Month: May 2021

The truth about the possible effects of Rapeseed on dogs

Posted on by Rachel Allen
MEDIUM

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), have brought to our attention some misinformation that has been seen on social media regarding Rapeseed. The posts suggest that Rapeseed is extremely toxic dogs, this is untrue. The majority of dogs exposed to Rapeseed have no symptoms at all. If a dog eats Rapeseed then they can sometimes develop gastrointestinal signs, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, which can be treated symptomatically. In extremely rare instances some dogs may develop a skin reaction when they come in contact with the plant.

If you have any concerns that you pet may have been exposed to any toxic plant, foodstuff or drug please do not hesitate to call the surgery for advice. The VPIS also offer 24hr advice to owners, for further information please go to the Animal Poison Line website.

Veterinary Referrals – when and why they may be recommended.

Posted on by Rachel Allen

In first opinion practice we aim to give the highest standard of care to our patients. As for human GPs primary care veterinary practitioners see a wide range of medical and surgical cases. Experiences of individual veterinary surgeons within and between practices will vary, as will the equipment available which will, to some extent, influence the cases which can be worked up and treated in house and for which referral will be recommended.  Our 7 vet team at Holmer are proud to offer a diversity of experience and skills meaning that for the large majority of cases presented we are able to work-up and treat in house. However, some cases require advanced imaging including CT and MRI, some more complex medical and surgical cases are better dealt with by a specialist. Certain therapies, particularly some cancer treatments are only available from specialists. Specialists at referral centres have undergone additional training in their specified field, on average this involves an additional 5 years of training on top of the 5 year veterinary degree. In many ways referral specialist can be compared to human consultants, The diagnostic and treatment options for our pets is phenomenal, the expertise and specialist equipment available at referral does, understandably, come at a relatively high financial cost. For most people having a good insurance cover, with a reputable company, is imperative for them to be able to afford to go to referral. A previous post 'Not all insurance policies are equal' outlined some recommendations for finding the right cover for your pet, please do not hesitate to speak to one of our vets about your individual needs. With regards to the referral process we have referred to a number of relatively local specialists, whilst we may recommend referral to certain centres we will always be happy to take any preferences you have into consideration. Sadly not all conditions have a favourable outcome but as a profession both primary care vets and referral specialists aim to work together to offer the highest level of care for your beloved pet.

Hedgehog Awareness week 2nd- 8th May 2021

Posted on by Rachel Allen
hedgehog awareness week

Hedgehogs are on the Red List for British mammals vulnerable to extinction. We at Holmer Vets, alongside local hedgehog carers, have long been involved in treating sick and injured hedgehogs. For that reason we are keen to promote Hedgehog awareness week to help people understand more about hedgehogs and ways in which everyone can help hedgehogs thrive in their own back gardens. Simple measures to help make gardens hedgehog friendly include ways to provide food and shelter, checking bonfires before burning, checking areas before mowing or strimming, checking compost heaps before digging, protecting hedgehogs from the hazards of netting, drains and ponds, to name but a few. For more information please visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society website (BHPS) where you will also find a link to Hedgehog Street, another amazing resource for hedgehog friends of all ages. As always if you find a sick or injured hedgehog please call us at Holmer Veterinary Surgery to arrange for us to examine, treat and organise rehabilitation, as appropriate. If you see a hedgehog out in the daytime, notice a small hedgehog in late autumn, or have any other hedgehog related concern/s please do not hesitate to call us for advice. Finally, Rachel, the vet, will be collecting used stamps to send to BHPS so please feel free to collect any you might have and bring them to the surgery. Together we can make a difference for our prickly friends.

site by Beeches Web Design