Happy Christmas from all of us at Park Hill!

We hope all our patients and their families have a lovely day and enjoy spending time together. If you haven't got your pet a present, then spending the day with you and having some extra fuss will be more than appreciated. 

We'll see you all after the Bank Holidays. 

Remember that if you have any worries about your pet today or over the Bank Holidays, then you can ring our normal number (01884 255336) at any time for advice or to have your pet seen for a consultation. You will need to travel to St Boniface vets in Crediton for a consultation over the Bank Holidays and overnight. 

Batteries can be very dangerous when ingested or chewed by pets. 

Over the next few days you may have more batteries in the house that usual. They are likely to be more accessible as well, with new toys being played with on the floor. 

Any sort of battery can be dangerous.

When a battery is punctured or swallowed, the alkaline or acidic material can leak out and cause ulceration to the mouth and surrounding areas- these signs might not appear for several hours afterwards. 

If you think your pet has swallowed or punctured a battery, seek immediate veterinary attention. They will need local decontamination and if the battery has been swallowed it is likely to need surgical removal. 

There are lots of reasons not to give your dog bones. Whilst most dogs love to chew and would happily eat bones, there are several reasons to avoid them. 

They can cause damage such as broken teeth, injuries to the mouth and tongue, injuries to the stomach and stomach lining. They can also get stuck in the stomach or intestines and cause blockages. Round bones can get stuck around the lower jaw and small pieces can also cause choking. 

Even if you're tempted whilst you're tidying up the leftovers, avoid feeding bones whenever possible. If your dog unexpectedly gets hold of bones and you want some advice on what to do, then give us a ring at the practice on 01884 255336

In the UK, rawhide doesn’t have to adhere to any health regulations, because it isn’t classed as food. This means that you have to keep a close eye out when selecting which chew treats to give your dog.  

There are a number of risks associated with feeding rawhide chews. Rawhide can quickly become stringy and stretchy when chewed, which can lead to choking, digestive problems and internal blockages.

The problems associated with rawhide ingestion can easily result in a trip to the vet. Removing trapped pieces of rawhide can sometimes require surgery. 

There are many long-lasting chews available that don't contain rawhide, it might be worth looking into these as a safer alternative. 

Another common winter hazard is anti-freeze. 

We see this particularly in cats, who like licking at spilt or leaked anti-freeze (ethylene glycol), because it tastes sweet. It may be found in screenwash as well - check the label to be sure. 

Ethylene glycol has a very narrow margin of safety – which means that a cat could easily drink a toxic dose.

Cats with early anti-freeze toxicity commonly show signs including lethargy, vomiting, incoordination, excessive urination, excessive thirst, hypothermia (low body temperature), seizures, and coma. 

Early treatment is vital. If you have any concerns that your cat has ingested some then give us a ring as soon as possible. 

Christmas lights and decorations are lovely to see, but can hazardous for our pets if we don't take precautions. 

Cats, dogs and small furries (especially younger animals) like to explore and chew things in their environment, especially new and shiny objects. 

Things to keep an eye out for include: 

-Christmas lights and other electrical powered decorations. 

-Salt dough decorations, which can cause gut upsets. 

-Glass baubles 

-Tinsel, which can cause blockages if ingested. 

Where possible try to keep such things high out of reach or behind a barrier, especially if you think your pet might like a nibble. 

We're kick starting our Advent Calendar with Chocolate. 

There's a lot of it around during the festive season and whilst our pets may love it- it's really not good for them.

If you think your dog (or cat) has eaten chocolate then it's always best to contact your vet for advice. Ideally have to hand the sort of chocolate (and cocoa content), approximate amount eaten and when you think they ate it.

This is particularly important for dark chocolate or cocoa powder and with smaller pets. 

In a lot of cases you'll be advised to bring them in to make them vomit, especially if they've eaten a lot of the wrappers as well. It might be worth bringing any packaging with you. 

Cats and dogs love extra treats. They are also very good at making you feel guilty when they're missing out on tasty food, like Christmas dinner. 

Some human food can be toxic to our pets so make sure that if you're giving them any extras that it's something that is safe for them to eat. 

Small amounts of meat (with no bones), carrots and other veg are healthy treats that you can give them as an alternative to a roast dinner. 

You may want to reduce their normal food tomorrow to allow for any extra snacks that they might get on Christmas Day. 

Over the Christmas period you might be expecting more visitors than usual or new people coming into the house. 

Some animals may find this unsettling and get stressed out by this. Others may get very excited about it. 

Either way it is often worth making sure that your pet has a safe area they can escape to if needed. 

