St Clair Pet Care : The Cost of a New Pet
February 6, 2012 11:09 amThe Cost of a New Pet.
The cost of owning a pet does not end at the purchase price. Once a pet has been purchased, you then need to consider a quick check up with your vet to make sure it is in good health and has no underlying medical issues.
At this appointment all initial requirements or concerns can be discussed with the vet. We can issue your new addition with 4 weeks FREE Pet Plan insurance, make sure adequate worming and flea treatments are being giving and discuss when the best time is to give their required vaccination course and microchipping.
All new pets ideally should be vaccinated, microchipped, insured and neutered. These things all are vital for the health and safety of your new family member.
We also need to protect our pets against parasites i.e. flea’s worms etc., which will require regular treatments against the different things that can affect our pets.
One of the most important things to consider is, can you afford to pay out unexpected bills if your pet is involved in an accident, becomes ill or any unforeseen circumstance affects your beloved pet. Insurance is best taken out the moment you get your new pet; this means that if anything should occur early on your pet is most likely to be covered.
A lot of the expense of owning a pet is the accessories they need i.e. beds, dishes, leads, collars etc. This can vary greatly with the size of pet you choose and as they grow some items will need renewed. Some pets may need professional grooming which can be a regular expense and some dogs will benefit greatly from socialisation and training classes.
Feeding is another great expense and again will vary with the size and needs of your pet. Larger breeds for example will need help with their joints, smaller breeds for their teeth and some others may have specific requirements. Young animals should get food designed for growing etc. and older animals need special requirements too.
Laura
Where have all my garden birds gone?
If you are interested in birds and love watching real live wildlife right outside your home you probably routinely feed the birds. I was concerned I had seen so few this year, my mother commented it was the same 300 miles north – normally both of our tables need twice daily feeding to keep up with demand!
Last weekend the RSPB ran their annual birdwatch campaign – counting all species seen in your garden over one weekend. Across the country people dutifully watched and noted and the outcome was the numbers and variety of species had plummeted – was this cause for concern?
Apparently not. Experts have confirmed all species are as healthy as ever but due to the mild winter (my cherry tree blossomed over Christmas….) the birds are preferring the eat a healthier diet of berries, insects etc rather than the fast food snacks available at a table – maybe I should be taking some tips from them!
Here’s hoping I see plenty back for the nesting season.
Shona
Introducing a new dog to your current home and other pets can be tricky. Dogs are very territorial of their home and family, making it difficult to integrate new pets. However, with a few simple methods, you can make the transition easier both for yourself and your animals.
I have recently adopted another Siberian husky bitch called Starr, I was a bit worried about Shadow my male as he can be very protective towards his mother Skye. However he has taken to her like she has always been part of the family. Whereas Skye who normally gets on with most animals turned out to be the territorial one of the house.
The first week was hard making sure they didn’t fight, ensuring everyone ate there own food as Starr seemed to polish off everyone’s meals if given the opportunity. Skye has been a bit temperamental when, Starr tried to lie on her bed, however looks like Starr has realised Skye’s the boss of the house, and backs off so hopefully all will stay well.
I have even been leaving them alone this week and so far we still have three dogs, without cuts and scrapes. (phew) I was a bit scared the first day I left them, (actually I didn’t want to come home just in case!!) However I ensured they all had there food before I left, as its still to soon to leave them alone with food. I gave them a few bowls of fresh water and they had enough places to lie as they have the garden and conservatory to roam, fortunately all went well as far as I know anyway!!
Lindsay
St Clair Pet Care : Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests
February 1, 2012 6:49 am Pre-anaesthetic Testing
What you need to know if your pet is having surgery
Frequently asked questions
WHY SHOULD MY PET BE TESTED ON THE SAME DAY AS THE SURGERY?
- If your pet is having dental work or surgery, it is important to run same-day blood work prior to anaesthesia primarily to ensure your pet can properly process and eliminate the drugs given to induce and maintain anaesthesia. It is especially recommended in animals over the age of 7 years, as they are more likely to have problems.
- Pre-anaesthetic testing helps us understand whether your pet’s vital organs are functioning properly and alerts us to potential underlying diseases, which can help us create an individualized anaesthetic plan for your pet and avoid potential complications during surgery.
- Regardless of why your pet is being anaesthetized, pre-anaesthetic testing establishes a baseline for their individual health, which is helpful for future reference
WHAT INFORMATION WILL THE RESULTS OF MY PET’S BLOOD WORK SHOW?
- The blood sample is collected from a vein in the foreleg or neck and is used to check your pet’s blood cells (haematology part ), liver and kidneys as well as for diabetes (biochemistry part).
- Haematology is the check on the blood cells. Anaemia is where the red blood cells are low and this could be a worry if the operation is likely to cause a lot of blood loss. If the red blood cell level is high this is most likely a sign of dehydration so your pet is likely to need to go on a drip. A high white blood cell count is usually a sign of infection so your pet may be put on antibiotics.
- As anaesthetic drugs are mainly removed from your pet’s body by the liver and kidneys it is important to know how they are functioning.
