In all mammals, antibodies in the mothers milk protect them from becoming ill during the first few weeks of their lives. After the animal has stopped sucking from its mother this immunity reduces and they must develop their own immunity. Owners and vets have a responsibility and duty of care to protect the animals [...]

  Dogs and cats: Please do not give any food after 6pm the previous evening. Water is allowed overnight but should be removed first thing in the morning. Rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils & hamsters should be given FOOD and WATER as normal. Please make sure you give your pet the opportunity to pass urine and [...]

The technical name for a bitch spay is an ovarohysterectomy, which means the removal of the ovaries and uterus. You will, more commonly, hear people saying that their bitch has been spayed, neutered or dressed. The operation is a one off procedure and is not reversible. Once your bitch has been spayed she will never [...]

Duration of Pregnancy In the queen, ovulation occurs in response to mating (24 – 48 hours after mating). Due to repeated mating, parturition (labour) can be expected from 63 days after the first mating, to 63 days + 1-2 days after the last mating. Feline gestation periods of 56 – 71 days have been reported, [...]

Castration is the removal of the testicles. The operation is a one off procedure and is not reversible. Once your dog has been castrated he will never be able to father puppies. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? Dogs are castrated for a variety of reasons. For many owners the fact that he will not be able [...]

Taking your pet on holiday sounds like a great idea but obtaining a PETS EU Passport is not instant, It takes about 7 – 8 months and there is not a shortcut in the procedure, so early planning is essential. In the past, strict quarantine control laws meant that any pet wanting to return to [...]

Fleas can make life miserable for pets and their owners with a vicious cycle of biting and scratching. They can carry tapeworms and cat scratch disease, which can affect your family as well as you pet. Before you can prevent and treat fleas effectively you need to understand their lifecycle. The Flea Lifecycle Adult Fleas [...]

Things to consider: Worming during pregnancy On the 42nd day of pregnancy a hormonal surge takes place, causing any roundworm larva within the bitch to move from the placenta to the foetuses. If this occurs, the puppies may be born with a large worm burden, compromising nutritional absorption, potentially proving fatal to the pups. To [...]

The worms that affect cats and dogs can be broadly divided into two main groups: I. Roundworms. II. Tapeworms. Puppies, unlike kittens, are born with an existing burden of roundworms which have crossed over from their mother, whilst the puppies are developing, within the uterus. Careful worming of bitches, whilst pregnant, as detailed below, can [...]

There are many different companies offering pet insurance and all policies offer different terms and conditions. Pet insurance provides many benefits, the main two being help towards paying veterinary fees and third party liability cover. Main Types of Policy for Veterinary Fees Cover for life – these policies will pay a set amount per year [...]