Purton Vets Newsletter

Dogs Trust List Of Poisonous Plants, Garden And Household Substances

2010-02-20T19:49:02Z

A List of common potentially poisonous household and garden substances -as supplied by the VPIS (Veterinary Poisons Information Service). The Dogs Trust leaflet can be downloaded here.

Anticoagulant rodenticides

difenacoum
bromadiolone
brodadiolone
coumatetralyl

Ibuprofen

Nurofen
Advil

Metaldehyde

Slug bait

Human oral contraceptives (very low toxicity)
Chocolate / theobromine
Diclofenac sodium (a similar drug to Ibuprofen)
Salbutamol

Ventalin inhalers

Alphachloralose rodenticides
Paraquat
Wallpaper paste (very low toxicity)
Borax / Boric acid ant killer gels
Bonemeal
Glyphosate based herbicides
Aspirin
Cannabis
Batteries
Bendiocarb

powder ant killers

White spirit / barbecue lighter fluid
Antifreeze
Loperamide

anti-diarrhoea drugs

Bleach
Pyrethrin-based insecticides
Creosote
Temazepam

FAB's Common household poisons and cats

2010-02-20T19:33:06Z

Cats are usually very sensible creatures when it comes to eating things which are not good for them. So why do vets have to deal with cats which have ingested something harmful?

A LARGE PART of the answer lies in the fact that cats like to keep themselves scrupulously clean and will groom off anything on their coats or paws which shouldn't be there. Hence they can swallow things like antifreeze or decorating products, which they have walked through or brushed against.

Cats also like to nibble at grass outside. If they do not have access to this because they are indoor cats or simply because they are young and inquisitive, they may chew indoor plants or cut flowers such as lilies.

Here are some of the more dangerous poisons which cat owners should be aware of:

Paracetamol

Often given to cats in a caring but misguided attempt to relieve pain.
Highly dangerous for cats - just one tablet is enough to cause severe illness or death.
Signs of poisoning include depression, vomiting, swelling of the face and paws and a bluish discolouration of the skin.
An effective antidote is available, but must be used very soon after the cat has taken the tablet.
NEVER GIVE CATS PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE (unless instructed otherwise by your vet)

Lilies

Cats are very sensitive to plants of the Lilium species, including Easter, Stargazer, Tiger and Asiatic lilies.
All parts of a lily are toxic, even the flowers and pollen (which can be groomed off its coat if the cat brushes past the flowers). Less than one leaf ingested by a cat can cause kidney failure.
Signs to look for are prolonged vomiting, not eating and depression.
Urgent veterinary treatment is required.
CHECK FLOWER LABELS FOR WARNINGS OF TOXICITY TO ANIMALS

Antifreeze used in cars

Often contains ethylene glycol or methanol, which are toxic to cats. These chemicals can also be found in car screenwashes and de-icers.
They can cause weakness, hypothermia, breathing difficulties, convulsions and kidney damage.
Treatment can be difficult and is rarely successful.
CLEAN UP ANY SPILLAGES CAREFULLY AND KEEP CATS AWAY

Certain dog flea products

Permethrin is found in many spot-on preparations for dogs used for the control of fleas, biting flies and lice. (It is also the active ingredient in some ant powders).
Poisoning can arise when cats are accidentally treated with such dog flea products or where they groom themselves or other animals treated with the product.
Cats may salivate a great deal, be thirsty, have a high temperature and tremors or convulsions.
Urgent veterinary advice is essential.
NEVER USE DOG PRODUCTS ON CATS (unless instructed otherwise by your vet)

Some slug baits

Metaldehyde is the problem ingredient in some slug baits and any amount can be toxic for a cat.
Cats may become unsteady on their legs, salivate and twitch and can suffer convulsions.
Signs of poisoning develop quickly so urgent treatment is needed.
AVOID PRODUCTS CONTAINING METALDEHYDE IF YOU HAVE PETS

Decorating materials

Petroleum distillates found in solvents for paints, glass cleaners, varnishes, wood preservatives (such as creosote) and brush cleaners (eg, white spirit), can all cause problems.
They are irritants to the skin and footpads causing inflammation, blisters and burning. If the cat then grooms the product off the skin there may be severe irritation to its mouth.
Fumes from the products may also cause breathing difficulties. q CLEAN UP ANY SPILLAGES CAREFULLYAND KEEP CATS AWAY

This leaflet highlights some of the more serious potential poisons for cats. A list of plants poisonous to cats and further information on poisons can be found on www.fabcats.org.

Current recommendations for feline vaccination

2010-02-05T18:37:45Z

The way we vaccinate cats has changed. A decade ago vets would vaccinate against all the important diseases every year regardless of the cats lifestyle, age or risk of infection. This has no doubt saved many a cats life but this blanket vaccination policy also resulted in many cats having vaccinations that may have not be needed.

In July 2009 a panel of specialists in feline medicine and vaccination published a series of recommendations for vaccination in cats. The European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases is composed of 16 independent veterinary experts (i.e. do not work for drug companies) from across Europe.

The guidelines they have presented reflect a consensus of expert opinion, experience and scientific data and are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2009) Volume 11, issue 7. This is a highly respected journal and the recommendations are from some of the best scientists in the world when it comes to feline health.

