PREPARING YOUR CAT FOR A VISIT TO THE VET

Posted On 27th October 2021 By Glenina Vets In Articles /   No Comments

We want to provide the best possible experience for your cat (and you!) when you visit us. One thing you can do is to ensure that your cat gets to the practice in a calm state of mind. The following tips will help you prepare your pet and reduce stress.

Clever cat at Glenina veterinary clinic

Allow your cat to become used to the cat carrier at home

Getting your cat into their carrier can sometimes be the biggest challenge of all! It’s important that your cat sees the carrier as a safe space, rather than only associating it with potentially unpleasant experiences. This process can begin weeks or months in advance of bringing your car to the vet.

  • Choose the correct carrier – we can advise you on options. The best carriers are those that open from the top and the front, and can also be taken apart in the middle.
  • Well in advance of your appointment put the carrier out and place their food bowl beside the carrier. Over the course of a few days, gradually move the food bowl closer and closer, until it is inside the carrier.
  • Put your pet’s favourite toys or bedding near or in the carrier.
  • Put some of your cat’s bedding into the carrier to create a comfortable resting place.
  • Spray the carrier with a suitable pheromone product several times a day, before feeding and 15 minutes before you travel.
  • If you fail to succeed with the above, start by putting the carrier in a small room with few hiding places. Bring the cat into the room and close the door. Move slowly and calmly. Do not chase the cat to get it into the carrier.
  • Encourage the cat with treats to walk into the carrier.

Schedule your appointment appropriately

  • Speak to a member of staff about bringing in your cat during a quiet time. It may be possible to arrange an appointment when only cats are being attended to.

Ensure your cat is comfortable in the carrier

  • Put a blanket or towel in the carrier to pad the bottom.
  • Put an extra towel in the carrier so that the cat can burrow underneath it if he/she prefers to hide.
  • Place a blanket or towel over the top of the carrier.
  • Carry the basket by holding it underneath; try to avoid carrying it by the handle on the top. This will help to keep it stable, reduces the chance of the carrier banging against door frames etc, and will also make your cat feel more secure.
  • Make sure that the carrier is secure and kept level when placing it in your car.

Prepare the car for the journey

  • Adjust the car to a comfortable temperature before travel.
  • Spray the interior of the car with a suitable pheromone product* 10 to 15 minutes before travel
    Peaceful Transfer
  • Position the car as close as possible to the door of of your home to shorten the carrying journey in the cat carrier.
  • This will also apply when you arrive at the veterinary practice.
  • Ensure the transit to and from the car is as peaceful as possible.
  • Avoid transporting the cat carrier when there are dogs in sight or barking nearby

Bring your cat in hungry

  • This helps to limit nausea in the car and also means that you may be able to use food treats, to distract your cat, during the veterinary examination.

Give yourself plenty of time

  • If you’re rushing and feeling stressed, your cat will too.
  • Drive slowly, particularly when going around corners and try to avoid sudden manoeuvres.

Returning home (for multi-cat households)

  • Sometimes odours from the vet practice can be brought back by the returning cat and can result in it no longer being recognised by its comrades.
  • Conflict between the returning cat and its housemates can be minimised by leaving the returning cat in the carrier for a few minutes to see how all of your cats react. If all looks ok, then the returning cat may be released.
  • If not, keep the cat in the carrier and separate for a minimum of 24 hours (providing feed and water in its carrier) while it regains the ‘smell of home”. Using a synthetic feline pheromone product can help in this process.

If you have any further questions about bringing your cat to the vet, please do not hesitate to get in contact with the team at Glenina Veterinary Clinic.

Philip McManus Glenina Vets Galway
Vet Philip McManus with one of his favorite customers!

Thank you to our R.V.N Anna, for providing all of the helpful tips in this blog post.

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Thinking of getting a second dog? Here’s some things to consider before successfully growing your four legged family.

Posted On 4th August 2021 By Glenina Vets In Articles /  1 No Comments

So, you’ve got yourself a dog and everything is going perfectly. You couldn’t imagine a love as pure and honest as the love you have for your dog and they for you. Now, you’ve got the best idea, why not get a second dog!?

Before you start thinking of names for the latest addition to your four legged family, there are a few things you should consider before taking that next step.

