Welcome to the latest issue of our newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the practice.

Practice Facilities

News

Rabbit Awareness Week Extended

Rabbit awareness week ran from 26th April to 2nd May and due to a good response we have decided to extend the free health checks for a further week. If you would like to book your rabbit in to be checked either ask at reception or call us.

New Ultrasound Scanner

We have just acquired a new ultrasound scanner to complement the imaging facilities already available at the practice. The new equipment will allow us to offer abdominal scans, heart scans and pregnancy diagnosis and will be a valuable tool for the future.

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Vet of the Year Nomination

Charlotte Aston has recently been nominated as a candidate for Petplan’s Vet of the Year award 2010. The nomination is recognition of the hard work Charlotte does at The Crescent and we are all very happy for her.

Coping with Arthritis in Elderly Animals

One of the most common problems in elderly animals, especially in large breeds or overweight animals, is arthritis. Although more common in dogs it does occur in cats too. Symptoms include stiffness in the joints, which may lead to obvious lameness and is usually most obvious after a period of rest (i.e. in the mornings and after naps). You will often notice that your pet ‘loosens up’ when walking but may be more painful after periods of increased exercise.

There are other conditions that can cause stiffness or lameness in the limbs so if your pet is showing these signs it is always advisable to have them checked at the vets. If arthritis is diagnosed in your pet then initial therapy will usually involve a short course of anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Rimadyl, made by Pfizer Ltd.) which is sometimes enough to relieve the stiffness.

Unfortunately, in cases where the arthritis does not settle, there is no cure and the condition will often worsen with time. In these cases supplementary therapies such as joint supplements and magnetic collars can help, but in many cases long term treatment with anti-inflammatories is necessary to keep the arthritis under control.

One of the best ways to slow the progression of arthritis is to ensure that your pet is a healthy weight. Excess weight puts increased pressure on the joints, compounding the problem. If you think your pet needs to lose weight we run weight watcher's clinics at the practice so just let us know if you’d like an appointment.

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Pet Of The Month

Name – Amber Duffin                                  Breed – Domestic Shorthair
Age – 2 years                                                Favourite Food – Cheese
Favourite Toy – Small mouse teddy         Favourite Activity – Climbing trees
Naughtiest Moment – Stealing the cheese from mum’s bagel.

Amber came to the surgery early one morning with a very nasty wound to his neck and chest. His owners had found him on the doorstep covered in blood! The wound was very nasty and deep, so deep we were concerned he may have a punctured lung. The wound was very dirty. It was cleaned, stitched and a drain was inserted to let any infection out and allow the wound to heal. X-rays showed his lungs were unaffected by the wound but did reveal his toe had been badly damaged when he was attacked. His toe had to be amputated.

On recovery it was obvious there had been some nerve damage to his face as his third eyelid was across his eye. Amber has now made a full recovery and is waiting for his fur to grow back.
His eye is a little better and he will be left with permanent nerve damage, but this shouldn’t affect him.
He is a very lucky cat!

Meet The Staff

Name – Andreas Mertin
Position – Veterinary Surgeon

Andy has been at The Crescent for 18 months after moving to Melton from Germany. Andy grew up in Dusseldorf before studying in Budapest and Berlin. He gained extensive large animal experience in Germany before joining us and has settled in well at The Crescent.

Andy enjoys all aspects of veterinary work so he is well known by our farmers as well as our small animal clients.

Outside of work Andy is a big fan of live music, regularly seeing several different bands in one week. He also enjoys running and has completed four marathons, his target is to finish one in under 4 hours!

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Microchipping Your Pet

One of the routine services offered at the Crescent is microchipping, this allows your pet to be identified if lost, stolen or injured.

Microchipping is a requirement of the PETS passport scheme but we recommend chipping all pets, even if they are not travelling abroad.

The procedure involves implanting a small chip, about the size of a grain of rice, under the skin on the back of your pet’s neck, each chip has a unique number and will remain there for the rest of your pet’s life, a permanent way of identifying your animal.

We routinely scan any stray or injured animals brought into the surgery, if we find a chip we are able to contact the owners promptly and inform them of the situation. Stray pets are also routinely scanned by other vets, the RSPCA and dog wardens.

Chipping is not just for cats and dogs, we can also chip rabbits, birds and even tortoises (which run away more often than you may think!)

If you would like to have your pet microchipped the procedure is very simple and can be carried out in a normal appointment. Your pet’s details are entered on a national database allowing your pet to be easily and quickly reunited with you if found.