Category: News

Part Two: What are the risks?

The purpose of this part of our article is to provide you with some information regarding the parasites we routinely treat in veterinary medicine and consideration of any potential risks when not treating for them. As mentioned in Part One, parasite treatment is an area of veterinary medicine currently under heavy debate, with many people raising concerns regarding what impact the drugs we use to prevent parasite infestation may or may not be having on the wider environment.

We have aimed to provide you information about most common parasites we tend to treat for in the UK, along with a summary of the risks involved. We haven’t written this as a “quick read” but have tried to provide a fuller explanation into the challenges we need to consider when treating our pets (a shorter summary can be found here or at the end of the article).

Fleas

The most common flea seen in cats and dogs is the “cat flea”. These fleas can be picked up outdoors and brought inside. Here they will merrily breed all year long, occasionally nibbling their human housemates while doing so (they often tend to have a favourite target!). Once established on our pets, a female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day. These eggs can then hatch in the environment as larvae which like to find somewhere dark to hide. Here they form a pupae (like caterpillars). This pupal stage can last in the environment for up to a year before hatching out as an adult flea and starting the cycle all over again. When treating a pet for fleas, it is always important to remember to treat the household with a good quality house spray. It is also worth bearing in mind that even the best household treatments cannot kill the pupal stages and so once a flea problem has become established in a household it can take some time to resolve!

What is the risk to your pet?

The main problem fleas pose to your pets is that they can be incredibly irritating, particularly if your pet is allergic to the flea’s saliva. Fleas are also part of the tapeworm lifecycle and some pets with fleas subsequently go on to develop tapeworm infestations. Additionally, over time a large flea burden can also cause an anaemia to develop in your pet.  Finally, fleas have been shown to carry bartonella, a species of bacteria that can cause “Cat Scratch Fever”.

Are they a risk to human health?

The most common concern clients have with flea infestation (other than seeing the fleas themselves!) is that family members have been receiving flea bites.  However, there is also a disease seen in people, referred to as “Cat Scratch Fever”, which is caused by the infection of a bartonella species of bacteria.  The bartonella bacteria can be transmitted via flea dirt in a variety of ways but the most common is via cat scratches.  The symptoms of this disease in people are usually mild, but it can cause more serious complications in immunocompromised people.  Due to the non-specific and often mild symptoms shown in people, it is hard to really know how commonly the disease is spread or its incidence within the UK.

What are the risks of not treating?

It is important not to ignore the risk of Cat Scratch Fever in households with immunocompromised people, however, the major concern with fleas to most of us is the annoyance factor of bites coupled with the length of time it could take to clear a household of infestation.

Who should consider treatment?

As mentioned, the cat flea is the most common culprit in UK households and so UK households with cats that go outside are more likely to encounter fleas.  Many of us believe that dogs that live in cat free households are at lower risk of picking up fleas and so owners may consider not using preventative treatment.  While this is probably true, there are no studies to confirm that this is the case.  As such pet owners who chose not to treat should be aware that cat fleas can live quite happily on dogs and owners need to be aware of the challenges to treatment should their pet pick up fleas. 

Roundworms

Dogs and cats tend to pick up roundworms by ingesting eggs from the environment including direct contact with other dogs; eating undercooked meat; or by eating other infected animals such as rodents, earthworms and birds. Once our pets are infected, the roundworm will complete its lifecycle, develop into adults, and start laying eggs of their own

What is the risk to your pet?

Roundworms rarely cause significant disease in adult dogs and cats, but infection can pass through the placenta and high worm burdens can cause significant disease in puppies and kittens.

Are they a risk to human health?

Yes, but the incidence of infection is hard to know.  The roundworm eggs can be picked up via contact with contaminated soil and sand; eating unwashed fruit and vegetables; or by placing contaminated objects in our mouths. Classic examples of environmental infection could be contact with contaminated fur and bedding, or children playing in gardens or parks where infected dogs or cats have defecated. 

Ingested eggs won’t develop to the adult stage in people but can cause disease.  Again, symptoms of the disease in people are normally mild but worm eggs once ingested may develop to the larval stage and migrate to eyes, brain or liver causing serious problems.  Children seem to be at more risk of this disease.  Again, with the wide range of clinical symptoms and lack of routine surveillance, it is hard to know the exact incidence of this disease in the UK.  It is thought that there are 1.4 billion people affected worldwide, and some studies have shown around 10.5 percent of people tested in European regions have been exposed at some stage.  In addition, studies carried out in the UK have shown contamination in public parks all over the UK.

Who should consider treatment?

In the absence of regular worm egg counting, we would advise treating pets for roundworms at least 4 times a year.  Households that are at greater risk, such as those with children or whose pets are regular hunters, should consider treating more regularly.  It is also very important to help reduce environmental contamination by picking up faeces and disposing them promptly, both in the garden and in public areas.  For those who do not wish to treat regularly, it is advisable to perform worm counts on your pets at least four times a year.  Faecal egg counts can be performed either via your vet, or via a reliable commercial laboratory in which there is growing availability.  But owners who chose this option need to be aware there is a chance their pet could become infected and shed eggs between tests.

Tapeworms

Both cats and dogs can pick up tapeworm in the UK.  Cats tend to pick up tapeworm from hunting or ingesting fleas and lice; dogs can also pick up tapeworm from eating infected carcasses (sheep, cattle, pigs and other livestock) or raw food diets that have been inadequately frozen.  Cats and dogs are considered the “definitive host” for these tapeworm species and as such the tapeworms will develop to full maturity and release eggs.  However, other mammalian species are involved in the transmission.  When the tapeworm eggs are picked up by these “intermediate” hosts (birds/sheep/cattle/pigs) they won’t develop into mature worms.  Instead, the immature stage of the tapeworm moves to organs such as the liver and lungs of these species and form cystic disease. 

