Mental Health in Dogs | Post-Lockdown Mental Health Issues in Dogs

Did you know that lockdown affected the mental health of our dogs as well?

New research by Guide Dogs has revealed that 74% of the nation’s dogs show signs of having poor mental health, with 18% showing symptoms as often as weekly. Only a third of the dog owners are able to spot the signs of poor canine mental health and just a quarter admit they did not even realise that dogs could suffer from poor mental health.

Our own vet Dr. Peter Brigant recently had the opportunity to discuss mental health in dogs on ITV news.

This was a great opportunity to raise awareness about an issue which is rarely discussed, but we see all too often these days. Watch the video below:

So how do I recognise these behavioural changes in dogs?

Some behaviour can be quite obvious, and can be easily identified as:

  • Excessive barking
  • Hyperactivity
  • Obsessive fur biting
  • Tail-chasing
  • Aggression

Some of these behaviours can eventually turn cohabitation with our four-legged friends into a frustrating experience.

On the other hand, some symptoms are harder to spot:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Changes in activity levels

These kinds of behaviour can sometimes be harder to consider as a cause for concern, and any kind of slight change in behaviour means mental health issues can become easily overlooked.

My dog is acting strangely! What can I do?

There are many forms of mental health problems and therefore the exact reasons why your dog is having behavioural problems would differ from case to case.

Speak to your vet
The general approach is to rule out the possibility that the change in the behaviour is not caused by physical health issues and therefore it is advisable to consult the abnormal behaviour with the vet. If simple behavioural techniques are not helping we would then advise and refer to a canine behavioural specialist.

Try Canine Enrichment Activities

We know that most of the dogs’ mental issues have origin in our stereotypical lifestyle in which our furry friend takes undivided part. Simply, dogs get bored very easily and are always looking for something to interest them.

Canine enrichment activities, such as food-based puzzle toys, LickiMats, forging games, sensory activities and steady walks with lots of sniffing opportunities, could be the key to boosting a dog’s mood.

On average, UK dog owners spend between 46 – 60 minutes per day looking to keep their dogs stimulated. However, the age and energy level decide the amount of stimulation a dog needs, but all owners should do canine enrichment activities little and often and think about quality, not quantity. Variety is key; doing something a bit different each day or mixing things up throughout the week is much more interesting for a dog. Dogs can thrive when given new tasks and opportunities to engage.

Integrating a mix of canine enrichment activities into your dog’s day-to-day life is the best way to help stimulate their senses, encourage them to practice natural behaviours, and improve their wellbeing. As well as being a lot of fun for you and your dog.

Questions about your dog's behaviour?
As always, if you have any questions regarding your dog's behaviour, please do not hesitate to contact Vista Vets and we'll do all we can to help.

01376 786 732

Chocolate Toxicity Calculator for Dogs

Chocolate Toxicity Calculator for Dogs | Vista Vets Chelmsford

Worried your dog has eaten chocolate?

With this unique tool, you can get an instant toxicity rating based on your dog’s weight and how much chocolate they’ve eaten.

Whether the rating is negligible, mild-moderate or a possible emergency, you will automatically receive guidance on what to do next.

Try the Vets Now chocolate toxicity calculator below:

Need a vet?

If you are at all worried your pet has consumed too much chocolate, please contact us as soon as possible by calling 01376 786 732

Ticks: Disease Transmission Symptoms and Removal Techniques for Pets

Ticks are external parasites, and globally they rival only mosquitos as carriers of disease.  

Their natural habitat is thick grass – fields, meadows, farmland and woods are all favourite locations. If you or your pet visit areas such as this, be extra vigilant. 

Parasites live by feeding off a host, and as they move from one to another they quickly and easily pick up and spread diseases. Some of these diseases are not only dangerous to your pet, but also to the rest of your family (see below) so it’s really important to give your pet continuous year-round protection against ticks.  We offer a monthly spot-on treatment for fleas and ticks and you can save money on this if you’re a member of our Healthy Pet Club.

What do ticks look like and can I spot them whilst out?

Ticks change shape as they feed, starting off the size and shape of a small seed but growing to the size of a baked bean once they’ve fed from their host. They vary in colour as well as shape and size, but are often a dull brown or grey. 