At Purton Vets we have always promoted the idea that an individual's specific needs should be considered when deciding on their preventative healthcare plan.   Simply following a drug company's data sheet which describes the legal license a vaccine has without taking the patients individual needs into account is not in the patient's interest. We use our knowledge of disease and current scientific evidence to make decisions on how drugs should be used in the real world.

The 3 major diseases we vaccinate against in the UK are cat flu, feline enteritis and feline leukaemia. Leukaemia is not consider a core vaccine which means only certain cats should receive it, however flu and enteritis are consider core vaccines meaning all cats should receive them.

There are 2 main considerations that decide which vaccinations a cat should receive are the cat's age and the environment they live in.

Indoor Cats

Indoor cats are cats that never go outside. If your cat falls into this category and you have no plans to allow it outside in the future then the only vaccination required is against cat flu and feline enteritis. Feline leukaemia is not required. Kittens need 2 injections a few weeks apart and a booster 1 year later. After 1 year of age indoor cats only need flu and enteritis boosters every 3 years. It's important that if you vaccinate this way you test any new cats you introduce to your home for leukaemia (FeLV) to be sure they don't introduce the disease to your home.

Outdoor Cats

Outdoor cats are cats that step outside, however infrequently. These cats need to be vaccinated against cat flu, feline enteritis and FeLV. Kittens need 2 injections given a few weeks apart and a booster a year later.   Adults need cat flu boosters annually and enteritis boosters every 3 years.   Adults also need vaccination against FeLV until they are at least 3 years of age but from then onwards they only need FeLV boosters every 3 years.

Not only does this mean your cat needs less vaccination with less risk of a reaction, but it also costs less as the FeLV component is quite expensive.

Remember that part of our decision making process is to consider the risk of disease in a local area and the specific cats environment. The prevalence of FeLV in the UK has greatly decreased thanks to reliable tests, improved understanding of the disease and effective vaccinations. In Purton and West Swindon the disease is rare however further afield towards Lynham the incidence is higher especially within the stray feral population.

Our understanding of Felv has improved and we know that cats become resistant to infection with age. Cats less than 3 years of age are at greater risk. The virus does not survive well outside the animal and spread usually requires persistent close contact with an infected cat. The virus does not travel through the air and is spread through faeces, saliva, nasal secretions and milk.

The outdoor adult cat leukaemia guidelines and the indoor adult cat flu/enteritis guidelines do not follow the vaccine producers recommendations. They are required to base their recommendations on tests they have run on animals and receive a license for the vaccines use that they cannot deviate from. FeLV has only been tested to show 1 year immunity although it may last longer but no test results have been published. However given the significantly lower susceptibility of adult cats and low incidence of the disease our revised vaccination guidelines for FeLV should be protective and negate the potential side effects of vaccination.

Problems with aversive dog training techniques

2010-01-18T13:00:38Z

UK animal welfare, behaviour, training and veterinary organisations are warning of the possible dangers of using techniques for training dogs that can cause pain and fear, such as some of those seen used by Cesar Millan, who has announced a UK tour.

The organisations have joined forces to voice their serious concerns about techniques which pose welfare problems for dogs and significant risk to owners who may copy them. These concerns are shared, and the statement supported, by similar organisations around the world and in continental Europe.

Aversive training techniques, which have been seen to be used by Cesar Millan, are based on the principle of applying an unpleasant stimulus to inhibit behaviour. This kind of training technique can include the use of prong collars, electric shock collars, restricting dogs′ air supply using nooses/leads or pinning them to the ground, which can cause pain and distress. The use of such techniques may compromise the welfare of dogs and may worsen the behavioural problems they aim to address, potentially placing owners at considerable risk. A number of scientific studies have found an association between the use of aversive training techniques and the occurrence of undesired behaviours in dogs.

The organisations believe that the use of such training techniques is not only unacceptable from a welfare perspective, but that this type of approach is not necessary for the modification of dog behaviour. Dog trainers all over the UK use reward-based methods to train dogs very effectively. Where dogs have behaviours which owners find unacceptable, such as aggression or destruction, qualified behaviourists achieve long term changes in behaviour through the use of established and validated techniques of behaviour modification without subjecting dogs to training techniques which may cause pain or distress.

We urge dog owners to carefully consider the help they choose to train their dogs or tackle behavioural problems. Anyone can call themselves a behaviour expert, but we believe that only those with a combination of appropriate qualifications, up to date knowledge as well as skills and experience should be treating dogs, and should only do so in a way which does not put the welfare of the dogs at risk.

Further information on:

the misconceptions which underlie the use of aversive training techniques
the development of behaviour in dogs
the problems associated with the use of aversive training techniques
finding a suitable trainer or behaviourist

can be found at: www.dogwelfarecampaign.org

Being Cat Friendly

2009-12-23T15:42:06Z

Cats are now Britain's favourite pet: there are 7.7 million cats as opposed to 6.6 million dogs. For thousands of years cats have lived with people, the ancient Egyptians even worshipped them as gods! Changes in our lifestyles have helped the cat increase in popularity, the cat's independent nature has proved advantageous as more and more of us live in homes where one or both owners work. We also live in more urban environments, where space and time are at a premium, the cat comes into its own.

