Medivet Parsons Green

Did you brush your dog’s teeth today?

You can help prevent dental problems and oral disease in your dog by brushing their teeth daily – with dog friendly toothpaste, providing the right diet, and seeing your vet regularly for check-ups.

Read more advice about dog dental care and taking care of their teeth in our useful article here: https://bit.ly/4cstezZ

Do you know how to spot blue-green algae?

Exposure to blue-green algae can cause long-term health problems in pets and can even be fatal. By drinking from or swimming in contaminated water, pets are at a high risk of becoming seriously ill.

Contact your vet immediately if you think your pet is at risk of blue-green algae poisoning. For more information of what to look out for and how to protect your pet, read our advice article here: https://bit.ly/3LqTmA4

Over the summer, our vets see a lot of dogs who have issues because of grass seeds. It is important to contact your vet immediately if you suspect your dog has an injury caused by a grass seed.

If walking your dog in long grass or woodland areas, we recommend checking your dog over and brushing away any grass seeds after the walk is done. Pay particular attention to paws, ears, eyes, and armpits.

To learn more about grass seeds, and our four simple steps for dealing with them, read our helpful advice article here: https://bit.ly/3zAdaOP

Do you have questions about neutering your cat? It's something we strongly advise as it has many benefits for them and helps to tackle the number of stray cats in the UK.

Female cats will benefit from reduced risk of unwanted pregnancy, certain health conditions and even certain types of cancer. For male cats, neutering reduces their urge to fight other males, lessening the chance of certain diseases, and it also means they are less likely to mark their territory around your home.

Find out more about neutering your cat here: https://bit.ly/3VK9elK

Pets can develop skin allergies at any age, so it's important to make sure you know the signs and symptoms. Dogs may start scratching excessively, whereas cats may start licking their belly, back, or behind their legs more than usual.

The most common skin allergy is called atopic dermatitis, and although it's a lifelong condition, it can be controlled and managed, meaning your pet can lead a normal and healthy life. Treatments may include medication, supplements, or even newer monoclonal antibody treatments.

Read more about atopic dermatitis and how your vet can help here: https://www.medivetgroup.com/pet-care/pet-advice/skin-allergies-atopy/

Dogs can pick up kennel cough multiple times throughout their lives, but in most cases, they can recover in a few weeks.

During this time, you should encourage your dog to rest and avoid collar and lead activity as it could put more strain on their respiratory system. You should talk to your vet if your dog’s cough persists, or if you notice any changes in behaviour such as a reduced appetite or less energy.

Our article on kennel cough explains more about the infection, what to look out for, and how to treat it. Read more here: https://bit.ly/44CKnV0

Is your rabbit protected against Myxomatosis? This highly infectious viral disease has a very high mortality rate and can leave your rabbit prone to other infections.

The best way to protect your rabbit is to vaccinate them, especially as there is no cure if your rabbit becomes infected. There's also ways to reduce the risk of your rabbit catching the virus.

You can read more about them, and Myxomatosis, in our advice article here: https://bit.ly/4blrPLu

Whether the sun is out or hiding in the clouds, your pets will want to be out in the garden this spring. Did you know there may be some hidden dangers in your garden that can injure or poison your pet?

Pets can develop allergies to certain plants, pollen, and insects. If you notice any hay-fever like symptoms, such as itchy, watery eyes or sneezing, contact your vet for advice. They can help you identify the causes and ease your pet’s symptoms.

Read more about keeping your pet safe in the garden here: https://bit.ly/3QCazcF

Can you feed your rabbit cauliflower, courgette, or brussel sprouts? The answer is yes, but only in small amounts. Vegetables should account for around 15% of their diet.

We’ve put together an essential guide to caring for your pet rabbit that will help you make sure your rabbit stays happy and healthy. It includes information about their diet, the vaccinations they need, what environment they should be kept in, and how to manage their behaviour.

Learn more about your rabbit and what they need in our essential rabbit care guide here: https://bit.ly/44fPM4a

Training your dog and teaching them commands can be really rewarding. If you're wanting your dog to learn some simple commands, we've put some tips together to help.

All dogs learn at a different rate so be patient, be consistent in your approach, avoid distractions, reward them with praise and occasional treats, and always have fun while you're doing it.

Read our dog training tips here: https://bit.ly/4dc7gCS

Making sure your rabbit has the right diet will not only keep them healthy and full of the nutrients they need, but can also improve their dental health and regulate their digestive system.

Hay and grass should make up around 80% of your rabbit's diet, this can be fresh or dried grass, but they should have unlimited access to it. They can have a small amount of vegetables each day, around 15% of their diet. Rabbit-safe vegetables include broccoli, carrots, courgette and green beans.

