new law on microchipping is great news for owners and pets alike.

PET&PRACTICE
SPRING EDITION
CATS
WHY DO CATS MEOW AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
HEDGEHOGS
EMERGING FROM HIBERATION. SPRING IS HERE.
MICROCHIPPING
NEW LAW ON
MICROCHIPPING
IS GREAT NEWS
FOR OWNERS
AND PETS ALIKE.
SPRING
2016
In this edition
MICROCHIPPING
Chips are good for pets and now a legal requirement for dogs.
HEDGEHOGS
Emerging from hiberation. Spring is here after a long wet winter.
CATS
Why do cats meow and what does it mean? Important cat questions
answered.
The personal pet assistant app
ANNOUNCEMENTS
All the latest news from the practice, our clients and our furry little
Reminders
Pet Profiles
Your Vet
Parasite & antibiotic
treatments, boosters
& important dates
Store important
pet details and
track their weight
Link to your vet for
practice information
and quick contact
friends.
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
Download free from your app store
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MICROCHIPPING
NEW LAW ON
MICROCHIPPING
DOGS IS GREAT
NEWS FOR
OWNERS AND
PETS ALIKE.
Microchip identification is a
permanent method of safeguarding
your pet should it go missing and
is now a legal requirement for all
puppies and dogs from the age of 8
weeks.
The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is
implanted under the skin between the shoulder
blades rather like an injection. It takes just a few
minutes but lasts a lifetime. The chip contains
a unique code that identifies the animal and
the owner. The registered details, including
the owner’s name, address and contact phone
numbers are logged and held centrally on a
data base. This data is compliant with the Data
Protection Requirements and the information
stored is available only to authorised persons.
We register all of our microchips implanted via
a secure portal on the microchip organisation’s
data base who will, once your pet has been
How a microchip
works
Implantation
Registration
Lost
Rescued
Identified
Reunited
registered, forward you all the details held. It is
important that should you move house, change
phone number etc or if you rehome your pet that
you contact them to update your data. Should
your pet unfortunately go missing or even worse
be stolen, again it is important that you contact
them to inform them of this as if they are then
subsequently taken into a veterinary practice,
rescue centre or picked up via the dog warden
they will be scanned to identify if there is a chip
and allowing you to be reunited.
Under the new compulsory requirements which
became legal from 6th April all puppies over
the age of 8 weeks must be microchipped and
registered with an approved microchip data base.
This means that all puppies rehomed should
now come fully microchipped and hopefully with
either their initial vaccinations or full Course of
vaccinations (puppies require 2 vaccinations
3-4 weeks apart). Under the new regulations if a
dog is found not to have a microchip the owner
has 21 days to get it microchipped, failure to do
this may result in a £500 fine. It is also a legal
requirement to ensure that records are kept up
to date. – again, failure to do so could result in an
enforcement action for non- compliance.
Often owners of cats have them microchipped
when they come in for neutering. We have
had, over the years, many cats and dogs that
have been reunited with their owners due to a
microchip and we recommend it to our clients.
‘At only 11mm. Microchips
are some of the least
invasive methods of
safeguarding your pet.’
We at the Crickmore Vets understand the
heartache and sadness should your pet go
missing. Below are a number of hints and tips that
hopefully will help reunite you with your pet.
- Have your pet microchipped.It is a legal
requirement under the Control of Dogs order
1992 that all dogs wear a collar with a tag with
your current contact details on it. As it is a legal
requirement for dogs from the 6th April then a
tag identifying the dog has been microchipped
can act as a deterrent to would be potential dog
knappers and contains all the essential details (if
kept up to date) regarding your pet.
- Crickmore Vets would recommend that
you take regular photos of your pet. These can
not only be useful for updating the family album,
your phone or computer screensaver etc but can
be used for the Pet Passport and if unfortunately
your pet goes missing or is stolen.
- If your pet should stray or be stolen
put up posters in prominent places with a
photograph, do a leaflet drop, offer a small
reward, contact local radio (they often have a
lost and found) and inform us at the practice (we
have a facebook page that links to organisations
and other vets and acts as another alert). Contact
Animal Shelters, other vets including those in
neighbouring towns ( if someone is not local
they may if it is unfortunately hit by a car take it
to their own vets or one that is in a more familiar
area. Some animals will also travel a wide
geographical area especially if frightened. If you
have recently moved to a new area always alert
your previous area of this as sometimes they try
to find their way back to more familiar territory.
to have some sort of closure rather than be left
worrying what happened to them.
- Add your pet’s microchip details on to
your mobile phone but do not hand these out
to anybody unless needed. (If your pet should
stray, get lost or be stolen we would recommend
you identify that it is chipped but not give out the
microchip number.) All vets, local authorities and
rescue centres have microchip scanners and all
animals should be scanned if taken to one of
these places.
- Take sensible precautions ensuring
you never let your dog out on its own or leave it
unattended in a public place.
- Ensure garden fencing is secure and
escape proof.
- For cats we would recommend ensuring
your cat is neutered – can be done from 14-18
weeks of age and does reduce the incidence of
straying and fighting. Ensure your cat is kept in
at night or when it is dark.
- Keep looking, we have pets that have
been reunited long after they went missing!
Should you require any additional information
or advice please do not hesitate to ask.
- A tip for cat owners that have movedwhen letting a cat out for the first time take them
out in your arms initially and when you do let
them out on their own do this when the cat is
hungry not just after they have been fed as food
is a great motivator to stay close to home and
not to stray!
- Physically go down and visit local
Rescue Centres to check if they have been
taken in – unfortunately descriptions of animals
brought in can vary and there are a number of
ways to describe a cat or dog and its size.
