St Anne's Pet Bereavement Service.
We all love our pets. They are our companions, and most of us consider them as a genuine part of the family. They bring us joy, comfort and unconditional love.
However, sadly, a pet doesn’t live forever and sooner or later the time comes for all of us to say goodbye to our beloved friend. This can be a very traumatic, even heartbreaking experience. A grieving process takes place, which is different for each and every individual. At St. Anne’s we are all too aware of the emotions that the loss of a pet brings with it, and most of us have experienced this first hand with our own pets. Therefore, you can always speak to your vet or nurse, and count on a sympathetic approach in those difficult times.

However, some owners experience it as beneficial to also get some support from a different angle or simply find it easier or preferable to talk to someone other than their vet or nurse, someone slightly less involved in the veterinary world. That is the reason that we at St. Anne’s are proud to introduce a new service to our customers. We now have a pet bereavement supporter in our team. Her name is June, and she is contactable through St. Anne’s.

June has long established counselling skills in previous employment and has undergone specific training in pet bereavement support. She has first hand experience with the grieving process after her dog, Polly, was put to sleep at St. Anne’s. June, of all people, is in the perfect position to offer support and lend a listening ear!
Should you find yourself in the situation of having recently lost your pet and wish to talk with June, our pet bereavement supporter, all you have to do is phone St. Anne’s. We will then arrange for June to phone you back as soon as she is able to. Needless to say this service is free of charge!

We hope this will prove to be a valuable new addition to St. Anne’s services to you and your pet.

Beware the lethal Lily.
Everyone knows that some plants are poisonous but most people do not realise that the Lilies in a vase can be lethal, especially to cats. We have just had one such sad case.
Apparently even a cat rubbing against the flowers, getting pollen on it’s coat, and then grooming itself can suffer from severe poisoning (lily pollen also stains furnature so many people cut off the stamens).
Most of the Lilium family are incriminated as is also Hemerocalis, the day-lily.

St Anne’s subscribe to the National Poison Information Centre in London so that we are able to rapidly obtain the latest information on all poisonous substances and how to deal with a pet that has ingested it.

Microchip cat flap.
Having trouble with unwanted cats coming through your cat flap? Don't like the idea of your cat having to wear a magnetic collar?

The answer could be installing a cat flap that identifies your cat from it's microchip and allows it's entry but will not open for other cats, even if they are microchipped.
The cat flap can be programmed for several cats.

The 'chip implanted by St Anne's is especially suited for these cat flaps.

More details and catflaps are available from St Anne's surgeries.

Cost at the moment is £95. They are produced in white, brown, or black. A different model is available for wall fitting, please let us know what model you require as not all types are kept in stock.

Staff vacancies 2008.
We have a vacancy for a part-time, evening kennel person.
This position is an ideal "starter" for a person at school who wishes to pursue a career with animals.

Please contact the surgery for more information.

FOOD SWEETENER XYLITOL
Xylitol is a sweetening agent that is increasingly being used in food products. Products include chewing gum, toothpastes, baked goods, mouth washes, and vitamins.
Although harmless to humans it is very toxic to dogs.

Ingestion rapidly leads to a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels that can lead to fitting, this is due to a rapid over-release of insulin.
Liver failure also occurres and, even with intensive treatment, can result in death.

Side effects can take between 30 minutes and 24 hours to develope.
The mechanism of toxicity is not yet fully understood.

It's effects on cats are not yet known.