Whilst in their natural environment and are waiting for their next host to walk by (they often climb to the top of a blade of grass and wait for any passing animal or human) they’re so tiny that they’re unlikely to be spotted and avoided.

What diseases do ticks carry and can they cause other problems?

Problems range from itchiness and local infection to disease that can have lifelong consequences for your pet – and for your family if a tick decides to make you it’s host.

Ticks produce a mucous that they use on the feeding site to help them stay on, and this can be really irritating for your pet. If they then scratch themselves in response to this and to get the tick off they can make themselves bleed, get an infection in the broken skin, and possibly scratch the tick off but leave part of it inside them that can then become infected. There have also been cases of anaemia in badly infested pets, and reports of some female ticks releasing a toxin that can result in paralysis. Thankfully these are so far very rare in this country. 

One of the biggest and most serious threats is from Lyme disease which is caused by very resilient bacteria. The symptoms of this are arthritis, painful swollen joints and lameness.  In humans the symptoms are often a rash, joint pain, fever, and headaches. As these are all common to many different diseases, diagnosis can sometimes take a while or be missed completely.  If this disease is left untreated, it can lead to an extremely serious debilitating chronic illness with permanent complications.

Are ticks a seasonal problem?

Ticks are often more active in spring and autumn when it’s warm and damp, but they can be found all year round. With a 75% increase in pets coming in to the UK, we are now seeing the emergence of foreign ticks such as the kennel tick on recently travelled dogs, so it’s now even more important to protect your pet all year round.

I’ve found a tick! What should I do?

Regular grooming and vigilance should help you identify any unwelcome visitors. Always brush your pet against the hair growth as well as with to help you identify any embedded ticks, and carefully check awkward areas such as their ears, face and paw pads. 

If you spot one, don’t panic, and don’t pull it straight off as embedded mouth parts can be left behind and cause further problems.  It’s also important not to do anything that makes the tick feel stress, as they can often regurgitate their meal back into the host along with any diseases they’re carrying. Traditional ways to remove them include burning them with a match or flame, pulling hard on them or covering them in Vaseline to suffocate them and all of these would cause stress to them that could further harm your pet. 

How to safely remove a tick

Always have a ‘tick removal kit’ ready at home so you don’t have to spend time getting everything together if you do identify a tick. This kit should include a tick removal tool (available relatively cheaply from your vet or online, although you could use tweezers), gloves, a jar with a lid, rubbing alcohol and some antiseptic wipes.

  1. Put on your gloves. As ticks spread disease through the bloodstream they could infect you through any broken skin. 
  2. Hold your pet and make sure they are calm. They’re going to have to remain still for a minute or so to allow you to remove the parasite. Get someone to hold the pet for you if you can. 
  3. Place your removal tool or tweezers around the part of the tick closest to your pet’s body, being careful not to pinch your pet’s skin.
  4. Using a steady pressure, gently twist the tick until it releases its grip. Try not to move suddenly, or twist too hard as you don’t want the tick to regurgitate whatever is inside it back in to your pet, or for any of it to be left behind.
  5. Put the tick in the jar and examine it to check it’s still in once piece and nothing has been left inside your pet. 
  6. Add some rubbing alcohol (vodka would do but it seems a waste!) to kill the tick. Keep it in the jar somewhere for a few days until you’re sure your pet is well. If you pet starts to display any symptoms such as a reluctance to move, fever, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes then bring both your pet and the tick to us straight away so we can check them over and be sure of the parasite that infected them. 
  7. Disinfect the bite site with disinfecting wipes or some fresh rubbing alcohol. Keep an eye on the site and contact us if it becomes red or inflamed.
Can I stop my pet getting ticks, and if not isn’t it enough to just regularly check my pet?

When they first attach they are usually only the size of a sesame seed and are often hiding between toes and under ears. They can be almost impossible to spot until they’ve been on there for long enough to grow bigger, become irritating to your pet, and have potentially transmitted disease. 