Every cat owner knows that all cats are individuals, each with a special and unique character. Here at Purton Veterinary Group we like to recognize this fact too! Cats are not small dogs and bring with them a unique set of requirements in their personal needs, handling, diagnosis, treatment and care.

We understand that when cats visit one of our surgeries they will be exposed to many stressors. A strange cat carrier, car journey, strange smells, sights and noises can all induce stress. This stress can cause many different reactions including increased heart rate and breathing, raised blood pressure, pupil dilation and anorexia, as they try to assess potential dangers around them.

Your cats' initial experience on entering the practice is very important as it is the time your cat is attempting to assess the safety of this new environment. We have re-designed our reception at Purton so we have a cat only area providing a barrier so your cats are unable to see any dogs that may also be in the practice. This area also has a raised shelf where you can safely place your cat carrier so that your cat does not have to be on floor. Cats like to see what s going on around them and can feel very insecure if they are placed at floor level.

To further enhance this more relaxing environment we have introduced our 'Cats Only' clinic on a Tuesday afternoon each week, between 12pm and 3pm. This gives you the opportunity to bring your cat to the surgery at a quiet time when you can be assured that there's unlikely to be any barking dogs to worry your feline companions.

We know that the way in which cats are handled in the consulting room or how they are hospitalized can move them from a fearful and anxious state to one of relaxation. Avoiding stressors, correct handling, interpretation of body language and suitable housing are all part of our overall care strategy for your cat whilst it is with us.

Once in the consulting room we ensure that any alarm scents left by preceding patients are removed by cleaning the consulting table and having good ventilation in place. Our consultation rooms are very secure so we can happily let your cat out of its carrier to explore the room before any examination takes place. Giving your cat the chance to explore usually helps to keep them occupied and calm! At this time we can also discuss your cat with you to help us with any diagnosis and treatment. We adopt a 'less is more' approach to restraint as cats generally respond well to minimal restraint. Jos and Graeme, the practice owners, have seven cats of their own and are therefore well practiced in talking calmly to our feline patients and making them feel at ease!

If your cat has to be hospitalized with us for any length of time we now have a dedicated cat ward, large enough to house 8 cats comfortably, it is quiet and benefits from being air conditioned. We decided when we created this area we did not want small cat cages commonly used in veterinary hospitals. These small cages are only large enough for a cat, a litter tray and food bowls and leaves the cat very little room. They are suitable for outpatients but not for cats that need to longer term care and rehabilitation!

So, we have included in our cat ward two of cages that benefit from being 1.2m wide and 70cm deep giving any cats staying with us plenty of room to move around. It also means that food bowls and litter trays are further apart as cats do not like to eat next to their litter tray! Additionally, there are shelves for your cats to sit on and all the units are above the floor, again making your cats feel more secure. We can also provide appropriate places for cats to hide by covering sections of the cage and encourage you to bring in familiar bedding or clothing with a familiar smell that will help to reassure your cat during its stay with us. The patients can be monitored remotely by CCTV 24hrs if needed allowing the vets and nurses to keep an eye on patients in between their scheduled checks.

As volunteers for the Wootton Bassett and District branch of Cats Protection we assist with the welfare and re-homing of many cats. Our heavy involvement with Cats Protection means that our staff benefit from lots of experience in cat/kitten care and handling difficult cats. We also have immediate access to a wealth of information through the Cats Protection volunteer website at the touch of a button.

In recognition of our cat-friendly service we are long term members of the Feline Advisor Bureau charity. As a member this signifies our personal commitment to increase our knowledge of feline diseases and treatments so that we can help your cat and that we have a real interest in the health and welfare of cats. Presently there are around 150 other practice members in the UK. For more information visit Feline Advisory Bureau is dedicated to increasing knowledge about feline diseases and care and raising awareness of the vital role of top quality veterinary treatment.

Don't spoil Christmas with the wrong foods

2009-12-23T15:17:10Z

It's all to easy at Christmas for our pets to find something to eat that they shouldn't. I can picture myself feet up on the couch, stomach fully of wine and good food, drifting into sleep with the telly on in the background. That's the oppurtinuty my Spaniel has been waiting for and almost certainly the best time to do some counter surfing in the kitchen.

At Christmas remember to watch out for your pets eating food items that contain:

• Grapes, raisins, currants or sultanas
• Chocolate
• Peanuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions, garlic, leeks etc
• Xylitol (a sweetener)

CHOCOLATE POISONING

Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common problems we see, particularly at this time of

the year! The severity of poisoning depends principally on two things, obviously the amount

of chocolate ingested but also the type of chocolate (i.e. milk or dark). The amount of

theobromine (a methylxanthine similar to caffeine) in milk and dark chocolate differs

considerably, which is reflected in the toxic dose for dogs. Chocolate is also toxic to

other species (for example cats, rodents, rabbits etc). The foremost clinical effects seen

in chocolate poisoning are vomiting and diarrhoea (and coupled with the fact that

theobromine is a diuretic (makes you urinate), animals may become severely dehydrated).

Theobromine is also a stimulant, and therefore some animals may become hyperactive and

develop hyperthermia, high blood pressure and often severe increase in heart rate. Muscular

rigidity, tremors and convulsions may also be observed in some extreme cases. Treatment is

largely supportive, with particular emphasis on rehydration, reducing the stimulant effects

with sedatives, monitoring of vital signs and repeat doses of activated charcoal to enhance

elimination.