This can be their normal bed or crate but may be a quiet room they can get to if they need to, away from any noise and fuss. A favourite toy, blanket or calming diffusers may also help. It would be worth setting this up ahead of your visitors arriving and making sure that your pet knows where it is. 

Most people know not to give alcoholic drinks to their pets; however, alcohol poisoning in pets is more common than you think! 

Some pets will drink alcoholic beverages right out of the glass or may lap them off the floor if they spill. There's often a lot more of it around at this time of year as well. 

If your pet ingests alcohol, it can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. 

Severely intoxicated animals can potentially experience seizures and respiratory failure.

Signs to keep an eye out for include: drooling, vomiting or retching,  wobbliness, incoordination  and collapse. 

If you have any concerns or suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol then call us straight away on 01884 255336

It's Christmas Jumper Day! We're getting into the festive spirit and dressing for Christmas and why not enjoy the spirit of the day with your pets. 

We love seeing your pets enjoying themselves with you. Please send festive pictures of your pets dressed up in their Christmas finest to our Facebook page. 

Whilst some pets do enjoy (or tolerate!) dressing up, do take into account your animal's personality, not all dogs enjoy being dressed in costumes and cats and small furries in particular may not like being man-handled. 

Even as the weather gets wet and muddy, our dogs still enjoy walks and will usually be happy to go out and spend time with us even on miserable days or if it's snowing.   

Like humans, cold and damp weather can affect how old or arthritic dogs feel. 

Keeping your dog’s muscles warm with a good quality coat, ideally with neck and belly coverage may be of benefit. Some breeds already have a very thick coat and may not need to wear another one. If so it will leave them more uncomfortable forcing them to wear one- you know your dogs best. 

Avoid leaving them damp after a walk-  dry them off as much as possible. 

Also try to avoid leaving them out in the cold especially at the end of the walk and leaving their bed in a draft. Where possible encourage them to use their bed rather than lying on the hard cold ground. 

Day 4 brings us to another toxin. Raisins and grapes are around a lot at Christmas- they are commonly found in treats such as Mince Pies, Christmas Pudding and Christmas Cake. 

It is poorly understood how the toxin in grapes (and their dried form of raisins) works- some dogs have been known to eat a number of grapes and be fine, whereas others have developed kidney failure after eating just 1 or 2. 

The advice therefore is usually to make animals vomit however many raisins or grapes they have eaten. They will usually need activated charcoal after this and sometimes may need to stay hospitalised for intravenous fluids, epecially if they've eaten a large number. 

Over Christmas and the New Year, our opening times will differ from normal. 

There is always someone available at the end of phone if you need advice or for your pet to be seen. 

If you have any concerns, then give us a ring on the normal number (01884 255336). You will either get through to our normal reception team, who can arrange an appointment, or through to the St Boniface out-of-hours team. If you need an appointment out of hours, you may need to travel to St Boniface vets in Crediton. 

Remember if you feel your pet needs to be seen, but it's not an emergency, you can always book them in via our online booking system, for an appointment during normal opening hours. In case of an emergency, you will need to ring. 

There are lots of healthy edible treats that you can give your pets at Christmas. Make sure that if you're giving them extra that they're not getting too much. 

There are plenty of commercial treats available but you can also make your own- stuffed (even frozen) kongs and home-baked biscuits make some good alternatives. 

Lickimats and snufflemats will help keep them occupied and entertained while you're cooking Christmas dinner as well. 

The Kennel Club has some great home-bake biscuits recipes that you can make at home for your dog. Follow the link here

It can be cheap and easy to make your pet a present for Christmas. 

Cardboard boxes and toilet rolls can make excellent enrichment, most pets are excited to play in them, especially with some screwed up paper. You can scatter kibble in these and stack them or wrap them  up to make it more exciting. 

If you're feeling more adventurous you can make a rope tuggy or similar by knotting rope together. 

You can even put an old plastic bottle in an (old) sock for them to throw around and crunch. 

In a pinch, you can even re-wrap an older toy for them to open on Christmas Day- they'll still enjoy opening it, whatever is inside!

As with most toys, it’s always wise to supervise play. Remove and discard toys if a dog is chewing through the items and possibly ingesting bits of fabric or plastic.

Over the Christmas period, many of us tend to decorate our homes with an abundance of festive greenery.

 

Did you know that some of these seasonal plants can make your dog ill?

Most of them are only mildly toxic but they can cause gastro-intestinal upsets among other symptoms. 