- The liver is checked by measuring two enzymes in the blood, which are normally at very low levels. Any damage to the liver cells causes a release of these enzymes into the blood and can indicate an underlying problem that will need investigating.
- Urea and creatinine are removed from the blood by the kidneys so if the kidneys are not working properly levels rise.
- It is important to also check a urine sample to see how concentrated it is when looking at kidney function.
- Glucose is measured to ensure your pet is not diabetic (a urine sample will be required to interpret the result) and to make sure they have enough energy for the duration of the operation.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE MY PET FOR SURGERY?
- Make sure your pet has not eaten anything (fasted) at least 12 hours before surgery. Fasted samples ensure more accurate testing and interpretation of results.
- Bring any medication your pet is taking and consider taking along a favourite toy. The comforts of home can be a great help to your pet during recovery
- Ask questions if you don’t understand what is being done or why. Surgery can be complicated, so it is important to know all you can about your pet’s health.
Vio Doran
St Clair Pet Care : Anti-freeze
6:30 amAnti-Freeze Poisoning
You may not have noticed but it’s been a little cold this week! Many of us have to drive to work and de-icing products are commonly used to get us on our way. However you may not be aware of just how poisonous these products can be to cats and dogs.
The poison is called ethylene glycol and very little needs to be taken in to cause poisoning. It is a sweet substance and so attractive to dogs and cats (and wildlife).
This is a very severe poisoning and timing is of the essence as animals die very rapidly after ingestion – contact a vet IMMEDIATELY if you see your animal drinking some of the product or if you see the following signs.
1. 30 minutes after ingestion up to 12 hours (dependent on dose) looks like the animal is “drunk”. You may also see vomiting and seizures (fits).
2. 12-24 hours later the animal will have an incredibly high heart rate and breathing rate
3. 24-72 hours later the animal goes into renal (kidney) failure
Now this blog is mainly to make people aware that this is a poison as often people do not realise until too late that the animal has been poisoned. However we recently had a case where some very observant owners brought their cat in – he appears drunk and was breathing very fast. He was immediately put on fluids and sedated to control the fitting and given alcohol into his vein – this seems odd but it is the antidote for the poisoning! Although it took over 12 hours of sedation to control the fits the cat returned to full health with no kidney problems because of a very rapid diagnosis.
Rapid action is essential but prevention is always the best cure – make sure animals cannot get access to de-icers, certain transmission fluids and even the fluid in “snow globes”.
In the meantime let’s hope it warms up and de-icer is no longer required!
Shona
I have only been working at St Clair’s for 5month before which I worked nightshift for 5year therefore my dogs were used to being with people 24/7.
My first week working day shift this is what I returned home to
I think shadow has had an eventful day, don’t you??
This is nothing really, as when I started doing a few extra shifts meaning he was left for most days of the week rather than just a few hours here and there the little monster managed to eat his way through the whole sofa resulting in:
Just what you want to come home and deal with isn’t it?? NOT!!
Lindsay
St Clair Pet Care : Neutering
January 30, 2012 7:42 amNeutering is the general term used for the surgical removal of the reproductive organs in both male and female dogs.
• Castration is the removal of the testicles of the male dog.
• Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus of the female dog.
Neutering not only stops the birth of unwanted puppies but also has several health and behavioural benefits for your dog.
A castrated dog is usually a healthier dog. They are at less risk of getting prostate problems later in life and will not get testicular cancers.
Castrated dogs usually make better pets as they tend to have less desire to roam and mark their territory. If castrated before sexual maturity, they are less likely to exert dominance over family members and become aggressive.
A female dog that has been spayed will not come into season every 6-9 months, avoiding the mess related to the season and temperament changes associated with the fluctuating hormones. You will not have the worry of unwanted attention from male dogs so will be able to continue exercising or working your dog as normal.
Neutered bitches are also healthier as there is less chance of them getting mammary tumours (breast cancer). An un-neutered bitch may develop a pyometra (womb infection) if not spayed, which is a potentially fatal condition and requires an emergency hysterectomy.
We recommend neutering your dog from 4-6 months of age.
Carolyn
There are several basic functions to be addressed when hand rearing kittens. These include the provision of a clean, warm environment, a strict feeding regimen, attention to urination and defecation (emptying of the bowels), and attention to general health.
Total dedication and commitment is required by the carer at all times.
Hand rearing a kitten is an extremely intensive and demanding time condensed into a short period of your life. The rewards of my labours far exceed your sleepless nights.
Bottles can be bought which are specially designed for kittens. The size of the hole in the teat is critical. If when the bottle is turned upside down the milk drips from the teat, the hole is too large, and there is a risk of drowning the kitten. If when the bottle is turned upside down the milk only comes out after considerable squeezing of the bottle, the hole is too small, and its use may result in the kitten becoming discouraged and refusing to feed. The correct size hole allows the milk to drip from the teat with minimal squeezing of the bottle. Alternatively, you can use a syringe but you must never push the plunger down – always let the kitten suckle and the plunger will go down naturally. If the plunger does stick, never push down while kitten in suckling – always remove the syringe from the kittens mouth to unblock the milk.