GRAPES, RAISINS, CURRANTS AND SULTANAS

Fruits of the Vitis vinifera (grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas) can, surprisingly,

cause renal failure in dogs. Some dogs seem able to eat large quantities without any

effects, while others develop renal failure after as little as a few grapes or a small

handful of raisins. We therefore recommend treatment for any amount. Some dogs may initially

develop vomiting and diarrhoea and develop renal failure from 24 - 72 hours post ingestion.

Treatment requires intravenous fluids to protect the kidneys, and repeat doses of activated

charcoal may be of benefit (the fruits often pass out in the stools so absorption may occur

throughout the gut). It is possible cats are also susceptible. Foods to watch out for at

Christmas include; Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Stollen and mince pies.

DANGEROUS FOODS

Peanuts (including monkey nuts) have been reported to cause adverse effects in some pets.

Most symptomatic animals develop gastrointestinal signs and in a small number of cases

twitching, muscle spasm, agitation, hallucinations and occasionally convulsions can occur.

Macadamia nuts are also toxic and can cause weakness, tremor, ataxia, vomiting, depression,

pyrexia, abdominal tenderness, lameness and stiffness in dogs. Be aware that

chocolate-coated peanuts and macadamia nuts are also available.

Allium species (onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) can cause toxicity, even when

cooked. Initially there are gastrointestinal signs followed by haemolytic anaemia from 1-5

days. Christmas foods to avoid are onion gravy and sage and onion stuffing. Mouldy food

(e.g. mouldy walnuts, bread, cheese) can contain toxins that cause rapid onset convulsions

with tremors, vomiting, hyperaesthesia and rigidity. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, found

in some chewing gums and medicinal products can also be bought by the bag load to sweeten

home cooking. Unfortunately although healthy for humans it can cause hypoglycaemia and liver
failure in dogs.

"POISONOUS" PLANTS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

Well, if cats or dogs decide to eat Holly or Ivy at Christmas there's probably not too much

to worry about. Some sources quote 20 holly (Ilex spp) berries causing death in a dog - but

there's no substantive case data. The ivy used in wreaths and decorations is Hedera helix

spp (not Rhus radicans which is "poison ivy"). Both holly and ivy usually only result in

drooling, retching or even vomiting.

However, ivy can cause muscle twitching, paralysis, convulsions and death in rabbits. Holly

spines may also cause mechanical injury. Mistletoe (Viscum album) - ingestion seems to

result in retching, vomiting and salivation but occasionally weakness has been reported. The

reports of this plant causing neurological signs probably refer to cases involving the plant

the Americans call mistletoe (Phoradendron spp). Poinsettia has a bad reputation, probably

as it belongs to the Euphorbia family. Although it is reported to be very toxic to cats,

experience is generally that ingestion only produces gastric irritation. We recommend these

plants are kept out of reach of your pets. With Christmas trees this is obviously

impossible! If parts of these are consumed the major risk would appear to be mechanical

injury or obstruction from the "needles". For all these plants it is recommended that owners

keep cats and dogs well hydrated and on a bland diet. If owners report protracted vomiting

you might want to bring the animal in and consider giving some rehydration therapy. There

are indoor plants that are toxic remember - especially lilies (toxic to cats).

SUBSTANCES OF LOW TOXICITY

All of the items mentioned below are considered to be of low toxicity by ingestion. Any

ingestion of these substances would be expected to cause a mild gastrointestinal upset,

however treatment or observation in a veterinary surgery is unnecessary and cases can

usually be managed at home.

Silica gel - comes in small sachets and is often found in the packaging for new handbags,

shoes or cameras.
Christmas decorations - are usually made of paper, foil or plastics (N.B this does not

include decorations that contain batteries). Decorations made of glass could pose a risk of

mechanical damage.

Candles - could potentially cause obstruction or a choking hazard.

Wrapping or crepe paper - may cause staining of the mouth that can look alarming.

Source: Veterinary Poisons Information service Dec 2009

Simons sisters dog - a Christmas Message from the RSPCA

2009-12-19T21:49:25Z

A humorous message from the RSPCA warning about the excesses of Christmas this year. I know a few clients who need a gentle reminder....
.

Willow's Heart Operation

2009-12-19T16:09:04Z

Willow is a delightful Cocker Spaniel puppy, full of the breeds usual mischief. When I first met Willow she happened to have a rather round belly. As you may know when puppies get worms the belly can become rather enlarged. We decided with Willows owner to rule out worms first with a course of treatment. Although I had a suspicion something more might be brewing we decided to wait and see as there were no other problems found on a health examination. Months later when Willow was re-examined her owner was worried that although she was full of energy and playful, she was smaller than her siblings.

On a closer examination we found that there was a hard lump we could feel in the front of her belly which we did not feel before so we booked her in for some blood tests, x-rays and an ultrasound scan. The blood tests were fine but the xray and scan showed an enlarged liver and a dilated blood vessel entering the heart.