There is no tick repellent, but a spot-on treatment works in the same way as flea protection. The substance will penetrate the fatty, subcutaneous layer just under the pet’s skin and give the tick a dose of the anti-parasitic drug as soon as they first feed.  As ticks pass on disease within the first 24 hours of attaching to a host, it’s important to kill them off as soon as possible. The only reliable way of doing this is through a continuous protection programme. 

Call us on 01376 786 732 to talk about the options, and don’t forget to ask about the cost savings as a Healthy Pet Club member if you aren’t already a member.

Never forget your pet's tick treatment again with the Vista Pet Club

We’ve specifically developed the Vista Pet Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and tick treatments and much more, all designed to ensure your pet stays healthy.
join the club

The Itchy Issue of Fleas: A Risk for Your Pet and Your Family

Fleas – putting your family at risk all year round

Fleas are often considered to be a seasonal nuisance that are annoying for your pet, and annoying for you when you get nipped by one at home.  But they’re a more serious problem than this, are a year-long threat, and can cause serious distress to your pet and spread disease.  

Our centrally heated homes are the perfect year-round breeding ground for fleas who are attracted to the warm environment, so they aren’t just a spring and summer issue. Eggs can lay dormant in pet beds, carpets, rugs and upholstery for months before finding a host. In fact much of the life cycle of the flea takes place in the animal’s environment, not on the animal itself. Protecting your pet and your family requires this life-cycle to be broken by year round protection, and ideally by using a treatment that renders the eggs unable to hatch, so any that do transfer to the environment don’t start the cycle all over again.

Disease

Heavy infestations may lead to iron deficiency, anaemia and death, particularly in young animals. Diseases transmitted by fleas include pruritus (intense chronic itching), cat scratch disease, murine typhus, plague, flea typhus, tapeworm infection and flea bite allergies.

Why ad-hoc treatments just don’t work

By the time you notice fleas on your pet, they have already bitten their host and injected their saliva in to their blood stream and started laying eggs. In the same way, ticks transmit disease within the first 24 hours of being attached to a host, so once they are discovered and removed it’s too late to stop this transmission.  The chances are that they will already have laid eggs before treatment, and these are sitting in a warm and cosy environment just waiting to hatch and infest your pet all over again. Even if you use a treatment that remains active for a month, it’s possible that some eggs and/or fleas will be lurking for longer than this period and will get to work once the treatment has worn off.

So, reactive and one-off treatments are both insufficient in preventing the spread of disease AND do nothing to prevent the initial attack or to break the life cycle. We recommend monthly treatments with an integrated product which not only kills any fleas that attack your pet, but also stops the development of eggs and therefore breaks the life-cycle. This approach will stop any initial infestation and protect your home, your pet and your family throughout the year.

Never forget your pet's flea treatment again with the Vista Pet Club

We’ve specifically developed the Vista Pet Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and worming treatments and much more, all design to ensure your pet stays healthy.
join the club
Just discovered your pet has fleas?

1. Treat your pet

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

3. Vacuum soft furnishings, bedding and carpets thoroughly

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

2. Treat your environment

The house (and car) will need to be treated with an insecticide spray. Indorex is the most effective mild insecticide for this and will kill and live fleas and stop eggs hatching. If your infestation is or becomes more severe, you will need to contact your local pest control agency who will have insecticides not generally available to the general public and will be able to come out and treat your house.

4. Wash anything such as pet beds, rugs, blankets and cushions

Fleas and eggs are unlikely to survive a once round in the washing machine and it is another good way to make sure none have escaped treatment. (It’s still  important to treat first to kill as many as possible this way as movement and transfer is likely to make any unwelcome visitors spread around your home).

1. Treat your pet

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

2. Treat your environment

The house (and car) will need to be treated with an insecticide spray. Indorex is the most effective mild insecticide for this and will kill and live fleas and stop eggs hatching. If your infestation is or becomes more severe, you will need to contact your local pest control agency who will have insecticides not generally available to the general public and will be able to come out and treat your house.

3. Vacuum soft furnishings, bedding and carpets thoroughly

You will need to treat them with a product that kills the fleas and preferably one that contains a growth regulator to prevent eggs from hatching. Call us and we can let you know which products these are.