What is the risk to your pet?

Tapeworms are rarely associated with significant clinical signs of disease in pets. Tapeworm segments leaving the anus may cause anal irritation.  However, it should be noted that tapeworm does cause more significant disease in the “intermediate hosts” including wild birds in the case of cats, and livestock in the case of dogs.  This can have significant welfare impacts to these animals as well as an economic impacts in farming areas.

Are they a risk to human health?

The dog tapeworm present in the UK, Echinococcus granulosus, can cause significant health concerns in people but this rarely occurs in the UK.  Like the “intermediate hosts”, this tapeworm infection can cause cystic disease in multiple organs in infected people.  This disease is seen more commonly in more tropical climates, but there is thought to be 10-20 new cases in the UK every year.

Who should consider treatment?

Owners of pets that regularly hunt, have access to carcasses or are on raw food diets that have been inadequately prepared should consider treating for tapeworm monthly.  Owners of pets that have had a significant flea infestation should consider treating for tapeworm as well as fleas.  Pets that receive regular flea treatment and have limited access to hunting or raw food diets are at much lower risk and require less regular treatment.

Travel Considerations

In addition to concerns about tapeworms currently present in the UK, it should be noted that there are also tapeworm species currently in mainland Europe that pose more significant risk of ill health to owners.  There are concerns in the veterinary industry that the current legislation regarding pet travel to mainland Europe is not be adequate to prevent the importation of these tapeworm species.  As such, in addition to your legal requirement to treat your pet prior to returning to the UK, we would also recommend repeating this treatment after you’ve returned to the UK.  This will cover for any potential exposure to tapeworm between the day of treatment while away and your return to the UK.

Ticks

There are several species of tick widespread throughout the UK.  These ticks are most often found in wooded areas or areas with long grass, especially in the spring, summer and autumn months.  Ticks are multi-host parasites, they attach themselves to one host to feed, then drop off to go through a development stage before attaching to another host.  Most ticks in the UK attach to 3 different hosts in their lifecycle.  Whilst ticks can cause some discomfort and localised infection, especially if not removed correctly, the main health concern with ticks is the potential of spread of disease

What is the risk to your pet?

In the UK we have several diseases that can be spread to our pets and ourselves via tick bites. The most well-known one of these is Lyme disease. Lyme disease can infect dogs, humans, and (more rarely) cats, causing various problems including fever, lameness and kidney disease. The symptoms of the disease can be significant and prompt identification and treatment is vital. However, other diseases include anaplasmosis in cats, babesia infection and tick-borne encephalitis.

Are they a risk to human health?

While people can pick-up tick-borne diseases, this would be due to a bite from a contaminated tick picked up in the same area as your pet found one, rather than transmission of disease from your pet. Lyme disease has been established in the UK for a long time and can cause a range of symptoms from mild fever through to paralysis if untreated.  However, tick borne encephalitis is a relatively new arrival, having spread from mainland Europe, with only a few human cases being confirmed in the UK.  It is a viral condition spread via tick bites that can cause a range of symptoms from mild flu-like symptoms up to meningitis.  As of October 2024 the disease has been confirmed in ticks in Thetford Forest, Hampshire/Dorset Border, the New Forest and North Yorkshire Moors, but that list is likely to grow.

Who should consider treatment?

We should consider regular treatment for pets that access areas that are more prone to ticks such as long grass or wooded areas.  Ticks are more prevalent in the spring, summer and autumn months.  Regardless of whether you treat your pet or not, all owners should regularly check their pets for ticks and seek veterinary advice for the correct method of removing ticks using recommended tools to assist.  Cats seem to be less susceptible to tick disease than their canine counterparts.  It is not clear if this may be because they are less prone to picking up ticks, or if they are better at removing them before we find them; but cats are certainly capable of picking them up, especially if they like to visit animal burrows

Travel Considerations

There are many more disease risks associated with tick bites in pets that have travelled to mainland Europe than we have in the UK, and we would strongly advise discussing any travel plans with your vet.  There are no compulsory steps in the travel legislation that will protect your pet against tick borne disease while travelling and some of the tick species in Europe can be brought back to the UK to live quite happily in your household. 

One of the European ticks that can carry a disease called babesia has been established in the UK for many years but has not previously been known to carry the babesia infection.  However, in 2015 and 2016 there were confirmed cases of Babesia in the UK in dogs that had not travelled to Europe prompting concerns that the disease could be established here if given the opportunity.  Prompt identification and management of the affected area seems to have helped reduce its transmission, but it is still an area for concern.

Lungworm in Dogs

Lungworm is spread to dogs via the ingestion of infected slugs or snails or via toys or bowls that have come into contact with contaminated slugs and snails.  Once infected, the larvae develop into worms which reside in the heart and major blood vessel of the lungs.

What is the risk to your pet?

Symptoms of lungworm are variable but can include breathing problems and pneumonia as well as bleeding and neurological disorders. Symptoms can be mild initially but can progress to fatal disease if not identified and treated.

Is there any risk to human health

No

Who should consider treatment?

We know that lungworm presence in the UK can be very patchy, with the disease being much more prevalent in some local areas compared to others.  Dogs that like to eat slugs and snails are at more risk and should receive regular treatment, but we should be conscious of the risk to all dogs if they have toys or bowls that are left outdoors.  It is an area where more information on local exposure would massively help our understanding of risks to individual households.  However, the only route to discovering that information is by regularly testing the pets that have not been treated for disease.

What are the next steps?

Thank you for investing so much time in reading this article, we know this hasn’t been a quick read!  The next step is to consider what risks your pet is exposed to on a day-to-day basis and discuss any concerns with our team at the clinic.  As it is clear, there is no “one solution fits all” and we are always happy to individualise the treatment plan for your pet and your household depending on what you are concerned about.  To help with the costs we have a well-established Pet Health Club.  Our Pet Health Club can provide you with an individualised vaccination and parasite treatment plan as well as unlimited vet and nurse consults among other benefits to help provide the care your pet needs.

