There are many different skin conditions which can be caused by a variety of things from fleas and mites to grass and pollen. The most common conditions found in our pets include:

Pruritus – An unpleasant sensation within the skin which produces the desire to scratch or chew

Dermatitis – Inflammation of the skin

Eczema – A superficial inflammation of the skin

Pyoderma – Infection of the skin

At what point should I see a vet?

Veterinary treatment should be sought if your pet is uncomfortable, the affected area increases in size, there is no improvement in 24 hours or your pet shows any signs of lethargy

Below are some of the common signs and symptoms of skin conditions

• Redness or swelling of skin which is ‘hot to the touch’
• Broken skin / ulcerated skin
• Scabs which are usually seen on cats who are often secretive when grooming
• Bald patches
• Coat discolouration – this is often seen in white dogs especially on paws from saliva staining

All skin conditions require veterinary care initially but once diagnosed can often be managed at home with a variety of treatments including diets, short- and long-term medication, immunotherapy or household changes.

Specific conditions can be treated and cured but, allergies especially will continue, hence treatment to control symptoms will need to be a long-term commitment.

Principle vet Nick Hartley is our onsite dermatologist having gained his certificate in small animal dermatology. Consultations for our registered clients can be booked directly with him at our standard consultation fee. For non-registered clients we do accept dermatology referrals from locally and further afield.

Laser therapy is a complementary treatment which does not involve drugs or surgery and is pain free for your pets. By using specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects, the treatment can be used to:

• Relieve pain
• Increase your pets range of motion
• Increase circulation
• Speed up wound healing
• Reduce swelling

What conditions can laser therapy help with?

Laser therapy may benefit your pet for many conditions including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Hip dysplasia
• Joint pain
• Ligament sprains and muscle strains
• Post-surgical pain and post orthopedic surgical recovery
• Puncture and chronic wounds
• Post traumatic injury
• Post operativie healing after routine surgeries
• K-laser therapy is often used with other forms of therapy including physical, chiropractic adjustments, massage, soft tissue mobilisation, electrotherapy and following surgery.

How is laser therapy performed?

One of our veterinary surgeons will discuss with you if laser therapy may benefit your pet. During the consultation they will also explain the treatment plan that would be most suitable for your pets’ condition.

You are more than welcome to be in the room with your pet whilst the laser therapy is performed, but you will need to wear specialised protective goggles during the procedure.

Your pets will be able to stand or lie down depending on the area being treated. As laser therapy is drug-free your pet will need no sedation, in fact the experience is usually pleasant and comforting to them. In most cases fur should not need to be trimmed from the area that is being treated.

Once the treatment is started you will see a small red light from the laser and the vet will constantly move that laser probe over the area being treated.

What does the treatment feel like?

There will be little or no sensation during treatment for your pet. Occasionally they may feel a mild, soothing warmth or tickling. Areas that are painful or inflamed may be sensitive briefly before pain is reduced.

Very few side effects have ever been reported after more than 20 years of use by healthcare providers and professionals all over the world. Occasionally some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after the treatment.

How long does the treatment take and how often will my pet need to be treated?

A typical treatment for your pet is 2 to 8 minutes, depending on their condition and also the size of the area being treated.

Some conditions may be treated daily, particularly if they are accompanied by significant pain. Longer term problems respond better when treatments received 2 to 3 times per week, reducing to once every week or two as improvement is seen in your pet. 

Although improvement is often seen after the first visit, most pets require several treatments (3 to 8) for the greatest benefit. For most conditions we will recommend a multi-treatment plan, with the veterinary surgeon performing the first and last treatments of the course, and our trained veterinary nurse performing the other treatments.

How long before results are apparent in my pet?

Your pet may feel improvements in their condition, usually pain reduction, after the first treatment. Sometimes they will not feel improvement for a number of treatments, however this does not mean nothing is happening as laser treatment’s cumulative results are often felt after three or four sessions.

Class 4 laser therapy treatments are cumulative in nature, which means the length and frequency of treatment varies with your pet’s condition. The general guide below can give an indication of a treatment plan, but the veterinary surgeon will recommend one specific to your pet’s condition.

What is anaesthesia?

Anaesthesia is, according to its definition “a state of unconsciousness produced by anaesthetic agents, with absence of pain sensation over the entire body and greater or lesser degree of muscular relaxation”.

What is anaesthetic?

Anaesthetics are drugs which can be given by injection or through inhalation, that makes the animal unconscious. Veterinary surgeons use anaesthetics every day to enable them to perform different procedures on their patients.

Why would my pet need an anaesthetic?

From time to time your pet might need an anaesthetic for the vet to gain more information about a disease or problem your pet may have. Although the vet can collect a lot of information by asking you questions and examining your pet an anaesthetic may be needed for taking x-rays or performing other procedures, which may include surgery.

What should I do before I bring my pet in?