Is your current dog out of puppy-hood and completely trained and bonded to you?

  • Is your current dog out of puppy-hood and completely trained and bonded to you? It’s often twice as difficult for one person to train two young dogs at the same time. Young dogs may also bond to each other and be less likely to create a strong bond to you.
  • What’s the age of your current dog? Many older dogs who may be suffering from arthritis and other age related illnesses may not appreciate a bouncy young puppy when they are trying to rest and recuperate.
  • What kind of dog do you want to add to your family? Is your current dog large or small? Do you have space for two dogs? Can you walk two dogs at once? Some breeds of dog e.g. Siberian Husky, Labrador Retriever may be very energetic on a lead so adding another one may complicate walking times.
  • How much time do you have to focus on puppy socialisation/training? Training a new animal may not be as quick and efficient as some people think and also some animals pick up some commands /training methods quicker than others. However, consistency is key.
  • The most important factor to consider is the financial constraint of having two animals. You will be feeding two mouths now instead of one. You will have increased cost associated with bringing two animals to the vet, e.g neutering costs, vaccinations, etc.
  • Are you in rented accommodation? If so, then most people cannot guarantee that their landlord won’t cease their letting contract and leave you looking for a new place to live, which can be challenging as most rented properties do not allow pets.

Thank you to Charlene O’Donnel R.V.N, who put together this post as this is a common query we get at Glenina Veterinary Clinic and also through our social media channels. Hopefully, this blog post will help you make your decision about getting a second dog.

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Glenina Veterinary Nurses w. Joe O’Donnell

New Staff, New Courses and Qualifications & New Products @ Glenina Vets

Posted On 25th June 2019 By webmakers In Articles, News /   No Comments

New Staff!

In May, we welcomed a new receptionist and veterinary nurse Carmel Hooban. Carmel qualified as a veterinary nurse this year after 3 years of hard studying (and the occasional night out) from Athlone Institute of Technology. She previously worked in a large animal practice. Carmel will be mainly working on reception and is looking forward to getting to know all of our lovely clients and pets alike 🙂

New Courses and Qualifications

Our newest member to the veterinary team, Gregory Noone, is looking forward to starting his Certificate in Small animal Surgery. This 2 year course is a comprehensive and practical advanced surgery programme, studying both soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in-depth. The course is based in the UK and will take a huge amount of dedication and time from Gregory as he will need to travel over at least once a month, keep up to date with his studies, and all while working full time! It will all be worth it in the end!

Darina Nolan, one of our veterinary nurses also recently completed a Nurses Certificate in Western Veterinary Acupuncture in Scotland. Acupuncture sessions are now being offered at the clinic. Darina is the only veterinary nurse in Ireland to have completed this course. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine, solid needles into the body for pain relief or to help the body to deal with other diseases. The needles block the pain messages and encourage the brain and central nervous system to produce more of the body’s natural pain killers. Conditions indicated for acupuncture include pain from arthritis, muscle strains, pain secondary to disc disease. Functional conditions such as constipation in cats and irritable bowel type products in dogs can also respond. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt your pet! Most of the time, the very fine needles are accepted just fine and usually become relaxed and sleepy during treatment.

New Products

We are now stocking Seresto flea and Tick Collars for dogs and cats. A collar like no other, it works by releasing it’s active ingredients controlled low doses, allowing your pet to stay protected against fleas and ticks for up to 8 months at a time. It kills fleas through contact and repels and kills ticks before they bite your pet, which means less discomfort for your pet and also reduces the risk of these parasites transmitting diseases giving you peace of mind that your pet is well protected. Odourless and water resistant, seresto flea and tick collars for pets is the simple way to keep your pets protected for longer.

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Glenina Vets Open Day

Glenina Veterinary Clinic’s family fun day

Posted On 20th September 2018 By webmakers In Articles, News /   No Comments

Anyone who has a pet understands that they are not just merely a friendly animal that we play with around the house but a fully fledged member of the family. So when our cuddly friends are feeling ill or need a check-up, we want nothing but the best in petcare.

With more than 100 years’ experience caring for Galway’s pets and farm animals, Glenina Veterinary Clinic in Glenina Heights endeavours to provide the best service and solution to your pet’s problem.