4. Wash anything such as pet beds, rugs, blankets and cushions

Fleas and eggs are unlikely to survive a once round in the washing machine and it is another good way to make sure none have escaped treatment. (It’s still  important to treat first to kill as many as possible this way as movement and transfer is likely to make any unwelcome visitors spread around your home).

Managing treatments

Monthly application of product involves some organisation – remembering the date to treat, when they were last treated and making sure you have to product to hand. To make this simpler (and cheaper!) for you, membership of our Healthy Pet Club ensures you have the product every month without fail. From the day you join you know when each month to treat, and can do so without having to order your treatment and wait for it to arrive which is time consuming, liable to fail if only through the weight of our busy lives, and can be costly. It also ensures that you and your family are protected year round.

Never forget your pet's flea treatment again with the Vista Pet Club

We’ve specifically developed the Vista Pet Club to make it simple for you to look after your pet. Get access to annual flea and worming treatments and much more, all designed to ensure your pet stays healthy.
join the club

5 Top Tips for Keeping Pets at Christmas Happy and Healthy

One of the most exciting things for us over the festive period is all the different things happening. We see people we don’t get to see often, socialise more, eat food we only ever have at this time of the year, and even decorate our houses with things that usually live packed away in lofts and cupboards. Whilst this all adds to the excitement of the season for us, it can present a few potential problems for our pets that we should all be aware of.

To make sure we all have a good time, can relax with family (fluffy and otherwise) and get on with enjoying ourselves, we’ve put together a list of our Top Tips to ensure a safe and merry Christmas for all.

1. Keep decorations out of reach – and as non-toxic as you can
  • Baubles and tinsel are as attractive to curious pets as they are to us. The temptation to play and pull them down may well be strong, so try to avoid this if you can by moving things out of their reach. Swallowing glass or plastic decorations can cause some nasty problems, and tinsel can be hazardous if they get wrapped up in it while playing.

  • Don’t put edible decorations on your tree. The temptation will be too much in the dead of night! The tin foil and chocolate aren’t going to give their intestines the treat they expect!
2. Keep cables for fairy lights out of reach or get a cable guard.
  • Loose cables can tempt cats, dogs and rabbits to chew on these new, rubbery items that appear in the house. They could give themselves a nasty shock and unwittingly create a fire risk.
3. Be toxin aware
  • Lots of traditional Christmas plants and foliage are poisonous to our pets, so make sure poinsettias, holly, pine, mistletoe, and amaryllis are in rooms they can’t access or are out of reach. Vacuum regularly to get rid of any pine needles – plastic or real!
  • Some foods are toxic for our pets despite being delicious to us. This list includes chocolate, mince pies and Christmas pudding (in fact, anything with raisins or grapes in), onions including onion gravy, broccoli, salty foods, avocado, coffee, cauliflower, nutmeg, peppers, garlic and alcohol. Bones from bird carcasses such as turkey and chicken are also dangerous as they pose a choking hazard and can splinter when chewed and get stuck in the digestive system.
  • Don’t put presents that include food under the tree. These will be sniffed out and eaten – probably including the ribbon and paper. We can all do without the destruction, and certain types of wrapping paper contain harmful chemicals. The ribbon used to tie gifts can also cause an intestinal obstruction if swallowed.
  •  Some pets are more intelligent than others when sneaking food while no one is looking. Keep an eye out for any changes in behaviour that might indicate this is the case – changes in their breathing, twitching, vomiting and diarrhoea, for example – and call us if you have any concerns.
4. Make your pets feel safe and stress-free
  • If you have visitors coming, make a safe space away from all the commotion for your pet to escape to. A familiar bed and some toys in a quiet room will be an excellent refuge for them if it all gets too much. Make sure guests know which doors and gates need to remain closed for your pet’s safety

  • Give your dog a good walk before any excitement, and they’ll be much calmer and more content. Keeping up regular feeding and exercise routines helps with a sense of security too

  • Fireworks are often around again over the festive period, so if this is an issue for your pet, make sure they are kept in, have a safe area to hide in, keep the curtains closed and that you have the radio or TV on as a distraction. If the fear extends beyond understandable anxiety, book an appointment to talk to us about how we can help. There are some nutraceuticals such as pheromone plug-ins and food supplements that might help as well as some additional techniques we could talk to you about
5. Don’t forget to have some fun

All of this makes Christmas for your pet sound pretty dull, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as common-sense rules, then you can all have a great family time, including your pet.

