Ark Veterinary Centre

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Talking Christmas Lights (Personalize) I don't know how you got tangled up with someone like me, but I'm glad you did! Wishing you a ball of happiness and string of good luck in the year ahead!

The nights are drawing in and we are approaching that time of year that some dog owners dread (though possibly not quite as much as their dogs). If you have pets please read the info below and if your dog is one of those that suffer badly then please contact us to we can try and put a treatment plan in place to ease things for everyone.
Keep safe
Sinead

Fireworks
Animals have a very acute sense of hearing. This can lead to them becoming agitated and distressed when confronted with loud, unexpected noises. About 49% of dog owners have reported that their pet is frightened of loud noises. Sound sensitivities are rarely reported in the cat, however they are more likely so run away and hide from the noise, so their distress is less obvious to their owners

At times like Nov 5th and New Year’s Eve when chances of fireworks are high, planning is critical. Before the night, identify a safe location in the house (for cats and dogs), or move hutches to a secure location.

For dogs make a den and give them time to get used to it. On the night, close windows and darken rooms as dusk approaches. Turn on the radio or tv to disguise bangs and flashes, but don’t have the volume blaring as this can cause stress itself. Favourite chews or toys can provide a distraction. It is important to quietly reward them when they are show that they are coping well, and not when they are showing signs of stress. Do not leave them alone on nights where there are likely to be fireworks. However, do not fuss over them when they show signs of stress as this will reinforce that the stress reaction is appropriate. Even with all these strategies some animals will still show significant stress and these will benefit from medication. Please contact the surgery well in advance of fireworks night if you feel your pet will need medication, as the dose required will vary from dog to dog. It is important to work out the appropriate dose in advance of it being needed.

For cats it is crucial to keep them indoors during this time. Ensure they are indoors well before dusk, lock cat flaps and make sure they have litter trays. Provide hidey holes and make sure they are accessible. Have food, water and litter tray nearby. Again closing windows, darkening the room and having background noise will reduce the impact of the loud bangs on your pet.

Don’t forget about small furries, especially those in the garden. Where possible, move hutches to a safe and quiet location. Where this can’t be done, soundproofing using bales of straw or blankets around the hutch can be helpful. Ensure there is plenty of bedding to allow them to hide if they are feeling stressed.

Animals that are born in the autumn and that hear fireworks while they are young, will accept these noises much more readily. It is important to not stop them from hearing fireworks, but just monitor to ensure they are not showing any signs of stress. For those born in the new year, who are unlikely to hear fireworks until they are 9-10 months old, you can prepare them by playing cds of fireworks and other loud noises. It is important to start the cds off at a low volume and gradually increase to volume while monitoring for any signs of stress. Reward the puppy for any good adaptive behaviours.

For those dogs that become very distressed when fireworks go off, it is possible to desensitise them to these noises. Again using a cd of the sounds, and starting at a low volume. This process takes a long time and needs to be done carefully. Please speak to one of the vets at the surgery if you would like to try and desensitise your dog.

Request for assistance. A dog tracking device fell off a collar on epson common. Someone has kindly picked it up and it is somewhere along Hookfield in epsom. If anyone knows who has it , if they could let me know, or drop it into the vets it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Sinead

New service
After helping a couple of friends find the right puppies to join their families, it reinforced my belief in how important it is to choose the right dog for your situation and lifestyle and also how tricky it can be to understand the marketplace and avoid unscrupulous breeders and scam merchants if you don't know what to look for.
So to try and help out, we are going to trial a pre-puppy class, where prospective owners can come and ask all the things they need to know beforehand and hopefully make the whole process so much less daunting and end up with the perfect addition to their family.
We will run this about every 3 weeks on a saturday from 12.30 - 1.30. If you can spread the word and see if this is a service that people need/ want. There is no charge and to book a place all you need to do is call the surgery on 020 8786 0777. Places will be limited to ensure I can answer all the questions, and you do not have to be registered with us to use this service.
thanks
Sinead x

Found Kitten
We have a young kitten found in a shed yesterday, may have been missing for a few days, quite poorly and very dehydrated. If you know anyone who may have lost a kitten please get them to contact us, preferably with photos, but if not, age/sex/colour will help us identify if it may be theirs.
We are all keeping our fingers crossed that they respond to treatment
Sinead

