Towcester Veterinary Centre’s post-lockdown puppy socialisation checklist

Like many people, did you try to socialise a puppy bought in lockdown and weren’t able to cover all aspects? Towcester Veterinary Centre’s nurses want you to know it’s never too late to socialise a puppy, or an older dog, and explain how below.

So you can get 1-2-1 puppy advice from our fully trained vet nurses, take a moment to register your new best friend and tell us all about them.

Puppy socialisation is an important part of early development, and helps them grow into confident and well-mannered adults. After 6-8 weeks of ‘training’ with mum & siblings, it’s over to you. Ideally, socialising a puppy should be done by 16 weeks. Socialising an older dog is still worth doing, just allow more time & patience. Our nurses have created this handy puppy socialisation checklist to help you:

Post-Lockdown Puppy Socialisation Checklist

The basics: Build up to collar wearing in the house and lead walking in the garden. Once fully vaccinated, do daily walks around your neighbourhood (start with 5 mins for each month of age twice a day). Get them used to being examined all over at home, and bring them to see our Curcote Road team to get weighed regularly. Happy experiences will reinforce a positive association, before they need a veterinary procedure.
At home: Check your puppy is relaxed and happy. Then let your puppy get used to seeing and hearing things like the washing machine, hoover, TV, hairdryer, doorbell/knocker, and post arriving through the letterbox. Toys can be used to introduce different movements and textures in a non-threatening way.
Summer sounds: There’s lots for your puppy to get used to in the garden this time of year such as the lawnmower, kids playing, and the hosepipe. Your puppy can of course have fun outdoors, but what you don’t want is for them to be afraid or bark uncontrollably.
People: Your puppy may not have had much interaction with people outside your household yet. Now they can get used to friends, family, different age groups, and people wearing face masks, hats and glasses. Don’t forget postal workers and people in high-vis clothing.
Animals: Socialising your puppy with other dogs is very important. Stay close enough to remove your puppy from the situation if needed, but don’t overcrowd so they can build confidence. Most dogs will teach puppies what is/isn’t acceptable to them, and owners may ask you to leave their dog alone. When introducing cats, small furries, horses, sheep, and cows, go slowly and be careful. A calm puppy around squirrels & birds would be beneficial.
Out & about: Get your puppy used to traffic, busy highstreets, pet-friendly shops, and the ice-cream van of course!
Car travel: Use a dog crate or a harness and seatbelt. Build up to longer car rides now you can go further afield – remember water & toilet breaks. Ask us for help if this isn’t going well.
Home alone: If you’ve spent a lot of time at home, your puppy could develop separation anxiety when you go out. Try crate training or dedicate a safe corner in a quiet room for your puppy’s bed. Leave them alone for a bit longer each time.

Towcester Veterinary Centre’s nurses recommend involving everyone in your household, including children. Plus, stay calm, be consistent, and keep sessions short & frequent. Try not to overload your puppy with new experiences all at once and always reward calm behaviour towards new things. Finally, stay strong and resist the urge to cuddle your puppy if they get wary.

For more helpful puppy socialisation advice, register your new puppy and book a chat with our nurses.

Towcester Veterinary Centre’s advice on post-covid cat obesity & separation anxiety

During COVID lockdowns, did you spend way more time than normal at home in Northamptonshire with your cat? Did you both eat more and do less? Chances are, weight gain and separation anxiety could now be an issue… for your cat.

You may need to help your cat adjust now that you’re returning to some kind of normality and leaving the house more. Our head nurse Katy has some advice on COVID cat concerns.

Get cat advice from our nurses

COVID Cat obesity:

Social distancing from your sofa, cat on lap, sharing snacks… sound familiar? Doing less and eating more leads to weight gain. If your cat is overweight, their quality & length of life can suffer. There’s no need to panic, Towcester Veterinary Centre’s nursing team can help.

