Best Friends Veterinary Surgery

Leishmaniasis – a killer disease

Jon — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:26:33 +0000

Dog displaying signs of leishmaniasis

Anyone who has travelled with their dog to the continent will be only too aware of the risk of canine leishmaniasis. This killer disease is endemic in most of continental Europe and there is no real effective treatment against it. Transmitted by sand flies the only prevention that owners have been able to undertake is keeping their dogs indoors at dawn and dusk when the sand flies are most active.
Virbac have just brought out a vaccine against leishmaniasis offering new levels of protection previously unknown. Anyone who already a visitor to France or is thinking about taking their dog abroad should contact us at the earliest opportunity to have their dog vaccinated as the course takes eight weeks to complete.
Please see the leaflet link below for more information on leishmaniasis and the vaccine.

Canileish Information Leaflet (Adobe PDF 2.1MB)

Cat Protection Rehoming day – Sat 21st April

Jon — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Print out your own poster here - RehomingDayApril2012 (Adobe PDF)

A day in the life…of a veterinary surgeon

Jon — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:56:09 +0000

Jon Slattery, veterinary surgeon at Best Friends, talks through an average day at the surgery.
To read more about a day in the life of a veterinary surgeon please click here.

Important changes to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

Jon — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:35:36 +0000

On 1st January 2012 (despite the arrangements not actually being fully finalised) sweeping changes were introduced into the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The changes have been been controversial to say the least. Whilst they do make it easier for animals to move across European borders, the same also applies to serious diseases such as rabies, babesia, leishmaniasis and ehrlichia.

The United Kingdom, being an island nation, has so far been free of these fatal diseases but with such severe relaxation of border controls, it is only a matter of time before we have a serious and sustained outbreak.

The changes to PETS are summarised below: -

What has to be done	Pre 1 Jan 2012	1 January 2012
Microchip	Yes	Yes
Rabies vaccination	Yes	Yes
Documentation (pet passport or third country certificate)	Yes	Yes
Blood test (dogs and cats)	Yes	No
Pre-entry waiting period	Yes	Yes
Length of waiting period before entry to the UK	6 months from date sample taken for blood test	21 days after vaccination against rabies
Tick treatment	Yes (24-48 hours before embarkation)	No
Tapeworm treatment	Yes (as for ticks)	Yes (120-24 hours before embarkation)

(European and qualifying countries only)

There are tighter controls from non-qualifying countries but even these have been noticeably relaxed. For more information please go to the PETS section of DEFRA’s website or download the fact sheet below.

Bringing Pets in to the UK (330Kb PDF)

Anyone considering taking an animal abroad or bringing one back in to the UK should contact the surgery as soon as possible for guidance on keeping your pet safe.

News from Cat Protection

Jon — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:37:48 +0000

Worcester and district Cat Protection publish a quarterly newsletter with information, features and news stories. Included in this winter edition is “Lottie’s” story, a cat who had a horrific collar injury and almost had to have her leg amputated. Read about how she has made a full recovery thanks to the care she received at the surgery.
There is also information on future rehoming days, how to go about adopting a cat from Cat Protection, and much more.

Download the newsletter here – Cat Chat Winter 2011.PDF (17MB)

Spare a thought for those less fortunate…

Jon — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:03:16 +0000

Please spare a thought this Christmas for those animals less fortunate than our own pets. Rescue centres up and down the country will be caring for animals this Christmas who would like nothing better than a nice lap to sit on or fireside to snuggle up beside. The harsh reality is that these rescue centres will also be overwhelmed in January with unwanted pets given as Christmas presents.
Please consider a small gift from your pet to a homeless pet this Christmas. Just a five pound purchase of a calendar or a cash donation will feed a dog for a week or a cat for a fortnight.
Both Worcester Animal Rescue Shelter and Cat Protection calendars are on sale at the surgery and all proceeds go direct to the local rescue centre/branch.

Coping with Firework Night – advice for pet owners

darren — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:51:43 +0000

With the winter nights drawing in, and Guy Fawkes night just around the corner many pet owners wait with nervous anticipation for the first fireworks to be set off. It seems that each year bigger and louder fireworks are sold creating explosions the like of which have not been seen and heard since the Second World War.

Cats are naturally nervous and shy creatures and for the most part will try and hole up somewhere until the barrage is over. Additionally many domestic dogs are also totally unfazed by the flashes and crashes outside the house. For those that are firework phobic though, their worst nightmare is repeated night after night like a hellish version of Groundhog Day.

Download the article below (Adobe PDF format) for some practical tips on how you can help your pet survive firework night.

Firework advice for pet owners

The surgery also stocks Adaptil canine pheromone diffusers/collars and also Skullcap and Valerian compound for aiding coping with firework phobic pets.

Cat Protection rehoming event

Jon — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:53:34 +0000

Cat Protection are having a rehoming event on Sunday 2nd October.

Funded entirely by charitable donations, Cat Protection rescue, rehome and neuter thousands of cats every year.

The Worcester branch of Cat Protection are currently inundated with beautiful, friendly cats, both young and old, looking for a new start in life.

If you are thinking about bringing a new feline friend into your life then please consider taking on a rescue cat from Cat Protection.

From 11am to 1pm at the Coppertops Pub, 195 Oldbury Road, WR2 6AS on Sunday 2nd October you will be able to view and get acquainted with a small selection of some of the cats that Cat Protection have in their care. Please go along, read their stories and consider if you can give them the ideal loving home that they deserve.

Changes to the Pet Travel Scheme from Jan 2012

Jon — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:16:17 +0000

Defra has today announced that from 1 January 2012, the rules for pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering the country under the Pet Travel Scheme will change as the UK aligns its Scheme with the EU-wide pet movement system (EU Regulation 998/2003).

Please find information in the tables below on the current UK rules for pets entering the UK and how they will change from 1 January 2012.

Entry rules for pets entering the UK from the EU and listed third countries

What has to be done	Now	From 1 January 2012
Microchip	Yes	Yes
Rabies vaccination	Yes	Yes
Blood test	Yes	No
Pre-entry waiting period	Yes	Yes
Length of waiting period	6 months from date sample taken for blood test	21 days after vaccination against rabies
Tick treatment	Yes (24-48 hours before embarkation)	No
Tapeworm treatment	Yes (24-48 hours before embarkation to UK)	Under consideration at European level

Entry rules for pets entering the UK from unlisted third countries

What has to be done	Now	From 1 January 2012
Microchip	All pets from unlisted third countries are licensed into quarantine for 6 months and vaccinated against rabies on arrival.	Yes
Rabies vaccination		Yes
Blood test		Yes. Blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination.
Pre-entry waiting period		Yes
Length of waiting period		3 months from date of blood sample
Tick treatment		No
Tapeworm treatment		Under consideration at European level

DEFRA has also produced an information leaflet for pet owners which can be downloaded by clicking the link below

Changes to the Pet Travel Scheme (176Kb PDF file)

This is potentially good news for pet owners wishing to take their animals abroad as the cost should come down considerably. It remains to be seen whether or not this is good news for the United Kingdom as measures to stop rabies and echinococcus entering the UK have been abandoned. Watch this space!

Anyone considering taking their pet abroad next year should contact the surgery for more information at the soonest opportunity.

An appeal for help

Jon — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:12:17 +0000

Best Friends Veterinary Surgery are appealing on behalf of Cats Protection Worcester and District who are currently in need of homes for 120 cats and 40 kittens. If you or your friends and family can find space in your home and heart for an extra four legged friend then please contact Kirsty at the surgery on 01684 573333. Adult cats and kittens can be viewed on the Cat Protection website.