Hi everyone
We have a vacancy coming up for a student veterinary nurse. If you know anyone who may be a good fit for our team, then please spread the word.
I attach a picture of a pretty privot hawk moth for your amusement, as the are night flyers they are very docile during the day.

https://www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk/team/current-vacancies/

After 3 years of hard work and studying, Chloe is going to take a a little down time and will be heading off to the other side of the world after the summer to experience life "down under", combining her loves of travelling and animals for the next year or so. While we are all very excited for her (and a little jealous, although she has promised lots of photos) It does mean that we will have a vacancy at Ark Vets. We would ideally like an RVN but would consider an experienced SVN. If you know anyone who you think would be a good fit for our team at Ark Vets, please send them our link
https://www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk/team/current-vacancies/

Sinead

Current Vacancies Current Vacancies At the Ark Veterinary Centre, we pride ourselves on being a friendly, client focused, high spec independent veterinary practice. We are always looking for similar minded people to join our team. The practise is in Epsom Surrey within easy commuting to both London and the south coas...

Huge congratulations to Hannah and Chloe who have both passed their final exam and are now fully qualified Registered Veterinary Nurses, they are both amazing nurses and have very bright futures.
Well done from all of us at the Ark
Sinead

Ark Vets is recruiting a part time receptionist, if you know anyone suitable, please share.

Current Vacancies Current Vacancies At the Ark Veterinary Centre, we pride ourselves on being a friendly, client focused, high spec independent veterinary practice. We are always looking for similar minded people to join our team. The practise is in Epsom Surrey within easy commuting to both London and the south coas...

Update on the kitten, the owner was located and she has been returned to her very relieved family.
This reminds us of the importance of microchipping even when they are young, as would allow us to immediately contact owners.
Thanks for sharing everyone, a happy ending
Sinead x

Found Kitten
a kitten was found yesterday in the tolworth area, if you know someone who has recently lost their kitten ask them to call us on 020 8786 0777 with details of it and photos and hopefully we can get it home very soon
please share
thanks
Sinead

Hi Everyone
I hope you all coped ok with the very hot days last week. Most of us are aware of the health risks to our pets when the thermostat is very high, but muggy days in the low to mid 20s can also be very dangerous, especially as we are not feeling the effects ourselves. We must remember that our pets are wearing fur coats, and can only cool down by panting and this is not effective if the weather is warm and muggy, and any flat faced breed will find it even more difficult to cope.
The British Veterinary Association has provided guidance, please read and share.
Sinead x

Animal welfare and veterinary groups who warn about the real and serious dangers of leaving dogs in cars are this year also highlighting the risks of walking dogs during hotter weather, including sunstroke and overheating, as well as burning their pads on scorching pavements.
Pet owners are being urged to learn the early warning signs of heat-related illness so they can avoid putting their dog at risk, and also know what action to take in an emergency.
Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, said vets see dogs with a range of issues:
“Heat-related illness can lead to organ failure, brain damage and ultimately death.
“Most people know that dogs die in hot cars, but the reality is that more than 10 times as many dogs need veterinary treatment for heat-related illness following exercise as for being overheated in cars.
“It can take weeks for a dog to acclimatize to hot weather, so after a spell of cold winter, periods of hot weather can be particularly dangerous.”
Esme Wheeler, RSPCA dog welfare specialist, said owners can provide a paddling pool and make frozen dog treats to keep their pets cool and entertained if they’re worried about missing exercise during hot weather.
She added: “The truth is, walking dogs in hot weather can be a silent killer. When a heatwave is forecast, we all start making plans for enjoying the outdoors and soaking up the sunshine, and for those of us with dogs, this often includes bringing them along. While the majority would never leave our dogs in a car on a hot day, or even take our dogs for a really long walk in the heat, many people may still be putting their dogs at risk even on a short walk, or taking them to places such as fields and beaches with little or no shade.
“All breeds of dog are at risk, but if your dog has an underlying health condition, especially one affecting their breathing, then they could overheat more easily, as well as overweight dogs, dogs with double coats, and some larger and flat-faced breeds.
“We have long-campaigned that dogs die in hot cars, but this year we’re highlighting that dogs die on hot walks, too. The message remains very simple - never leave a dog in a hot car because ‘not long’ is too long, and when it comes to walks, ‘if in doubt, don’t go out.’
The Dogs Die in Hot Cars coalition is urging pet owners to learn the early warning signs of heat related illness and know how to take action in an emergency.
Which dogs are at greater risk?
Dr O’Neill advises:
Dogs cool down by panting, so dogs with any kind of breathing issue may struggle to pant effectively and may struggle to cool down. This is especially a problem for brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs that have narrowed airways, dogs with respiratory diseases such as laryngeal paralysis, and dogs with heart disease, to name a few.
Dogs also lose heat directly to their surrounding air, so dogs with thick coats, wearing doggy-clothes, and overweight dogs with excess body fat will retain more heat and cool more slowly during exercise.
Unfit dogs and dehydrated dogs cool down more slowly than dogs that are athletically fit and well hydrated. So, if your dog has been injured, is unwell, or just hasn’t done as much exercise recently as perhaps you would have liked, then they will get hotter faster and will take longer to cool down when exercising.
What are the signs of heat-related illness in dogs?
Excessive panting that doesn’t stop when the dog rests.
Difficulty breathing, especially if there is unusual noise or any blue/grey tinge to gums or tongue.
Unusual tiredness - becoming tired sooner than normal.
Changes in behaviour - lying down more frequently and stumbling.
Less keen to play.