Willows heart sounded completely normal and she showed no signs of weakness we would normally expect with heart disease. We suspected there was a blockage of blood flow back into the heart but struggled to see anything on a heart scan. We suspected a condition called Cor Tritriatum Dexter and referred her for a scan with a registered specialist. The cardiologist found a valve that had not formed properly between the chambers of her right heart but could not confirm a Cor Tritriatum Dexter. He recommended a 3rd opinion at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

The RVC confirmed Willows heart condition as Cor Tritriatum Dexter, a rare condition that had a 50% chance of resolving with heart surgery. The surgeons at the RVC had seen a handful of cases like this in their specialist cardiology department.

So what is Cor Tritriatum Dexter? Just to recap on how the heart functions you may remember that the heart has 4 chambers. This you tube video shows how the heart pumps blood. It uses a human heart but the principle is the same in all mammals.

Willow's heart did not form properly, leaving a membrane like a thin piece of skin dividing the right atrium (chamber) of the heart into two sections. The blue blood coming from the head and chest could enter the heart but the blood coming from the stomach and abdomen could not.

You would think this would create a serious problem but Willow seemed oblivious to it. It's amazing how the body compensates for problems. What made us suspect this condition was the fact that the blood from the back of the body was being trapped in the caudal vena cava making it much wider on xrays than we would normally see.

The green arrow below shows Willows Caudal Vena Cava which should be half the diameter it is. The red area shows where the blockage was stopping the blood from coming back into her heart from her abdomen. The blue arrows on the left show how the blood still gets into her heart from her head and chest.

So what happens to all the blood in her abdomen?

Well the blood takes the long way round and comes back via her spine. There a some small veins that travel along the spine from the back to the front of the body and these veins took over Willows caudal vena cava function and tried their best to get the blood back to the heart.

The picture below shows how the blood moves up to the spine as goes to the front of the body to get into the heart. There are also a few vessels that try bring the blood back along the bottom of the heart but I have not shown these below.

It turns out they were doing a good job because she showed no signs of illness. Her liver did enlarge as the blood pooled in it and she even developed some water in her abdomen. However she still ran a mile with no effort and kept her owners on their toes.

The surgeons at the Royal Veterinary College inserted a catheter into Willows vein in her back leg and moved it all the way to the back of her heart. They injected a dye into her blood via the curled up catheter that made the blood stand out black on xray. The green arrow shows the dilated caudal vena cava and you can see where the black blood stops at the red marker, The grey areas show the diluted dye getting to the heart via alternative routes which involve getting blood to the front of the heart because the main back route is blocked.

The surgeons passed a catheter into her caudal vena cava and then into heart, made a hole in the membrane (red line) and then inflated a balloon and stretched the small hole they had made to make it bigger.

This then allowed blood to flow from the caudal vena cava into her heart as it was supposed to. The image below shows the black dye in the blood now moving from the main vessel into the heart with very little blood trying to find an alternative route.

A few months on and Willows follow-up assessment shows she has excellent function and her blood is once again flowing as normal. She's a lucky Spaniel! Most heart conditions are very difficult to fix but fortunately we could do something in her case.

Veterinary standards vary between practices

2009-11-15T11:18:07Z

At Purton Veterinary Group we are proud to say our clinical standards are amongst the best available and and you can rest assured that we put your pet first. A recent study published by a team at the University of Cambridge has shown there is a significant disparity between the clinical standards clients think their vets provide and what actually happens behind the scenes. 328 owners were surveyed and their expectations compared to what 56 vet students had experienced in their rotation through veterinary practices while training.

98.2% of owners expected vets to wear sterile gloves while operating, however only 37.5% of practices used sterile gloves routinely.

92.7% of owners thought their vets would wear a sterile surgical gown during surgery but only 14% actually did.

71% of owners expected theatres to be cleaned between surgeries but only 7% did so with most practices cleaning on a once daily basis.

61% of clients thought their pets needed to be sent home with painkillers but only 17% of vets routinely supplied painkillers.

Jill Nute, RCVS senior vice president and chairman of the practice standards group welcomed the study. She was encourage by the results relating to separation of different types of surgery. It is good practice to separate dirty procedures from clean sterile procedures, such as having a separate dental treatment area from the room you do operations in.

83% of owners expected a specialised theatre for surgical activities but approx 40% of practices have these facilities and only 19.6% of practices have a separate room for dentistry.

People differ in the service they want to receive and the amount of money they are prepared to pay for that service level. We are proud to be associated with those practices that provide an excellent level of care and have high standards.

At Purton vets we routinely wear sterile gloves, surgical gowns and caps for all sterile surgical procedures.

We operate in a dedicated surgical theatre for clean sterile surgery, a separate preparation area which is used for unsterile procedures as well as a separate dental room. Our theatre is always kept clean between procedures.

Most importantly we routinely send patients home with pain relief after most surgery and never assume that they have no pain. We include painkillers in our neutering operations at no extra cost. I think it's worrying that in this study only 17% of vets routinely supply painkillers.

We employ properly trained and qualified veterinary nurses to monitor patients under anaesthesia (rather than the common practice of using unqualified "nurses" who double as administrators).

Kids Corner - Join the dots with Harvey

2009-11-14T16:16:14Z

.
.
.
.

Click here to download a copy to print then join the dots!

Comparing the costs of veterinary care

2009-11-14T12:57:41Z

Are all veterinary practices the same? Surely when you castrate a dog it's the end result that counts, and it must have been done the same way. So why would one practice charge more than another? Why would removing a stick from a dogs stomach have a different cost at different vets?

