will aid future generations of cats.

The FAB is a member of The Cat Group, which brings together feline veterinary and charity groups to further knowledge about caring for cats. The Cat Group publishes guidelines on the care and keeping of cats. The FAB also has close ties to the European Society of Feline Medicine and the ABCD (the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases).

Please come and see us at Molly and Max when we open to ask us about any of these initiatives and how they can help your cat!