On the 2nd of May her owner called us as she was concerned that Ruby had been showing the efforts of trying to give birth but nothing was happening.  Our vet Nadine examined Ruby and she seemed to be suffering from a complication called ‘single pup syndrome’ and was not having normal contractions.  She needed a caesarian so Nadine and Veterinary Nurse Nicola moved her through to the theatre and started the operation.  Ruby had one, very large puppy which was why she had been having problems giving birth.  The puppy was healthy and lively, just too big to come out!

So small Ruby had an even smaller puppy (130g)!  Ruby and her puppy are both progressing really well.   It was wonderful to have a successful ending to the story!

Tammy is a 10 year old Jack Russell Terrier who had a bad start in life, but who’s story has a very happy ending.

Tammy was found by the Chelmsford Dog Warden about 7 years ago.  She had been abandoned in a car breakers yard and had been living under the cars, she was covered in grease and infested with fleas. Tammy was taken to Wallace Kennels by the Dog Warden and when nobody came forward to claim her she was put up for adoption.

Luckily for Tammy Mr and Mrs Newman called the kennels that day looking for a suitable dog to be a companion for their elderly neighbour and Tammy found a new home.

Tammy stayed at her new home for the next 5 years but unfortunately her owner had to go into hospital.  Alas, it seemed she had been struggling to care for Tammy over the last few years they had spent together.   Tammy had been fed an unsuitable diet that included cakes, biscuits and chocolate and had been given very little excersie.  Tammy had become timid, nervous and very overweight.

This is when Mr and Mrs Newman intervened in Tammys life again and in December 2012 they very kindly took Tammy on and started to care for her.  Tammy was very overweight topping the scales at 10.7kg when she first visited our Ingatestone Surgery and a strict diet was advised.  Tammys new owners restarted her vaccinations and wanted to have her spayed.  Our Veterinary Surgeon, Kat Rhodes felt it was better to postpone the operation until Tammy had reduced in weight first as being over weight can make the surgery more risky.

Tammy visited the surgery very month for weight checks and gradually her weight started to reduce with her reaching 8.9kg in April (meaning she had lost 10% of her bodyweight in 4 months).

Tammy has now been spayed and is enjoying her new life in her new forever home, thanks to the kind generosity of Mr and Mrs Newman.

Monthly health checks will enable the nurse to monitor growth, weight and general progress of your pet.  It will also ensure your pet is receiving a gold standard flea and worming treatment regime.

Advice on neutering, diet, behaviour can also be discussed during your visit.  Visiting the surgery regularly can give your pet confidence and make visiting the vet a much less stressful experience.

The clinic times are:

Witham Hospital:

Monday       10.15am – 12pm and 3pm - 7pm

Tuesday       11.15am – 1pm

Wednesday 9am – 11am

Thursday     9am – 11am and 2pm – 3.30pm

Friday 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Tiptree Branch:

Wednesday 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Great Notley Branch:

Tuesday 3.30pm – 6.30pm

Friday 9am – 11am

Adder bites can potentially be very serious in dogs so Maisie was admitted into the hospital and given intravenous Adder Antivenom and thankfully the swelling around her head began to ease.

Using Antivenom can have its own complications as the patient can have an anyphylatic reaction to the protein contained in it.  Luckily Maisie did not react to the treatment and continued to make good progress over the next 24 hours.

Adders are the only venomous snake native to Britain.  While Adders are venomous they are not aggressive animals and will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on (or found by an inquisitive dog!).

With proper treatment, the worst effects are vomiting and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising in the area of the bite.

Adders are relatively common in areas of rough, open countryside and are often associated with woodland edge habitats.  There are many Adders found around the edge of Tiptree Heath where they can be seen basking in the morning sunshine.  They are most commonly seen in early spring when they emerge from their hibernation dens.

If you are walking your dog around the edge of woodland or in long grass it is advisable to keep them on the lead at this time of year.  If you are aware of any areas in Essex where Adders are common please let us know so we can warn other dog walkers.

Dottie Enjoying the Sun

This months ‘Pet of the Month’ is (we believe) our oldest customer Dottie the 26 year old tortoiseshell cat.  This picture of the amazing Dottie shows her making the most of the sunshine and enjoying life.  It is amazing to think, at the age of 26 Dottie is older than most of our nurses and that she was born in 1987!!

Dotties wonderful owners write:

‘Dottie and her sister Bramble came to us from Colchester Cat Rescue when they were both 12 years old.  We thought we’d only have them for a couple of years so spoilt them horribly to make their final years lovely.  We sadly lost our beautiful Bramble last year at the grand age of 25 but Dottie is still hanging on in there – I won’t say she’s fighting fit because she does have rather a lot of ailments now but she’s still retained her naughty streak for when she’s not snoozing.’

We believe the love, care, time and effort Dotties owners put into looking after her are the reasons for her long life and she really deserves her moment in the spotlight!