With a newly completed extension to the clinic and the hosting of family fun day taking place on Saturday, resident veterinarian, Karl D’Arcy MVB, sat down with Matt Cassidy of the Galway Advertiser.

What services does Glenina Veterinary Clinic offer?

Karl:  We cover everything here in the clinic. From emergencies to routine vaccinations. We offer neutering services, orthopaedic surgeries as well as dental treatments. Dental treatments is is very big among our pets. We have a new X-ray machine and a new ultrasound scanning machine. We have in-house blood machines which enable us to do most of the diagnostics on site. The practice covers from Rossaveal, Oughterard, Athenry, and Kinvara, so a huge portion of County Galway. We have 15 staff altogether including seven vets and we are open from Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 7pm, and we also do emergency cover 24/7 every day of the year. Our experienced nursing team offer nurse clinics where clients can get advice on house training, exercise, and the benefits of socialisation. We also offer advice on dietary requirement, diabetic screening and management.
How many animals would Glenina see over the course of a day?

Karl:  For cat and dogs, we would be seeing at least 30 a day. This would be a combination from itching ears to broken legs and everything in between. A lot of the work that goes on here would be for routine vaccinations, dental check-ups, and weigh-ins. Pet obesity has become an increasing problem in recent years.

There must be great fun and satisfaction working animals?

Karl: There are two sides of it. Number one you love seeing the new puppies come in because they are a lot of fun. There is no difficulty and it is very enjoyable, happy consult. You then may get a difficult case and you have to explore it. It is more of an intellectual challenge and like any problem solving, there is a kick to it. And also being able to help people

Why should I bring my pet to Glenina?

Karl: Number one thing is you want your pet looked after, that is why you bring them to the vet in the first place. The second thing you want is that peace of mind that the pet is being cared for by a team of professionals who are not only experienced but working with the best equipment available, using the most up-to-date techniques. We have been here so long and we have plenty of vets, there is well over 100 years’ accumulated experience. We have upgraded our facilities and we constantly strive to keep ahead of the curve on new techniques and new technologies. Our main aim is to provide top quality veterinary care for our clients, from our veterinary team, with the emphasis being on animal welfare. Everything else is to a point secondary after that. We are about doing the best for the pet comfort and welfare so the pet can have the best outcome possible. We are also easily accessible for all of Galway city and we have free parking.

Tell us about the clinic’s new extension.

The new extension will be opening very soon. The new space is to cope with demand and also to improve our services to our clients and their pets. We have modernised our dental suite and we have a new room for our digital scanning and x-rays. The new extension will also provide more space and comfort for our clients and pets when they are waiting to be seen by the vet.

Are you looking forward to family fun day on Saturday?

Karl: Everyone at Glenina Veterinary Clinic is very much looking forward to the day. The Galway Bay Roadcaster will be present and there will be a large bouncy castle at the front. There will be face paintng and balloon modelling. Galway Dog Training Club will be coming out to do a display and also we will have competitions for people who want to try out their own dog’s ability and agility. There will be prizes on the day. Facebook competitions, discounts as well refreshments with all proceeds going to the GSPCA, and the GSPCA will have a stand with few lovable dogs who are looking for a new home.

We will have routine health checks with our vets here so people can bring the pet along for a check-up. We will also have nurses’ stations where our nurses are available to talk to people who are looking to get a puppy or kitten. They will talk about vaccinations, food, worming, all the routine things that goes along when you welcome a new pet to the family. Another nurse will be talking about senior animals and what their needs are, what to look out for, and how to look after them, and also the guys who have a little bit of weight and need help shedding it. We will also have animal goodie bags to take home.

It really is a day out for everybody including your pet. It is nice to meet clients outside work and be able to interact with them and to show them around the clinic, give them a look behind the scenes of what goes on here. We have done open days before and we find people are delighted to see progress the clinic has made. Hopefully the day may inspire the next generation of vets. We have been here a long time and we want to thank our loyal customers, some who have been coming for three generations, and we look forward to seeing them on Saturday between 2pm and 5pm.

For more information on the services of Glenina Veterinary Clinic or the family fun day this Saturday, check out the clinic’s Facebook page, call 091 752014, or visit www.gleninavets.ie.

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