This is fabulous Dairylea who came in to see us in what must be one of the most striking doggy coats we’ve seen this winter! We love it! As temperatures are starting to feel much more wintery, many dogs will benefit from an extra layer while they are out and about, especially if they are short-coated breeds like whippets, or if your dog is more senior in age as cold weather can exacerbate any joint pain.
There are lots of other things we can do in the winter months to keep our furry companions happy and healthy. Click here to read our latest newsletter’s winter watch tips!
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.
As many of you know, every year we run a ‘Give a Pet a Christmas Dinner’ campaign to collect food and accessories for local cats and dogs in shelter. As it’s December, our 2024 Christmas collection is now live!
We’re collecting wet and dry pet food, treats, bedding, leads, collars, toys, feeding and water bowls – essentially anything that would be of benefit to pets less fortunate than our own this Christmas. We have a collection point on the ramp leading up to 387 Vets reception, and we also have a festive collection box in the foyer to the West Midlands Cat Clinic. The campaign runs right up until 31st December, and in January, we’ll distribute donations between local pet charities.
A huge thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. Last year we collected over 100kg of dry food and over 500 sachets and tins of wet food, not to mention heaps of accessories to make life better for pets waiting for their new forever homes. Incredible! Let’s see if we beat that this year!
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.
With December starting this weekend and the Christmas lights going up, it’s a good time to drop in an early reminder about keeping Christmas chocolate out of pets‘ reach. Avoid leaving chocolate gifts wrapped under the tree, keep chocolate advent calendars on a shelf and avoid sending chocolate through the post for letterbox delivery to households with pets. This is poor Milo who managed to locate some chocolate and helped himself! Quick action meant we could make him sick to eject the toxins before fully digested.
Chocolate contains theobromine which is poisonous to dogs and can cause many unpleasant reactions including diarrhoea, vomiting, excessive panting and urination, a racing heart and in serious cases, muscle tremors and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is.
There are lots of other festive human treats that are dangerous for our pets including any form of grape or raisin, so keep mince pies and Christmas cake above nose level! Sweetcorn kernels and bones from cooked joints can cause blockages, so dispose of in a lidded bin.
If in doubt as to whether something your pet has eaten poses a danger to them, check out the poisons guide on our Advice 24/7 page. All our registered clients also have access to our VidiVet service for free veterinary support around the clock. Check communications from the practice for how to access.
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.
It’s Halloween tomorrow! This means it’s very nearly fireworks time with many official events planned for this and next weekend.
Fireworks displays can be a terrifying time for pets with unpredictable loud bangs and flashes. Here are a few tips to help our pets feel less anxious on the night:
Walk dogs early and time evening toilet trips carefully to avoid getting caught out. Before fireworks start, bring your dog into a room in the house which acts as a place of safety for them. Somewhere calm and nowhere too busy. Their bed should be there as a safe, familiar resting place and also provides comforting smells. Bring their toys and a chew or some treats for distraction. Make sure windows and curtains are closed to muffle sound and light and pop the tv or some music on too. Stay with your dog for reassuring company. You can offer them a toy to see if they will engage in play but don’t force them. Keep calm and avoid reacting to the fireworks as dogs can pick up on owner anxiety. It’s important to be patient if your dog exhibits unwanted behaviours such as whining or pacing. Telling them off will only add to their distress.
Cats:
Keep cats in on fireworks evening, make sure cat flaps are locked shut and that you have a couple of clean litter trays positioned by the cat flap or in their normal toileting area. Cats are very good at taking themselves off to hide when frightened so make sure they have open access to potential hiding spots like under the bed, behind the sofa or even in cupboards or under the duvet! Leave them be rather than trying to coax them out. They will come back out when they are ready.
Small furries:
If housing outdoors, can you bring your pets’ hutch into the garage or a outside shed to act as a natural barrier? Nowhere too warm though as this can be detrimental to their health when you return the hutch outside. Consider putting carpeting or blankets over the hutch, with a gap to see out, to muffle sound and light. Make sure bedding is extra deep so that your small furries can burrow down and hide. Providing distraction toys is also a great idea.
Please do give us a ring on 01922 411755 if in need of any further advice on minimising pet stress at this time.
Wishing you and your pets a safe bonfire and fireworks night
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.
With Halloween at the end of this month (and, dare we say it, shops getting ready for Christmas!), chocolates are currently on sale in even more abundance! If you are buying in for trick or treating, please be sure to keep chocolatey treats well away from inquisitive canines. Milk and dark chocolates are made with cocoa solids which contain theobromine, a substance toxic to dogs. And the darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine. The severity of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your dog has eaten, how big your dog is and the concentration of cocoa solids.
We strongly advise contacting your vet for advice if you know your dog has eaten chocolate. It’s really helpful if you have the wrapper with the ingredients list to hand. Here are Rolo and Mars who were in to see us recently for this very reason. We were able to act quickly and make them sick to prevent the toxins from taking effect. Even though they are fabulously named, no chocolate-eating allowed!
Use our poisons checker on our 387 Vets’ Advice 24/7 page for guidance on chocolate poisoning and a whole range of other toxins too.
And don’t forget, registered clients can use our VidiVet service to touch base with a vet for free. Great for concerns out of hours if you are unsure whether your pet needs to be seen as an emergency.
We wish all pets a happy, healthy chocolate-free Halloween!
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.