Newsletter Summer 2013

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MAY- AU G U ST
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N E W S L E T T E R!
Ashlea Veterinary Centre
2013 PHOTO
COMPETITION
The search is on for the Face of 2013 for Ashlea
Vets. In the past we have been inundated with entries,
and have had a hard time choosing winners, but are we
are keen to see your photos in three categories Dogs, Cats and Rabbits. Winners will get a goodie
hamper as well as their pet’s photo being on all our
booster cards.
Ashlea Vet Centre Ltd
Unit 2b
Port Road Business Park
Carlisle
CA2 7AF
Tel: 01228 549177
www.ashleavets.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ashleavets
Surgery Times
Mon, Tues & Thurs
9am - 6.30pm
Wed & Fri
9- 6pm
Saturday
9am - 3pm
Consultation by appointment only
For emergency advice or attention
beyond these hours phone the
practice on 01228 549177 and
listen to the message for the duty
vets number
Last years winners were the handsome Barney Curley and the beautiful Lily
Morris (above). We’ve added a rabbit category this year too, so all rabbit
owners get your cameras working or dig out your favourite photos!
Get your photos to us at competition@ashleavets.co.uk by the 31st August. If
you don’t have access to email you can simply drop your photos in to the
surgery. We can’t wait to see all your entries! We may use your photos for
other publicity including Facebook. For full terms and conditions see our website.
Below are some photos of a rather unusual pet, Tuff Gong, the 15 year old
Iguana. She came in as she had a large abscess on the side of her lower lip. We
had to empty out the abscess, x-ray her jaw and take a blood sample to check how
her kidneys were doing before putting her on antibiotics to resolve the infection.
TUFF GONG, BY LOOKING FROM THE TOP OF
HER HEAD YOU CAN SEE THE OPENING OF THE
ABSCESS ON HER LEFT LOWER LIP.
TUFF GONG’S XR-AY OF HER JAW SHOWING
US THAT THE INFECTION HADN’T SPREAD TO
HER BONES.
Veterinary Surgeons
Chris Barker MRCVS
Kirsty Barker MRCVS
Morag Liddon MRCVS
Laura Askew MRCVS
Receptionists
Christine Coulthard
Karen Steele
Nurses
Rowena Batey VN
Katy Clarke VN
Rachael Scholes VN
Lauren Batey VN
Student Nurses
Stephanie Cowgill
Ruth Asquith
Hannah Mason
Practice cat
‘Abby’
TUFF GONG POSING FOR A PHOTO WITH RUTH
ONE OF OUR STUDENT NURSES.
WHILE YOU ARE ASLEEP
Have you ever wondered what happens when our
surgery closes? Well the vets and the nurses at Ashlea
Vets are taking their turn to be on call, so that if you
and your pet need help in an emergency we can be there
for you. We don’t stay at the surgery, but we are on the
other end of the phone for any advice you might need, or to
meet you at the surgery if your pet needs attention.
All vets have a professional duty to ensure out of hours (OOH)
emergency care for their clients. OOH provision has changed
dramatically in the last 10 years - originally every practice provided its
own cover but in big cities specialised companies now provide the
OOH service. In other areas, including Carlisle, some practices
have chosen to contract out their OOH work to another practice,
meaning that their clients will have to travel to another surgery or
another town for emergency attention.
SUNSHINE AND SUNCREAM
As summer approaches we need to be
vigilant, making sure our pets are as
prepared as they can be. Whatever pet
you have you will need to make sure
there is plenty of fresh, cool water
available and shady places for them to
hide from the sun. Make sure pets
aren’t trapped in places that are likely
to heat up beyond a comfortable and
safe temperature. We have all seen the
campaigns about dogs left in cars
but remember conservatories too. Don’t forget bunnies and
guinea pigs need shade too.
All dogs are susceptible to
a condition known as heat
At Ashlea Vets we believe passionately that we should be there if
stress but especially the
you need us in an emergency, in a building with which you and your
brachiocephalic breeds,
pet are familiar with full access to your pet’s clinical records. We
that is ones who have a
are only on call for our clients and as a 100% pet animal practice
short nose or flat face, for
there will always be a familiar vet and nurse available when an
example a pug or a boxer,
emergency happens - 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. OOH calls
as their respiratory
are unavoidably expensive because of the manpower required to
system is already to an
The sun often isn’t fun for our pets. extent compromised. So
cover all the hours, but members of all our in-house healthcare
schemes get a 20% discount on the emergency call out fee. If you
too are very young or old
have an emergency then phone the normal surgery number - have a
dogs or those who are overweight or suffer from
pen and paper to hand as the answering machine will give you the
cardiovascular or respiratory
phone number of our duty vet.
problems. Because dogs can’t
release heat by sweating the way
Recent OOH cases have included - a road traffic accident involving a
we
humans do, heat and humidity
puppy in severe shock with chest injuries, a cat needing attention on a
can
raise body temperature to
Sunday afternoon with a blocked urinary bladder, a mountain rescue
dangerous
levels. To help prevent
dog seen with a cut to it’s eye after a day on the fells, and at 2am one
heat
stress
walk your dog in the
morning a cat in extreme pain, unable to use its back end due to a
shade
or
at
cooler times of the
clot in the blood vessels supplying the hind legs. All in all a very
day
and
maybe
consider taking
busy weekend!
water with you using a portable
The vast majority of emergencies will be best seen at the practice ...
water bowl. Symptoms can
but sometimes all you will need is some reassuring advice over the
include profuse panting and
A brachiocephalic dog.
phone. We’ll be there for you!
salivation, an anxious expression,
staring without seeing, failing to respond to commands,
skin that is warm and dry, fever, rapid pulse, fatigue or
exhaustion, muscular
weakness, and physical
collapse. Reduce your
dog’s temperature by
moving her into shade
and immersing her
gradually into cool
water.