For more information on this or anything else discussed in either of these articles, please feel free to contact us at the clinic.  Otherwise, we hope they have been helpful and thank you very much for your time.

Best wishes,

The Team at Mayne Vets

More information can be found on the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) website (https://www.esccap.org/)

(Summary table containing bite sized information on the article above)

Image 1: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-sheep-standing-on-a-lush-green-field-PvWLieySGsM

Image 2: https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-snail-in-rule-of-thirds-photography-SHpbGW-sSYE

One of the more hotly debated topics in veterinary medicine at the minute is the use of parasiticides to protect our pets both from parasites and the diseases that these parasites may transmit to our pets and ourselves. 

On one side of the debate, we have the parasitology experts who readily acknowledge that there is evidence that some of the products may be causing an environmental impact, and we should take care with their use, but point out we have a social obligation to be conscious of the impact that not treating for parasites may have.  Not only on the welfare of our pets, but also the impact they can have on other animals including farm animals, wildlife and disease risks to the more vulnerable members of the human population. 

On the other hand, those studying the environment are rightfully concerned that there is definite evidence that levels of the older generations of parasite drugs are building up in the environment and that these levels are having a negative impact on wildlife and the biodiversity of our planet.  They are also concerned that, while there is currently little evidence to support the argument that the newer generation of parasite products are having an impact, if we wait for that evidence to arrive, it may be too late to act.  As such we also have a social obligation to minimise the use of parasiticides wherever possible.

What we have tried to provide for you in this two-part article is a summary of what we know, what we suspect, and where we may need to gather more information.  Part One will look at how we have approached parasite treatment in the past, what we know about the build-up of these products in the environment and what information we need to seek moving forward.  Part Two will give more information about the parasites we would regularly treat in small animal medicine and the potential risks owners should be aware of when considering their personal treatment strategies.

A Quick Summary

As this is obviously a complex issue, we have started with a summary of the main three points:

1. We must stop using Fipronil and Imidacloprid products immediately

While the use of parasiticide drugs is under hot debate, there is little doubt from either side that these two drugs are causing real harm to the environment.  They are possibly not the only issue but are certainly the two that there is a significant amount of evidence to show there is a problem.  Their use in agricultural settings is already heavily regulated, however, there is significant evidence that their use in pet products is harming the environment.  The levels found in wastewater coming from households is considered to be high enough to be causing an impact, and the drugs survive sewage treatment to make it into water environments.  In addition to being found in our waterways, a new study has shown the levels of these drugs present in pet hair used to line nests may be causing a reduction in hatching of eggs in songbirds in the UK.  In the absence of better government regulation in this area, it is down to vets and pet owners to ensure we are no longer using these products.  Fipronil has been at the front line of treatment for fleas in dogs and cats for over a decade.  It is currently present in several different products on the market.  While these products are rarely prescribed in veterinary surgeries these days, Fipronil products are still one of the most popular “over the counter” products now available at pet shops and online without a prescription.  On the other hand, Imidacloprid is still present in some parasite treatments prescribed by veterinary surgeons although many will no longer advocate their use due to environmental concerns.

• If we want to reduce the amount of parasite products used, we will need to test more

For decades we have been using preventative treatment to reduce the risk of our individual pets catching parasites.  It has been cheaper for the owner, easier and safer for the pet to do so.  Now that we are moving away from the overuse of these drugs, it is important to realise there is a responsibility to ensure our pets are not infected.  The only way we can do that is by regular testing for disease.  The balance between regular testing and regular treatment is something that can be discussed with your vet to decide on an individualised parasite plan suitable to your pet.

• We need to become more comfortable with the understanding that a reduction in use of preventative treatment for our pets may increase the level of risk to our pets and the wider human population

There is no getting away from the fact that the parasites our pets carry can result in disease risks both to themselves, their owners and the wider community.  To be clear, these disease risks in the UK are low but the true level of their impact is hard to measure. It is important that any pet owner deciding on whether or not to treat their pet for parasites is clear on what these disease risks are, and how to minimise them.  This is covered more in second part of these articles.

The Detailed Article

With the summary done, if you want to know more, please read on… It’s not going to be a short story… (maybe sit down with a cup of tea!) but we hope it will give a clear and full explanation of the challenges faced in this topic.  This information is mainly considering the UK pet population and is a summary of where we are at in March 2025.

Where have we come from?: “Evidence based medicine” and “Do Least Harm”

Two of the tenants that form the foundation of responsible veterinary medicine are:

1. To make treatment plans based on all available evidence,
2. In the absence of sufficient evidence, to precede in a way that does the least harm.

One of the major challenges with deciding on appropriate parasite treatment protocols has always been the lack of definitive evidence on localised parasite risks. For example, we know Lyme disease, a disease transmitted by ticks, used to be mainly located in areas including the New Forest, the west coast of the UK and the highlands of Scotland. However, there is now evidence of it being found in tick populations throughout the UK, but little specific data of how prevalent it may be in any given area. We also know that lungworm has become established in the UK, especially in the south of England, but we don’t know how prevalent it is in local pockets around our local environment.

Given the serious health consequences of developing some of these parasitic diseases and the risk to human health in some circumstances, we as veterinary professionals and pet owners have traditionally decided the “least harm” route is to treat our pets with preventative treatment against these parasites to reduce the possibility of disease developing. This choice has been exacerbated by the fact it is usually cheaper for the owner to give preventative treatment to treat for parasites, than it is to test for the presence of the parasites themselves. Further to this, to make this treatment easier for most owners to give, companies have developed products that aim to treat all parasites in one tablet or spot on which can lead to over-treating for parasites that aren’t necessarily a concern for the individual animal.

