National Pet Month celebrates the mutual benefits that pets bring to people's lives. It raises awareness of responsible pet ownership and the value of working and assistance dogs, and encourages fundraising for UK pet welfare charities.

National Pet Month is instrumental in educating pet owners and animal lovers, emphasising the importance of the Animal Welfare Act.

Taking your pet to the vets regularly is an easy way to ensure you are taking care of their wellbeing. Regular vet checks enable us to detect potential health problems before they escalate to more serious conditions. Pets are great at not showing pain or discomfort immediately, and our vets are experts in uncovering and preventing problems.

During a check-up, our vets will check your pet's eyes, ears, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen and weight to spot any signs of illness or anything different from ‘normal’.  We will also check their temperature, skin and fur. These appointments are a great opportunity for you to ask any questions and raise any concerns

Bringing your pet to see us can save you money, too, as many conditions are more affordable if treated early.

Here are some benefits of owning a pet;

• Owning a dog is a great excuse to get outside and get some exercise.
• Pets are a source of physical contact and comfort and can decrease loneliness and depression, help to tackle anxiety and reduce stress levels while providing devoted companionship.
• Owning pets is a great way to teach children responsibility, and has been proven to help them feel more socially included. In addition to this, a number of studies have suggested that children who grow up with pets are less likely to develop allergies!
• Various pieces of research have suggested that stroking your pet can lower blood pressure, which in turn reduces the likelihood of heart disease and strokes, and there are even dogs that have been known to sniff out life-threatening diseases.

If these aren’t enough reasons to add a pet to your family, remember: pets make us laugh, cheer us up when we’re sad, never share our secrets and provide a shoulder to cry on.

Vaccinations

All cats and dogs should be vaccinated yearly, as well as being treated for fleas and worms monthly, as a minimum. There are some nasty bugs and diseases out there that, sadly, can be fatal to your pet if caught.  

Vaccinations are needed to:

• Protect our pets from nasty, life-threatening diseases.
• Give peace of mind.
• Create or boost our pets' immunity to certain diseases.
• Prevent pets from passing on a disease such as Leptospirosis, which can be passed from animals to people.

Sadly, a lot of the diseases your pet can catch if they aren’t vaccinated are fatal in most cases. Even if your pet catches one and can recover, they will often be left with long-term problems, which can put them through a lot of pain and distress and leave you with some costly vet bills. If you’re thinking of going away with or without your pet, they will likely need to be vaccinated, as most catteries and boarding kennels will ask for proof of vaccination. You’ll also need your pet to be fully vaccinated if you plan on taking them abroad. 

It’s important to vaccinate your pet young to give them the best protection. Most vaccination programmes start at around eight weeks old, though some older pets may need their first or ‘primary’ vaccination if they’ve never been vaccinated, or have missed boosters. While it’s important to socialise your pet from a young age, we would advise against them mixing with unvaccinated pets until they have completed their vaccination course - this will minimise the risk of them picking up any nasty bugs or germs. Once your pet has completed its vaccination course, we will be able to advise you when it can go outside and explore the big, wide world! 

Older pets are also at risk of catching diseases, and as they age, they may not be quite as strong and find it more difficult to recover from illnesses, so it’s important to make sure that even senior pets are vaccinated.  

Vaccinations are free for life on our Pal For Life Pet health scheme – visit our website or give us a call to find out more. 

Did you know...

• More than half of the adults in the UK own a pet
• There is an estimated population of 10.9 million pet cats
• 24% of the UK population has a dog
• Dogs are about as intelligent as a two-year-old
• Your dog could be left- or right-pawed
• Greyhounds are the world’s fastest dogs with the ability to reach up to 45 mph.
• Cats are nearsighted, but their peripheral vision and night vision are much better than that of humans.
• Cats spend 70% of their lives sleeping
• The record for the loudest purr is 67.8 dB (A)
• Cats have no collarbone, which is one reason they are so flexible.
• Cat whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest change in air current.
• Hamsters only blink one eye at a time.
• Birds are actually dinosaurs.  
• Lizards smell with their tongue. 
• Rabbits and guinea pigs eat their own poo. . 
• Rats can’t vomit.