Book your cat in for a weight check and body condition score review. Our nurses can advise you on the best foods for overweight cats, and ways to get your cat moving more.

COVID Cat separation anxiety:

You hear about dogs, but can cats get separation anxiety? Yes. Cats are often seen as ‘aloof’, but are in fact very attached to their owners. They’re typically not as vocal or destructive about it as dogs, which is why cat separation anxiety often goes unnoticed until it’s severe. It can be caused by change or a lack of stimuli, and when forming a dysfunctional bond i.e. prolonged time at home with you.

Anxiety in cats usually presents as behaviour issues:

Your cat cries when you leave, loudly and excessively.
They’ve started urinating on your clothes or soiling other areas indoors.
Licking and self-grooming has become an obsession.
Your cat has become clingy or takes self-isolation too far.
Changes at mealtimes i.e. eating too fast or not eating.
Vomiting & diarrhoea (common for other health issues, get checked if more than 24 hrs).

If your cat is displaying some of these new behaviours, it’s a good idea to get them checked by our team. Some health issues can also cause behavioural changes. If needed, our team can talk to you about getting support from an experienced pet behaviourist.

4 ways you can help your cat adjust after lockdown:

Cut the snacks, but talk to our team before changing your cat’s main diet.
Add more stimuli to their environment for when you’re not there – cat activity centres and toys can also help with weight loss.
Designate time each day for playing and grooming – great for exercise and bonding.
Ask us about using plugin diffusers that omit natural pet pheromones to soothe your cat.

If you’d like to chat about these topics or anything else, Towcester Veterinary Centre’s friendly nurses are happy to help. Talk to us about your cat.

Gareth shares advice on how to give newborn lambs the best start

Keeping newborn lambs alive can be tricky. Statistics show that around 50% of newborn lamb deaths occur within the first 48 hours, and another 11% just 2-14 days later. With stats like these, head vet Gareth Keevill wants you to know how to give your newborn lambs the best chance of survival.

The two main causes of newborn lamb mortality are hypothermia and starvation, followed closely by poor hygiene and disease. Lambs are vulnerable because they’re often born into cold and wet conditions. They have limited energy reserves and a large surface area ratio to body weight, so they need to be dry and feeding quickly.

Lambs also have a very permeable gut lining that allows bacteria and toxins to easily enter the bloodstream. They don’t receive disease immunity through the placenta, instead, lambs rely on colostrum intake shortly after birth for this.

Gareth advises that these 7 things will give your newborn lambs the best chance of a healthy start in life:

Always Vaccinate Your Flock – Protect against diseases that could affect both ewes and newborn lambs. Ask us about sheep vaccinations.
Practice Good Hygiene – Clean a large pen thoroughly using DEFRA-approved disinfectant. Once dry, use plenty of clean, dry bedding for the new arrivals. Wear disposable, close-fitting protective gloves when lambing ewes that need help.
Avoid Hypothermia – Ensure lambs are dried off quickly after birth. Try to intervene as little as possible, but you can towel dry and put the lamb in a warming box with warm air fans set at 35-37°C if needed. Warm it before feeding.
Avoid Starvation – Lambs need to be up on their feet and suckling quickly. If the mother isn’t providing enough milk, you can take it from another ewe and tube feed.
Prevent Disease – Within 15 minutes of birth, treat the navel cord with iodine solution to prevent naval disease. Also, make sure the lamb is getting enough colostrum (from its mother or taken from another ewe) for passive disease immunity.
Bonding & Adoption – Use animal-safe spray paint to identify mothers and lambs and make sure they’re bonded. If the mother has died, or has given birth to triplets or quads, you can try to adopt some lambs to another ewe. Ask our vets about the best adoption techniques for lambs.
Spring Feeding – When ready, the new families can be turned out into the field. Ewes can graze on fresh spring grass and be supplemented with sheep feed to aid milk production. Lambs can be given a special food called creep in lamb feeders.

