Notes from the exam room

A rabbit’s teeth grow a few millimeters every week for their whole life. Chewing grass and hay all day wears them down at the same rate. When a rabbit eats too many pellets and not enough hay, the back teeth can grow sharp points that cut the tongue and cheeks.

What helps

• Unlimited fresh grass hay, about a body-sized pile a day.
• A handful of leafy greens, and pellets as a small extra, not the main meal.
• A dental check at every yearly visit: we look at the back teeth with a scope.

When to call

Drooling, a wet chin, dropping food, smaller or fewer droppings, or eating less. A rabbit that stops eating or pooping for more than a few hours needs a vet the same day.

Written by Dr. Amaru Castellanos. General information only, not a diagnosis.

The first month is about routine and good experiences. Book a first check-up within a week of bringing your puppy home, and bring any paperwork from the breeder or shelter.

Week by week

• Week 1: vet check, a quiet sleeping spot and a toilet routine after every meal and nap.
• Weeks 2–3: short, happy meetings with calm, vaccinated dogs and lots of new sounds and surfaces.
• Week 4: next vaccines, and start handling paws, ears and mouth with treats.

Use our vaccine planner to see what’s due when. Puppies chew everything, so tidy away cables, socks and anything with xylitol.

Written by Dr. Lucinda Arceneaux. General information only, not a diagnosis.

If the carrier only comes out before a vet visit, your cat learns that it means trouble. The fix is to make it part of the furniture.

• Leave it out with the door off and a soft blanket inside.
• Feed treats or meals near it, then inside it.
• Practice closing the door for a few seconds, then carrying it around the room.
• Cover it with a towel in the car and keep the radio low.

Tell us your cat finds visits hard when you book. We’ll give you a quiet slot and let them stay in the carrier for as much of the exam as we can.

Written by Quentin Galloway, LVT. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Some everyday foods and plants are dangerous for dogs and cats, even in small amounts:

• Grapes and raisins (dogs)
• Chocolate, especially dark and baking chocolate
• Xylitol, a sweetener in some gum, candy and peanut butters
• Onions, garlic, leeks and chives
• Lilies, including the water in the vase (cats)
• Cannabis edibles and human medicines

If your pet eats something

Call us or the nearest emergency vet right away, even if your pet seems fine. Have the packet or plant with you, and don’t try to make them vomit unless a vet tells you to.

Written by Dr. Lucinda Arceneaux. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Guinea pigs need vitamin C from their diet every day. Without it they can develop sore joints, a rough coat and gum problems.

• Unlimited grass hay as the base of the diet.
• A cup of fresh vegetables a day, including vitamin C–rich ones like bell pepper, kale or parsley.
• A guinea pig pellet with stabilized vitamin C, used within its date.

Skip vitamin drops in the water bottle: they break down quickly and can put guinea pigs off drinking. Ask us before adding supplements.

Written by Dr. Amaru Castellanos. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Some slowing down is normal with age, but many changes have treatable causes. Mention these at your next visit:

• Stiffness getting up, or reluctance to jump or use stairs
• Drinking or peeing more than before
• Weight loss or gain without a change in food
• Pacing, confusion or barking at night
• Bad breath or chewing on one side

We suggest check-ups every six months for older dogs, with a blood panel once a year. The senior visit gives us an hour to go through everything.

Written by Dr. Lucinda Arceneaux. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Dogs and rabbits can’t sweat like we do, and heatstroke can happen quickly, especially for short-nosed breeds, older pets and rabbits in hutches.

• Walk dogs early or late; if the pavement is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws.
• Never leave a pet in a parked car, even with the windows down.
• Give rabbits shade, airflow and a frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel to lie against.

Heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness or collapse are an emergency: move your pet somewhere cool and call a vet straight away.

Written by Dolores Bettencourt, LVT. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Indoor cats often eat more than they burn. Extra weight makes diabetes, arthritis and bladder problems more likely.

• Measure food with a kitchen scale, not a scoop.
• Split the daily amount into several small meals or use a food puzzle.
• Two short play sessions a day with a wand toy.
• Count treats as part of the daily amount.

Never put a cat on a crash diet: cats that stop eating can become seriously ill. We’ll set a safe target weight and check in every few weeks.

Written by Dr. Everett Mbatha. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Plaque turns into tartar within days, so brushing works best daily or every other day. Go slowly and stop while it’s still fun.

• Days 1–3: let them lick pet toothpaste from your finger. Never use human toothpaste.
• Days 4–7: rub your finger along the outside of the teeth.
• Week 2: switch to a soft pet toothbrush, a few teeth at a time.

Brushing won’t remove tartar that’s already there. If you see brown teeth, red gums or your pet chews on one side, book a dental check.

Written by Dr. Everett Mbatha. General information only, not a diagnosis.

Ferrets are curious, playful and very good at escaping. Set up their room before they arrive.

• Block gaps behind appliances and under cabinets: if a head fits, the ferret fits.
• Remove soft rubber and foam items like earplugs and shoe inserts, which can block their gut.
• Check recliners and sofa beds before closing them.

Ferrets need vaccines against rabies and canine distemper. Book a first check-up within a week of bringing yours home, and see the planner for timings.

Written by Dr. Amaru Castellanos. General information only, not a diagnosis.