Well, I survived! moving about like an 80 year old today but hopefully that will pass in the next few days. It was a great night, saw areas of London that I have never seen before, photos attached for those that are interested.
26.2 miles, in just over 8 hours, finished at 7am, then had to walk another 1.5 miles to get the train home (should have planned that better!).
Thanks everyone for your support. I have a paperwork day tomorrow but hopefully, normal service will be resuming Tuesday
Sinead x

Its D-Day!
Only a few hours to go, don't think mind or body are quite ready (if they ever would be!)
A few people have asked how they can sponsor so here is the link again
https://walkthewalk.enthuse.com/pf/sinead-armstrong
A big thank you to all who have donated. The last 2 years have hit those with cancer really hard, with delays on diagnosis and treatment, isolation from others due to covid risks on top of all the stresses it normally brings with it. Every little bit of awareness and assistance we can give is much appreciated.
I will update you all in the morning when I get home (never did manage to do the facebook thing from my phone!), the fingers should hopefully still be working even if the legs aren't 😅

The MoonWalk London 2022 I've created this page because I want to make a difference. I'm inspired by the work of Walk the Walk and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in the MoonWalk London 202

So update on my marathon training (just over one week to go!), managed another 20km walk yesterday and still standing, so all looking positive.
Luci on the other hand is responding much faster to the training and was ready for a game in the garden straight afterwards, I may be creating a monster!
Thanks to all of you who have shown your support in sponsoring me, it is much appreciated and will keep me going on the night.
I will keep you updated.
Sinead x

Hi Everyone
Due to one of our nurses moving to Bristol to be with her boyfriend (and who are we to stand in the way of love!) we are looking for another nurse to join our team. Ideally we would like a RVN but would consider an exceptional trainee.
If you know anyone who may fit the bill please pass on the link
https://www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk/team/current-vacancies/
thanks
Sinead

Current Vacancies Current Vacancies At the Ark Veterinary Centre, we pride ourselves on being a friendly, client focused, high spec independent veterinary practice. We are always looking for similar minded people to join our team. The practise is in Epsom Surrey within easy commuting to both London and the south coas...

Over the last couple of years covid has preoccupied most of our thoughts and actions. Before covid hit I had signed up to do the walk the walk marathon in support of breast cancer. This was partly to remember my cousin Sharon who died of breast cancer and partly to push myself out of my comfort zone, because no matter what Sharon did she hit it at 100miles an hour.
The marathon was postponed due to covid, but in less that 2 weeks is actually going to happen. I am a bit behind with my training regime but today did a 20km walk with Martin and Luci. Martin is fine, the photos show how Luci feels, and let's just say a few glasses of wine and some ibuprofen are helping my knees come to terms with what I am inflicting on them.
The NHS have been overwhelmed in the last couple of years, and unfortunately a lot of individuals suffering from cancer have had treatment delayed or been much more isolated during their treatment. Anything we can do to help them with their fight is gratefully appreciated and if you would like to sponsor me (or more honestly, sponsor my knees as they are the weak link and need the most support) then click on the following link.
I will put an update on completion. ps Luci did get an extra feed tonight!

