News - Page 18

With Easter coming up, our opening hours will vary from our usual times.

COVID-19 is much in the news, and some reports are based on fact, others speculation. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have some advice for you as a pet owner – or someone who spends a lot of time around pets – here’s what you should know:

Planting the Wrong Seed!

Spring is in the air, the clocks have gone forwards, the temperature is rising and the plants are budding. What a wonderful time of year! For many dog owners you will be going out more and enjoying the newly sprouted meadows with your dogs. It is also the time of year us vets reach for our instruments, preparing ourselves for the rise of limping dogs with grass seeds.

The Apple, or Cherry, of my Eye

The eye is a fascinating organ - so much packed into a small globe and performing such an important task, particularly in our keen sighted four-legged friends.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

The heat of summer conjures many positive thoughts: beach days, picnics in the park and barbecues with friends. The long days of sunshine keep us outside for long times but it is also a time of year with a silent killer: heat stroke. This is something many people are aware of, particularly when it comes to leaving dogs in the car on hot days. Unfortunately, for a group of breeds called “brachycephalics”, the anatomy of their face means they are not able to breathe as effectively as other dogs. The term “brachycephalic” means that the bones around the mouth have been shrunk but the flesh around it hasn’t shrunk, preventing the airways from being fully open and allowing enough oxygen to be absorbed and for the dog to cool itself. It causes a condition called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome or BOAS. Remember, dogs only have sweat glands on their paws so rely on breathing to regulate their temperatures! Breeds like these include pugs, English bulldogs, Shih Tzus and French Bulldogs.

Oh Deer! Not the easiest walk in the park

At Vet4Life, we are lucky to have some of the most beautiful parks in close proximity to us; notably Richmond and Bushy Park. These parks offer a wonderful oasis from the urban rush of London, transforming a dog walk into the kind of experience you would have in a rural National Park.