You must also never feed your kittens with cow’s milk or ‘cats milk’ from the supermarket. Only use a replacement queen’s milk formula, eg. Cimicat, KMR or similar, available from veterinary surgeries.
Kittens under 2 weeks old should be fed 10 times in 24 hours. Kittens between 2 and 4 weeks old should be fed every 3 hours. Kittens at 4 weeks old should be fed every 4 hours and be starting to eat solid food.
Hygiene is vitally important as orphaned kittens are prone to infections. Feeding utensils and personal hygiene when feeding and stimulating to urinate and defecate are vital.
Kittens hand reared in isolation from other cats is at risk of developing psychological abnormalities, including nervousness, aggression and a reduced ability to cope with strange surroundings, people or animals. Kittens hand reared in the presence of other cats are less likely to be affected, since they can develop by watching the other cats.
Socialisation is extremely important for well adjusted kittens. Introduce the kittens to other animals as soon as possible.
As previously said, hand rearing kittens is an exhausting job but so worth it.
Julie
Pets & Babies
When expecting a new arrival into the home it can be a very joyous but stressful time for all involved. Preparing a new nursery and safeguarding the home, bringing lots of new items into the environment, and there may be lots of visitors coming and going etc.
Now all this may be exciting to human members of the household but it can be a very anxious time for pets in the home. The advantage for people is we understand what is happening where as pets can find it very upsetting.
Firstly you should start preparing when you find out there will be a new arrival, try not to leave it to the last minute. If there are going to be changes, for example rooms that may become off limits, changes in routines etc. start making these changes ahead of time. Slowly introduce new ideas and items to pets so they get used to new smells and being around new things. Start adjusting your routine so it is not a sudden change for them.
There are also things like ADAPTIL & Feliway (an appeasing pheromone) to help pets become more accustomed and to help ease them in to changes. They also help when the baby has arrived to help keep them calm and relaxed. ‘Sounds’ CD’s can be a great tool as well. Sounds Soothing was created to help dogs become used to the sounds they may hear from a new baby.
When baby has arrived there will be lots of cleaning but do remember to let pets smell things before cleaning, this will help them become accustomed to the new addition. Likewise for the furniture that will be introduced, wipe the items i.e. cot, highchair etc at the pet’s height with a cloth so that it has the pets smell on it, this can help the object to not seem as foreign to them.
Finally do remember to make a fuss of your pets when the baby is around, not just when the baby is asleep. Your pet needs to know the presence of a baby is a good thing, try petting and giving treats to your pets when they behave around the baby. Remember not to force interaction between baby and your pet’s, they need to do it at their own pace, and always under supervision no matter how much you trust your beloved companion.
Most importantly, enjoy this very special time, children brought up with pets learn very valuable lessons about nurturing and caring, in fact they even have better immune functioning because of it!
Laura Wood
St Clair Pet Care at Blyth : Microchipping Success!!
March 21, 2011 8:21 am
Laura
St Clair Pet Clair at Blyth : Microchip Promotion
January 11, 2011 3:32 amSt Clair Pet Care in Blyth : Xmas Gift Ideas
December 21, 2010 10:00 am
Carolyn and Amy
Amy
Carolyn
St Clair Pet Care in Blyth : November Young Ones Winner
December 10, 2010 6:15 amThe lucky winner of our November Young Ones competition is Cassie, a lovely little cocker spaniel.
She wins a voucher worth £10.00 to spend at St Clair Pet Care.
Bring your puppy along to start its vaccination course at St Clair Pet Care, pose for their picture taken – and they could be in with a chance of winning!
St Clair Pet Care in Blyth : Topic of the Month Board
December 7, 2010 5:06 amSt Clair Pet Care in Blyth: Should I get a new sofa, or a new dog ???
November 19, 2010 5:43 am
... that is the question............
St Clair Pet Care In Blyth : Preventative Medicine
September 21, 2010 4:48 amSt Clair Pet Care in Blyth: Smudge’s Recovery
September 10, 2010 5:53 amSt Clair Pet Care in Blyth: Leyla Visits France!
August 31, 2010 6:24 amSt Clair Vets in Blyth Recommend Disease Prevention
August 24, 2010 11:44 amSt Clair Pet Care and Stewie’s update
August 17, 2010 5:59 amStewie our overweight, dieting cat came in for his first weight check a week or so ago. His owner was sure the cat was looking ‘thinner’ but the scales told a different story. 
Stewie had actually put weight on!! He had put on almost 200g. He did not seem bothered about the weight gain but his owner was mortified – she was convinced the scales would show a big weight loss. We did discover that Stewie’s mammy hadn’t been weighing his new food and that the cat had also been found standing in a pan of stew eating the contents!! This cat is very determined when it comes to finding food. We have photographic evidence of him with his head in a tin of beans! He has been sent packing for another 4 weeks and this time his food is getting measured and he is banned from the kitchen :-)
He is going to have a daily exercise regime – for although his tummy trails the floor, he can still run and jump and loves to chase a laser light around the floor.
Julie