We sell a range of toys and chews that make lovely gifts for your pet, and just because they can’t eat the same food as us doesn’t mean they have to miss out. There are lots of safe treats and bones available to keep them healthy and happy. You could organise a treat trail as a treasure hunt and could even have a go at making your own ‘pupcakes’! Google has many ideas for dogs’ baked goods (and a few for cats!). If you make anything and post it on social media, be sure to tag us so we can see!

Our Christmas and New Year opening hours are available here, but if you need us day or night over Christmas (or any time), we’re here for you. Just call us on 01376 786 732

Why Dental Health Is Key to Your Pet’s Health

Vista Vets Chelmsford | Why Dental Health is Key to Your Pets Health
Do I need to look after my pet’s teeth?

Yes! Your pet isn’t able to perform the simple oral care tasks that we as humans know are essential for dental health such as tooth brushing. They need to visit us regularly for dental treatment in the same way we should visit a dentist.

Poor dental health can result in long term (chronic) pain for pets. Infections in the mouth can also cause infections elsewhere in the body as bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and travel elsewhere, and can be responsible for heart, kidney, liver and lung infections. 

Our pets are very good at hiding any pain they feel, and the way they show this – tiredness, aggression, slowing down – can often be mistaken for the normal aging process, so it’s really important that we keep an eye on what’s going on in their mouths to prevent not only pain, but also to stop any issues from occurring before they go on to cause permanent damage.

If you have your pet from a young age it really helps to get them used to having their mouths looked at right from the start. Once a week gently encourage them to let you in for a quick look, and reward them with lots of fuss for being obliging. Teeth brushing can be introduced then too.

What are the signs of a dental problem in my pet?

One of the most common signs – and is often a reason owners bring their pet in for a dental check up – is bad breath. If your pet is willing you should look inside their mouth to see if there are any visible signs of infection or decay, but it’s often easier if your vet and a trained helper do this for you!

Another visible sign that your pet needs some help is tartar. This is a hard brown substance that can be seen where the teeth join the gum, and it then builds up from there. It’s caused by plaque on the teeth going hard (mineralising). Tartar causes gum inflammation (gingivitis) and a red and sore mouth that bleeds easily. This then leads on to dental disease, infection and a destruction of the tooth and tissues around it. The tooth will then become loose and possibly fall out or need to be removed surgically.

Signs that your pet might have disease at this stage might be eating in a different way – slowly, with their head on one side, eating on one side of the mouth only or refusing biscuits. They might also lose weight and generally show signs that they aren’t thriving.  Cats can exhibit this through deterioration in the quality of their coat where they stop grooming themselves as efficiently to prevent mouth pain.

If you suspect any dental problems, you must see your vet to stop whatever deterioration is occurring as soon as possible. Situations only get more serious for the pet, and more complicated and expensive.

How can I remove Tartar and Plaque from my pet’s teeth?

To remove any buildup of plaque or tartar from your pet’s teeth, and prevent further damage or disease, the best option is to book a dental descale and polish with your vet. The vet will use an ultrasonic descaling instrument, combined with specialist hand tools to remove the plaque and tartar from the teeth. Once the tartar has been removed, the surface of the tooth is then polished using a high-speed polishing tool. Polishing offers some cosmetic benefits like brighter teeth, but most importantly it also smooths away any rough areas on the tooth to help prevent plaque from building up in the future.

SPECIAL OFFER! Descale and Polish for only £164 £99!
In order to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and clean, we are currently offering a huge discount (£65) when you book a dental descale and polish before the end of February 2022. Click here to find out more.
What happens when I bring my pet in for a dental examination?

The vet will talk to you about the general health of your pet as well as performing an oral examination. This is to assess signs of secondary problems caused by any dental issues picked up during the check up, and to ensure they are well enough for a general anaesthetic should any work need to be carried out.

The vet will look for tartar and any gum redness, swelling and infection. If this is identified then dental disease will also be checked for as well as any gum recession or overgrowing, which are common secondary problems to gingivitis. Gum swelling is sometimes also due to a lump forming which is either benign (and more common in some particular breeds), or a more serious tumour.