PUPPY
PARTIES
Cats can also suffer
We think it is important that your new puppy gets the best start to
from
heat stress but are
life. At Ashlea Vets we not only make sure they receive a full check
more
likely to seek a
over, with advice on everything you might need to know to care for
cool
place;
you just need
This
cat
will
need
your new addition, but also help you with socialisation and
to
make
sure
that such a
sunscreen
on
it’s
ears
training. So when you come to us for your puppy’s primary
place
is
available.
Cats with
vaccinations you will be able to attend our puppy classes.
white
ears
can
also
suffer
from
sunburn
as
the
hair
on the
These consist of a three week course run by our
tips
of
the
ears
tends
to
qualified veterinary nurses where your
TRUT
be sparse - so apply a
puppy can play and socialise with other
OR M H
high factor
Y TH?
puppies of their own age. You’ll get a great
Yo u
have
suncream or
start to training, learning sit, lie down, heel and
pet a to fee
sunblock in
d
the start of recall. There are course notes and
mixt
y
ure o o ur
the
summer to
t
i
n
n
each week your puppy will be weighed and have
e
biscu d an d f
prevent
burns
a basic exam. We’re sure you and your puppy
it fo
o d.
which
could
will enjoy the sessions while allowing us to
eventually develop into
MY T
This cat has sunburn and
begin a lifelong process of investing in you and
H
a
type
of
skin
cancer
called
early squamous cell
your pet with shared happy experiences1
squamous cell carcinoma.
carcinomas on its ear tips.
ABBY’S VIEWPOINT
Thank you so much for your support of our charity events last
year. Our charities for 2012 were Eden Valley Hospice, Motor
Neuron Disease North West, International China Concern and
Brooke Animal Hospital. We raised £2023 last year and
received some lovely letters thanking
us for the money we have distributed.
So far this year we have had a cake and marmalade sale
Comic relief fun
for Comic Relief where we raised £340 and with the
the practice donating £1 for every transaction on Red
Nose Day the total raised came an impressive £400.
The Ashlea Vet Quiz took place on the 24th March and we
raised a huge £730. A great time was had by all as 26 teams
competed for the title and the many gifts generously donated to
Some of you may have seen a cat
sitting at reception when you’ve
brought your own pet in recently;
for those of you who haven’t been
introduced - please meet Abby!
She was found on Wigton Road in
September 2012. There were
wounds to both back legs which
took a long time to heal, her right
leg especially had a lot of deeper
damage to tendons. Some of the
damage is irreversible and she
still has skin problem but happily
licks her Metacam from the end of
a syringe each day giving her the
pain relief she needs. She’s an older lady but
there was a vacancy for a practice cat so we
are more than happy to give her a home here!
Her attitude suits her tortoiseshell markings we think she assumes that she lets us all work
in her home each day and not the other way
round! She’s holds court in the staff room
where she can ensure maximum attention
We have our Cake Bake planned
The winning team
from us, but does wander around when it’s
for 3rd -15th June this year so get
quieter and once even dived in the box of toy mice
preparing your best Mary-Berry-worthy cakes. If baking
on the reception desk, picked the one she wanted and
brought it back to her bed, leaving the rest scattered all
isn’t your strong point make sure you call in to buy some
over reception! We’ve decided to let her have her own
of the yummy cakes on display!
Cake bake
column to let you know what going on in the practice...
inspiration
Some of our staff are mad
“So those people that I let work in my practice have
enough to have entered into Total Warrior in August.
mentioned something about earning my keep and
writing about what’s going on round here... The most
It’s called the toughest 10km with 25 punishing obstacles.
important thing is that my leg is itchy again and I
We will be raising money as part of a team for
Total Warrior
started licking it and now it’s got a big scab.
International China Concern and will needs lots of
They keep putting cream on it and making
me wear this stupid collar around my head
encouragement. Training has begun but we’ve a long way to go!
but I suppose it is getting a bit better. Don’t
One of our clients knits us amazing teddies
tell them but I spend a lot of my time fast
asleep
in the staff room, but when I’m awake
and headbands that we sell to raise money.