If you have any questions about lambing, get in touch with our friendly team.

Spring grass and laminitis advice for equine keepers in Northamptonshire

What horse or pony doesn’t love grazing in a field full of lush green spring grass after the winter hay diet? Equine keepers in Northamptonshire should beware though of the connection between spring grass and laminitis. Andy Hayes explains why.

Spring grass is often thought to be the culprit in many laminitis cases. However, it’s actually caused by a combination of eating grasses laden with high amounts of sugars and starches, and hyperinsulinemia (high blood insulin levels) in horses and ponies with EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) and PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction), also known as Cushing’s disease.

Why does spring grass trigger laminitis?

Spring grass is particularly concerning because the sudden increase in daylight kicks off photosynthesis, thereby generating NSCs – non-structural carbohydrates a.k.a. sugars & starches. On warm spring nights, the plant uses NSCs to fuel overnight growth and on cool nights, NSCs accumulate in the plant. When horses eat spring grasses, they’re consuming a much higher amount of sugar and starch than they need, which is bad for EMS and PPID sufferers, and can lead to weight gain.

Grass that grows in spring and autumn (warm sunny days and cool nights) is most problematic, however, with the unpredictability of NCS levels in grass, laminitis can be an issue all year-round. Equine keepers should therefore minimise the grass intake of any horse, donkey, or pony, with EMS and/or PPID.

What is laminitis in horses?

Laminitis is a painful condition that occurs when the laminae (thin vertical structures that attach the horse’s coffin bone to the hoof wall and prevent it from sinking or rotating) are damaged or inflamed and can’t prevent movement of the coffin bone. In extreme cases, the coffin bone can penetrate the foot.

Laminitis symptoms to look out for (may be subtle or obvious):

‘Footy’ behaviour
Shifting in front
A reluctance to walk, turn, or pick up feet
Stretched white line
‘Rocking horse’ stance (their weight is shifted backwards)

If you’re concerned your horse could be suffering from laminitis, contact us to arrange a visit from one of our team.

You can always call us for more advice on 01327 811007.

A new dog owners’ guide to responsible petcare in Towcester

Given the number of people who got a dog during lockdown, National Pet Month could not have come at a more appropriate time for this article. What better time to gently remind new owners that along with their wonderful new companion come a few responsibilities?

Our head vet Helen and the team have listed a few need-to-knows for new owners . We’ve also included a link to a really useful download from the Dog’s Trust, that we think you might want to share.

Get the Dog’s Trust ‘New owner’ Ticklist

So, here are our top tips on how new dog owners can meet their responsibilities safely and appropriately…

1. Understand your legal responsibilities

Owners must ensure their dogs are safe at all times and not creating a nuisance or danger for anyone else. Your dog must have a collar with an identity tag that must clearly state your name and address (and ideally a phone number). It is also now a legal requirement that your dog is microchipped. Finally, don’t forget that, according to The Highways Act, dogs must be suitably restrained when travelling in cars.

2. Guidelines to follow when you’re out

Always carry poo bags, use them & dispose of used ones appropriately
Plan ahead to check that your dog can accompany you wherever you’re going
Never leave your dog unattended in a car – even in winter
Keep your dog on a lead whenever there’s livestock within sight

By showing consideration for the communities around Towcester, you’ll be ensuring everyone enjoys your pooch as much as you do.

3. Professional healthcare for your dog

We obviously believe that some level of veterinary care is essential for every dog. If you’ve taken the trouble to register with us, then you can expect us to keep your pet’s vaccinations, worming, flea and tick treatments up to date during regular check-ups. If you know someone with a dog who’s not registered with a vet, then why not share this story with them.

4. Home healthcare

There are certain things you can do at home to keep your pet in good condition between check-ups. Grooming your dog helps to keep their coat clean and healthy. Dental hygiene is important too, so teaching your dog to have their teeth cleaned is worthwhile. Getting your dog used to being around people, handled, brushed and if needed, having their nails clipped, encourages their socialisation and can be a great way to bond.

