Grape/raisin poisoning in dogs and lily poisoning in cats
Many dog owners are unaware that grapes and raisins can be poisonous to their pet. At present the toxic substance has yet to be identified, but varies significantly between different types of grapes and raisins. Some appear to cause no problems, while others (even if eaten in small quantities) can lead to fatal kidney [...]
Dos and Don’ts for Christmas
In order to keep your pet happy and healthy this Christmas, please read our DOs and DON’Ts. DON’T feed your pet left overs from your Christmas meal. Poultry bones can get stuck or cause perforations, and rich food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. DON’T feed your pet chocolate, it’s toxic. (For more information see our winter [...]
VPIS & winter poisons
Summerhill is a subscriber to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, which is an internationally renowned medical toxicology service which operates from Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital in London. It is an 24 hour helpline for vets, to give advice on the diagnosis and management of poisioned animals. They deal with over 25,000 cases per year. So you [...]
Pet bereavement
Saying goodbye to a much loved pet is something we all dread. However there is now a really good website to help at this difficult time. ‘The Ralph Site’ was set up this summer by vet Shailen Jasani, after the loss of his beloved cat Ralph, who was involved in a road traffic accident. The website covers [...]
What makes Summerhill different?
SMALL FRIENDLY PRACTICE Our receptionist, nurses and vets are all friendly and approachable (in person or on the telephone), and work as a team to make your visit run as smoothly and comprehensively as possible, so you and your pet both feel ‘cared for’. Our practice is privately owned and not part of a [...]
Rabbit Q & A
My daughter wants to get a pet rabbit. Will one rabbit be happy living on it’s own? No, but for many years people were advised to keep rabbits as individuals so that fighting and unwanted mating would not occur. However when studying the natural behaviour of rabbits it is evident that they are social creatures, [...]
Grass seeds
Every year at Summerhill we see lots of animals who have grass seed related injuries. These pesky seeds are designed by nature to stick to anything and everything, so they can be moved on to a new place to grow. Their unidirectional barbs mean once they are attached to your pet’s coat they work [...]
VPIS & summer poisons
Summerhill is a subscriber to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, which is an internationally renowned medical toxicology service which operates from Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital in London. It is an 24 hour helpline for vets, to give advice on the diagnosis and management of poisioned animals. They deal with over 25,000 cases per year. So [...]
Cat Arthritis
With this cold damp weather, human and canine sufferers of arthritis are struggling. However so are many of our feline friends. Until relatively recently cats weren’t really thought to suffer much with arthritis, mainly due to their light body weight. However recent studies have shown that over 60% of cats over 12 years [...]
