At this time of year we always see an increase in various types of calls due to the improving weather and the Spring hazards that come with it. These include fertilisers, weedkillers, rat and mouse poison and spring flowers or bulbs. But this year we are also receiving more calls [...]
Vitamin K1 is the antidote to anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis. It works by restoring vitamin K body stores and allowing synthesis of clotting factors required for the clotting cascade. It is given prophylactically and in the management of acute coagulopathy. Many sources state that vitamin K1 takes time, sometimes hours, to [...]
Firstly, we would like to extend our thanks to the veterinary staff who are continuing to work during the pandemic often under very stressful conditions. We would like to reassure you that both our VPIS and Animal PoisonLine services are running as normal during the lockdown and we are here [...]
Some poisons cause severe anaemia or coagulopathy and although these are relatively uncommon in cats (compared to dogs) what are the risks of giving canine blood when no feline blood is available and the cat requires an urgent blood transfusion? A recently published article reviewed 49 cases of cats given [...]
To help reduce the spread of coronavirus, government advice is to wash our hands and to clean surfaces regularly. It is important to take extra care, however, with pets in the household since commonly used disinfectants are irritant and can cause local tissue damage in cats and dog that lick [...]
As you may have seen on our Facebook page we have been made aware of a post circulating on social media stating that hand sanitisers contain ethylene glycol and are therefore toxic to pets. The post recommends that you should avoid letting your pets lick your hands if you have [...]
Following on from the government announcements and with the rapidly changing situation we are all finding ourselves in regarding COVID-19 I would like to reassure all veterinary practices that we have put measures in place to ensure that our service to you will not be affected. After speaking to several [...]
Cannabis products are much in the news currently and there can be confusion about the names of the various types of extracts. Different strains of cannabis plants contain varying quanities of two main active compounds: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is pyschoactive and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Hemp oil (also known as hemp seed oil) [...]
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil from the leaves and terminal branches of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). Tea tree oil may be perceived as a ‘natural’ treatment and has been used in pets to treat and prevent flea infestations, to treat various skin [...]
Access to emergency drugs may sometimes be an issue in the management of poisoning. In order to further address this CVS, who have a large network of practices, including out of hours and referral centres, have launched Elixir. A number of CVS practices now hold the following drugs and have made them [...]
