Pet Doctors Felpham

🌞SUMMER SAFETY - WILDLIFE🌞
This hot weather can be quite detrimental to the health of willdife in your garden, so here are a few ways you can help:
🦔Put out a shallow bowl of water so hedgehogs and other mammals can drink from it and birds can bath in it - This helps to prevent dehydration in the warm weather, which is a common problem.
... 🐥Hang a bird feeder in the garden for small birds to peck from, as food sources can also be less in the summer.
🦔Place a dish of dry cat food (somewhere hidden from greedy cats!) for hungry hedgehogs to munch on. Alternatively, you can also buy hedgehog specific biscuits from most pet shops.
🦡Create a nice shaded area in the garden where wildlife can hide and cool down.
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BABY PIGEON (DOVE) UPDATE Some of your may have seen the posts on the baby pigeon that came in about 4 weeks ago - he's actually a collared dove it would appear! He's certainly grown over the last few weeks...

🌞 SUMMER SAFETY - SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE ☀️
In this heat, here are some signs to look out for that can indicate your pet has heatstroke:
🐾 Excessive panting.... 🐾 Excessive salivation. 🐾 Glassy eyed stare. 🐾 Collapse. 🐾 Vomiting. 🐾 Agitation or restlessness. 🐾 Very red gums.
If you think your pet is displaying any of these signs, please call the clinic for advice immediately.
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IF IT'S TOO HOT FOR YOU, IT'S TOO HOT FOR THEM!!

🌞 SUMMER SAFETY - HIGHER RISK PETS 🌞 Although any animal can suffer from heatstroke, there are some that are more at risk in the hot weather:
🐾 Dogs and cats with shorter muzzles (brachycephalic breeds) e.g. bulldogs and persian cats. 🐾 Very old or very young pets - unable to regulate their own temperature.... 🐾 Pets with long or thick fur. 🐾 Pets with breathing or heart problems. 🐾 Overweight pets.
These individuals should be kept indoors during the heat and kept as cool as possible!
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SUMMER SAFETY - EXERCISE
Make sure you walk your dog at the cooler ends of the day to prevent heatstroke - early morning or late evening.
Choose shadier spots such as covered woodland or somewhere they can take a dip in water to cool off!
... Pet travel water bottles are really handy to refill and carry with you so you can offer your dog a drink on their walk.
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🌞 SUMMER SAFETY - KEEPING COOL! 🌞
💧 Fill a shallow paddling pool (or something similar) with water so your dog can paddle or wallow in it.
💧 You can buy special cooling mats for cats, dogs and rabbits which they can lie on and keep cool in the heat.... Alternatively, you can wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it in one of their beds.
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JULY TOPIC - SUMMER SAFETY ☀️ With the hot weather setting in, we will be posting ideas on how to keep your pets cool and happy this summer! Check back for some suggestions

PIGEON UPDATE - DAY 12 Our little baby pigeon is becoming louder and more headstrong as time goes on! Here he is squawking for more food :)

🌞SUMMER SAFETY With the ongoing hot weather this weekend, please make sure your dog is not left in a hot car! Temperatures can quickly become as hot as an oven and ultimately prove fatal.

RABBIT HEALTH - DENTAL DISEASE 🐇🐰 🐾 Dental disease is unfortunately a very common condition seen in practice in domestic rabbits. 🐾 It is usually a result of being fed foods that aren't abrasive enough to wear down the teeth e.g. muesli mix instead of pellets or not enough grass and hay. 🐾 Overgrowth of the teeth can lead to painful sharp spurs, which can then damage the inside of the mouth and cause ulceration. 🐾 Rabbits are also prone to developing abscesses with dental d...isease, which are very difficult to treat due to the nature of the infected material. 🐾Signs of dental disease include loss of appetite, difficulty eating, drooling leading to wet fur and sore skin around the face, lethargy.
If you think your rabbit may be experiencing dental problems, please call the surgery to book an appointment.
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BABY PIGEON UPDATE! 🐣 For anyone that read our post about the tiny baby pigeon who was brought in to us about 6 days ago, he is still hanging in there and becoming greedier by the day! As he is so young, he is being fed regularly throughout the day with a special liquid diet.

RABBIT NUTRITION - ENCOURAGING HEALTHY EATING 🐰🐇 There are many ways to encourage your rabbit to eat more hay: 🐾 Mix food, such as dried herbs and nuggets, through the hay to encourage foraging. 🐾 Add hay into their toys, such as willow balls and cardboard tubes. 🐾 Place hay in a feeding rack.... 🐾 Try placing hay in your rabbit's favourite resting place.
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This tiny little baby pigeon was brought into the clinic yesterday after being picked up by a cat. He is currently being handfed by one of our nurses as he won't be able to eat for himself until he is much older. Fingers crossed he continues to do well 😀😀

RABBIT HEALTH - FLYSTRIKE 🐰 🐾 Flystrike occurs when flies lay their eggs in soggy or soiled fur and the eggs hatch into maggots. 🐾 Rabbits are more at risk if they are overweight as their caecotrophs (soft faeces that they re-eat) end up sticking to their bottoms and attracting the flies. 🐾 Make sure you change your rabbit's bedding regularly to avoid damp conditions and check their bottoms daily, especially in the warmer months, to ensure they are not flystruck. 🐾 Flystrik...e is a real emergency when it occurs and will require immediate treatment, so prevention is always better than cure.
*** If you are a member of the Healthy Pet Club, you are entitled to one free botle of Rearguard per year - this is a topical product that can be a applied to your rabbit which prevents fly eggs from hatching into maggots ** Please ask one of our staff members about this product 🐇
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RABBIT HOUSING & ENVIRONMENT - OUTDOOR BUNNIES 🐰🐇 🐾 Rabbits need as much space as possible so they can stretch out and stand up to their full height. Housing should be at least 2ft high x 2ft wide x 6ft long. 🐾If your rabbit is outdoors, they should have permanent access to a large run.This should be at least 3ft high x 6ft wide x 8ft long. 🐾 Provide your rabbit with plenty of hiding places so they can feel safe at all times. 🐾 Rabbits need enrichment so they don't get bored... - this can include homemade toys like cardboard tubes stuffed with willow hay. 🐾 Make sure your rabbit has plenty of warm bedding, such as hay, to keep them cosy. This is especially important in the cold, winter months!
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RABBIT COMPANIONSHIP 🐰🐇
🐾 Rabbits are very sociable creatures and naturally live in groups in the wild. 🐾 Domestic rabbits should be kept in at least pairs, as they become withdrawn and lonely without company of their own kind. 🐾 The best pairing is a male and a female - obviously they will both need to be neutered first! ... 🐾 Introducing rabbits to each other can be a lengthy and time-consuming process and will require a lot of patience, as most will not get on with each other straight away.
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