Find out more about rabbit nutrition here: https://bit.ly/3UdgWpg

We've put together our top tips and advice to help keep your pet safe this Easter weekend.

It's important to keep your pets away from Easter treats, especially chocolate as this is highly toxic. Make sure you always call your vet immediately for advice if you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate.

For more advice read here: https://bit.ly/49dMwHA

Today is the first day of spring 🌼 so if you've started planning your spring clean, it's important to know how to keep this pet-friendly.

Always keep your household cleaning products securely stored away, clean up all spills immediately, and allow cleaned surfaces to completely dry before letting your pet walk on them.

To find out about the common toxic cleaners to watch out for read here: https://bit.ly/3xaHJJu

Regular vaccinations are essential for keeping your dog protected from potentially fatal diseases such as parvovirus, canine hepatitis and kennel cough. Certain diseases require booster vaccinations every year.

Read more about dog vaccinations here: https://bit.ly/43e83OQ

Fleas can be very uncomfortable for your pet, so it's important to check your cat all year round so you can catch any fleas early, as if they're left untreated they could lead to more serious illnesses. The first signs may be red inflamed skin, regular scratching or biting of the skin.

Speak to your vet for the best treatment option for your cat, and read here for more advice: https://bit.ly/48ti3Fb

Rabbit's body language is subtle, and therefore it can be harder to figure out how they're feeling. There's a few common behaviours that might notice in your pet rabbit. These include chinning; your rabbit will rub things with the underside of their chin to mark their scent, nudging; they may nudge you to get your attention, and fur pulling; this could be a sign of boredom or pain.

To find out more about the common behaviours in rabbits and their body language, read our advice here: https://bit.ly/3SUqGTb

Dental disease can seriously impact your dogs overall health, so keeping a good dental routine is really important to help prevent this.

Regular brushing of their teeth, a low-sugar diet and attending regular dental check-ups are the best way to prevent dental disease.

Read here to find out the five ways dental disease can affect your dog's health: https://bit.ly/3UJuXvy

Puppy socialisation is one of the most important things you can do, these early experiences will help them grow into a calm, confident and loving companion. 🐶

You can start socialising your puppy as soon as you pick them up, this could be something simple like getting them used to being picked up.

Find out more about puppy socialisation here: https://bit.ly/47Zl3Zn

Today is the start of 🐾

Throughout the month we'll be sharing our advice on caring for your senior pets, highlighting some of the common health issues that they might start to experience as they get older.

Find out more about caring for older pets below:
https://www.medivet.co.uk/senior-dog-care/
https://www.medivet.co.uk/senior-cat-care/

With Halloween approaching next week we've put together some tips to help you keep your pet safe. Always keep sweets and treats out of paws' reach, and don't let your pets near pumpkins with lit candles inside. Swap out the real candles for battery operated ones to minimise the risk. 🎃

If your pet gets nervous around unfamiliar visitors, maybe try to leave the treats outside for trick or treaters to help themselves or create a cosy space away from your front door for your pet to relax in.

To find out more about Halloween safety read here: https://bit.ly/472RyGg

Fireworks season is approaching fast and we know this can be a stressful and anxious time for your pets, so we're sharing our top tips to help prepare.

If you take your dog for a walk later at night, try to change your routine slightly and go earlier to avoid being outside when fireworks start. Provide plenty of hiding spaces, and keep curtains, windows and blinds closed.

If you want to find out more tips about how to make the fireworks season comfortable for your pet read here: https://bit.ly/48U3DPI

Oral disease is one of the largest health problems in dogs, so prevention from an early age is key. Brushing their teeth daily is the most effective way to ensure they're clean, and taking them for regular dental check ups. 🦷

Read here for more advice on looking after your dog's teeth: https://bit.ly/3EgBYsF

Fleas are extremely irritating for your pet, and can also cause other health issues. Regular flea prevention is an essential part of your dog, cat or rabbits care routine. Your vet will be able to give you advice on the best flea treatment for your pet.

Keeping their environment clean and regularly washing bedding and toys is another simple way to help prevent fleas.

Find out more about flea control and treatment here: https://bit.ly/48N8mme

Kennel cough is a highly infectious disease in dogs, which can be spread by just touching noses or sharing a water bowl with an infected dog. The main symptom is the cough, however they may also be a bit sneezy or have a runny nose.

Your dog will most likely recover from kennel cough in a few weeks, but you should talk to your vet if they develop a high temperature or reduced appetite.

Read here for more advice on kennel cough: https://bit.ly/3ROfSap

Is your dog neutered? There's multiple health reasons why neutering can be a good idea for both male and female dogs, including reducing the risk of cancer.

If you're thinking about getting your dog spayed or neutered, speak to your vet for advice.

Read here to find out more about the benefits: https://bit.ly/46idXzo