August News
We are happy to welcome Rob Littlechild to our team this month. Rob is our fifth vet but only our second male team member! Rob has been working in Suffolk since graduating back in 2017. He has a particular interest in surgery but enjoys the full variety of work that comes with being a general practitioner. Rob will be working at both surgeries and is really looking forward to meeting all our lovely clients.
We hope you are coping with the dry weather. It has been a particularly bad year for grass seeds. Our current tally is up to 90, and we are still busy removing seeds from noses, eyes, ears, and paws. The prolonged dry weather can also be difficult for wildlife, who struggle to find water, food, and shade. If you have a garden, there are some little things you can do that make a big difference. Keeping bird baths topped up with clean water is helpful, as is leaving out heavy shallow bowls, ideally with a few pebbles or stones in the base to create safe perches for insects. Top up ponds with stored rainwater where possible and include ramps (a large stone or log will do) to prevent thirsty hedgehops falling in and drowning. ‘The wildlife Trusts’ website lists lots more ways you can help
Help wildlife in the hot weather | The Wildlife Trusts
On a related subject, we are helping the Cam Valley Forum, a voluntary group who work to help improve the health of the River Cam and its tributaries, assemble a leaflet about dogs and wildlife. Residues from flea treatments can be really harmful to sensitive aquatic life, even in very small quantities. As a practice, we have moved away from spot-on treatments for dogs, especially those who love to swim or require frequent bathing. If you would like to chat about the best parasite prevention for your pet, please do give us a call.
We have committed to donating £1 a month from every Paws & People subscription to local charities and community groups. As the number of subscriptions grows, so does the donation amount, and our April- June Paws & People Charities were thrilled with a donation of £500 each! Details of our current charities/ community groups can be found on the community pages of our websites.
https://www.clarendonstreetvets.co.uk/csv-community#supportinglocal
Finally, a reminder of our FREE out of hours advice service, VidiVet. This service may be particularly helpful if you have any concerns about your pet’s health and wellbeing whilst away from home. You can chat via the app to a vet, who will advise on the best course of action for you and your pet.
Harriet, Patrick and all the CSV team.