Newsletter July/August 2011
NEWSLETTER JULY/AUGUST 2011
NEW VETERINARY SURGEONS
I am delighted to announce that Jeremy Davies MA (Cantab) VetMB MRCVS and Tim Hopkins BVSc (Hons) MRCVS are joining our team. Some of you will already know Jeremy as he has stood in for me when I have been on leave. Jeremy and I studied at Cambridge University for 6 years together. He is an experienced surgeon and physician in all areas of small animal medicine. Tim may also be known to you as he has been working as an emergency vet at Elizabeth Street Hospital in Victoria. He qualified in Australia five years ago and has recently completed his Master’s Degree.
I am very much looking forward to working with Jeremy and Tim, and am certain that your pets will benefit from the additional skills they will bring to the practice.
THE PET PASSPORT SCHEME IS CHANGING!
As from 1st January 2012 the scheme is changing. A blood test will no longer be required. You will be able to travel with your pet to EU countries and certain other countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Norway) 21 days after a rabies vaccination with a passport. For other countries, there will now be a 3 month wait instead of the current 6 month wait before you can re-enter the UK.
The Pet Passport Scheme applies to all dogs, cats and ferrets who wish to leave and then re-enter the UK. Please be aware that some countries require export certification instead of passports to leave the UK. For further information please check the DEFRA website: www.defra.gov.uk
Please also ask about parasite prevention if you are travelling abroad. It is important that you protect your dog from the potentially fatal Lyme’s Disease, Leishmaniasis and Heartworm if you are travelling to certain countries. Please also see notes below about tick control in UK.
RABBIT HEALTH
The British Veterinary Association has produced a very informative leaflet on rabbit welfare. I would strongly urge all our rabbit-owners and anyone who is thinking of getting one of these complex, social, loveable creatures to read it. It can be obtained from the following website: www.bva-awf.org.uk
FLEA/TICK CONTROL FOR DOGS
It is vitally important that you protect your dog against ticks during the Spring and Summer months if you are going anywhere with sheep or deer. In London, we really only worry if you go to Richmond Park to walk your dog. If you are going to the country or Richmond Park, you might want to consider buying Frontline Combo spot-on which also protects against fleas. Ticks transmit a potentially fatal bacterium causing Lyme’s disease.
In London, we worry more about lungworm, fleas and fox mange. Advocate spot-on protects against all these, but does not protect against ticks. It also continuously protects against roundworm, potentially hazardous to humans and especially children.
Unfortunately, there is as yet no product which does everything. Please ask us if you are unsure which product best suits your dog. We recommend Advocate for cats unless you regularly go to the country.
Please also note, we require that you treat your dog against lungworm before we carry out any surgical procedure on him or her due to the potential risk of blood-clotting problems.
FELINE IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV)
Please be aware that this disease has no vaccine. It is spread by fighting between cats. Please try to keep your cat inside during the hours of dawn and dusk as this is when they most commonly fight and Feliway diffusers can help reduce stress and territorialism in your cat. Please ask us about this if your cat is getting into fights.
“NO SHOWS”
It is with great regret, that I have felt moved to impose a fee for those clients who fail to attend their appointments for consultations or day-case procedures. I have managed for 9 years not to do so, but despite introducing text reminders (and telephone calls for those who request it) we are suffering from an unacceptable increase in clients not turning up for their surgical slots and consultation appointments. This means that we cannot offer those slots to other patients and affects our ability to maintain an affordable, superior-quality service to our clients as our business costs escalate. We shall now be adding a £20 non-attendance fee if your appointment is not cancelled at least 30 minutes before your appointment. We appreciate though that circumstances may be beyond your control and assure you of our discretion.
Please remember we are always happy to provide advice over the telephone or if you pop in. There is always a stash of free treats and a drink of water for dogs if you are passing.
With best wishes for a great Summer,
Emma
Emma Nicholas MA VetMB MRCVS Head Vet, Director.