Cats have specific problems which will be checked for. Unfortunately it is very common for them to develop erosions of their teeth – called lesions – and these can be very painful and hard for an owner to detect. They are caused by the cat’s own immune system attacking the enamel of the teeth and causing holes in them.  

Pets can develop cavities in their molars in the same way we can, and these can cause infection and be really painful. Tooth fractures are also common. These are easy to spot if some tooth is missing, but if there’s a crack that extends to the nerve pulp then this is only visible by xray, and will be causing significant pain.

Less common problems include milk teeth not falling out, or falling out late resulting in adult teeth growing through in the wrong place, and misaligned jaws which whilst often purely cosmetic can cause problems if they result in teeth digging in to the palate.

What can I do at home to keep my pet’s teeth healthy?

One simple way you can help your pet is through their diet. In their natural state where they hunt and kill, their teeth are naturally cleaned by chewing on bones and hard body parts. For this reason cats who like the odd mouse or rabbit as a supplement to their diet sometimes have better teeth than those animals who chose not to hunt.  That said, as this is no longer their natural way of eating our domesticated animals would struggle if you were to introduce bones to their diet. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious problems in their mouths, throats and guts, and raw bones can result in stomach upsets and enamel chipping as well as splintering.

There are some dental chews available for dogs that can be effective at plaque removal, although these don’t work if your dog has already developed tartar and dental disease. They can also be quite rich, so only give them occasionally and make sure they aren’t too big for your pet. You don’t want to replace dental concerns with diarrhoea!

For domestic animals, a biscuit diet is best as chewing on these can help safely replicate the benefits of gnawing on bones and tissue. Wet food also tends to stick to teeth which can cause plaque and subsequently tartar.

There are some pet foods specifically designed to encourage oral health, so do speak to us if you’d like to know more. It’s also always advisable to change your pet’s diet gradually.

Tooth brushing is the most effective way to prevent dental problems as long as it’s started before any conditions occur. You will need to use a pet toothpaste as ours would be harmful to them, and they also prefer a meaty flavour! You can use baby toothbrush – either a standard one or one that you put on your finger.

 If your pet already has some inflammation or other dental problems then wait until treatment has been completed and their mouth is no longer sore before resuming or starting brushing.

As always, if you have any questions regarding your pet’s dental health, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the practice by calling 01376 786 732
Vista Vets Dental Scale and Polish | Dental Offer £99 Dental Scale and Polish
To help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and clean, we are offering a huge discount (£65) when you book a dental descale and polish before the end of February 2022.
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Case Study: Treating Condylar Humeral Fracture in Dogs

Case Study

Treating a Condylar Humeral Fracture in Dogs

Dutchess,a 16 week old French Bulldog who Vista Vets treated for Humeral Fracture

Dutchess is only 16 weeks old! She is a lovely French Bulldog puppy who was presented to Vista Vets as an urgent appointment after she started to limp on her front right leg. Dutchess’s owners described her accident as tumbling off the sofa during playtime in the house.

Dutchess was examined by our Vet Peter Brigant, and from this examination, he could see that her elbow was very painful and unstable. She was immediately admitted, and her left limb was x-rayed while under general anaesthetic.

Radiographs revealed a left condylar humeral fracture! 

Dr Peter Brigant holding Dutchess
X Ray showing the Condylar Humeral Fracture vista-vets-chelmsford-case-study-dutchess-Condylar-Humeral-Fracture-in-dogs-5

Condylar humeral fractures are relatively common in young growing pups; however, they are also one of the most challenging to treat! Dutchess’s owners were very dedicated to getting her broken leg fixed, so they booked her for surgery the next day.

Dutchess underwent the fracture repair under general anaesthetic, monitored by our Veterinary Nurse Abby. The surgery was very successful, so Dutchess was discharged home with some important post-operative instructions.

Dr. Peter Brigant performing surgery
Dr. Peter Brigant performing surgery

Upon rechecking, only ten days after the surgery, Dutchess was using her left limb with minimal lameness – she was pain-free and very happy!