5. Maximising your dog’s wellbeing

Providing a healthy, happy, safe and secure environment is an investment that will pay you back handsomely, so understand that …

A ready supply of fresh water for your dog is essential
Feeding them a balanced diet, will provide for their nutritional needs
Giving your dog their own bed in a quiet spot gives them a chance to relax
Dogs benefit from having a basic structure to their day. Try and stick to the same routine for feeding, toileting, playtime & walks.
Dogs are social animals, so, find out what type of contact your dog likes and enjoy regular time with them.

Those are just the basics, don’t forget the team at Towcester Veterinary Centre are here for advice whenever you need it, just drop us a line on 01327 350239.

In the meantime, please do share this article with any new dog owners you know and let’s mark National Pet Month by helping everyone enjoy their new furry friends.

Towcester Veterinary Centre in Northamptonshire offer support with canine cancer

When it comes to your beloved pet dog, hearing the word ‘cancer’ can leave you feeling completely helpless. Towcester Veterinary Centre’s team of veterinary surgeons want you to know that you’re not alone – they’re here to help you understand and cope with canine cancer.

There are several common canine cancers including mast cell tumours, brain tumours, lymphoma, bladder cancer, mammary carcinoma, mouth & nose cancer, melanoma and testicular cancer. Here are some quick facts:

Cancer mostly affects middle-aged & older dogs but young dogs can get it.
Other health issues, such as obesity, can be a factor with some cancers.
Unneutered dogs and some breeds are more susceptible to certain cancers.

Only a vet can diagnose canine cancer so it’s important to keep up with 6-12 month health checks wherever possible. Spotting canine cancer can be very difficult sometimes and will depend on many factors. The most common symptoms are:

Lumps and bumps underneath your dog’s skin.
Abnormal odors coming from the mouth, ears, or any other body parts.
Abnormal discharge from the eyes, mouth, ears, or rectum.
Abdominal swelling.
Wounds or sores that won’t heal.
Sudden weight loss and failure to regain the weight.
Change in appetite.
Coughing or difficulty breathing.
Lethargy or depression.
Changes in toileting habits.
Evidence of pain.

When treating canine cancer, different factors will influence the options: age, overall health, the type of cancer and it’s behaviour, and the stage it’s at. Cancer therapies for dogs are similar to human treatments – surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and holistic & herbal therapies can benefit in some cases.

Not all dogs can cope with, or will respond to treatment. It’s also important to remember the long-term prognosis and quality of life your pet can expect during and after any treatment.

At Towcester Veterinary Centre in Northamptonshire, we’re here to support you and your pet every step of the way. If you have any concerns, contact us for advice.

Ask us about canine cancer

Read Towcester Veterinary Centre’s advice on equine flu

Equine flu, or equine influenza, is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease. Symptoms can be severe, so it’s important to know when to contact your vet.

Book a vaccination

Horses can catch equine flu via direct contact with an infected horse, and via indirect contact with a handler or inanimate objects like feed buckets and equipment. Equine flu can also become airborne when a horse sneezes infected droplets.

The incubation period is 1-5 days so it can spread very quickly through your horses, neighbouring stables, and those further afield. Given the right weather conditions, airborne equine flu can travel several miles, putting all UK horses at risk.

Because equine flu is so contagious, Towcester Veterinary Centre’s expert team recommends contacting your vet as soon as you have any suspicions. You should also isolate your horse and keep their environment as dust-free as possible.

Clinical signs of equine influenza:

Increased temperature (up to 41°C/106°F) for 1-3 days before visible signs.
Swollen & sore airway, and a harsh, dry cough that can last up to 6 weeks.
Nasal discharge that starts clear and can become yellow/green and thick.
Loss of appetite and lethargy.
Painful and swollen glands underneath and around your horse’s jaw.

