Beware microchip scams

checking chip

Dogs and cats in the UK should be microchipped and registered owner details must be kept accurate and up to date or owners could face a fine. Once a pet has been chipped the microchip number for the animal remains the same throughout the pets life.* The only time an owner needs to make a payment regarding the chip is at the time of implantation and if/when their details change (e.g. address, contact number, new owner) when a small administration fee will need to be paid to the database company, to update the information linked to the pets unique chip number. Keeping the contact details linked to a microchip helps ensures that a lost/found dog or cat can be reunited with an owner as promptly as possible. There is NO need to pay a monthly fee to a company to keep your pets microchip valid THIS IS A SCAM. If you are contacted by anyone suggesting you need to do this please report them.

*In rare circumstances a pet may lose their microchip or a microchip will stop working, if this happens a pet will need to be re-chipped and so will have a new microchip number.

Christmas Opening Times

  • Monday 23rd December - 9am-5pm
  • Tuesday 24th December - 9am-5pm
  • Christmas day - Emergencies only
  • Boxing Day -Emergencies only
  • Friday 27th December 9am-6pm
  • Saturday 28th December - 9am-4pm
  • Sunday 29th December - Emergencies only
  • Monday 30th December - 9am-5pm
  • Tuesday 31st December - 9am-5pm
  • New Years Day - Emergencies only
  • Thursday 2nd January - 9am-6pm
  • Friday 3rd January - 9am-6pm

We at Holmer Vets wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas & Best Wishes for the New Year.

 

BBQ perils

corn cob xray

As BBQ season approaches, fingers crossed, it seemed a good time to consider the potential pet perils of this popular past time. Aside from the risk of the mad dog racing past the BBQ knocking things over and getting burnt, there are other risks to consider. Foreign body issues are not infrequently seen. Corn cobs seem a popular thing for dogs to ingest, almost inevitably causing an intestinal blockage which will need surgical removal. The image shows a corn on the cob which was swallowed whole by a dog, only because all the sweetcorn was still attached to the cob can this be seen on the radiograph.

Scavenged cooked bones and  wooden BBQ skewers are also a tasty treat to a dog, but the risk of ingesting these can be even higher as a sharp point can lead to them penetrating through the gut wall; this can cause damage to other other abdominal organs and/or potentially life threatening peritonitis. For some dogs being fed high fat food, such as sausages, can trigger pancreatitis, affected dogs can become extremely unwell with the main signs being vomiting, abdominal pain and inappetence. It is also important to consider how you clean your BBQ after use, more specifically how you dispose of the waste, if a dog scavenges debris after cleaning with an oven type cleaner this can be caustic and cause oral and gut irritation, potentially ulceration. We all love a good BBQ but it is important to remember to dispose of waste products safely out of reach or our pets. If you are concerned that your dog has scavenged something he/she shouldn't have please call your vet for advice.

Introducing our newest team members

Hollie Brotherton pic

We are delighted to introduce our newest team members. Hollie (left) is a registered veterinary nurse who has joined our team to be closer to her family home. Hollie brings a wealth of experience, new ideas and enthusiasm to our practice and has already shown herself to be an amazing asset. Ffern (right) is our new nursing assistant, keen to learn and hopeful to soon be on the veterinary nurse training program. Like Hollie, Ffern has gelled perfectly with out long established team.

Ffern pic
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