What has changed?

The environment around us!

Again, the arguments around this area are heated and often contradictory. What we do know is that studies have shown a dramatic drop in the insect population within the UK along with a reduction in the biodiversity in our waterways. In addition, there are studies showing the level of drugs contained within some of the parasite treatments we use in the pet population have been found in our waterways (mainly fipronil and imidacloprid).

Now it is important to clarify that fipronil and imidacloprid have both been used in the agricultural industry for some time and this would have a significant impact on the levels found in waterways, but there is also evidence of these drugs present in waterways that were not near treated farms. A further study done in 2022 summarised that there was currently no clear evidence that parasiticides used in our pets were having a negative effect on the environment, but strongly stressed that this may be due to lack of evidence and called for in-depth regulatory investigation of the environmental risks of these drugs. A single study in 2017 also found moxidectin in waterways, and one Dutch study has shown evidence of flulaner in a water environment following a swim test with a dog that had been treated with that drug. Ultimately, a lot more research needs to be done to assess whether these drugs are truly having an impact on the environment.

We also need to see changes in the regulations surrounding what drug companies publish about their effects. While the use of parasiticides in agriculture are heavily regulated with regards to their environmental impact, there is less regulation regarding their use in pets. The argument being that the treatment of one dog or one cat has negligible effect on the environment, not taking into account the millions of pets being treated across the UK. This is something we believe needs to change.

So what to do next?

So while the cogs slowly turn in the regulatory bodies of the government and pharmaceutical industry, the question remains, what should we as pet owners be doing next?

Consider our individual household risk:

While the debate rages on as to whether and how much impact the use of parasite treatment used in the pet population has on the environment. It would seem prudent to reconsider the way we approach its use. We need to shift our thinking from simply “do least harm to the pet in our house” to also include “and do least harm to the environment around us” while also considering any potential health risk to the people living in our households and the local area.

However, this involves some difficult decisions and will ultimately come down to owners’ personal preference. There are risks that owners who chose to reduce their pet’s parasite prevention strategies should be aware of. Many of those risks are low, but again, it is an area that is hard to fill with absolute facts or figures.

With regards to discussing these risks, we have tried to summarise them as clearly as possible in Part Two of this article. Our goal has been to provide the information as clearly as possible, without being too alarmist! Our suggestion would be for you to read the information available, discuss it further on a one to one basis with your veterinary surgeon, and devise a parasite control strategy that you feel is best suited to your household.

Gather more information:

I suspect if you’ve read this far, you would agree that the most frustrating aspect of looking at the use of parasite treatments in pets is the persistent lack of information. We lack reliable information on:

• how many cases of human illness derived from pet parasites are seen in the UK every year;
• we lack data from the drugs companies about how these drugs are excreted into the environment and in what form (which they are currently under no legal obligation to research or provide);
• we don’t have enough information about the prevalence of these diseases in our local environment.

We are collectively trying to navigate a sensible solution to the treatment of our pets while dealing with some significant information gaps. Now some of these measures are out of our hands. We need a clearer national (human and pet) disease monitoring systems; we need legislation changes for the drug manufacturers to publish more information about how these drugs are excreted; and we need continued environmental research into whether the use of these drugs are impacting the environment and to what level. Monitoring of parasiticide levels in waterways are still on going, but as far as we are aware, there is no testing being done on soil.

Test not treat:

However, the only way we can learn more about the prevalence of disease in local area is by testing our pets. This will take a shift in the mindset of pet owners and veterinary professionals alike. For example, it has been far cheaper for us to treat for intestinal worms rather than to test for them, so that is what we have generally suggested, and what clients have happily embraced. Similarly, we know that lungworm tends to exist in pockets in local areas, but it is only by testing our patients and forming a database of where pets have been, that we can start to form a map of where those pockets are.

Ultimately, the cost of these tests would need to be borne by the pet owners themselves. In an environment where the costs of providing veterinary medicine have escalated heavily in the last 4 years, we appreciate that the discussion of increased costs for veterinary care won’t be welcome to many. However, it is worth looking at the UK horse population as a good example of how positive change can be achieved.

Twenty years ago, horses were routinely treated for intestinal worms, but horse owners often struggled with accurately weighing and dosing their horses correctly. This led to a situation where horses may have been treated too often and with dosages of medications that were too low. We know that under dosing of parasite treatment can lead to the development of resistance and we were certainly seeing a developing issue in the horse population at that time. However, the industry responded very well and there has been a clear shift from “regular worming treatments” to “regular worm egg counts”.

This has subsequently led to appropriate dosing only when necessary which is not only beneficial to the horses themselves, but also to the reduction of developing resistance. While we would need to be more careful replicating this system in the pet population as there is a greater risk to people that are exposed to eggs produced by intestinal worms from our pets than those from intestinal worms in horses, a switch to regular worm counts rather than medicating could be possible if done correctly.

In summary

We need to consider making some major changes from funding of studies and regulatory changes from the government, right down to the way we discuss parasite treatment in our consult rooms and in our households with our pets. In the absence of concrete information, a lot of these decisions will come down to our personal assessment of risk. There are no right or wrong answers, but we would encourage you all to read the information provided, (avoid the misinformation found online!) then come and discuss your personal situation with a member of our vet team.

In mean time, please click here to find Part 2: What are the Risks?

