Hello everyone and welcome to our March newsletter.
Spring is almost here!
As we welcome the warmer days of March, enjoying the great outdoors starts to become a much more appealing proposition again. With that in mind it is a perfect time to ensure your pets are happy, healthy and ready to make the most of the season ahead! As always, in this month’s newsletter, we would like to share with you some important pet health tips, practice updates and much more so keep reading to find out more.
Springtime Pet Health Tips
Just like us, pets can suffer from allergic reactions to things in their environment and in their food. If your pet is experiencing itching, sneezing, watery eyes, or ear infections, it might be time to check in with your nominated vet for some allergy relief advice.
As the temperature rises, we begin to see the spring flowers bloom. Many common garden bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips, are toxic to our pets and can lead to them becoming unwell if they eat them. The bulbs themselves often have a higher concentration of nutrients than leaves or flowers, so can be more dangerous for your pet. When gardening, keep your pets away from any bulbs or flowers, and call your veterinary practice straight away if you think your pet has eaten any part of a toxic plant.
Bumblebees are essential pollinators not only for gardens but for agriculture too. As such they are usually very welcome visitors to our gardens where they enjoy the fresh flowers. Whilst they don’t sting as readily as wasps do, they will do so if necessary and so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on any pets that have a curious nature when they are in the garden. Stings (from bees and wasps) can cause discomfort, swelling and even infection, but a sting to the nose, throat or near the eyes can prove very dangerous.
The sunnier weather (well we certainly hope for sunnier weather!) makes longer walks even more appealing. When venturing out into the countryside, look out for breeding birds and farm animals, especially those with offspring like lambs or calves. Remember to stick to designated footpaths, close gates behind you and keep your dog on a short lead when entering fields to prevent injury and any unnecessary stress to wildlife, farm animals or your four-legged friend.
As we approach Easter we would like to remind you to be aware of not only chocolate but also of Xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener which is used in home baking and found in many products including some sugar-free chewing gum, sweets, diet foods, vitamin supplements and some peanut butter. It is also found in some Easter eggs. Dogs are extremely sensitive to xylitol and even small amounts can cause toxicity. Early symptoms of xylitol poisoning include lethargy, vomiting and loss of coordination (wobbly and unsteady). If your pet eats any food that contains xylitol please remember to contact the practice immediately.
Cats coming into season
Female cats come into season around this time of year so make sure you are prepared - they will have heat cycles approximately every 2-3 weeks from February to October. They will usually be much more vocal than normal, roll around more, and become extremely affectionate.
If your cat goes outside then it’s important to get them neutered to avoid any unwanted pregnancies and help to protect them against any viruses which can be spread during mating and fighting. Neutering will also stop cats, outdoor and indoor, from developing health issues like pyometra (infection of the uterus which can be life-threatening).
VidiVet 24/7 digital support
We would like to take this opportunity to remind members of The Woodbridge Pet Club about the new free of charge perk that we added when we recently partnered up with VidiVet. Pet Club members can now register to VidiVet completely free and get access to vet support and advice whenever you need it, all via the VidiVet app.
In the same way that our Woodbridge Pet Club works in tandem with a pet insurance policy, VidiVet will work alongside our ongoing partnership with MiNightVet. The veterinary team at VidiVet can not only answer any concerns you have regarding your pets health (even if it only feels like something small), but they can also advise you on what to do next and what to expect at your next visit. In situations where an appointment is recommended, the advice may be that it is appropriate to book to see your nominated vet at a time that suits you.
However, if seeking immediate veterinary assistance is recommended, and it is during a time we are not open, please do not hesitate to contact MiNightVet who provide our out of hours service, and they will be ready and able to help you.
Sign up to The Woodbridge Vets Pet Club here:
Behind the scene at The Woodbridge Vets
As you may know from our previous newsletter, the extension is now complete - or perhaps you’ve recently visited the practice with your pet? Either way, we would love to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what's been happening at The Woodbridge Vets.
As February was National Pet Dental Health Month, it seemed only right to shine some light on all of the hard work carried out by the team to maintain as many healthy mouths as possible. This has been made much easier thanks to our brand-new dedicated dental suite complete with its dental
x-ray technology.
We have also been able to make full use of our fully equipped surgical theatre already, where there have already been some complex procedures and orthopedic surgeries successfully carried out.
If you would like to read more on patient's stories and get a glimpse of what's happening behind the scene at The Woodbridge Vets, please give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
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