Potentially toxic plants include: 

Poinsettias

Holly

Mistletoe

Ivy

Christmas Trees

Pot Pourri

If you have any concerns that your pet may have ingested any of these then call us as soon as possible with as many details as you can. 

If your pet is worried by fireworks or other bangs then the festive period can be a very worrying time for them. It's important to start preparing early. 

There are supplements and medications that can help, so do contact our team to discuss the options. We may need to order any medication in, so please allow enough time before the Bank Holidays for this. 

Otherwise, the most important thing is to make your pets feel safe and secure. 

Setting up a "den" area with some comforting blankets, a favourite toy and a long lasting chew can help your dogs feel more relaxed. 

Making sure that cats are in before dark and small furries are inside or covered up can also help. Classical music, shutting the curtains and calming diffusers can help reduce worry in all species.

Hedgehog numbers are in decline in the UK. 

Hedgehogs are known to hibernate from approximately November to April. However they don't sleep the whole time. 

They will often move nest sites at least once during their hibernation period and will sometimes forage as well. 

If you know you have a hedgehog sleeping in your garden try not to disturb them, as it can be extremely dangerous for them. 

If you see a hedgehog out over Winter or evidence that they are around, don't panic as long as they look healthy and not out during daytime. However, if they are around and awake, they will benefit from food being left out for them (specific hedgehog food or some wet cat food is fine) and a shallow dish of water. 

Our pets think it's great when we are around more during the holiday period. They enjoy spending time with us, whatever we are doing. 

You might also be taking the opportunity to get out for some extra long walks with your dog. Don't forget it gets dark earlier!

If you're heading out for a longer walk than normal, be conscious that your dog might not be used to the distance and amount of exercise. Older or arthritic dogs might feel a bit sore if they overdo it, so may not want to go as far as a fitter dog. 

Wrap them up warm if needed, especially for thinner coated dogs and it's always worth drying them off when you get home so they warm up quickly. Most importantly (even if you're just playing in the garden)- have a great time together!

You may find yourselves travelling more to visit family over the Christmas period. If you're taking your pets with you, they might find the travel a bit unsettling, especially if they aren't used to it. 

When travelling with your pets, it's important to make sure that they are suitably restrained in the car- make sure that they can't distract you while you are driving or injure you or themselves, if you stop quickly. You can use a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard to keep them safe. 

If your dog gets travel sick, you may find calming supplements or sprays useful to help them feel more settled. For longer journeys there is also an anti-sickness medication we can give them- contact us as soon as possible if you need to arrange this. 

Christmas trees are an exciting winter addition to our home. Filled with interesting scents, glistening decorations and twinkling lights, it’s not hard to see why our pets might be attracted to Christmas trees.

The majority of live Christmas trees are non-toxic. The main issue is the fallen needles.  

These can irritate your pet’s mouth, get stuck in their paws, and can cause a gut upset if too many are eaten.

The main issue with trees is the decorations, Salt-dough ornaments, chocolate decorations, glass baubles and fairy lights can all cause serious problems for pets.

Keep Christmas decorations well out of reach from pesky paws, or avoid edible and toxic decorations altogether if possible.

46 years ago, the Dog's Trust launched their well known slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas".  It's still as true now as it ever was and applies to all species of pets, not just dogs. 

When giving gifts this Christmas, remember that if you are thinking of gifting a pet then they may be part of your lives for a decade or longer. 

It is best to avoid giving pets as surprise presents, if you're unsure how they'll be received. 

It's lovely to receive animals as presents but it should be a choice you make as a family rather than a surprise. Your new pet will be part of the family for a long time, so they should be a good fit for you and your lifestyle. 

If your pet is on any sort of long-term medication, it is important that they don't run out. 

Over the festive period there are approximately 8 days when we will be unable to order in any medication from our wholesaler, due to a number of bank holidays including the New Year. 

If possible, we ask that you place your order by the 18th of December at the latest, to allow enough time for us to order it in and get it ready for you before the Christmas period. 

It is your responsibility to make sure you have enough medication for your pet to last through the festive period. 

Everyone loves presents and our pets are no exception!

Dogs in particular might like to open their own presents on Christmas Day. Make sure to wrap their pressies in plain paper with no glitter or ribbons for them to ingest. 

Make sure that if they can access any presents before the big day that they don't contain anything they shouldn't be eating. Don't put any chocolate or other edible presents under the tree until the last minute!

If you're starting to wrap your presents then remember that cats and dogs might like to chew on ribbon, glittery paper and other things that you might be using- make sure to tidy up as if they eat them they can get things stuck in their intestines and become unwell.