https://walkthewalk.enthuse.com/pf/sinead-armstrong

Thanks for your support
Sinead

Welcome to our new Colleague
Exciting news at Ark Vets, we are delighted to welcome Tarryn to the family at Ark Vets. She joined us last month from South Africa where she has worked for the last 8 years, and is settling in really well. Along with all our other roles in general practice, Tarryn also specialises is acupuncture and electro acupuncture, which fits in well with our rehabilitation unit and we have great plans to develop this area further - watch this space.
With Tarryn joining me and Holly we now have over 40 years worth of experience at our fingertips, and I might even get some time off!
Keep well everyone
Sinead

Thanks for all the help with our decking issue. We have a team booked and hopefully by the end of march the outdoor waiting area will be up and secure.
I now know what to do next time I need to get a problem solved. Cheers everyone
Sinead

Hi everyone, I am reaching out to see if anyone can help find us a decking person who is familiar with working with composite decking to finish a job at the surgery. I have been attempting (very unsuccessfully) to organise to have an enclosed decked area in front of the surgery to allow people to have somewhere nice and safe to wait outside, if they do not wish to wait in the waiting room and to give us a bit more space. We have been let down at the last moment by 2 contractors, others feel our job is "too small" for them. I have sourced the composite decking as there are shortages of this now, and have the fitments for it, but need someone who can lay the base frame and is familiar with the composite decking (a bit fiddlier than normal wooden decking). If anyone knows/ can recommend someone to us we would much appreciate it
Thanks in hopeful anticipation
Sinead

Hi Everyone
I hope you are keeping well and that the pressures of the last couple of years are easing. I wanted to contact all our clients to update them on our plans regarding covid at Ark Vets.

We have been fortunate to have remained fairly untouched by covid, and haven’t had to close our doors at any point. That’s in part due to the protocols we have in place (thanks you to all of you for following these for us), and also due to the continued hard work and care taken by our team.

Moving forward, while the risks are reducing, they have not gone away and so to ensure that we remain open and available we will still be requiring that anyone who enters the surgery wears a face mask. We also ask that you apply hand sanitiser on entry into the practice and that only one person comes into the consulting room with the pet as it is a small space with limited ventilation.

Finally we would ask that if you feel unwell (even only slightly) you do not enter the surgery, either ask someone else to come in for you, or wait outside and we will come out to you.

I appreciate that as the hospitality sector etc appear to be returning to normal our measures may seem slightly excessive to some. However, an outbreak of covid in the practice could result in us closing our doors to everyone for at least 5 days. I am aware that the other practices in the area have limited reserves to cope with an influx of new or urgent appointments, so for the sake of our pets we need to be careful.

Take care and keep well

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Prairie Dog Christmas (Personalize Lyrics) [Narrator] Each year, the snow-covered Great Plains become a winter wonderland, home to the North American Black-Tailed prairie dogs. Seen here going into their burrows, the prairie dogs prepare for t

Bird Flu
Bird flu is rapidly spreading across the UK, It is not only a highly infectious and highly fatal disease, it is also notifiable, meaning that if any animal is suspected of it, government vets will be dispatched to examine, test and euthanise any infected birds or in contact birds. It is essential that all poultry is kept under cover with food/ water that can not be accessed by wildlife, to minimise the risk to them from this horrible virus.
When I was out with the dogs yesterday on the north downs near dorking, I saw several sick and dead pigeons in the undergrowth which makes me concerned it is in this area, so keep your birds protected, there is no vaccination or treatment for it.
For more information have a look at the government website
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
Sinead

For our cat clients enjoy, watch the volume control if you have dogs about 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXezLv_5RaY
Sinead

Bohemian Catsody - A Rhapsody Parody Song for Every Cat Queen and King! Cats are royalty. We are their willing servants. Bohemian Catsody - enjoy a parody song of the Queen classic, Bohemian Rhapsody, this time, all about CATS! S...

High spec, independent 2 vet first opinion practice in Epsom Surrey looking for a 3rd Vet - ideal for new graduate. Epsom is within easy commuting to both London and the south coast.