When you have decided you would like to get a dog there are many different ways to start looking for a suitable new companion.  There are obviously thousands of dogs in rescue centres across theUKand ideally you should first consider looking at taking on a rescue dog.  Most dog breeds have their own dedicated Kennel Club approved breed rescues if you are looking for a particular breed (we have a directory of these rescues if you would like a contact number).  You could also contact reliable rescue centres such as the Dogs Trust, Battersea and Wood Green Animal Shelter.

Many people prefer to buy a new puppy and if you choose to do this there is some very important information to consider before obtaining your new puppy.

What are the potential problems?

Buying a puppy can be hit and miss if you don’t know what to look for or which questions to ask. You could end up with a sick or dying puppy that – even if he survived – might be plagued with lifelong health and behavioural problems.  Puppy farms and bulk imported puppies from abroad are an increasing problem in this country and you should take care and spend time researching your chosen dog.

Remember, if the puppy comes with Kennel Club registration it does not mean that the breeder is responsible. If you are looking for a pedigree or cross breed puppy, have a look on the Kennel Club website for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder of the breed you’re interested in. A good breeder will not always have a litter of puppies available and you may have to wait for your puppy.  A healthy, well cared for puppy will be worth the wait.

Good breeders should want to meet and interview you before the puppies are born or a few weeks later and should insist on you visiting the litter at least once before you are allowed a puppy. This is a good opportunity for you as well, since you can see the conditions your pup is being raised in.

The following advice is compiled with help from the Dogs Trust website:

What to ask yourself and the breeder:

• Can I see the puppies with their mum?
  Be sure mum is a nice, friendly dog because temperament can be inherited. She might be defensive of her puppies so take that into account. If you’re not allowed to see them together, it might be that they’re not really her puppies! DO NOT BUY THE PUPPY IF YOU CANNOT SEE  IT WITH ITS MOTHER AND SIBLINGS.
• How old are the puppies?
  They must be at  least seven to eight weeks old to leave their mother.
• Are the puppies weaned?
  At seven weeks they should be fully weaned. If they are not, they could be younger than the breeder claimed.
• How old is mum?
  She should be over a year old but ideally under the age of six years.
• How many litters has mum had?
  It is against the law to breed a bitch more than six times in her lifetime. If the breeder breeds frequently they are required to have a licence from the local authority.
• Have the puppies been wormed?
  Puppies can have worms at birth. Worming should start with the breeder at about two weeks old, be repeated every two weeks and be continued by you.
• Have the puppies had any vaccinations? If so,  when is the next dose due?
  Puppies should be vaccinated at 9 weeks of age and then again at 12 weeks. They will become fully protected two weeks after the second vaccination. You will need to do this if the breeder has not.
• Does the puppy look healthy – clean eyes,  ears and bottom?
  Do not buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it and want to rescue it.  You are only fueling the trade in selling poorly bred dogs.  Please be brave and walk away.
• What should I feed my puppy? Do you have a diet sheet to take away?
  A good breeder will give you enough food to continue exactly the same diet for a couple of days.  They should also give you a diet sheet that shows how feeding should change as your puppy grows.
• What sort of socialisation or experiences has my puppy had so far?
  Puppies should preferably be raised in a home environment with all the noise and through traffic of a normal home. Those raised in kennels away from the house will need more intensive socialisation training to ensure they can cope with daily life as a pet. If puppies have already met other dogs, domestic  animals and people they will have more confidence than those that have not.
• Can I return the puppy if there are any healthy problems?
  You should take your new puppy to a vet for a health check within 48 hours. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back at any point should you be unable to keep him.
• Is the puppy Kennel Club registered?
  If so, make sure you are given the registration certificate and pedigree when you pick up your  puppy. You should also get some free health insurance for the first few weeks.  If the paper work is not  there then do not take the puppy.
• When can I take the puppy home?
  It is absolutely essential to see the puppies with their mother.  Some unscrupulous people claiming to be breeders might in fact be dealers who have bought the pups in. They are likely to be poorly bred, might be ill and are usually too young to leave their exhausted, ill-treated mothers. If they survive, these puppies rarely make good pets, and you will be fuelling this cruel trade where money is the priority and welfare of the dog is ignored.

Remember:

• NEVER buy from a pet shop and avoid puppies advertised on non-breed specific websites.
• AWLAYS use Kennel Club Accredited Breeders
• AVOID anywhere advertising more than three different breeds
• DO NOT buy a puppy if you have any doubts about the breeder or situation – even if you want to rescue it.

There have been many high profile stories about missing and stolen dogs in the news in the past few months and dog thefts are now a serious issue across the country.  In spite of this we still see dogs left outside shops and in the back of cars where they are visable and therefore can be stolen.  Once stolen, a dog can be moved many miles in a short space of time so prevention is vital.