Before a procedure you may be asked not to feed your cat or dog. Pets such as rabbits and hamsters do not need their food taken away. This is necessary because a full stomach may make your pet more liable to vomit during the final stages of anaesthesia. In addition, if the animal is anaesthetised it may not be able to swallow and could inhale bits of food, which can block the airway and cause an infection in the lungs.

A very full stomach can also press onto the diaphragm, making it harder to breath depending on how the animals needs to be positioned. Your pet is still able to have water until a few hours before they are admitted. Pre-anaesthetic instructions will be given to you.

What happens during anaesthesia?

1. Pre-anaesthetic medication

Premedicants are drugs to reduce the patient’s anxiety and also help the vet use less anaesthetic drug during the next phase. Pain killing drugs may also be given during the pre-medication phase

2. induction of anaesthesia

injectable anaesthetic agents are the most commonly used type of induction drugs. These drugs are injected into your pet often via the vein on the front of the foreleg. As a result, your pet becomes anaesthetised and passes into another phase of the anaesthetic procedure called the maintenance phase.

3. Maintenance phase

Anaesthetic gases and vaporised drugs are most commonly used during the maintenance phase, although injectable anaesthetic can be used. A tube is passes into the trachea (windpipe) and connected to an anaesthetic machine, which supplies the mixture of different gases and vaporised drugs directly to the patient.

4. Recovery phase

An animal will usually start to recover from anaesthesia very quickly. The recovery of the patient is monitored carefully until they are completely awake and fit enough to go home. Some animals may stay in the veterinary practice for a bit longer, this usually occurs if an animal has a long or complicated procedure. Although all anaesthetic procedures carry a small risk, this is especially low in healthy animals. the vet may decide to carry out a number of tests before the procedure goes ahead, to minimise the risk for older animals.

Pre – anaesthetic examination

Your pet will always be examined by the vet prior to having an anaesthetic. (This is done in order to minimise the potential risks linked to anaesthesia.) After the examination the vet may decide to run further tests. These may include blood and urine tests. These tests can help identify anything that may increase the risk during the anaesthetic.

Monitoring during the whole procedure

During the whole procedure the vet and veterinary nurse monitors the stability and anaesthetic depth of the patient. if you have any questions about your general anaesthesia then one of our vets or nurses will be happy to discuss them with you.

Our anaesthetists

At Thameswood vets we endeavour to maintain the highest levels of anaesthetic regimes by ensuring that we are always at the forefront of the latest advances in both anaesthetic drugs their safely and by continually attending appropriate courses.

Regular worming should be carried out to protect your pet but most importantly your family especially young children.

Roundworm

Roundworms are the most common parasitic worm. Infected pets shed eggs in their faeces so pets can easily pick them up by sniffing, licking or eating contaminated faeces alongside grooming. Eating rodents or other small animals is another way our pets (especially cats) can become infected.

Adult roundworms live in the animal’s intestines and many pets often don’t show any illness. Signs you may see include a distended stomach ‘potbelly’, diarrhoea or vomiting,

Roundworms can affect humans and cause serious health issues, including blindness. Young children are particularly vulnerable as they often play on the floor or in soil and sandpits where worm eggs are likely to be found.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms live in the small intestine and can be transmitted by fleas or eating infected rodents. They can cause varying appetite and an irritated anal area.  Adult tape worms continue to grow and live in the intestine and break off into segments which are passed in the pets faeces often resembling small grains of rice.

Lungworm

Although lungworm has been a common problem in certain areas of the UK, cases are increasing throughout the UK and so awareness and in turn prevention is part of most monthly prevention.
Lungworm larvae are carried by slugs, snails and their slime trails. The risk of ingestion is higher for pets that have a particular taste for snails or for slime trails found on toys or drinking bowls which are left outside.

After ingestion the lungworm develops in to adults and travel to the dogs main organs including the heart and lungs. It then causes haemorrhages in the body and if untreated can be fatal

Lungworm can be difficult to diagnose as symptoms vary but may include:

– Coughing
– Breathing difficulty
– Poor blood clotting – a small cut may bleed for an unusual length of time
– Reluctance to exercise

Lungworm isn’t passed directly from dog to dog but they do pass larvae in their faeces which is then infects further slugs and snails which come in to contact.  Lungworm is not known to affect humans.

Heartworm & Hookworm

These are uncommon in the UK (mainly in Europe) but are a concern to any pets travelling.  Your vet will be able to advise you if your pet is at risk of these, but most veterinary wormers will offer protection against these.

Prevention

Your vet will be able to advise you on the best prevention for your pet and your family and the frequency required, but it is often a case of a simple monthly tablet or spot on treatment.

As part of our Pet Health Club complete yearly protection against all of these internal parasites is included and can be given conveniently at home or administered free of charge by one of our nursing team.

Yes, we are a PDSA partner practice. The PDSA Pet Care scheme helps eligible pet owners access reduced cost veterinary care for their pet. You can find out more and check eligibility here.