Looking after our wellbeing and mental health remains a hot topic in the veterinary world as the industry continues to experience significantly higher levels of suicide and depression than the general population.
This World Mental Health Day, we’d like to raise awareness around a fundraising challenge members of the 387 team are currently undertaking in support of Vetlife. The Vetlife charity works to ensure those in the veterinary community are aware of signposts to the right help if stressed, overwhelmed and struggling to cope. Vetlife fully fund their own 24/7 helpline, have a dedicated Health Support Team, and can offer financial aid, on application, to members of the veterinary community struggling to make ends meet.
11 members of the 387 team are currently participating in Vetlife’s ‘Active October’ campaign. Our target is to cover 700 miles this month through exercise, and we’d love to raise a pound for every mile. Our dogs are already loving the extra long dog walks and, as well as raising money for a worthwhile cause, it’s great for our physical and mental wellbeing too!
If you’d like to support our challenge, please click here to donate. By supporting us, you’ll be supporting the wellbeing of the wider veterinary community too.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Did you know that September is Sepsis Awareness Month? Our student nurse Isabel is particularly passionate about promoting awareness about the condition as she very sadly lost her brother to sepsis. If you’re due in for a visit this month, please help yourself to one of UK Sepsis Trust’s leaflets on display in our waiting areas. Knowing the signs of sepsis – an emergency condition – could save a life.
Sepsis is where the immune system overreacts to an infection, and whilst not preventable, it is treatable if caught quickly. Typical signs in adults include slurred speech, extreme shivering, severe breathlessness, mottled skin and passing no urine. In children, signs include fast breathing, convulsions, a mottled rash, being very lethargic and feeling abnormally cold to touch. If you or someone you know exhibit any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention and ask, “Could it be sepsis?” You’ll see this slogan on the side of lots of ambulances.
As well as leaflets, Isabel has brought in a limited number of promo giveaways from The UK Sepsis Trust. So, for early birds picking up a leaflet from us this month, you may be lucky enough to pick up a treat too!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
8th August is International Cat Day! Every year, cat charity International Cat Care use the day to highlight important feline-centric topics and to raise awareness of cats as a species. This year’s focus is ‘How to be Cat Friendly Every Day’, respecting each cat’s unique nature and meeting their environmental and social needs. As 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic are Gold-accredited with International Cat Care’s Cat Friendly Clinic scheme, we’re especially excited about this year’s theme!
Follow International Cat Care’s Facebook page and their other social media channels for a huge range of top tips on how to be cat friendly at home. Their first post today is all about cat communication for cat friendly interaction and a better understanding of your feline friend’s behaviours. Their second post is about the importance of cat friendly play for mental stimulation, minimising unwanted destructive behaviour, encouraging exercise and for strengthening your bond with your cat. It’s going to be a busy feed of fab tips and information. Do keep revisiting!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is celebrated annually in order to promote the health and welfare of pet rabbits and to raise awareness about the unique needs of one of the UK’s favourite pets.
RAW runs from 23rd – 27th June and the focus for 2025 is ‘Happy Hoppy Homes.’ Did you know that rabbit homes should have a minimum footprint of 3m x 2m so that bunnies can hop and run, and that they should be 1m in height so they fully stretch upright without their ears touching the roof.
Introducing different levels in a bunny home is great for enrichment and for separating feeding, resting and exercise spaces. Get creative with tunnels to maximise bunny fun! And don’t forget lots of fresh straw bedding so bunnies can snuggle and keep cosy.
Rabbits love to play, and toys enable them to exhibit natural behaviours like digging, jumping and chewing. You can stuff cardboard tubes with hay and healthy treats as engagement activity, provide a digging box filled with shredded paper and include wickers toys that rabbits can toss and chew. Remember to include plenty of hiding places, which could even be cardboard boxes which rabbits can chew too!
Rabbits are sociable soles and are happiest with another rabbit companion, but make sure they are neutered! Ask us for tips on introducing a new friend to your rabbit’s home as this needs to be carefully managed for optimum results.
The Rabbit Awareness Action Group have heaps more great advice on helping rabbit owners to create a ‘Happy Hoppy Home’. Click here to download your free Rabbit Awareness Week Owner Pack from the group’s website, and make sure you follow Rabbit Awareness Week on Facebook and other social media channels for top tips on helping bunnies to live their best life!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Just as we have regular check ups at the dentist, it’s really important that pets’ teeth and gums are checked routinely to ensure our four legged companions are enjoying good periodontal health. We check pet oral health at annual vaccination appointments and at various other pet visits to the vets. However, as an owner, it’s worth knowing issues to look for that may require more of an impromptu trip to the vets!
Common signs that your pet may be suffering dental or mouth pain include rejecting dog biscuits or treats, chewing on only one side of the mouth, taking more time over food, increased drooling, pawing at the mouth and even a reluctance to play or increased grumpiness. You may notice your pet’s breath smells less than fresh, or if you can safely lift up their lip to inspect the gums, that they look red and angry or may even be bleeding. Teeth may exhibit discolouration. When plaque – a clear sticky film on the tooth that hangs on to bacteria – collects, this leads to gum disease and tooth decay. When left, plaque deposits calcify, becoming hard tartar as shown in the accompanying photo. This needs professional removal.
As we know, gum disease and tooth decay can be incredibly painful, so please do visit a vet if you’re concerned about your pet’s oral health in any way for the wellbeing of your pet. For dogs, we offer a scale and polishing service run by our qualified RVNs and use an ultrasonic scaler to clean teeth. We’ll also probe beneath the gum line whilst your dog is under anaesthesia to check for any hidden pockets that may harbour bacteria and cause subsequent problems. For any teeth that cause concern, we’ll x-ray as part of the service and advise on any further treatment as necessary.
It may, however, be that your pet needs veterinary dental care. We’re proud that our vet Selenia has a Postgraduate Qualification in Small Animal Dentistry and is brilliantly placed to carry out more complex dental procedures in practice.
As a preventative measure, regular tooth brushing using a pet friendly toothpaste will help reduce pet dental disease. Please ask us for advice on how best to encourage your pet to tolerate this. Check out the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s website for other strategies to help reduce periodontal disease in pets.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
