As a popular addition to the doorstep at Halloween, pumpkins, which belong to the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family may be eaten by pets. Fruits of these plants can contain extremely bitter-tasting compounds, but they have been bred out of crop varieties. Generally, if the pumpkin is shop-bought it is not bitter [...]

A quick reminder about our APL service: In hours (8am-8pm Mon to Fri) - £35 Out of hours (8pm-8am Mon to Fri and all weekend/bank holidays) - £45 Please remember that this is not the same as the VPIS service and we DO NOT give owners detailed treatment advice. We [...]

Ingestion of acorns by dogs is common during the autumn months. Quercus species contain tannic acid; however, it may not be the only substance responsible for the toxic effects observed in animals, which are mainly gastrointestinal and, in some species, renal. Following an acute ingestion of acorns, vomiting and diarrhoea [...]

The weeks surrounding Halloween are usually one of the busiest periods of the year for our team at the VPIS and APL. The season presents many potential hazards to pets, including the consumption of Halloween chocolates and sweets. The primary toxins in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine. Although the concentration [...]

We have received a number of calls recently where pets have been exposed to bromethalin. Bromethalin is a pale yellow, odourless rodenticide developed to act as a single dose. Bromethalin is a biocide and is not approved for use in the EU. No UK products are available. However, it appears [...]

We have recently experienced an increase in cases where owners have given their pets salt water or hydrogen peroxide in an effort to make their pet vomit. These methods can cause adverse or toxic effects which may worsen the animal’s condition and can also potentially be fatal. In addition, in [...]

Following a number of recent reports of confirmed and suspected appearances of blue-green algae on lakes and ponds around the UK, we would like to remind all dog owners to be vigilant when walking their dogs around water. Blue-green algae is most common in stagnant fresh water such as lakes [...]

We receive a lot of enquiries about animals ingesting mushrooms whilst out on a walk or that have appeared in the garden. There are thousands of fungi species in the UK and reliable and accurate identification relies on expert knowledge. We work with field mycologists who assist us in identification of [...]

There are an increasing number of cannabis products on the market, and there can be confusion about the names of the various types of extracts. Different strains of cannabis plants contain varying quantities of two main active compounds: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is psychoactive and cannabidiol (CBD) which is non-psychoactive. Hemp [...]

With lots of us getting our gardens ready for spring we have noticed a rise in enquiries involving animals exposed to patio cleaners. The ingredients of these cleaners can differ; however, most contain benzalkonium chloride (BAC), which is also found in many household disinfectants. Exposure most commonly occurs when the product [...]