From time to time a client might mention that a practice in the next town or some out of town area is cheaper than we are and I ask they remember not to compare oranges with apples. The current recession is making it difficult for people to afford the essential things in life including good veterinary care. So I thought I'd write an article explaining why we are different to some practices, including some of the experiences during my career that have shaped the way we provide our services today.

Almost all vet practices are run as a business and contrary to popular opinion they are not very profitable. After all the costs are paid and the government has taken its share of tax most practices make a 5% profit if they are well managed. So that is £5 profit banked for every £100 charged. The average vets salary in the UK is about £30k which is less than half that of a GP or plumber. Despite not paying excessive salaries, staff costs are one of the major costs to any vet practice. So although prices can look high there are many hidden costs our fees have to cover.

It may sound strange but practices that charge the least for their services and operations can be the most profitable businesses because they often spend less on equipment and qualified staff. Someone charging £10 for a consultation but cramming the examination, diagnosis and treatment into 5 minutes is charging the same per hour as vet charging £30 for 15 minutes. However it's not the same service, there's less attention to detail and and they see 3 times the number of sick patients so it's more a stack them high sell them cheap approach. The quality suffers and although on surface you seem to be saving money for the same service, if you dig deeper you may not be. As a client you do not always know what makes a procedure safer; what might get missed in a short consultation; how safely an anesthetic is administered and managed; if the nurse your speaking to is properly educated and registered; were the blood tests you paid for accurate or the x-rays of diagnostic quality etc. You just trust that all vets are the same. Well they are not. At the very least the practice you go to should be part of the voluntary RVCS Practice Standards Scheme but even this is very limited in scope when comparing facilities and quality of care.

Purton Veterinary Group is not the most expensive or the cheapest practice you will find in the area, we are positioned in the middle ground and offer good value for money. We are one of the only vets in the area to publish our prices on our website, and you should ask yourself why other vets don't do the same. To provide your pets with quality care we charge fees that reflect the costs we need to cover. We employ registered and qualified clinical staff who have formal education behind them because its vital your pet is properly looked after. We provide for continuing education every year so our staff can keep their skills and knowledge up to date. We invested in our facilities at the clinic to make sure our hospital is comfortable, hygienic and as stress free as possible with separate wards for dogs and cats, and an isolation ward for infectious disease patients. We have CCTV monitoring of patient wards if needed so we are never far away. At £50k our X Ray and Ultrasound facilities are at the leading edge of technology because we need the best images to be as sure as possible about our findings. We have a complete in-house laboratory for blood testing and a high specification laboratory microscope for analysing samples taken from lumps. We have separate sterile and dirty operating theaters and always wear surgical gowns and gloves to prevent infection. We spend more time consulting (which sometimes results in longer waiting times) to make sure your pet gets the attention required.

All these things cost money and have to be covered by fees.

I have worked as a veterinary surgeon in a number of practices in the south of England over the last 15 years and my partner has worked in even more practices as a veterinary nurse. I have seen a huge variation in service and quality of care. Although most vets and nurses have their patients welfare at heart it's often the business side of practice that determines the level of care a patient receives. Some vets are paid on the basis of their turnover, the more tests and surgery they perform the more money they receive as a salary. I used to work for someone who paid me this way and I don't think it's fair on staff or clients. Our vets are get a salary that is not proportional to their turnover.

The following are examples of some of the experiences that have shaped the way I practice today. I promised myself I'd never create these environments for my patients, clients and staff.

The Sweat Shop Environment
One of my first jobs was in a practice not dissimilar to Purton Vets in terms of size. The similarity ends there though. There were restrictions on the use of equipment, and time allowed for consultation and operations. To cut costs my employer spent as little money as possible on staff and continued professional development. The equipment was old and of poor quality. We had no dental facilities so we could not remove damaged teeth or treat dental disease properly, we were not allowed to put intravenous catheters in patients for anesthetics to cut costs, and we had to see clients in 5 minute consultations. I remember a day when so many operations were booked in that there were 3 animals asleep in the very small operating room at a time, one on a blanket on the floor and 2 on the same operating table! Unqualified staff were used to nurse patients and assist in operations. The boss would "train" them so they new how to work an anesthetic machine etc but they did not know anything about how anesthetic drugs work or what to do in those critical moments if something went wrong. The same staff helped look after critically ill pets overnight.

I left that job as soon as I could and promised myself I'd never work in a sweat shop environment again. It wasn't a good introduction to veterinary practice.

It still happens today. Recently a patient of mine was seen by another practice via a charity because I'd found a broken tooth during a health examination. This practice charged 50% less than I had estimated. I could not understand how they could do it so cheaply. It all became clear when I saw the the patient back to find that the infected broken tooth had not been removed. The clinical notes showed the elderly dog had been sedated (rather than anesthetised) and that the vet doing the dental procedure noted that the tooth was broken but left it in and gave antibiotics. This would not resolve the problem. It is standard practice to use a general anaesthetic for dentistry especially for extractions and to leave a broken tooth behind is not acceptable. On further investigation it turned out that the practice did not have the appropriate equipment to remove the tooth so they could have done more damage removing it. Why they do any dentistry without investing some of their profit in the basic required equipment I don't know. The dog had to have a second procedure at Purton Vets to remove the infected tooth. The client had to pay twice for the "same" procedure.