- Local authorities do have scanners and
if unfortunately they come across a deceased
animal they should scan it for a microchip. It may
be a sad thing but at least it does allow an owner
e. reception@crickmorevets.com | t. (01242) 580709
HEDGEHOGS
CATS
EMERGING FROM HIBERNATION.
SPRING IS HERE AFTER THE
LONG WET WINTER.
WHY DO CATS MEOW AND WHAT
DOES IT MEAN? IMPORTANT CAT
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Spring is finally here and hedgehogs
are just emerging from hibernation
and are hungry and will soon be
looking for a potential partner.
The ‘meow’ and talk of a cat is
quite distinctive. It is however a
sophisticated and complicated
means of communication used by
our domestic pets as well as larger
‘Big Cats’ such as tigers and lions.
Should you require any additional information
or advice please do not hesitate to ask.
Cats and kittens use their voices predominantly
as a means of getting attention. The meow
differs according to the situation. The ‘talk can
be broken into different categories according
to the situation
The meow- If it is around feeding time then they
may become more vocal using their voice as a
method of reminding you that it is their food
time!
The chirrup- This often sounds like a high
pitched trill. It is used a form of greeting If you
have just come home then the meow may be a
quick ‘hello, here I am please speak to me.’
- Hedgehogs will eat commercial Cat/
Dog food. Try to avoid those with cereals, or
chunks in gravy, both can upset their stomachs.
It is best to stick to ‘super meat’ or chunks.
- ‘Spikes Dinner’ is a specially made
commercial food for hedgehogs, it comes in
both tinned and dry biscuit varieties – it can
be ordered via the practice or is available in
some pet superstores.
The purr- The purr comes from deep within
the cats’ throat. A contented cat can almost
purr continuously whilst breathing in and out.
However cats that are stressed, frightened, sick
or in pain can purr as well. It is unclear why they
do it if they are in pain but one school of thought
is that it is ‘self hypnosis or self medication
having a calming effect. It is important to look
at the cat as a whole and the situation to decide
if it is contented or not.
The hiss- The hiss or wailing is not used by
cats to talk to humans rather it is a female cat
using her voice to advertise to male cats she is
looking for a mate and a male advertising his
presence in the neighbourhood!
The chatter- When a cat is hunting it can seem
to chatter whilst stalking prey. It is made by
moving the jaw but keeping its body still. It is
thought it may be a way of exercising its jaws
prior to catching and killing its prey!
THE CURIOUS CAT QUIZ
QUESTION 1 -
What is a group of cats called?
QUESTION 5 -
How many cats did President
Lincon keep in the White House?
QUESTION 2 -
In which south American city, did a
cat run for mayor in 2013?
- If feeding a dried food, you should
make sure the hoglets have access to water.
If you wish to offer this, a shallow heavy dish
is best, nothing that is easily tipped over. If
you have a pond in your garden this is a good
source of water, but please make sure they
can get out easily so they do not fall in.
QUESTION 6 -
True or False? The first cat in space
was French?
QUESTION 3 -
QUESTION 4 -
hairball?
e. reception@crickmorevets.com | t. (01242) 580709
What is the technical name for a
ANSWERS
QUESTION 1 - Clowder QUESTION 2 - Mexico City
QUESTION 3 - True QUESTION 4 - Bezoar
Four QUESTION 6 - True
True or False? Cats sleep for around
70% of their lives?
QUESTION 5 -
Hedgehogs in the garden are helpful in
reducing slugs and snails and can live quite
happily in a garden (or several gardens). If you
consider encouraging them into the garden
then you may also be fortunate to be able to
see them rearing their offspring. Hoglets (baby
hedgehogs) are born around June, with them
coming out to forage with Mum in the evening
and at night from July onwards. Hoglets
become more independent from Mum at about
6 weeks so one hedgehog may become more
should they decide to stay! Below are some
hints and tips on hedgehog diets;
- Please DON’T put out bread and milk.
Bread only fills them up and has no nutritional
value for them. Milk will make them very poorly
as they’re unable to digest cows milk.
EASTER COMPETITION
A FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO OUR
SPOT THE EGG COMPETITION,
GAVE US A GREAT EASTER.
We loved hearing from our clients
during our easter competition,
and look forward to running more
competitions in the future due to its
success.
A special congrutulations must go to Kirsty
Stevens for correctly guessing the number of
eggs hidden in the picture. We had over 3000
people in Cheltenham view our competition,
making it one of our biggest competitions so
far.
Kirsty was just one of many people who
entered, and unfortunately we couldn’t have
more than one winner.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOY OR GIRL? THE
TRANSGENDER PUPPY.
CRICKMOREVETS GOLF
CHALLENGE
Recently, we were routinely checking a six
month old dog before speying. This turned
out to be slightly different to what we were
expecting.
New for 2016. We are considering the
possibility of establishing a CrickmoreVets golf
challenge. This will be a fun but competitive
day for our clients to show off their skills on
the course.
On examination the puppy had a rudimentary
penis within an externally normal looking
vulva. This is highly unusual, but a good
reminder of the importance of having your
pets routinely health checked. ‘She’ has just
been speyed with one of the ovaries looking
more like a testicle.
If this is something that you would be
interested in getting involved in, please see
our facebook page or let one of our team know
and we can book you in. With great prizes on
offer and a day of sunshine (hopefully), we
look forward to seeing you on the course.
OUR FAVOURITE CLIENT PICTURE
e. reception@crickmorevets.com | t. (01242) 580709
RUBYe.-reception@crickmorevets.com
THE SPRINGER| t.SPANIEL
(01242) 580709
Albion Lodge, 1 Gloucester Road
Cheltenham, GL51 8LN
01242 580709
www.crickmorevets.com | reception@crickmorevets.com