Today, Wednesday 14th June, We are joining Pet Blood Bank UK in celebrating World Blood Donor day!
We are recognising brilliant, heroic hounds across the country who help save lives by donating blood.
Just like people, sick animals often need blood transfusions. In many cases a blood transfusion can save an animals life! Blood is used for many purposes including trauma,surgery and disease. One donation of blood can save up to four lives.
We have been holding sessions with Pet Blood Bank since February 2016 and would love to welcome more life savers to our next session on Saturday 12th August. To register,please visit www.petbloodbankuk.org or call the surgery on 01908 397777 and ask for Jess. Please help us spread the word on this important day.
Below are just a few of our amazing donors. # Heroic Hounds ❤
As most of you know, people can be blood donors – but did you know that dogs can be blood donors too?
The Pet Blood Bank is a charity that provides a canine blood bank service for all veterinary practices across the UK. Run as a voluntary scheme just like the human blood service, dogs from all over the country give blood at many of their sessions.
On Saturday 13th May at 10am, Milton Keynes Veterinary Group will be hosting our fifth Pet Blood Bank donor session at our branch at 7 Stoke Road, Bletchley, and we are calling out for more donors to register.
To fit the doggie donor criteria, your dog needs to be:
Fit and healthy
Between one and 8 years old
Weigh more than 25kg
Have a good temperament
Have never travelled abroad
Vaccinated
Not on any medication
For more information, or if you are interested in registering your pet to become a doggie blood donor, please contact the surgery on 01908 397777 and ask to speak to Jess, or register directly with Pet Blood Bank at www.petbloodbankuk.org
The Pet Travel Scheme allows you to take your pet on holiday with you to both EU and non-EU countries without the need for a stay in quarantine.
The aim of the Pet Travel Scheme is the prevent spread of Rabies Virus and Echinococcus Tapeworm and maintain the UK as a rabies-free country.
This scheme is overseen by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and more information can be found at www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview.
Different rules apply to different countries and therefore it is important to check the rules before travelling.
These rules do not apply for travel between the UK and the Channel Islands or the Isle of Mann.
The common diseases your pet could be exposed to whilst abroad can include:
Enrlichiosis – a type of bacteria which targets the blood and is transmitted by ticks
Hepatozoonosis – a microscopic parasite which targets various internal organs in the body
Heartworm – a larval worm which develops and lives in the heart and lungs
Babesiosis – a microscopic parasite which targets red blood cells and is transmitted by ticks
Leishmaniasis – a microscopic parasite which targets multiple organs of the body including the skin and is transmitted by flies
Tapeworm – a microscopic parasite picked up within the environment that is transmissible to humans, if contracted your pet is unlikely to show any symptoms
Rabies – a virus which targets the nervous system. It can be potentially fatal and can be transmitted to humans. It is transmitted between animals and therefore is compulsory to have your pet vaccinated when travelling
Requirements to take your pet abroad
Your pet must be microchipped
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies by one of our veterinary surgeons. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks of age and the vaccination must be repeated every 3 years
Your pet will received an EU Pet Passport. Any veterinarian can administer the rabies vaccination and place the microchip but only an LVI (Local Veterinary Inspector) can complete the passport. MK Vet Group LVIs are Philip Hanlon, Philip Kilkenny, Debbie Kilkenny, Steve Bonthorne, Sonia Moulton, Doug Brain and Marina Crockford
Your pet will be able to travel 21 days after administration of the rabies vaccination
You must take your Pet Passport with you whilst abroad
Dogs must be seen by a LVI in the country you are visiting 24-150 hours before returning to the UK. Your pet will be administered tapeworm treatment and your passport signed at this appointment
You must travel using an approved transport company and via an approved route, details are available on the Defra website
If your pet is traveling to a listed country, you will follow the same process as listed above but may also need to complete a declaration form to prove you do not intend to sell or re-home your pet.
If you are travelling to a non-listed country, your pet will need to follow the same process as listed above with the addition of a blood test 30 days following the rabies vaccination and completion of a declaration form to prove you do not intend to sell or rehome.
For further information please visit www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad, or contact the surgery and we will be happy to help.
The NO BITE IS RIGHT is a national campaign run
by Bayer Animal Health to inform owners of the risks fleas and ticks can
cause your pet as well as yourself and family.
Did you know a female FLEA can lay around 2000 eggs in her lifetime?
What are FLEAS?
This parasite is a small, wingless insects, just a few millimetres long with hind legs modified for jumping. The majority of the flea life cycle will occur off the animal, but can easily occur in the home.
The fleas lay their eggs on the animal, which then fall off into the environment (e.g. onto bedding or carpets). Only 5% of the flea population is actually on the animal, the remaining 95% is in the environment in form of eggs, larvae and pupae.
How is your pet affected?
Fleas will bite cats, dogs, rabbits and even humans. You may notice your pet is scratching, licking or biting a lot, has unusual red patches of skin, signs of hair loss or flea dirt.
Flea dirt looks like tiny black dots and can be identified by a simple quick test:
Take a piece of paper towel and dampen
Rub gently on your pets fur where you suspect there is flea dirt
If the black dots change to a reddish-brown colour – FLEAS ARE PRESENT!
Some animals may suffer from flea allergic dermatitis (FAD), which is irritation of the skin directly related to the presence of fleas, and a strict flea prevention routine should be followed to alleviate the symptoms.
How to help your pet?
Treat your pet with a prescription flea product as directed by the manufacturer or your veterinary surgeon. These can be in a variety of forms, such as spot-ons, collars or tablets. The most common application is a spot-on treatment given on a monthly basis. Speak to our staff about our Pet Health Care plans to make sure your pet gets the best prevention at the most affordable prices.
With a heavy infestation of fleas, don’t forget to treat the environment as well. Remember those fleas can live in bedding, sofas, beds, carpets, car, etc. so it’s just as important to treat the home as it is the pet!
A UK survey reported that 23% of dogs had TICKS without the owner’s knowledge
What are TICKS?
Ticks are commonly found in long grass, and attach themselves to your pet as they brush passed. They are eight legged and are composed of two body sections.
Their highly developed mouthparts allow them to pierce a pet’s skin and feed on the animal’s blood, sometimes causing reactions at the site of attachment. Severe infestations can lead to anaemia in young animals.
Ticks are associated with Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis.
How to help your pet?
Prevent Ticks by using a prescription tick product as directed by the manufacturer or your veterinary surgeon. Products can be in a variety of forms such as collars, tablets or spot on treatments.
If you have any questions about these parasites or prevention, our staff would be happy to help.
donor session at our Stoke Road Branch.
will be hosting our fifth Pet Blood Bank donor session at our branch at 7 Stoke Road, Bletchley, and we are calling out for more donors to register.
you to take your pet on holiday with you to both EU and non-EU countries without the need for a stay in quarantine.
run
by Bayer Animal Health to inform owners of the risks fleas and ticks can
cause your pet as well as yourself and family.
