Announcements
Exam congratulations
Congratualtions to veterinary nurse Nicola Osborne, who has just passed her final nursing exams after two years hard work.
Christmas Charity Collection
Hawthorne Lodge would like to thank all our clients that donated food and blankets to our Christmas Charity collection.
The collection is held every year, with donations in 2011 split between Banbury Animal Rescue and Kindness (BARKS), and Ardley Boarding and Rescue Kennels.
Ferret distemper outbreak in UK
A recent out break of canine distemper virus has resulted in the death of around 300 ferrets in central England.
The virus is thought to have been brought into the UK from Ireland with rescued dogs in the autumn of 2011. Cases have been confirmed in the West Midalnds, Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire, with symptoms including skin rashes, runny eyes and nose, and pneumonia. The outbreak also poses a threat to dogs, but the effectiveness of the distemper vaccine means that vacinated dogs are very unlikely to be a risk.
Although there is no licensed ferret vaccination for distemper, dog vaccines can be used "off label". For further information on distemper virus, please contact the practice.
vaccination discounts
Hawthorne Lodge is offering a 10% discount on vaccinations for all puppies and kittens under six months of age. The offer runs from 9th January to 31 January 2012. For further details and prices, please call the surgery.
Open day proves popular
Our open day last Sunday was a huge success, with over one hundred and fifty people coming to have a look behind the scenes at the new practice.
DAP the dog and friend eagerly greeted visitors, and tried to recruit passers by on West Bar street, much to the amusement of passing motorists. Inside, face painting and balloon modelling kept the children entertained. Vet David ran demonstrations on endoscopy and ultrasound throughout the day, explaining how we look after "Ratatouille" after he has swallowed a variety of unsavoury objects. Several visitors also tried their hand at the techniques with mixed success - David did wonder at one point whether he would find himself out of a job!
The practice tour proved popular, several people commenting that it was reassuring to know the level of care their pets receive when they are "whisked away" for the day by the vet. Some even asked if we could extend our care to human patients - the answer is sadly not!
Many thanks to all those who turned up for the day, and to BARKS, who kindly ran the refreshments stand. For more photos of the day please visit our facebook page
We are in!!
After a frantic final week, we finally moved in to our new premises on Saturday, 22 October, as planned
Thanks to to the vagaries of BT, our telephone service left a bit to be desired, and is not fuly sorted yet - we apologise for any inconvenince caused. Otherwise it is busines as usual - but from a new, bigger and better building. Why not pop in and say hello?
Pet Passport regulations set to relax
From January 1st, 2012, the requirements for bringing pets back into the UK on the pet passport scheme are to be changed in order to harmonise the scheme accross the EU.
The need for a rabies blood test will be removed, so that pets can travel freely within the EU twenty one days after the first rabies vaccination. The need for tick treatment before returning to the UK is also set to be taken out of the scheme, and the requirement for tapeworm treatment is under review.
While this will make overseas travel with pets cheaper and easier, many vets in the UK feel it will inevitably increase the risk of new diseases being introduced into the UK. They also strongly advise tick and worm treatment whilst abroad to protect travelling pets that are exposed to diseases they would not normally encounter at home.
For more information on the impact of these changes, please contact the surgery, or visit the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk
Flystrike in Rabbits
This distressing condition is more common during hot weather but is avoidable if care is taken.
Flystrike is caused by flies laying eggs around the rabbits rear end, to which they are attracted by damp fur, odour, urine and faeces or any open wound. Within hours, the eggs hatch into maggots which then eat into the rabbit's flesh.
Rabbits that are overweight and cannot groom themselves properly, have recently undergone surgery and have healing wounds, have diarrhoea or are kept in unclean conditions are more at risk from Flystrike, but all rabbits should be checked daily during periods of hot weather.
Flystrike can be fatal and rabbit owners should be aware that any sign of maggots or maggot eggs (which look like tiny, yellow grains of rice) is an emergency situation and they should contact their veterinary surgery immediately. If caught at an early enough stage, Flystrike is treatable and many rabbits go on to make a full recovery after emergency treatment and a course of antibiotics.
A product called "Rearguard" is available at veterinary surgeries and is an important preventative treatment for Flystrike. One treatment lasts each rabbit for 6 weeks and it significantly reduces the risk of them suffering this painful and life-threatening condidtion. Call us for further advice on Rearguard.
We are moving!!!
With the growth of Banbury, and the increasing range of veterinary treatments available for pets, we feel a larger site will enable us to provide a better service.
Our new premises will provide better access and more parking. It will also enable us to improve the quality and range of services we can provide for our clients and their pets
We are moving to the old Doctor’s surgery, at no.1, West Bar.
The building will require extensive alterations and refurbishment, in order to adapt it for veterinary use. Building work started in February, and we hope to move in in the summer.
Hawthorne Lodge Veterinary Practice will continue to provide our full range of services out of the current premises until building works our complete. We will then transfer all practice activities to the new site, in order to minimise disruption for our clients.
Cats protection early neutering initiative
Hawthorne Lodge is pleased to support the Cat Group early neturering initiative.
Led by "Cats Protection", the move is designed to reduce the number of unwanted kittens, by encouraging neutering before cats are able to breed. Research has shown that surgical complication rates are actually reduced with early neutering, and there are no long term adverse effects. In the United States, cats are commonly neutered from as young as seven weeks.
In support of the initiative,Hawthorne Lodge is encourging neutering of owned male and female cats from four months of age rather than six months. Feral cats can be neutered from two months of age.
