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Curious Cruising cat……

natasha — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:14:27 +0000

We at Palmerstown Veterinary Hospital, are suckers for a heart warming story.

Let me tell you about Pearl, a 9 month old female cat who went on an adventure that was never intended.

A friend of mine LOVES cats so she was delighted when she arrived home one day to find the cutest kitten outside of her front door meowing loudly and craving attention. This cat was not from the neighbourhood.

When the front door was opened this little cat quickly made herself at home: devouring plate of food and snuggling into the sofa. It was obvious to my friend that this cat was well cared for, and used to living with a family.

My friend logged onto a “Lost Cat” website and scrolled through all of the pictures until she found a picture which was identical to the little cat asleep on her sofa!

The advert said that the cat had gone missing 10 days ago from the opposite side of Dublin.

My friend called the number on the advert and the lady that answered seemed suspicious as her cat had gone missing from Blanchardstown, close to the veterinary hospital. How could her cat now be in Chapelizod? My friend emailed her a picture of the little cat and the lady confirmed that it was her cat.

The owner got straight into her car and came to collect her lost cat. The reunion between cat and owner was tear-jerking with the little cat – whose name was “Pearl” wrapping herself around the owners legs and meowing loudly!

Pearl belonged to a little boy and girl and 10 days ago the family took a trip from Blanchardstown to Chapelizod. Pearl must have jumped into the car without the family realising and alighted when the car stopped in Chapelizod. Pearl must have been very frightened in this unknown land and wandered for 10 days trying to find her family – that is when she arrived at my friend’s door, hungry and worn out.

When my friend arrived home form work the next day, there was something else at her front door: a big bunch of flowers with a note:

“Thanks for finding my family, I will be forever grateful” xxx Pearl

Pet Proofing your House – Dublin vets Advise

natasha — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:36:28 +0000

Dublin’s Clontarf Veterinary Hospital’s Top Tips for pet Proofing your

Household Dangers

Pet Proofing your Home
Dublin vets know you ”childproof” your home but so too you should you Pet Proof” your home to make it safe for your four-legged family members. Cats and dogs just like small children are naturally curious and love to explore their environment with their paws, claws and mouths. But they can’t know what is dangerous and what is not – more over unlike humans they do not become less curious or more careful as they get older. The following tips from Anicare’s Clontarf Veterinary Hospital can help ensure that your pet enjoys a long, happy and accident-free life in your care.

About the house

Prevent falls by screening windows and so not let young pets out on balconies, upper porches or high decks.
Many house plants, including dieffenbachia, elephant ear, spider plants and more are poisonous if eaten. Remove them or put them out of reach in hanging baskets.
Puppies & kittens love to chew when they’re teething, so unplug, remove or cover electrical cords.
Don’t leave a room where a fire is lit or a space where a heater is being used unattended.
Plastic bags may be fun to play with, but they can suffocate.
If your pet can put something in his mouth, he probably will. So don’t leave small, sharp, easily swallowed objects lying around.

In the garage

Cats enjoy naps near a warm engine so, before you drive off, honk your horn and make sure your pet is not under or near the car.
Pets like the smell and taste of antifreeze and windshield washer. Tightly cover their containers and wipe up any spills.
Paint, gasoline and other dangerous chemicals should be stored out of reach.

In the kitchen, laundry room & bathroom

Never leave burners or irons on unattended.
Dangerous household chemicals such as bleach and ammonia should be stored out of your pet’s reach.
Close washer and dryer lids – your pet might climb in and become trapped.
Keep toilet lids down – small pets can actually drown, if they fall in.
Medicines, shampoo, suntan lotions and other personal care items can kill your pet. Make sure she can’t get hold of them.

Outdoors

Some outdoor plants, like ivy and oleander, can be poisonous to pets.
Keep pets away from lawns and gardens treated with chemicals.
Store garden tools and chemicals securely. Keep garden sheds locked.
Remember some chemical especially slug bait is poisonous to pets.

And lastly Anicare Dublin vets ask you to remember the festive season. Christmas provides many more hazards with tinsel. Xmas tree lights and glass decorations will all tempt your pets curiosity but could be lethal chewed or swallowed. Also mistletoe and Holly are poisonous to pets.
So we at Clontarf veterinary Hospital hope these tips help keep the home of our clients from Malahide to Marino and from Donebate to Donneycarney safe for all our four legged family friends

Should you have any queries on this or any other topic call Clontarf veterinary Hospital on

01 8330744

Or click the link below to find out more about us.

Clontarf Veterinary Hospital Dublin

Clontarf Veterinary Hospital – Where We Put the Care of Your Pet First – ALWAYS.

www.anicare.ie

Toxoplasmosis advise from our Dublin Vets

natasha — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:12:06 +0000

Toxoplasmosis and its potential concerns in Dublin Vets

In our Dublin Vets Practice’s, we are regularly asked about the subject of Toxoplasmosis and its potential concerns and risks for pregnant females. Many people may not have heard of Toxoplasma; it is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii, whose preferred host is the domestic cat, but which can live in almost all mammals including man as intermediate hosts. Infection is very common with T. Gondii, but it only rarely causes disease in either cats or other intermediate hosts.

In an average Dublin Vet Practice approximately 30% of people attending if tested would show evidence of previous exposure. Studies have shown, there is no increased risk of infection in the owners of pet cats and it is through the eating of undercooked meat is the prime source of infection in humans.

However a first infection with Toxoplasma during pregnancy can have very serious consequences to the unborn baby, as a small percentage of babies infected in utero can be born with neurological or other diseases. If however a mother has immunity from a previous infection, there is no risk to the child and this exposure can be tested for in your maternity hospital. Thankfully I know of no cases in our Dublin Vet Practices of infections in humans causing a serious issue, but that is not to say there hasn’t bee any.

In our Dublin Vet Practice’s, we advise the following precautions are taken by all pregnant women who own cats as a precaution against toxoplasmosis but obviously if you own a cat and are pregnant it is advisable to consult with your medical practitioner also

1. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat

2. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat, fruit and vegetables and before handling other food. Wash knives, cooking utensils and work surfaces after food preparation.

3. Pregnant women should avoid handling soiled litter/ trays. Clean tray twice daily and disinfect with boiling water. The parasite does not become infective to humans until greater than 24hours after it has been voided from the cat. So if a litter tray is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected daily, it will not be a source of potential oocysts.

4. Wear gloves when gardening

5. Raw meat or untreated milk should not be fed to cats to discourage them from hunting.

The above precautions will significantly reduce the chances of at risk individuals getting the disease. We in our Dublin Vet Practice’s are always happy to advise you on any aspect of your pets health