The influenza virus is not to be underestimated. It can weaken a horse and leave it vulnerable to secondary infections like bronchitis, pneumonia, lower limb swelling and muscle soreness. These are very worrying in young foals, elderly horses, and horses with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Death can occur in serious cases.

It can take many weeks for a horse to get back to full health, and they can be susceptible to secondary complications up to 100 days post-infection. You should always consult your vet before returning your horse to regular duties.

How to protect your horse against equine flu

The best way to give your horse protection against equine flu is to stay up to date with annual vaccinations – missing even one day puts your horse at more risk and could mean starting their vaccination course again, which can be costly.

The equine flu virus has a habit of mutating so keeping vaccines up-to-date with the latest strains can be challenging. This does mean that vaccinated horses can become infected, however, the symptoms aren’t as severe and don’t last as long. Vaccinating is still the best way to give yours and other horses the best protection. Maintaining a good level of health & hygiene management can also help to stop the spread.

Call us on 01327 811007 if you suspect equine flu or to book a vaccination.

Clostridial disease advice for Northamptonshire sheep and lambs

Clostridial disease is the most common cause of sudden death in UK sheep and lambs, and a serious threat to farming. Towcester Veterinary Centre’s large animal veterinary team in Northamptonshire has answered your frequently asked questions about it below.

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What is clostridial disease?

There are 10 important strains of bacterial clostridial disease including the list below. It’s not the bacteria that causes death, it’s the spores that multiply and produce toxins when ingested. The threat is everywhere as the bacteria is found in soil and in the intestinal tract of animals and humans.

Lamb Dysentery – Lambs typically die showing no clinical signs.
Pulpy Kidney – Seen in 4-10 week-old lambs born to unvaccinated dams.
Braxy – Characteristically occurs in unvaccinated, weaned lambs in winter, after eating frosted root crops.
Tetanus – Can be more prevalent on farms with horses; hind leg stiffness, difficulty walking, seizures, opisthotonus, death from respiratory failure.
Blackleg – Caught through skin wounds, dog bites, shearing cuts, untreated umbilicus, trauma to the posterior reproductive tract, and via contaminated needles/injection equipment.
Black disease – Toxins in the liver cause migrating liver fluke damage/death.

What are the symptoms of clostridial disease?

The first sign of clostridial disease is usually dead sheep or lambs as the onset is so quick – death occurs within hours. Each type of clostridial disease will present differently, however, clinical symptoms include scouring, abdominal pain, collapse, hind limb stiffness, convulsions, and a high temperature.

How do you treat clostridial disease?

Unfortunately, as most infected animals will be found dying or dead, the only antibiotic to kill the bacteria (penicillin) is usually ineffective. Therefore, vaccinations are vital to protect your sheep & lambs from these devastating diseases.

When can you vaccinate sheep & lambs against clostridial disease?

Newborn lambs are given passive immunity via a vaccinated mother in the first milk (colostrum). The mother can be boostered with a 5-in-1 vaccine approx. one month before the due date to increase the offspring’s length of protection. Antibodies can be added to the colostrum until the lamb is old enough to be vaccinated, which is around marking time when the mother’s milk production is dwindling.

Active immunity requires a primary vaccination course consisting of two doses 4-6 weeks apart. A booster vaccine for clostridial disease should then be given no later than 12 months after the primary course, and repeated annually.

Clostridial Vaccinations – are you covered? Contact us to book your next round of vaccinations.

Get ready for spring with canine vaccinations

As temperatures tiptoe towards double figures again, we’re all feeling a little ‘spring in our step’, including our pets. Now that your dog will undoubtedly be spending more time outdoors, our head nurse Katy Kirkham has come up with a handy spring checklist:

5 things you can do to get your dog ready for spring:

1. Check your dog’s vaccinations are up to date – Being outdoors more and mixing with other dogs at the park increases your dog’s chances of contracting kennel cough and other contagious diseases if their vaccinations aren’t up to date. Check when they last had their jabs and book an appointment if their 12 months are up. Adult dog vaccines typically give a tapered 3-month immunity, but waiting longer can sometimes mean starting their vaccination course again from the beginning.

