Best Friends Veterinary Group
Newsletter
AUTUMN
AUTUMN 2014
2011
Helping Your Pet to Cope with Change
Reducing
The Cost of
Preventative
Pet Care
Just like people, pets have to adjust to changes in family life; such as moving house,
the arrival or departure of a member of the family (two or four legged), people coming
to stay for the holidays or going into kennels/catteries while the owners are on holiday.
Just like us, pets cope in different ways. Some pets, however, don’t cope with these
changes well and exhibit what’s called adaptive behaviour.
What is Adaptive Behaviour?
Adaptive behaviour is behaviour which
is uncharacteristic for your pet and that
when coupled with a change in routine
There
is often
or circumstance
tells aus that they are
struggling to cope withthat
the change.
preconception
Vets
bills
are very expensive,
For example, a dog may soil inside the
even
if a visit
is required
house you’ve
just moved
into. Indoor
toileting could
of training
simply
for indicate
a petsa lack
annual
or a medical problem, but if they are
vaccination
booster.
going in a house you’ve just moved into,
theywhy
may is
actually
to tell
you
But
that, isbeit trying
because
vets
arethey
aren’t coping
very well with
the change.
actually
very expensive,
is it because
we
have free healthcare for humans and so
have nothing to reference the cost of
pet care against or is it because a trip to
the vets always results in a lump sum
needing to be paid in one go?
Most of us pay for the things we
know we will need throughout the
year in small monthly payments,
things like insurance, utilities and
taxes. So why not apply this to the
cost of preventative care for your pet?
This is exactly what Best Friends
Veterinary Group are now doing by
offering clients the option to pay a set
amount by direct debit every month,
that covers the cost of their pet/s
basic preventative care for a whole
year with our Healthy Paws Plan.
So what is a years worth of
preventative care? This will differ
dependant on the species of your pet,
however once your pet has had it’s
initial vaccination course the following
is a guide to what your Vet will
normally recommend for basic
preventative care.
Other changes can be much more
subtle and often misattributed to other
scenarios; such as lying in odd places,
being distant from other members of the
household or spending extended periods
away from home (cats).
Below are some of the signs to look
Cats
out for which may indicate your pet is
•
Preventative
flea treatment given
struggling
to cope:
• Changesinrestingorsleepingplaces/
monthly
patterns
• Worming treatment given every
• Activelyhiding
three months
• Excessivelickingorvocalisation
• Increasedordecreasedsocial
•
Vaccine booster against Flu,
interaction
Enteritis and Leukaemia every year
• Housesoiling
Dogs
• Changeindemeanourorposture
•
Preventative flea treatment given
• Lackofinterestinplay
monthly
What
to do
if Yourgiven
Pet every
• Worming
treatment
is Exhibiting
Adaptive
three months
Behaviour
•
against
Distemper,
TakeVaccine
them tobooster
see your
Vet. They
will ask
youCanine
some Hepatitis,
questions Adenovirus,
about your pet,
Parvovirus,
Parainfluenza
and and
perform
a physical
examination
Leptospirosis
every
year
possibly
take blood
and
urine samples
to rule out any medical causes for the
Rabbits
behaviour you describe.
• Worming treatment given every
three
They
will months
then be able to advise you on
management
options
basedViral
on their
•
Vaccine booster
against
findings.
If
no
physical
cause
is 6found
Haemorrhagic Disease every
theymonths
can then concentrate on helping
your pet cope with their circumstances
• Vaccine booster against
through behavioural advice, aids,
Myxomatosis every year
feed supplements and/or medication.
Referral
to a Paws
behaviourist
may is
also be
Our
Healthy
Plan pricing
recommended.
reflective of the species and size of the
breed of your pet and includes two
health checks a year as well as a
discount on the above treatments.
As an added benefit all Healthy Paws
www.bestfriendsgroup.com
Plan members will received a 10%
discount off all products (including
Royal Canin food) and services
provided directly by their practice.
So why not speak to one of our team
at your local practice and see if we
can help make you vets bills that little
bit smaller.
Special Offers
Pet MOT
Special
Offers
We advise all cats & dogs over
5 years to have a Pet MOT to look for
early warning signs of age related
Save
up to 20% off your puppy
diseases - incs general health check,
or kittens
vaccination
bloodinitial
& urine
test.
course,
flea ofand
That’s
over £100
testsworming
for £27.50!!
Puppy & Kitten Packs
treatments.
Recommend a Friend
Receive a £5 credit to your account
when a friend registers at the same
Save Pick
money
theatcost
practice.
up a on
leaflet
yourof
local
surgery
or go online
to
your pets
annual
preventative
www.bestfriendsgroup.com
care
when you sign up to
Healthy Paws Plans
our Puppy
Healthy Paws
Plan, plus
& Kitten
receive anPacks
additional 10% off
all other treatments from us.
Save 20% off your puppy or kittens
initial vaccination course, flea and
worming treatments. You’ll also receive
a voucher for 25% off neutering if you
sign up to our Healthy Paws Plan
Firework Advice
for Pet Owners
Many pets are afraid of fireworks and owners often
find the fireworks season a worrying time of year.
Here’s our guide to help you and your furry friends
prepare for firework festivities.
• Your pet is likely to feel safer if you’re around so don’t go out and leave
them home alone.
• It’s important to keep pets inside once the fireworks start, so plan
ahead and make sure any exercise and toileting is out of the way in
good time. For cats, ensure that windows and cat flaps are closed at
all times.
• Allow enough time for supportive products available from your vet
practice, such as diffusers, collars or feed supplements, to take effect
(you may need to plan for this weeks in advance).
• Keep your garden gate and doors shut. Make sure your pet is
microchipped and wearing their collar and tag just in case they bolt
in fear and get lost.
• If your pet comes to you for reassurance, offer it to them, but do not
seek them to give comfort and do not give more than you would
normally as this may indicate to them that there is indeed something
to be frightened of.
• Close the curtains and turn up the TV or radio to help muffle the noise
from outside.
• Make sure there’s a cosy place where your pet can hide and feel
secure. Often dogs will appreciate a den created under the kitchen
table, a blanket on the floor behind the sofa or a dog crate filled with
familiar smells like blankets and toys. Cats appreciate being in confined
spaces e.g. a cardboard box or up high, so think 3D!
• Distract pets with their favourite game, toy or a treat just before and
during fireworks. If they are exhibiting fear behaviour, rewarding them
Surgery Numbers
Billericay 01277 651009
Chatteris 01354 692309
Dagenham 0208 595 5818
Holbeach 01406 426222
Isle of Dogs 0207 536 7555
Leicester 01162 517677
March 01354 653435
Mile End 0207 790 4599
Milton Keynes01908 270144
Oakhill 0208 527 0034
Peterborough, Broadway
01733 562904
Rainham 01708 555788
Romford 01708 762266
South Woodham Ferrers
01245 321717
Shenfield 01277 221193
Whittlesey 01733 208090
Yaxley 01733 243000
www.bestfriendsgroup.com
A Big Thank You to Vétoquinol who have
helped make this newsletter possible.
with a treat or toy may reinforce the behaviour, so take care to only
reward desired behaviour.
• Do not to punish any signs of fear, as this reinforces to your pet
that there is something to be frightened of. Remember to stay calm
yourself.
Firework parties are no longer confined to just one evening and
depending on your location, it can be an ongoing problem at this
time of year. It is important to bear this in mind when considering
supplements etc... that may need to be given and environmental
changes (such as those above) to help your pet cope.
If you would like any further advice, please speak to a member of
staff at your local veterinary practice who will be happy to help.