We are a supportive team and due to practice growth, we need to recruit a 3rd vet. If you are a recent grad we would like to talk to you as we feel we can help support and provide you with a great learning environment and the ability to manage your own cases, with the back up of experienced vets on the premises where you need it. For those more experienced we have a wide and varied caseload guaranteed to have something to excite you.

Our current team consists of 2 vets, 1 RVN, 2 SVNs (both experienced and nearing the end of their course) and 1 ACA, along with 4 lovely receptionists who are very good at keeping the front of house running smoothly. Our 2 vets have a total of 35 years’ experience between them and both will be available to mentor and support you if needed.

We have a wide array of "toys" (therapeutic laser, harmonic scalpel, dental x-ray, underwater treadmill etc) so the ability to pursue an interest in any discipline is available. We offer a 4 day week with 1 in 3 Saturday mornings, 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and no out of hours.

Salary range on offer is 35k - 60k depending on experience, along with the usual pension, subscriptions & CPD allowance. Accommodation is available if needed.

We are looking for someone with good communication skills and a genuine interest in general practice and all it can offer. Team culture is important to us, and we are keen to invest in the right person, not simply fill a vacancy.

Check us out at www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk

Please do give us a call on 020 8786 0777, we’d be happy to talk through our practice and the role and answer any questions you have, ask for Sinead. Alternatively you can send us your details via [Email hidden].

At Ark Vets our priority is the health and wellbeing of our patients, their owners and our team. With this in mind and to try and minimise the risks of covid on our staff and practice we will be continuing our present protocols.

These are:

- Temperature check on arrival of all clients entering the building
- Face masks must be worn at all times in the practice
- Hand sanitising on entry into the practice
- Only one client to accompany the animal in the consult room
- Maximum 15 minute appointments

If anyone in your close contacts has any signs of illness / covid, and you need to book an appointment for your pet, please make reception aware of the situation and we will do all we can to ensure treatment of your pet while maintaining the safety of our staff.

The rising levels of covid are concerning and the chances of the practice being temporarily closed through test and trace are very real, so we appreciate you all supporting us during these difficult times.

Keep safe everyone

Sinead

Hi Everyone. We are looking for an additional veterinary nurse to join us at Ark Vets. If you know anyone who you think would be a good fit for our team, can you share the link.
https://www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk/team/current-vacancies/
Thanks
Sinead

It's the time of hairy caterpillars again.
The Oak Processionary Moth is back in force this year with nests on many tree trunks. Remember these insects are highly irritant causing severe skin and respiratory reactions in humans and pets alike.
Give them a wide birth and if you spot any that are not cordoned off report to the council
Sinead

While we don't have a lot more news about the pancytopenia in cats, we have updated out website with what is known to date, and a link to the Food Standards Agency recall.
We will let you know as more information becomes available

https://www.arkvets-ewell.co.uk/urgent-cat-food-recall/

Sinead

URGENT Cat food recall URGENT Cat food recall 21st June 2021 by Martin Over the last month there have been an alarming number of cats presenting to veterinary practices across the UK with a condition called pancytopenia. This means a lack of all blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets). The clinical....

There is a new and severe, frequently fatal illness appearing in cats across the UK.
It is a condition called pancytopenia where the body stops producing red and white blood cells in the bone marrow. This leads to severe anaemia and an inability to fight any infections.
A blood test and sometimes a bone marrow biopsy is required to diagnose it.
Normally we may see occasional cases but in the last few weeks there have been dozens of cases across the uk, sometimes several in one household.
It is still rare, but while the specialists are trying to work out what could be causing it, please spread the word for all cat owner to be vigilant. We do not know if it is an infection, or a toxin, but some cat foods have been recalled just in case.
https://www.foldhill.co.uk/fold-hill-foods-ltd-is-recalling-a-number-of-products-it-manufactures-on-behalf-of-partner-brands/
I will update if I get any more news.
keep safe
Sinead

FOLD HILL FOODS LTD IS RECALLING A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS IT MANUFACTURES ON BEHALF OF PARTNER BRANDS - Fold Hill : Fold Hill June 15, 2021 6:28 pm FOLD HILL FOODS LTD IS RECALLING A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS IT MANUFACTURES ON BEHALF OF PARTNER BRANDS Food Recall AlertWe are voluntarily recalling the dry products we manufacture for the brands detailed in the link below as a precautionary measure. We are supporting an investigati...