Come and join us with your four-legged friend for a free Cheese and Wine evening in the park. Bring along some two-legged friends too, and have a glass of wine and meet other dog owners and their pets. There will be giveaways throughout the night with lots of fun to be had by all.

Date: Wednesday 15th February
Time: From 6pm
Venue: Princes Park (end of Pigdon Street)

Animals left in hot cars, exposed to extreme heat when left outdoors, lack of shade, or being exercised in hot weather, will lead to heatstroke. Dogs are more likely to get heatstroke, especially breeds with short muzzles like Pugs and British Bulldogs.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are fast approaching and many pet owners will be traveling away from home without their pets. If you are boarding your pet at a kennel or cattery during the upcoming holiday, it is essential that your pet's vaccination is up to date. If your pet's vaccination is overdue, they will need a vaccination now and then a booster shot 4 weeks later before boarding would be considered.

As the weather gets warmer and Christmas draws near, you might be thinking that your pet could use a clip and a tidy up. Appointment spots for grooming are filling fast so book in early to secure your appointment before Christmas. Please note that there may be a week or two wait so do contact us as early as possible.

Pit Bull TerrierYou may have heard in the media lately that changes have been made to the restricted breed dog laws. These laws classed Pitbull Terriers and Pitbull crosses a restricted breed. Until this year, there has been an amnesty for these dogs in order for existing dogs to be registered and declared. The ending of this amnesty means that new registrations cannot be made and unregistered dogs may be seized by the council. As the owner of a restricted breed dog, there are specific rules regarding how they must be housed and regulations about them being walked in public places.

News headlines from across the world have reported on a new study where dogs were able to detect lung cancer in humans by sniffing human breath. The research was conducted in a German hospital and reported in the European Respiratory Journal. The test involved 110 healthy people, 60 patients with lung cancer and 50 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each person was asked to breathe into a fleece filled tube which absorbed the smell of the person's breath.

There has been a number of cases of cats and dogs falling ill and vomiting roundworms. Roundworms look like long white worms and are the most common worms passed on to humans. Pets can become infected by eating soil contaminated with roundworm eggs or eating other hosts such as mice or birds.

Ever wondered how the stethoscope works and what the vets are listening for when it is used on your pet's chest and abdomen?

The word stethoscope orginated from the Greek - Stethos [meaning chest] and Scope [to view or examine]. However, it was a French physician named René Théophile Hyacinthe Laënnec who invented the stethoscope in 1916. Before this, physicians would listen to the heart by pressing their ears against the chest of their patients (often through layers of clothing).

Lilies, when ingested, can cause vomiting, depression, loss of appetite, likely development of acute renal failure, increased drinking or dehydration, and painful enlarged kidneys. Signs may subside after 12 hours although the affected cat is likely to remain depressed. If left untreated cats die within 3 to 7 days.