The Empire Building Corporate Environment
I've worked here too. In London I worked for a large group and got to run my own branch for several years. I learned a lot working there. The group had a few Veterinary Hospitals that allowed patients to be looked after through the night. I worked in this hospital every week for a few hours as did 30 other vets on a rota basis. The patients had so many different people looking after them I decided that one day I'd try provide the continuity of care only a smaller practice can offer. In fact most veterinary hospitals have no one awake at night monitoring inpatients, instead they have either a qualified or unqualified nurse who sleeps on the premises and wakes up to check patients from time to time depending on how ill they are. There are no checks in place and it's all down to how conscientious the nurse is.

I left them eventually because they would not allow me to replace a qualified veterinary nurse to help with patient care and anaesthetic monitoring in my branch surgery. They also paid me and the nurses a percentage of the money we generated with no basic salary. The ethos of the business was maximum profit. Do you think that this is in the client and patients interest?

As there were only ever two of us on site they also expected the "nurse" to be a receptionist, answer the incoming calls, help clients who walk in through the door, monitor patients recovering in the kennels from anaesthetic and at the same time assist me during an operation. They threatened to fire me if I locked the door while we were operating. Did my patients receive the care they needed? It would have been a lot better if I had someone with a proper formal education available to nurse patients.

It soon became apparent that their primary interest was to build a large business that spread over the local area and the fact they did not employ many nurses in their branch surgeries did not concern them. They felt that with a weeks induction training and a vet on site, anyone could move for being a bank teller or taxi driver to being a veterinary nurse in a week.

There are vets in the UK who present unqualified people to clients as a nurse, allow them to manage inpatients overnight in hospitals and monitor anaesthetics. Anyone can call themselves a nurse under current legislation, only the term "veterinary nurse" is protected.

All vets are not the same!

Coniston Challenge on You Tube

2009-10-20T15:23:35Z

The organisers of the Coniston Challenge had a video made which they uploaded to You Tube.

Look out for the pink tutu's

Coniston Challenge 2009 Report

2009-10-20T15:00:08Z

A big thank you to everyone who donated and helped us raise £2000 for Guide dogs for the blind! Jos, Rachael, Amber, Linda, Kirsty and Nichola all undertook a three discipline challenge comprising of a 10k hike up the old man of Conistion, a 17 k bike ride up and through the Grizdale mountains and a 3 km canoe across Coniston water to finish. We arrived at the Lake District on the Friday night after a long journey and had to put the tents together in the dark.

The night was very cold and we all struggled to get to sleep through the noise of chattering teeth. It was an early cold and foggy start to the next morning but a cup of tea and bacon buttie made us feel much better. All the teams gathered in the school hall for a briefing before the event started. The atmosphere was fantastic, everyone excited and laughing and commenting on the other teams fancy dress. Our team were sporting pink tutu's and pink arm warmers as we made our way to the start position, all slightly nervous but looking forward to the tough challenge ahead.

We set off for the hike with heavy backpacks full of water, chocolates and snacks. The first 100 m were up a gently hill heading out of the village towards the old man of Coniston, then we turned the corner and were faced with what I'm sure was the steepest road on earth! This was a challenge in itself! Once we started the ascent the nice grass and rock path disappeared and became a broken jagged rock face. We had been walking for about an hour and the rest turned into a bit of a climb. We were very glad that grown fit men were struggling and just as red in the face as we were. The fog had disappeared and there was not a cloud in the sky, the sun shone down and we all so pleased we not doing this in the wind and rain as so many teams before us had.

We reached the summit and took in the breath taking in the views and watched the other teams making their way up. The descent was a welcome relief and we found it a lot easier than the climb up, we also took in some lovely views and stopped next to a beautiful lake to take some pictures.

We arrived back at the event base three and a half hours after setting off, slightly tired but full of enthusiasm for next section. After a brief induction as to how the bike gears and brakes work, we set off in single file still wearing our tutus. Again the first mile was a nice cycle on country roads with fabulous views of Coniston water, lulling us into a false sense of security that this isn't too bad we'll be back in no time. We then cycled up a small hill that led into a very steep very long hill! We slowed down and tried our best to cycle up until our thighs gave in and we had to push the bikes up. The next three hours were spent pushing and trying to get our bikes up hill after hill. Every time we turned a corner we would be faced with another thigh burning mound to climb. We all struggled to summon the strength and will to do final loop before the descent and this was the hardest part for our team. The descent was so much fun and so exhilarating, dirt paths leading down through the forest back to the village. It took us four hours to complete the mountain bike section and at this point we were all hot and exhausted.

Next we walked to Coniston water for our canoe section, the water was still and the sun continued to shine. We all found this section the easiest although we got quite wet and our muscles were starting to seize we managed to complete it in 38 minutes.

We spent the evening celebrating, well until 9pm and then we were all so tired we retreated to our sleeping bags. We came 17th out of 50 teams and completed everything in 7 and a half hours!

Well done girls!

Harvey's word search - kids corner

2009-10-19T15:57:48Z

'Teething troubles' - take care of your pet's teeth - they are as important to them as yours are to you!

