One of our regular visitors to the Gipsy Road clinic = Tyler the cat, who is 23 years old, is featured in today’s Financial Times in an interesting article on how our pets are living longer these days. This is mainly due to improved genetics, nutrition and huge advances in veterinary care in understanding the needs of an older pet.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/85d4253a-4c8a-11e1-b1b5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1lWNmHiWr

Lola the Chihuahua was bought in to the Clifton Road clinic last week, having been unable to give birth to a large puppy which was stuck in the birth canal. After several hours, she was getting nowhere and becoming very tired, so the vet made the choice to perform a Caesarian.

Two healthy puppies were born, and although they took a lot of persuading by the nurses to start breathing; mother and babies are all now doing well.

It happens to the best of us………..an extra treat here or there, a little less exercise done in the winter months……….and suddenly the pounds creep up.

The same as it is for humans; if our pets become overweight it increases the chances of arthritis, heart disease, and even cancer. All in all, it can shorten their lives, and it IS possible to reverse if adjusted in time.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

Firstly, our qualified nurses at each clinic run FREE OF CHARGE weight clinics, where they will examine your pet, weigh them, calculate the target weight and the time it should take to reach this using Hills software. They will then run follow up appointments, also free of charge, to assess the progress and adjust the program if necessary.

As well as looking at an exercise plan, changing your pet’s diet is key in reducing their weight. We recommend Hills RD diet to lose the weight, and then a maintenance diet once the target weight has been reached.

Hills RD diet is high in fibre, and therefore a pet fed the correct amount should not be constantly hungry, which is often the case if you just reduce the amount of the diet they are already having. This is not pleasant for the animal, or the owner looking after it!

Hills RD diet also changes the way the genes actually manage the food eaten, and ensures pets are less likely to lay down fat.

If you would like to know more, please ask at reception, or book a free of charge weight clinic with the nurse.

While stocks last we are offering a 50% off Hills RD diet, which includes both the tinned and dry versions.

Are you thinking of travelling to the EU with your pet this year? It may be easier than you think, as from January 1^st 2012 the government have relaxed the rules slightly. This has been done to place the UK in line with other EU countries, and they are certain that it will not increase the risk of rabies being bought into the UK, which is so far free from this devastating disease.

 The new rules are:

1. Your animal must have a microchip for identification purposes
2. Your animal must receive a Rabies Vaccination at least 3 weeks before travelling
3. The microchip number, vaccine date and brand will be detailed in the Pet Passport, which will be issued by the vet, and needs to be signed for by the owner
4. You can then travel freely in the EU, as long as you carry the Passport ready for inspection at all times
5. On re-entry to the UK, dogs (not cats) must be treated for tapeworms by an Official Veterinarian 1-5 days before arrival into the UK
6. The Rabies Vaccination that we use (Nobivac) now lasts for 3 years, so your animal will only need a booster at 3 year intervals.

If you are thinking of travelling outside the EU, then please contact DEFRA for up to date information, as each country has their own rules and regulations. Most countries do NOT have long quarantine periods now, and vary from none at all, to only a few weeks (Australia) rather than the 6 months it used to be.

www.defra.gov.uk/pets

Dedicated Pet Travel Helpline: 0870 241 1710

If you are considering travelling outside the EU then ACT NOW = the sooner the better, as in some situations blood tests need to be performed, and paperwork sourced, which can all take time.

OPENING TIMES OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

If you should need advice or an appointment with a vet during the Christmas and New Year period, please remember that there is ALWAYS a vet available, but it may not be at your usual clinic.

Up until midday on Saturday 24^th December = Normal service at both clinics

From midday on Saturday 24^th until 8.30am on Wednesday 28^th = Please call our usual out of hours emergency service (SLERC) on 0208 677 0976

From Wednesday 28^th until midday on Sat 31^st = Our Gipsy road clinic will be open during normal hours. (OUR CLIFTON ROAD CLINIC WILL BE CLOSED)

From midday on Saturday 31^st until 8.30am Tuesday 3^rd = Contact SLERC

From Tuesday 3^rd = Normal service returns to BOTH clinics

All the staff at the Paxton Vets would like to wish our clients and their pets a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2012.

We are very pleased to introduce our new vet Jodie Fryatt ! She has recently started with us, coming from a practice in Kent, with a wealth of experience in both medicine and surgery. She owns a springer spaniel who you may see in residence at the clinics. Jodie joins our team of 2 other vets (Gloria Steel and Head Vet Helen Spencer) who work across the 2 clinics.

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It’s not every day that we have a birth at the clinic, so we were very happy to have 3 healthy Chihuahua pups born last week, with a little help from Helen our head vet. Mother and babies are doing great and growing daily.

We are delighted to be runners up in the British Veterinary Hospital Association (BVHA) Practice Design Awards. We were entered for the refurbishments made to our reception area at Clifton Road, which were completed in August 2010.

The reception used to be fairly dark and uninviting, but as many of you have commented, it is now light, airy and welcoming. We have replaced all the glasswork, and included our pawprint logo in the frosting. The flooring, ceiling, point of sale areas, are all new, as is the striking new desk, with bright orange wall behind it in the colours of our brand.