I’ve noticed a few changes. They seem to
Laura bought one of the Hello Kitty teddies
have been busy, not just with all the other
and a grey headband to send to Ci Ci, the child
cats and dog that come in but decorating all
the walls in Reception. I wasn’t sure about
she sponsors in China through International
the
smell of paint but I’ve got to admit it looks
China Concern. It was very well received!
good now. They’ve also got some new toys
and things in the pet shop. I chose a lovely
We would love to hear any
pink and black toy off the shelf when no one
CiCi with her toys suggestions for fundraising ideas and
was looking but they’ve let me keep it.
for charities we could support in 2013 and beyond.
Katy with Lily and Izzy There appears to be two new people around
the practice as well... One of them, Karen,
We have totaled up how much we’ve raised over the years and were
sits on the front desk a lot so I’ll have to get past her if I
staggered that we’ve raised £10,023 in the last 10yrs. So thank you and
want some new toys. The other one, Katy, apparently
well done; it’s only because of your generous donations that it’s been possible.
went off for a while to have a baby, I’ve heard people
say he’s cute and I think he’s
called Samuel but I’m not a
WELCOMING KAREN TO THE PRACTICE
huge fan of little people
myself. Katy seems nice...
For those of you who haven’t heard, after fifteen
but she does have two
years Christine Stalker has moved on following a
dogs. The only other new
fantastic win on ITV’s ‘Red or Black’. She has
thing is there seems to be
bought and is now running a sandwich shop on
a shiny new toy called an
Rosehill Estate - "Stalkers Food 4 Thought."
ultrasound machine, can’t
see how to work it myself
And so we have had to seek a replacement and
but I guess it’s good
we have found the lovely Karen. She started with
they’ve got the latest
us at the beginning of February and is settling in
technology in case I get ill!”
quickly. Karen has two Westies called Angus and
Me stealing a toy Millie and in her spare time enjoys fell walking.
Karen with Angus
the raffle. The winning team was the interestingly named
‘Richard Gere’s Hamster’. Thank you to all who took part!
and Millie
sssshhh don’t tell!
CHARLIE’S BLOCKED BLADDER
We have known Charlie since he was as tiny kitten in 2008. His
owners signed him up to the Healthcare Plus scheme at his first
vaccinations but apart from a slight tummy upset early in 2012 he was
fit and healthy; we simply saw him every 6 months for his flea and
worming treatment and once a year for his booster vaccination.
All was well until June 2012 when his owners brought him in to the
A male cat’s urinary anatomy
clinic, lethargic and unresponsive. We diagnosed him as having a
blocked urethra, the tube that goes from the bladder to the end of the
penis. This condition can be life-threatening and is always considered an emergency. We had to anaesthetise
Charlie so we could unblock him by a passing a catheter up his urethra, flushing with saline to remove the
Handsome Charlie! obstruction. The catheter was left in place to allow any more obstructions to pass easily while any swelling
or spasm of the urethral wall subsided. Testing Charlie’s urine showed struvite
crystals which can clump together to form an obstructive sediment; this can block the urethra
anywhere from the bladder neck to the tip of penis. It is usually only male cats that ‘block’ as the
urethras of dogs and female cats are both wider and less tortuous. We had to flush the catheter
several times to keep it draining, but after a few days we were able to remove
it. Charlie was then able to go home with medication and specialist food to
dissolve the crystals and prevent more from forming. Charlie did very well at
home and so a few months later he was weaned onto a less specialist food.
Charlie was fine until March 2013 when unfortunately his urethra blocked
once again. We had to repeat the procedure of catheterising him under an On his intravenous fluids with a
anaesthetic, but this time his kidneys were struggling too. This can happen buster collar to stop him pulling at
Tucking into his
his catheter or drip.
when back pressure from the blocked bladder prevents the kidneys from
specialist diet
doing their job of ridding the body of waste chemicals. We were
very worried about Charlie for despite intravenous fluids and medication he was going
into kidney failure, and as soon as we removed the catheter he re-blocked. However,
after intensive nursing treatment and another anaesthetic to be re-catheterised he began
to improve and his kidneys steadily recovered. He was in the hospital for a total of eight
days before he was well enough to go home. We checked his bloods two weeks after his
discharge and were delighted to find that his kidneys were still doing well. He will have to
stay on a specialist diet for the rest of his life but hopefully will manage to have a healthy
and happy urinary system! His owners were obviously delighted to have a healthy Charlie
back home, and because they were on the Healthcare Plus scheme the treatment only
A lovely card from Charlie’s family.
cost them the price of first consultation (£23.40) saving them a huge £962.43!
IS YOUR PET MICROCHIPPED?
From 2016 it will be compulsory for all dogs to be
microchipped....but why wait? We recommend that
all cats and dogs are microchipped, now.
Thousands of pets are lost every year
and many are never
reunited with their owners
While collars and tags can
get caught or removed
microchipping identifies your
pet permanently and effectively. So what does microchipping involve? A simple injection.
And thereafter if your pet is ever brought into any vets, a police station, or a rescue centre
they will be able to contact you to let you know that they have found your pet.
PLAIN CHIPS ONLY £10
(With inbuilt
BIOTHERM CHIPS ONLY £16 thermometer)
WITH THIS VOUCHER May-August 2013
Ask any of our staff for more details and book your pet in now.
AS H LE A V ET C E NT R E