Further information

Among other sources:

To Flea Or Not to Flea: survey of UK companion animal ectoparasiticide usage and activities affecting pathways to the environment

Rosemary Perkins and Dave Goulson

https://sussex.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/To_flea_or_not_to_flea_survey_of_UK_companion_animal_ectoparasiticide_usage_and_activities_affecting_pathways_to_the_environment/25133792?file=44374835

Pet dogs transfer veterinary medicines to the environment

N.J. Diepens, D. Belgers, L. Buijse, I. Roessink

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722066499

1. https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-horse-on-green-grass-field-near-trees-during-daytime-pqX8m4ME5yw ↩︎

With the sudden growth in “anaesthesia-free” dental cleaning offered by groomers and other non-veterinary professionals, it is important to understand the health risks involved within these procedures and why they have been banned by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons with support from the British Dental Veterinary Association and the European Veterinary Dental College.

What is anaesthetic free dental cleaning?

As the name suggests, this is the act of cleaning a pets teeth without the benefit of anaesthesia. Often with the use of sharp tools or an ultrasonic scaler. Just like in humans, this process requires the pet to sit still and not move their mouth during the procedure; an act that many humans find stressful enough, never mind our pets who don’t understand what is going on and why. At the end of the procedure you may end up with a pet with teeth that superficially look clean and shiny on the outer surface, but there are many potential problems to consider when assessing dental disease and the “shiny clean teeth” are most likely hiding the problem!

What can go wrong?

There are many concerns with anaesthesia free dental cleaning but the main three are:

1. Damage to teeth and gums: The periodontal tissue attaching teeth to gums is very delicate and can be easily damaged, especially if the patients moves their head while conscious during scaling with sharp or ultrasonic instruments. Damage to this tissue may lead to further dental disease or tooth loss.
2. Is the periodontal pocket being reached?: One of the most important areas of teeth to assess is the periodontal pocket. This is an area below the gum line that is the most impacted by dental disease. Assessment and cleaning of this pocket is a vital stage of any dental cleaning. It is not possible to do this effectively in a conscious pet. Cleaning and assessing this periodontal pocket below the gum line is considered to be an act of veterinary surgery and, as such, it is illegal for a non-veterinary surgeon to do, or to advertise this service.
3. What is being missed?: It is vital to remember that “cleaning” the teeth is only a small part of a dental scale and polish performed at a veterinary surgery. Many oral problems from dental disease through to early detection of oral tumours can only be diagnosed during complete general anaesthesia. Some even require the use of dental x-rays. While anaesthesia-free cleaning may result in clean looking teeth, it will also most likely delay the diagnosis of these diseases which may limit treatment options.

So why can I still see this service being advertised?

While the governing body of the veterinary profession, the RCVS, has powers to tackle and punish Veterinary Surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses that are acting in a way that is not in the best interest of the health and welfare of our patients. They have limited power to act on non-veterinary professionals advertising and performing acts of veterinary surgery illegally. Technically this would come under the remit of the Trading Standards, but they are notoriously slow to act within the veterinary field.

One of the hopes within the veterinary profession is that the CMA investigation may lead to updated legislation to improve the powers of the RCVS and close some of these loopholes. However, The RCVS and their standards committee have advised members of the public offering these services that they should be aware it is illegal for a non-veterinary surgeon to perform acts of veterinary surgery such as include cleaning under the gum line or tooth extraction. They are also reminding pet owners considering non-anaesthesia dentals that they have a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act to avoid doing so.

More information on the RCVS stance on this can be found here: (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/a-statement-on-anaesthesia-free-dental-procedures-for-cats-dogs/)

What does a dental assessment at Mayne Vets involve?

When you book your pet in for a dental assessment with us, your pet will need to be placed under general anaesthesia, so the dental procedure can be performed far more safely and effectively. A dental assessment includes:

• Full mouth dental x-rays
• A dental assessment, to include probing, charting of the teeth and gums
• Scale and polish of ALL surfaces of the teeth

These x-rays and dental charting will be assessed by one of our Veterinary Surgeons, who will then be able to provide feedback and advice on whether treatment, such as tooth extraction, is required.

If the dental assessment reveals that multiple or deep rooted teeth need to be extracted we will arrange this to be done as a second stage procedure. Doing this as a second stage procedure is better for:

– The patient as it reduces the anaesthetic risk for your pet by splitting the procedure over two shorter anaesthetics rather than one longer one.

– The owner as, following the assessment, they have a clearer understanding of what needs to be done, and why and at what cost before the second stage procedure has been started

– The veterinary team as it allows us to plan ahead for all the requirements for the anaesthesia but also, for the dental procedure itself, which can involve complicated and timely extraction of teeth in order for it to be done safely and correctly.

This February we are offering our clients 20% of dental assessments, spaces are limited to don’t forget to give us a call to get your pet booked in. Should your pet need to have a second stage procedure, Pet Health Club members get 10% off if booked in by the end of April.

As part of ‘National Pet Dental Month‘ we are offering our patients a FREE dental check with our wonderful Veterinary Nurses.

What will be included in the nurse dental check?

During a nurse dental check we can discuss with you the signs of dental disease, along with the treatment we are able to provide to treat it. More importantly we can discuss what steps you can start putting in place to prevent the dental disease returning, which we can then help you introduce with follow up checks if further treatment is needed.

Should they be recommended to book in for a dental assessment, we are offering 20% off throughout the month of February.

What if I am recommended to book in a dental assessment?

In order for us to carry out this assessment, your pet will need to be placed under general anaesthesia. A dental assessment includes:

• Full mouth dental x-rays
• A dental assessment, to include probing, charting of the teeth and interpretation of x-rays
• Scale and polish of the teeth

We are offering 20% of dental assessments throughout February, so get yours booked in before the offer runs out!

Your pet will have x-rays taken of their whole mouth, an anaesthetic allows for us to do this safely and facilitate positioning for x-rays to be taken. The machine is positioned at a specific angle near your pet’s mouth, and an x-ray film is placed inside their mouth to capture the images. The process is painless and a full mouth series takes around 20 minutes to complete. Your pet will then have their teeth scaled and polished and a thorough dental assessment, involving charting, probing and scoring all surfaces of the teeth and gums. These x-rays and dental charting will be assessed by one of our Veterinary Surgeons, who will then be able to provide feedback and advice on whether treatment, such as tooth extraction, is required.

