A big shout out to gorgeous Mr Smudgins who is looking very content in this pic! The 12 year old came in for a check up with us earlier in the year as he hadn’t been feeling himself, had a dull coat and had developed a limp. Tests showed that he was suffering from diabetes.
Diabetes is more common in aging pets. Typical signs include excessive drinking, an increase in urination with potential puddles indoors, weight loss despite an increase in appetite and becoming lethargic and easily tired. Interestingly, cats can also develop a symptom called diabetic neuropathy, where their hind legs can appear weak when walking – one of Mr Smudgin’s symptoms. A lacklustre coat can also be an indicator of diabetes as a result of nutritional deficiencies caused by the disease and increased urination.
Mr Smudgins was given a new medication which is an alternative to insulin injections – a liquid medication that can be added to food and works by stopping the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose back into the bloodstream, lowering blood sugar levels. Excess sugar is instead passed out of the body through the patient’s urine.
After initially working to establish the right treatment dose in response to his physical symptoms, four months down the line Mr Smudgins is doing brilliantly well. He’s eating and drinking normally, has great mobility and is a happy chap! And looks like a model!
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.
When 387 Vets is closed, we provide an out of hours emergency service through Pool House Veterinary Hospital in Lichfield. Please continue to ring 01922 411755 and follow the instructions. Are your pet’s symptoms a health emergency? Use VidiVet or our symptom checker to find out.
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 the mild wet weather we’ve been having, ticks are in their element! Commonly found in woodland, long grass and dense vegetation, ticks can remain active until the first frost. They feed by waiting for a host to pass, then attach themselves, look for a choice spot to settle and burrow their head into the skin to feed on the host’s blood.
It’s important to be tick-vigilant as they can transmit diseases whilst feeding. Lyme’s disease is one of the better-known tick-bourne diseases in the UK. We recommend checking your dog’s coat after walks, especially if they’ve been exercising in tick-friendly environments. The face, groin and armpits are favourite spots for ticks to lodge. Hunting cats can be at risk of picking up ticks too.
If you do find a tick, it’s important to remove it promptly. Twisting rather than pulling avoids the risk of leaving the head embedded in your pet’s skin which can then lead to infection. Tick hooks, like the one in the photo, do the job brilliantly. We have lots of hooks in stock!
There are preventative products that repel ticks or kill them shortly after attachment to help reduce the risk of disease transmission. Please speak to one of our team for advice on best parasite protection for your pet and their lifestyle.
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.
We hope you and your pets are having a relaxing bank holiday weekend!
387 Veterinary Centre & The West Midlands Cat Clinic will be closed this bank holiday Monday (31st August). If you have any queries about your pet at this time, don’t forget that all registered clients have complimentary access to VidiVet, a vet triaging service available 24/7. Check communications from our practice for your VidiVet access link if you’re not already set up. It’s a brilliant resource for pet peace of mind and can be a great time and money saver – ask a question at any time of day or night and you’ll receive a prompt video reply from a vet explaining what your next steps should be, whether you need an appointment and how urgent it is.
If you do have a pet emergency while we are closed, please continue to call us on 01922 411755 and follow the answer machine instructions for immediate access to our out of hours provider.
Wishing you and your pets a happy and healthy long weekend!
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.
If you’re planning a dog walk through meadows, country parks or woodland, be mindful that it’s grass seed season! We’ve seen lots of pets in practice recently with grass seed foreign bodies. High summer temperatures dry out long grasses and cause them to actively release what can be sharp, barbed seeds. These can then become lodged in your dog’s fur and work their way into and under the skin to cause painful sores and infection. Ears, paws and underbellies are most at risk. If a dog is shaking or pawing at their head at this time of year, or are incessantly licking or worrying away at a paw, the reason could well be an embedded grass seed. To minimise risk, we recommend brushing your dog on return from dog walks to dislodge any loose seeds caught in your pet’s coat, and help prevent pesky seeds causing doggy distress later down the line.
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.