2. Apply monthly flea & worm treatments – Fleas and worms can be problematic all year round but tend to be more prevalent during spring and summer. Fleas spread quickly and can carry diseases, and worms can harm your pet inside and out. Contracting lungworm can actually be fatal. Protect your dog against these springtime hazards by keeping up to date with monthly flea & worm treatments.

3. Think ticks – Ticks are found mostly in long grass and where deer or sheep roam, and are most active in the spring and summer. Some flea products protect against ticks as well, or you can buy tick-specific products. You can always talk to Katy about whether your dog would benefit from tick protection and how to remove a tick safely (never pull a tick straight out). Ticks can spread Lyme disease and Babesiosis so it’s important to know if the area you’re walking in is high-risk – you can check this online here.

4. Be allergy aware – Seasonal allergies such as hay fever can make some dogs very unwell. If you spot the tell-tale signs it would be worth bringing your dog in to get checked. Canine hay fever symptoms include frequent, repeated sneezing; irritated & itchy eyes (could also be red or runny); a runny nose; increase in itching or biting at the skin (showing skin irritation); scratching excessively resulting in bald or sore patches of skin; rashes on the paws or face.

5. Take note of toxic plants – Finally, you can complete your spring checklist by making sure you’re aware of which plants are toxic to dogs now that they’ll be out and about more. These include Azalea, Bittersweet, Crocus, Day Lily, Ferns, Lily of the Valley, Morning Glory, Tiger Lily, and Tulip.

If you need to check your dog’s vaccinations or want any advice on spring health concerns, get in touch with our team.

Advice on Leptospirosis protection in dairy herds from Towcester Veterinary Centre

Dairy herds are particularly at risk from Leptospirosis due to management factors that increase the risk of exposure, including close contact within the herd and with dairy workers, confinement during milking and in the yard, and moist conditions.

Leptospirosis is a serious infectious disease that can have detrimental effects on a dairy herd’s health and production. It can also cause serious and sometimes long-term illness in humans. Are your dairy herd and workers protected?

Towcester Veterinary Centre’s large animal vets recommend a robust vaccination programme to give your dairy herd long-term immunity from Leptospirosis, protecting both cattle and humans.

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How Leptospirosis is spread:

Infected cattle can shed the bacteria in their urine for months and sometimes years, which causes new infections in susceptible animals.
The bacteria can survive for weeks in water, mud, and damp soil.
Infection can occur through fine urine droplets being inhaled by cattle and humans during milking.
The mouth, nose, eyes, and damaged skin can be penetrated by the bacteria.
Humans, cattle, sheep, pigs, rodents and most other mammals are at risk.

How dairy herds can be affected:

L. pomona infection:

Can affect most cattle within a herd, with fatalities of up to 100%.
Can cause dramatic milk reduction in older herds.
Can sometimes cause abortion.
Less common disease in calves that are fed colostrum from vaccinated cows giving them temporary immunity.

L. hardjo infection:

Can affect many cows in the herd.
Sudden drop in milk yields (up to 2 weeks), increased white blood cell count.
Can cause 5-10% abortion rate between 6-12 days after transmission.

When it comes to humans, the infection typically causes a severe flu-like illness for about a week, or can cause a recurring chronic disease or severe nervous symptoms in some people. Dairy herd farmers have a duty to protect workers and their families from Leptospirosis as a failure to do so can result in potential liability, as well as a reduction in their workforce while they recover.

The ideal aim of a vaccination programme is to immunise all cattle before infection occurs. If Leptospirosis is already present in the herd, vaccinating young uninfected cattle is where you would start.

Book a visit from Towcester Veterinary Centre’s large animal vets to assess your herd.