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Breed spotlight – German Shorthaired Pointer
All of our vets and nurses here at Swaynes’ have a lot of different dog breeds between us. We have Labradors, chihuahuas, spaniels, terriers to name but a few. As we have featured on the blog before many different breeds we thought it was the turn of the German...
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Vomiting – a very ‘non-specific’ sign
There is rarely a day that goes by where we don’t see an animal who has been vomiting lots quite suddenly or has been intermittently vomiting for a fair period of time. Dogs and cats in particular are prone to vomiting. You would think, therefore, that we would be...
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Breed spotlight: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
There are so many wonderful breeds out there and we are in a privileged position of meeting most of them! We thought we would turn the spotlight today on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, “Cavies” for short. Cavies are such sweet-natured, loving dogs. They are very soft...
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UK faces puppy shortage!
A dog is for life not just for lockdown…… As a vet nothing more brings a smile to my face than our clients calling us to let us know they have a new puppy in their lives! I don’t think any of us could have prepared what 2020 has thrown at us so far or the huge...
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Cats and babies
Having a baby is a huge deal and a life-changing adaptation and, of course, with it comes anticipation and concern about many things. However, we are always alarmed when we hear that it has been suggested that your beloved cat may have to move out at this time. As...
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Mans’ best friend. But is this a cat or a dog?
With less opportunity to go out and about in our downtime at home, I have found myself reading more articles on our pet’s behaviour. I was interested to read an article in the New York Times. Dogs are described as man’s best friend. They’re sociable, faithful and...
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Adding a new feline friend
Adding an additional cat to your home It is so difficult to be able to predict whether a cat will accept another into its household. It has been shown that some cats prefer a more solitary existence whereas others prefer a colony. Cats, as a species, have become more...
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Did you know lilies are poisonous to cats?
Most people, including cat owners are unaware that these beautiful plants are toxic to cats. Given as a gift, a celebration or to simply brighten your home these ornamental plants often feature inside your home however, most species of lily and lily hybrids are toxic...
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It’s that time of the year again… GRASS SEED SEASON!
You may not think it but grass seeds can cause a lot of trouble in our pets, especially in the summer months and even more so when we have experienced a drier weather period. Dogs often get them lodged in their ear canals or between their toes when running outside on...
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Bee & wasp stings in dogs
Wasp and bee stings are most common in spring, summer and early autumn months. Dogs are typically stung on their paws or around the face and usually only develop minor pain, irritation or swelling. Most stings can be managed at home, but some cases can be more...
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Blue-green algae poisoning
Blue-green algae can be toxic to dogs. Call your vet immediately if you suspect poisoning.Don’t let your dog drink from or swim in water containing blue-green algae Blue-green algae is most common during the hotter, drier summer months when there is less rain, so...
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Can our pets get sunburnt?
The answer to this is yes! Just like some people are more prone to getting sunburnt there are certain colours of cats and dogs, even horses that are at risk of getting burnt if they spend a lot of time in the sun. Cats: We often see lesions develop on the ears of...
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Slugs and snails that make you cough!
Lungworm infection is becoming much more common, and is now a risk to dogs across much of the UK. Dogs are at risk of catching lungworm if they eat infected slugs and snails, which can also happen accidentally when they eat grass. Lungworm infections can be serious...
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Pet obesity in the UK
Our pets can suffer from being overweight or obese, just as us humans do. In the UK we continue to see pet obesity rise. It is estimated that 40% and 53% of cats are obese. Pets that are overweight or obese are at risk of many heath issues, such as diabetes, liver...
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Older dogs need a home to
The lockdown has definitely seen an influx of new pet ownership. We have seen more puppies in the last 10 weeks than any other time normal time of the year. Whilst we love seeing the carefree, sweet innocent faces of the puppies who come and see us and they never fail...
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Companionship in Rabbits
Contrary to previous belief, we now know that rabbits are extremely sociable animals and should be housed with at least one other bunny. So, if you are thinking of getting a pet rabbit, you should think about getting at least two. Equally, if you own a bunny who lives...
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Life during lockdown as a Student Veterinary Nurse
Shortly after the country went into lockdown, I entered my final year of training as a student veterinary nurse. In regular life I go to college every Monday, while working in practice for the rest of the week. Due to Covid-19, I have not been able to attend college...
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Backyard chickens
We have many clients who not only have cats and dogs as pets but also get to enjoy the pleasure of fresh eggs on a daily basis from their back yard chickens. In this article we hope to provide a couple of health problems we often see and their clinical signs. Health...
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