Hello, and sincere seasonal greetings to every reader and your pets, wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year.
I am certain that you are all well aware of certain seasonal temptations that should not be put before our cats and dogs: embedded pine needles, broken glass tree baubles, trailing non-transformer wiring to the lights, cakes, bones, grapes, poinsettias and lilies and of course chocolate!
A recent problem coming to the fore is not so well-known but has very serious consequences: the increased use of permethrin-based dog “spot-on” treatments being inappropriately applied to cats, or in cats sharing beds and grooming spot-on treated dog-mates. Permethrin causes convulsions in cats and is TOXIC and often FATAL! PLEASE read the warnings on these products, do not use on dogs in the same family as cats, and better still ask your veterinary practice for their recommendations.
On a completely different tack, have you ever wondered what your veterinary practice does as an environmentally-responsible policy? When we as members of a local community are urged to recycle and use resources wisely, there must be many businesses who are trying to do likewise and who would appreciate your support.
I know that many of you will be thinking of, and helping, others over the Christmas and New Year period, and beyond. This includes everyone working in the care of their animals, from volunteers at cat and dog shelters and helpers at catteries and kennels to stable staff and of course to livestock farmers in a very difficult year for farming. Thanks from all of us!
Robert Elliott.
