Lifelong care for petsproviding clinical excellence, knowledge and experience

NEWS

PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP Visit us at: www.paragonvet.com

and please ‘like’ us on our FACEBOOK page www.facebook.com/ParagonVets.Pets

April 2013

Contact us:

CALDEW

VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7JF Tel: 01228 710208 vets@paragonvet.com

TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, CA11 0HT Tel: 01768 483789 townhead@paragonvet.com

LONDON ROAD SURGERY 87 London Road Carlisle CA1 2LG Tel: 01228 591005

Lifelong care for petsLifelong care for pets

24 houremergency service

ASK THE VET by Laura McKirdy

A cat owner has emailed to ask whether the new microchipping laws will apply to cats as well as dogs. Microchipping has been in the press a lot recently, following the announcement that by 2016 all dogs must be microchipped. However no mention has been made of cats. As far as we aware cats won’t legally have to be ‘chipped, but we would recommend it as a sensible move nevertheless. Having pets microchipped will always give owners greater peace of mind.Here at Paragon Vets we are o� ering big discounts on microchipping so if you’d like to know more, please get intouch for more information or to book your pet in.

HEALTHY HOPPER M.O.T.s

April is Rabbit Awareness Month here at Paragon - and we’re offering free Vet checks. Rabbits will be given a thorough examination including a dental and weight check. Owners can ask questions about their pets’ diet, housing, worming and vaccination status. We’re holding a Rabbit Information Talk at

Dalston on 18th April starting at 7pm. And we’re o� ering:* Free clipping for rabbits’ nails. * 10% off neutering charges for rabbits if booked during April.* 10% off Burgess excel rabbit food.

And all rabbits attending a Healthy Hopper MOT will be given a free goodie bag including an information pack and a sample of excel rabbit food.

S TA R P E T S

Have you seen our new Canine Blood Donors DVD?

Did you know dogs can be blood donors?Your dog could save another dog’s life - � nd out

how in our new canine blood donors DVD. It’s being shown in the

reception area of our Dalston practice. You can also see it on our

Paragon Pets Facebook page.

When their 20 year old cat Klaus went missing, Sonia Bradley and Gary Raine wasted no time in getting the word out. � ey printed 700 � yers showing a picture of the grey and white puss and spread them far and wide round their home in Castletown, Penrith. Local people really pitched in to help and several sightings were reported. But as the days passed, Sonia and Gary began to fear the worst - especially as Klaus su� ers from hyperthyroid problems and needs regular medication. � en, ten days a� er he disappeared, local children found Klaus, wandering along a pavement. He was in a bad way - dehydrated and su� ering from cat � u. ‘We think he’d been trapped somewhere, because he’d lost weight

and his paws were sore, as though he’d been scratching to get out,’ says Gary. ‘We took him to Paragon Vets, but we really thought he’d have to be put down as he was so poorly and wouldn’t eat anything.’ Paragon Vet Sam Harding administered emergency treatment and put Klaus on a drip to get essential � uids and nutrients back into his system. ‘We knew the drip was his last chance,’ Gary says. ‘We were also given a drip we could take home, and that made all the di� erence. Now he’s still a little underweight, but getting better all the time.’ It wasn’t the � rst adventure in Klaus’s long life. As a kitten he somehow found his way into a van and was found hours later, by a bemused builder, covered in oil. Attempts to � nd out where he’d come from failed, but he found a lifelong home with Gary and Sonia. ‘We were really impressed with the way people rallied to help us � nd Klaus,’ Gary says. ‘It was a great show of community spirit and we’re very grateful to them - and of course to Paragon. And so is Klaus!’

PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP Visit us at: www.paragonvet.com and please ‘like’ us on FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/ParagonVets.Pets

Why dogs and chocolate

just don’t mix Easter is a great time of year for chocolate lovers. Sadly though, chocolate is really bad for pets - especially dogs. Dark chocolate is the worst as it contains the highest amount of a chemical compound called theobromine. It goes through a dog’s system very slowly, allowing it to build up toxic levels. Severe hyperactivity is normally the � rst sign of theobromine poisoning. So - keep easter eggs out of reach - but if you’re concerned your dog may have eaten chocolate, do not hesitate to call us for advice.