What if my pet requires a second stage procedure?

If the dental assessment reveals that multiple or deep rooted teeth need to be extracted we will arrange this to be done as a second stage procedure. Doing this as a second stage procedure reduces the anaesthetic risk for your pet by splitting the procedure over two shorter anaesthetics rather than one longer one. It also allows us to plan ahead for all the requirements for the anaesthesia but also, for the dental procedure itself, which can involve complicated and timely extraction of teeth in order for it to be done safely and correctly.

And finally as an owner, following the dental assessment, you will have a much clearer idea of what teeth need to be removed in that second stage dental and why, along with a far clearer estimate of what the cost of the procedure will be.

To help with these costs we are offering our Pet Health Club members a further 10% off their dental procedure should a second stage be required, if it is booked in before the end of April.

We all love to treat our pets, whether it’s with a frothy puppacino or even a new toy this Christmas season. We have to work out ways we can live more thoughtfully and deliberately to create a better world for the future. Next time you dive in your bag for your wallet, have a think about the environmental impact of what you are about to buy, could it be substituted for something else more sustainably made or sourced, be bought second hand, be home made, or even not purchased at all?!

I want to treat my pet to something new…

Many toys, beds, leads, outfits and plastic will end up on landfill. We all know that globally there is an issue with plastic pollution. A great swap this Christmas time would be to consider purchasing sustainable and responsibly produced products for your pets (and human family members), or buying locally. As mentioned above, how about not even making that purchase in the first place and give them something enriching and homemade. Who doesn’t love receiving a thoughtful, homemade gift?! This Christmas at Mayne Vets, we are spreading some sustainable Christmas joy. Secret Santa gifts are to be either homemade, second hand or re-useable.

Here are some ideas on some homemade and simple presents for your furry friend this festive season. How about getting crafty and making a snuffle mat for your dog or a wand toy for you cat! Or even getting your GBBO chef hat on and baking your pawesome pet some biscuits!

Enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated, your pet will appreciate something as simple as a scatter fee or treats hidden in a cardboard box with scrunched up paper. Have a look online there is so much out there, we will also share some ideas with you on our Facebook page over December.

Even these simple swaps will have a positive impact on the planet:

• biodegradable cat litter (clay based litter containing sodium bentonite are often mined through a destructive process, do not decompose and can contain chemicals)
• biodegradable poo bags
• shampoo bars rather than bottles

Pet food and packaging:

Some traditional pet food comes in tins, which we have been able to recycle for a number of years through our local councils. There are some great initiatives which have been set up for previously non-recycled pet food packaging. Many Pets at Home stores have the facilities to recycle your wet food sachets and dry food bags. If not, visit the Terracycle website to find a collection point local to you.

Waste is tangible and visible and it’s a lot easier to understand when we are talking about the impact on the environmental. However, sustainability is more than just the packaging and recycling of the pet food we choose. The ingredients used and the transportation of pet food actually has a greater impact on the environment, than the materials used in its packaging. Stay turned for our blog post on ‘Sustainable Pet Ownership – pet food and it’s carbon footprint’ in the new year!

We hope you’ve been enjoying out ‘Pet Owner Sustainability’ series, stay tuned for more insightful, educational and thought provoking information soon. We will you all a very merry Christmas.

Image 1: https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-brown-cat-on-red-and-white-floral-textile-FDjHs2Uv8MQ

With the announcement of the new legislation regarding XL Bullies, we know a lot of you will be concerned about what the new laws are and what they may mean for you.  Unfortunately, there was no prior warning or information given to the veterinary industry as a whole as to what the legislation would entail before its release and so we are working our way through it today as you have been.  However the core points seem to be these:

All dogs that resemble an “XL Bully” have been added to the dangerous dog list.  A description of what would be described as an XL Bully can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog. 

It is not the responsibility of the veterinary clinic to decide if your dog is an XL Bully, it is down to the local council and police to interpret this, however we cannot change what your pet is registered as on our database.  The government advice is that if you think your dog could be considered an XL Bully then it is your responsibility to follow the laws that have been introduced.

UPDATE 14/11/23 (XL Bully Type)

The ban only applies to XL Bully dogs. There are other established breeds, such as those recognised by the UK Kennel Club, that may meet some of the characteristics of the XL Bully breed type. These are not within scope of the ban.

If your dog could be considered to be an XL Bully then the following rules will apply:

From the 31/12/23

It will be illegal to :

• Sell, abandon and give away an XL Bully
• Breed from an XL Bully
• Have an XL Bully in public without it being muzzled and on a lead

From 1/2/24

In addition to the rules above, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully without Certificate of Exemption.

A certificate of exemption is issued by the courts following an assessment by the courts to attest that your dog does not pose a risk to public safety.

• It will allow your dog to be added to an Index listing it as legal to own
• It will cost £92.40 and will last for a dog’s life
• The applications for this would need to be in by 31/1/24
• You will need to produce this on request from a member of the local council or police
• The dog will still need to be muzzled and on a lead in public
• And you will need to show you have 3^rd party insurance cover for the dog (we recommend this cover for all dogs).

14/11/23 UPDATE (Third Party Cover)

The cover must start no later than 01/02/24, this can be provided by The Dogs Trust Membership. If you use a different insurance provider it should cover the policyholder for death or bodily injury to any person caused by the exempted dog and is suitable for a prohibited breed as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

14/11/23 UPDATE (Certificate of Exemption)

Please follow the link below to apply for a certificate of exemption. This will take you to DEFRA’s website.

apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Neutering

If keeping an XL Bully, they will need to be neutered regardless of their sex.

