Homefield Road Veterinary Surgery
Newsletter – July/August 2012
Welcome
Welcome to the July/August newsletter from the
team at Homefield Road Vets.
Nurse Clinics
Our new clinics, run by our qualified veterinary nurse
team will be held on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday afternoons between 1 and 4pm. They will
be offering nail clips, FREE weight clinics for podgy
pets, post-operative checks and much much more. If
you would like to book a nurse appointment then
please contact our team.
Join us on Facebook!
We have a great new Facebook page and we would
love you to join us there! Updated regularly by our
vets and nurses, we will share news of interesting
patients (with their owner’s permission!), tips and
tricks to keep your animals healthy and information
about special offers and promotions. See you there!
Going abroad?
More and more of us are now taking our pets abroad
when we go on holiday instead of putting them in
kennels. The PETS travel scheme changed in January
this year, making it easier to take our pets on holiday.
In order to travel, a pet must first be micro-chipped
and vaccinated for rabies. One of our vets can then
prepare a Pet Passport for your pet, and you are able
to travel 3 weeks after the vaccine. Whilst abroad you
need to ensure that your pet is treated for fleas, ticks,
worms and other bugs found in your holiday
destination. In addition, between 1 and 5 days prior to
returning to the UK, your pet must be treated for
tapeworm by a vet.
If you wish to travel with your pet then please make
an appointment to talk to one of our team who will be
happy to assist you.
Meet the staff…
Aidín O’Sullivan MRCVS
Aidin joined us in April from a practice in Lincolnshire,
but originally hails from Ireland. She enjoys seeing all
types of animals, and has a particular interest in heart
conditions. She is hoping to start studying for an
advanced certificate qualification soon, but in the
meantime cannot wait to meet all of your pets!
Discounts for seniors!
Wednesdays are discount day for OAPs! Both elderly
animals and senior citizens are eligible for 15% off all
day! We recommend that all elderly pets are seen at
least every 6months to ensure we can pick up any
signs of ageing as soon as possible. Please contact our
team if you would like to make an appointment.
Opening Hours
Here at Homefield Road Vets we are open weekdays
8am – 7pm & Saturdays 8.30am – 2pm. Consultations
with our vets and nurses are available by appointment
on weekdays 9am – 6pm & Saturdays 9am – 1pm.
Home visits are available on request. Emergencies will
always be seen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a
member of our team.
Homefield Road Veterinary Surgery, Homefield Road, Haverhill, Suffolk. CB9 8QP.
Tel 01440 712021. Fax 01440 707111. Email [email protected]
Homefield Road Veterinary Surgery
Focus on: Kennel Cough
Kennel cough or “Infectious tracheobronchitis” is a
highly contagious disease affecting the upper airways.
It is be caused by any one of several infectious agents.
How can my dog catch it?
Kennel Cough is spread through the air or via contact
with infected objects such as clothing. The incubation
period is between 3 and 10 days and infected dogs
can spread the disease for up to 3 weeks after they
start coughing. Many people think that Kennel Cough
is only spread in kennels. Sadly this is not the case –
dogs meeting other dogs in the park or even walking
somewhere an infected dog has just been can result in
your dog catching the disease.
What are the signs?
The key symptom is a hacking cough, which may be
accompanied by sneezing and nasal discharge. This
can last anywhere between a few days to several
weeks, depending on which agent the dog has been
infected by. Some dogs will also develop a mild fever
and go off their food or be reluctant to go out on their
usual walk. For the vast majority however, the cough
is more annoying than serious. In rare cases Kennel
Cough can lower the dogs resistance to other
infections and serious complications such as chest
infections can occur.
Is there any treatment?
viruses and so there is no specific cure or treatment.
The vet may prescribe a course of anti-inflammatories
to help reduce fever and make the throat feel more
comfortable, and occasionally cough suppressants
may be given. In some cases the vet will prescribe a
short course of antibiotics to prevent secondary
infections or treat the one bacterial cause of Kennel
Cough. Treatment will depend on your dog’s
symptoms, age and general health. You may find that
your pet receives different treatment to another dog
you know but rest assured, the vet will have done
what’s best for your dog.
Is there a vaccine?
YES! We have an effective vaccine that can be given
into the nostrils every year and is safe for dogs of all
ages. Some dogs can cough or sneeze after the
vaccination, but most will have no side effects. The
vaccine protects against 2 of the main agents that
cause Kennel Cough. As a result, vaccinated dogs may
still catch other strains of Kennel cough, BUT they will
only be mildly affected and don’t usually require any
treatment. The vaccine should be given at least 2
weeks before any dog goes into kennels to allow full
protection to develop.
Please ask one of our experienced team if you would
like to know more about Kennel Cough or if you would
like your dog vaccinated.
As with many human coughs and colds, the vast
majority of kennel cough infections are caused by
Emergency Treatment
Remember that here at Homefield Road we offer a 24 hour emergency service, staffed by our own team of experienced vets and nurses. This
means that should you need to come in out of normal hours your pet will be seen by someone they recognise who has all their previous
medical notes available to them. If your pet needs to be admitted to the surgery they will be monitored overnight according to their needs by
the vet or nurse on-call.
Please note that an out of hours fee will be charged for pets seen outside our normal hours.
Remember, here at Homefield Road Vets we welcome any questions, comments or concerns you may have.
Contact us any time on 01440 712021, [email protected] or message us on Facebook!
Homefield Road Veterinary Surgery, Homefield Road, Haverhill, Suffolk. CB9 8QP.
Tel 01440 712021. Fax 01440 707111. Email [email protected]