Just this week two people have been arrested  and found to have a stolen Springer Spaniel in their van whilst travelling along the A12 near the Great Braxted junction, very near to our Witham Hospital.  There have also been numerous reports of two men in a van in the Coggeshall / Braintree / Maldon that seem to be connected with several dog thefts.

This problem is not confined to this area with the intenet, news papers and social networking sites full of adverts for stolen and missing dogs.  One of the most prominant missing dog cases is that of Angel the German Short-Haired Pointer who has been missing from before Christmas and whos owners are offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to her return.

Unfortunately, we also receive weekly reports of dogs who have been lost whilst on a walk or who have escaped from a garden when a gate has been left open.  Runaway dogs are often never found and are at high risk of being hit by a car on the road.

We cannot even begin to imagine how the owners of these stolen and missing pets feel and have tried to help in any way we can by bringing attention to each case.  As dog theft is becoming a real threat to all dog owners we have compiled the following advice:

Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe

• Your dog should wear a collar with an ID tag on when in public, even if it is microchipped.  The tag should have your address and telephone number on.  (This is also a legal requirement.)

• Have your dog microchipped and make sure you keep your contact details up to date if you move or change your phone number.  The microchipping of all dogs is soon to be a legal requirement.

• Never leave your dog tied up outside a shop – even for just a few minutes.

• Do not leave your dog visable in your car while you are not there – a thief will not think twice about smashing a window and taking them.

• Beware of strangers who stop you on a walk and ask you questions about your dog, they may snatch your dog from you or follow you home.

• Vary your times that you walk your dog, as some owners are followed and their dogs targeted after the thief has learnt their daily routine.

• Never let your dog out of your sight on a walk.  A dog can be easily spooked      and run away if they off the lead.  Maybe consider using and extending lead, especially if you are walking in a new area that your dog does not know.

• Make sure your garden is secure and all gates are locked from the inside.

• Do not advertise your dog to thieves, take down any ‘beware of the dog’ or ‘This dog lives here’ signs that you have in your house.

• It is advisable to move any kenneled dogs indoors as most of the dogs targeted in the area have been working Gundogs kept outside.

Hopefully, all of the publicity will help all of the missing dogs so that they are reunited with their owners.  Fingers crossed we will hear some good news soon.

ANGEL STOLEN

Liver And White Female German Short Haired Pointer (Age: Adult)

Missing from Old Wagon Road/ Cawthorne basin, Barugh Green, Barnsley, S75 area, (North East) on Thursday, 6th December 2012

A white van pulled off from where Angel was being walked and went in the direction of Barnsley. She is 4 years old, MICROCHIPPED and SPAYED. PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR HER IN YOUR AREA AS SHE COULD BE ANYWHERE BY NOW ! There is a £10,000 CASH REWARD for the return of this adored family pet !!

There is a TEN THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD for ANGEL STOLEN’s safe return.

CONTACT: 07921 682002 or 07908 157216

Help us find ANGEL STOLEN – print this poster from http://www.doglost.co.uk/poster.php?dogId=45978

0844 800 3220

Pennys owners rushed her in to our Witham hospital at lunch time as she had accidently fallen into the pond next to their house.  The day was icy cold and the water temperature near freezing.

When she was admitted Penny was totally unresponsive and her pupils were dilated and not reacting to light.  When her temperature was taken no reading was registering on the thermometer at all, showing that Penny was suffering from severe hypothermia.

Our Veterinary Surgeon Lucy Drew and Veterinary Nurse Sophie Watson started immediate emergency treatment.  They placed her on warm intravenous fluids via a catheter in her front leg and covered her in a special heat blanket that circulates warm air around the animal (called a Bair Hugger).  At this point Penny stared to show signs of response and began to move her legs but then suddenly started to have a seizure (bought on by her hypothermia) so was given a sedative to help her through this.

Penny received constant monitoring throughout the afternoon, her temperature only started to register on the themometer after 3 hours of treatment and at 3pm she began to wake up calmly from her sedative. She started to purr and wanted her head rubbed and even ate a whole bowl of food!

Penny continued to recover over the next 12 hours and went home the following morning with no apparent side affects from her accident.  She was extremely lucky that her caring owners had managed to get her to us so quickly as she was critically cold when she arrived.

Remember,  all of our Emergency Service Hours are staffed by our regular Spring Lodge Vets and Nurses at our Witham Hospital.

Christmas Eve -   Monday    8am – 12.30pm Open as usual.

12.30pm – 7pm Emergency Service

Christmas Day -   Tuesday   8am – 6pm Emergency Service

Boxing Day -          Wednesday   8am – 6pm Emergency Service

REMEMBER – we also provide a Spring Lodge Emergency Service every Saturday and Sunday.

At all other times the  independant out of hours Vets Now Ltd are available at our Witham Hospital.