• If they are over a year of age on 31/1/24 this will need to be done by 30/6/24
• If they are under a year of age on 31/1/24 this will need to be done by 31/12/24
• A neutering certificate will be issued following surgery that you will need to keep as proof of neutering
• If your dog has already been neutered by us we will be able to provide you a certificate but DEFRA are yet to provide more information on these certificates

14/11/23 UPDATE (Neutering Certification)

Veterinary practices have been provided with information to assist with completing neutering declaration certificates (VCN01) for owners and are now accessible on the DEFRA website. This will support your application for a certificate of exemption.

• If they are over a year old on 31/1/24 , it must be neutered and your VCNO1 certificate must be received by 30/06/24
• If they are under a year of age on 31/01/24, it must be neutered and your VCNO1 certificate must be received by 31/12/24

If your dog is already neutered, as above, your vet will need to fill in a VCNO1 certificate:

• by 31 December 2024 for dogs less than one year old on 31 January 2024
• by 30 June 2024 for dogs more than one year old on 31 January 2024

Euthanasia

If you chose to euthanise your dog due to these changes of legislation this can be done at your registered veterinary practice.  Owners may be able to claim up to £200 to put towards the costs of euthanasia, but more information is to be released about this at a later date.

14/11/23 UPDATE (Euthanasia)

Forms are now available for those wanting the claim back compensation if they choose to euthanise your dog. This procedure must be carried out by 31/01/24 in order to qualify for compensation and the form must be received by 15/03/24. Payment should be made be made to the veterinary practice in full and claimed back to yourself.

Please follow the link below to apply for compensation for DEFRA:

XL Bully dog compensation: owners (publishing.service.gov.uk)

To receive your compensation payment you must register with The Rural Payment Agency. It will take up to 30 days for payment to be made into your account.

Please follow the link below to register:

Registering with the Rural Payments Agency to claim compensation for the euthanasia of XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What to do if you find a stray dog that you believe to be an XL Bully?

Contact your local dog warden

Colchester Borough Council

01206 282581 (Monday – Friday 9-5pm)

So What Next…

This information is our interpretation of the changes to the law as of 1/11/23 and may change.  We encourage people to read the full guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs and look for updates from the government as they appear.

We appreciate that is a lot of information to digest and will leave a lot of owners with some difficult decisions.  If you have a dog that would be considered to be an XL Bully that you would like to keep, our advice at this stage would be to start muzzle training.  There is a some good support on how to do this via :

• Blue Cross: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/dogs-and-muzzle-training
• Dogs Trust: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/training/outdoors/muzzle-training
• PDSA: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/other-veterinary-advice/how-to-muzzle-train-your-dog
• Alternatively our nursing team have a lot of experience in assisting owners with this and will happy to go through training options with you in a nurse consult

As to what you need to do to apply for a Certificate of Exemption, we are looking for clearer guidance on that ourselves and hope to be able to provide more information soon.

Finally, we would like to politely remind owners that these changes to the law are not the responsibility of our practice, our team or the veterinary profession as a whole. We share the British Veterinary Association’s view that, while urgent laws need to be put in place to protect the public, there needs to be a greater focus on penalising owners that are not in control of their dogs, rather than targeting specific breeds. 

We are also concerned that the current description of an “XL Bully” is far too vague, leaving it open to interpretation and leaving many owners worried about whether their dog would count as an XL Bully.  You can find more about the response from the Dog Control Coalition (including members of Battersea, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, Kennel Club, RSPCA, SSPCA and Hope Rescue) here: https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/dog-control-coalition-responds-to-details-of-the-government-s-ban-on-american-bully-xls/. As always, if you have any further questions please feel free to contact the team, although please be aware we will not be able to tell you if your dog would count as an XL Bully or not at this stage.

Ruptured cruciate ligament?! What is this?

Compared to a human knee, our dog’s knees are an anatomically imperfect joint.  Due to the angle the bones meet, they naturally want to slide forwards and backwards during weight bearing and movement. The cruciate ligaments sit inside the knee joint stabilising it, preventing any movement and rotation, but the ligaments are under constant demand and stress, which can lead to rupture. Whereas cruciate rupture in humans is often due to trauma, think sporting injuries, in dogs it tends to be due to degeneration meaning that over time the ligament becomes weaker.

A cruciate rupture typically refers to the tearing of the cranial cruciate ligaments within the knee joint.  This injury results in the joint surfaces grinding against one another cause pain, discomfort, lameness and difficulty walking for our furry friends as well as a rapid deterioration of the joint surfaces themselves.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a cruciate ligament rupture involves a combination of physical examination, history taking and diagnostic imaging.

Your vet will look for signs of lameness, pain and instability of the affected leg. They may also, if your dog allows, manipulate the knee joint to assess its stability and check for something termed ‘cranial drawer’. This is where abnormal movement is felt between the shin and thighbone.

If we suspect there may be an issue, the next step is to take x-rays in house to assist with diagnosis, also allowing us to rule out any other issue related to the knee and hip joint. Occasionally further imaging such as a CT scan or arthroscopy (a procedure where a small camera is inserted into the joint), may be required if a diagnosis is unclear.

My dog’s cruciate ligament is ruptured!! What now?!

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, your vet will discuss the appropriate treatment options with you based on the severity of the injury, your dog’s size, age, health and financial constraints. In many patients the preferred surgical option is a technique called a ‘Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy’ (TPLO), and this will be the focus of this article. This involves changing the angle at the top of the shin bone by cutting, rotating, and stabilising it in a new position using a plate and screws.  Altering this angle provides a “level” joint surface that helps prevent the sliding motion that results in the rupture.