As I munch on my daily rawhide chew I think of how lucky I am to have so much help keeping my teeth and gums healthy. Just like you my teeth need to be brushed too - the rule is that everyone in the house brushes their teeth regularly, which means at some point my toothbrush appears. I'm kind-of used to it now!

Of course, plaque, which is a germ that builds up on our teeth, can lead to all sorts of dental problems - even tooth loss. Germs in the mouth will eat away at teeth and gums, which may also affect other parts of our body like the heart and kidneys. It's better to work hard to stop the problem because looking after our teeth is just as important as eating the right food, exercising and grooming. The nice bit is that there are lots of treats, toys and good foods that will help to look after your pet's teeth, but remember that we need a special toothpaste made just for animals and a toothbrush designed to the shape of our mouth. Besides eating something disgusting, as we love to do, the last thing you want to hear is your best friend telling you that you have bad breath!

HARVEY

Harvey's word search for healthy teeth and gums. Download the word search here. The first 5 correct entries receive a Harvey badge.

A round-up of recent news

2009-09-06T14:07:42Z

We have had a busy few months here at Purton Vets. Since the installation of our new cat cabins for the Wootton Bassett and District Branch of the Cats Protection they have not been empty at any point! We have successfully fostered and rehomed 25 cats in the last 6 months. I guess as a hazard of seeing some many cats that need loving homes two of these have been rehomed by ourselves! Nichola Robertson, one of our vets, took on Madison after she arrived heavily pregnant.

Nicky looked after Madison and her kittens in her house until the kittens were old enough to be rehomed but she became so attached to Madison during this time that she was unable to let her go to a new home and she now shares their cottage here in Purton. Jos and Graeme are also not immune to falling for the charms of a new kitten and when Malcolm arrived as a tiny kitten needing hand rearing he worked his charms on them and now regularly causes trouble in their house and enjoys playing with their other cats and dogs! We currently have a group of 4 kittens that were rescued from a farm in the area and a ginger and white male cat, about 5/6mths old that was found under a bush near the link centre lodging with us and looking for new homes. Any enquiries about the cats we have fostered need to be directed through the Wootton Bassett Branch on their homing and welfare number - 07917 862514.

Wedding bells have been ringing here recently also with one of our vets Kate Sparey (now Holton!) tying the knot with Keith Holton. Keith is also a vet and works in Gloucestershire. The wedding was held near Bath and was enjoyed by everyone. We wish them a happy and successful future together.

Our trainee veterinary nurse, Kirsty Lewis, has recently received the exciting news that she has passed her first year Veterinary Nursing exams. The training to become a qualified veterinary nurse takes two years with Kirsty attending college one day a week and undertaking a practical portfolio here in practice. She will begin her second year at college and the hard work starts again for another year! Well done Kirsty!!

Finally the day is approaching for our six brave (and slightly mad) volunteers that have taken up the challenge of the Coniston Challenge for the Guide Dogs for the Blind. On Saturday 12th September, Jos Lander (Head Nurse), Rachael Roberts (RVN), Kirsty Lewis (SVN), Nichola Robertson (Vet), Linda Stock (Client Care Manager) and Amber Dunham (Practice Manager) will be hiking up the Old Man of Coniston (10K), cycling though Grisdale Forest (17K) and canoeing across Coniston Lake (3K), all in the name of charity! Plenty of fundraising has gone on over the last few months including a charity curry evening, and Mexican night which included a Virgin Vie party and plenty of Chilli! We are also running a raffle with lots of great prizes including an iPod Nano, a cable ski or wakeboarding session for 4 people, 18 holes of golf for 2 at the Cricklade Country Club and much more. There are still tickets available at our Purton Surgery with the tickets being drawn following the challenge.
We have nearly reached our target of £2500 but need a little more help! If you would like to make a donation please follow the link below.

On Bank Holiday Monday we were proud to support the Dog Show at the Cricklade Show 2009. Following a disappointing year in 2008 when the show had to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions making the ground unstable, the sun shone and people turned out in their numbers to support the show from far and wide. The winner of the Best in Show was an Austrailian Shepherd Dog called Thunder, owned by S Saunders from Painswick. The Reserve Best in Show was a German Shepherd Dog, Jachono, owned by Mrs Angles from Oxfordshire and the Best Puppy in Show went to a Rottwieller called Ekko, owned by Mrs Tuttle from Thatcham. The showing classes were judged by Mrs Margaret Hughes from Herefordshire who breeds smooth Fox Terriers. [Photo courtesy of Big Image Photography]

As well as the showing classes there was a novelty dog show judged by Tracey Bennett from Swindon, who breeds Dobermans and is a client here at Purton Veterinary Group. Also a fun agility course for everyone to have a go at. Both myself and Jos could not resist! Jos took her working Cocker Spaniel, Campbell in who has dabbled in agility before a loved the opportunity to show off his skills! Amber took her little crossbreed, Pickle. This was Pickles first attempt at agility and we were not sure what she would make of it! After having the jumps lowered to a more suitable height for her size she flew round the course taking it all in her stride, with exception of the tyre jump which just too high! The show received over 300 entries raising over £2000 towards charities like the Prospect Hospice and the Cinamon Trust. We look forward to supporting them again next year.