Here’s where we introduce Freddie, a 10 year old, West Highland White Terrier, who underwent surgery on his right knee to repair his cruciate ligament this summer and we wanted to share his journey with you all!

On the day of surgery:

• Freddie had a pre-operative health check completed, an i/v cannula placed, pre-medication administered and placed under anaesthesia for this procedure.
• His right leg was shaved, from his hip down to his ankle, and was scrubbed and prepped ready for surgery by the nursing team resulting in a sterile surgical field.
• We use a local orthopaedic surgeon for a lot of our orthopaedic surgeries.  This allows for our patients to be cared for by the Mayne Vets team, and removes the stress of travelling further afield.
• Once Freddie recovered from his surgery, the nursing team monitored him throughout the afternoon, offering him food, monitoring his comfort levels, giving him further medication as was necessary and applying a cold compress to his surgery site. We advise for owners to cold compress, if the dog allows, for the first few days after surgery to help reduce any swelling.
• Freddie went home the same day of his surgery, here he is below relaxing and recovering in the evening. This is often the case for most surgeries, unless we are concerned with your pet’s anaesthetic recovery or pain management.

• Freddie was prescribed a combination of different pain relief medications for his parents to administer for around 2 – 4 weeks. A course of antibiotics was also prescribed.
• Much to Freddie’s delight, a buster collar is recommended to prevent dogs from causing trauma to their incision and is advised to be kept on for at least 2 weeks.
• Freddie had to undergo strict rest initially, he was confined to a crate and was only allowed outside to toilet for quite a few weeks.

Here is the lovely Freddie showing us what life is like on his first day in the crate after getting home, and his last day in the crat  before he was allowed some freedom to stretch those legs!

Around 4 weeks post-surgery, exercise can be increased, although it needs to still be restricted and gentle. Why so much rest you may ask? There is potential even one month after the surgery for the implant and surgery to fail if your dog slips or knocks their knee. The bone needs time to heal and strengthen.

Here is Freddie enjoying some time outside his crate enjoying the sun in the garden, as you can see Freddie’s owners are amazing, making sure he was still restrained by his lead. This prevents an injury in case your dog is a keen chaser of birds or squirrels! The recovery process is a long one, and it’s all down to owner’s time and dedication.

There are a few considerations when your dog is recovering from surgery:

1. Seeing as they are not going to be exerting much energy, switching to a lower calorie food or reducing the amount you feed can help maintain your dog’s body weight and prevent any weight gain.
2. We’ve mentioned the risks of slips and falls to the success of the surgery and there are a few ways you can combat this at home. Consider using non-slip matting on wooden or laminate flooring, avoiding walking up steps and stairs. If there are some steps coming into the house then a ramp would be beneficial, or using a sling to support their back leg, especially early on in their recovery.
3. Take into account their mental wellbeing during rehabilitation, how about providing food puzzles, chew toys or supervised time out of the crate.
4. The addition of joint supplements to your dog’s routine would be advised in order to support their joints long term. Unfortunately after a cruciate rupture dogs are more prone to arthritic changes.

Follow up x-rays are taken 8 weeks post-surgery to check the healing of the bone and position of the implant.

We love to shout out about the confidence clinics our nurses run here at Mayne Vets.  In these confidence clinics we provide shy and nervous dogs with some stability and reassurance through creating positive associations at the clinic and building a relationship with one of our veterinary nurses. We thought we would share with you a case study from one of our patients!

Here is the lovely Oscar, who is a 4 year old Golden Retriever and started his confidence clinic journey back in May 2022.  Although Oscar is a friendly dog, he was very shy and uncertain when he visited the clinic.

Each confidence clinic pet will be assigned to a designated nurse (Lindsey, Caroline or Chloe).  Prior to the first confidence clinic, they will ascertain what your dog is driven by, whether food, toys or their owner. To begin with Oscar wasn’t too keen on anything we offered, he even suffers from food allergies which also limited what we could offer. Despite this, overtime, as Oscar’s confidence grew at the clinic.  He began to noticeably be more excited visiting us at the clinic, exhibiting play stance behaviors and wagging his tail. Sometimes confidence clinics will simply be play based to improve their general confidence, and sometimes they will be focused on certain behaviors (for example, focusing on mimicking an injection or helping pets get used to being weighed on scales). It really is dependent on the dog, the owner, previous experiences and the time frame. Remember, if you are a member of our Pet Health Club, unlimited nurse clinics are included in your membership, giving you peace of mind when multiple visits are needed.

Oscar was also showing hormonally driven behaviors at home, humping and scent marking. Often this behavior can be linked to testosterone levels and castration would help reduce its occurrence, however reducing the testosterone levels in a nervous dog can exacerbate this behavior potentially leading to nervous aggression.  So, because of Oscar’s shyness, we opted to use a “chemical castration” option which would temporarily reduce the testosterone to allow us to assess the potential impact of a castration before an irreversible surgery is performed.  In this way chemical castration can be a great option if owners are on the fence with surgical castration. Neutering is not a one size fits all, every animal is assessed individually.  If you do have any questions or queries about getting your dog neutered then speak to a member of the team.

Thankfully, in Oscar’s case, there were no detrimental side effects to the reduction in testosterone from the chemical implant. Therefore his owners opted for surgical castration in the end. Here is Oscar at his post op check up with Lindsey, his designated clinic nurse. We made sure that his pre-op appointment was with her also, and as much of his hospital stay as possible with Lindsey by his side.

We should highlight at this point, none of our nurses have qualified animal behavior status, just a keen interest in behavior and making a dog’s visit to the clinic as fear free as possible. If they feel additional work is needed, or your dog’s behavior is outside of their capabilities, the clinic would refer you to a behaviorist.  If you would like to talk to us more about our confidence clinics please message us via text message or Whatsapp on 07360541569 or email reception@maynevets.co.uk.