Are online vet consults the answer for elderly pet care?
As a hospice vet at a mobile veterinary practice that sees mainly elderly pets it will come as no surprise that I believe that online vet (video) consults are very valuable to assess a pet and providing guidance and advice...
Dignipets offering support during Covid19
The current situation is stressful for everyone, and it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Our team is working hard to be able to carry on supporting you and your pets for the coming weeks and months. We have put measures in place to be able...
What is hospice care and how can it benefit our pets?
As a vet that has cared for elderly pets at home for more than a decade, I sometimes forget that not everybody knows what hospice care means. Unless we are faced with caring for someone who is elderly (whether two- or four-legged) in the last stage of their life,...
Memorialising a pet
Going through losing a pet is one of the hardest things we have to face; I know anyone who will be reading this will agree with me on that one. It’s important to remember that this experience is different for everyone, and that grief affects us in different ways....
Will I know when it is time?
As I sit here and watch you sleep I am thinking if you are happy with your life? You will be 18 years old in May and I wonder if you will make it until then. I know being old you will need to sleep more and that cats sleep A LOT anyway but is that enough? I’m...
Using quality of life assessments in pets
Difficult questions As hospice vets at Dignipets we are often asked the questions; “When is it time?”. “How will I know if my pet is suffering?” .“I’m not sure whether to put my pet through any more treatment.""How do I know my pet still has sufficient quality of...
Top 10 tips for staying calm around fireworks
It’s very normal for pets to get distressed in different degrees when there are fireworks going off. The loud bangs and sudden flashes of light can affect many types of pets even the ones we wouldn’t necessarily expect to react. There is no iron clad way to ensure...
Osteosarcoma in dogs
Osteosarcoma is a tumour of bone, and it is the most common bone tumour found in dogs. It is more common in large and giant breeds, such as Rottweilers, Greyhounds and Great Danes. In our practice we most often see it in Rottweilers. Sometimes a...
When the grief comes before the loss
Anticipatory Grief described by a hospice vet and pet owner Sometimes we have no time to react or even think before we lose someone we love; it can be an accident or a very sudden illness. We lose them and then we grieve. But other times...
Back at work; what does it mean for your four-legged friend?
Looks familiar? No matter what your routine looked like before the lock down; things changed dramatically in March 2020 and this has an effect on all the members of the household including pets. Most of us are now returning back to work and we would like to share some...
Hospice and end of life care for your pet during the Covid-19 pandemic
Hospice and end of life care for your pet during the Covid-19 pandemic Options and considerations Providing care to a pet at home with a terminal condition can be made more challenging during these difficult times of the Covid-19 crisis. Veterinary practices all over...
How to manage your elderly pet at home during the Corona virus crisis
For our elderly pets having a routine can be very important. An arthritic dog benefits from regular exercise, and under normal circumstances we often recommend little and often, the length of it varying with each individual dog’s circumstances. During the time...
Walking your dog during the corona virus crisis
Even though we are all worried about what’s going on, it’s important for both our four-legged friends and ourselves to exercise, and ideally getting some fresh air as well. Among things to mention...
The Hospice Veterinary Nurse; creating awareness
Providing care for a chronic or terminally ill pet is not something we have to go through alone as pet owners. Having someone by your side for communication guidance and support can make a big difference. Veterinary nurses can be very helpful with this. Our...
Rudi’s wheels: one little dog’s story about living with mobility issues
It was a bright crisp winter’s morning and Merel and Sam, from Dignipets, were on their way to meet a very special dog. He is very well known in his local walking area, almost a local celebrity, and we really wanted to find out more about him and his owner. Rudi...
Community veterinary nursing: careers fayre
Recently Sam, our community veterinary nurse, was able to attend a careers fayre at Idsall School in Shifnal. The career fayre was for students aged 16-18 years old to be able to look at the different career and education options available to them. Sam was...
Helping children through the sudden loss of a pet
Losing a pet suddenly through either a peaceful passing or due to a traumatic incident can be very distressing for the whole family. However, for children, the loss can be especially heart-breaking as the joy of growing up with their beloved friend becomes a sadness...
Dignipets visit to Kings Hill Pet Cremations
Recently Sam was able to visit Kings Hill pet cremations near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Kings Hill are based in a lovely peaceful countryside location. They are an independent family business who pride themselves on caring and helping support families through such a...
Medications: it’s not just tablets
Being told by your veterinary surgeon that your pets needs to have daily medication can be stressful. We understand that some pets are just really difficult to medicate for a number of reasons. Having to medicate your pet daily can also affect the owner-pet bond...
Creating a ‘Bucket List’ for your dog
Caring for a pet with a life limiting condition can be an incredibly emotional time. There is no right or wrong way in which to spend these final days with your pet. Our Dignipets team guides and supports you with not just the medical care of your pet. We also...
Congratulations Merel!
Merel Taal has become our second vet to gain the veterinary certificate in palliative and hospice care. This qualification consists of an intensive 16 month study period covering topics such as hospice care, pain management and the unique challenges seen in caring for...
Making decisions in end-of-life
As a vet, guiding and supporting pet owners in making challenging decisions is one of the hardest aspects of working with end-of-life patients. Open communication and honesty are crucial to end-of-life discussions. As a hospice and palliative care vet I help pet...
People gather for the Dignipets Pet Memorial Walk at Baggeridge Country Park
PEOPLE gathered at Baggeridge Country Park to remember their four-legged friends during the first Dignipets Memorial Walk. Animal lovers from across the region met on Saturday, September 7 to walk in memory of their past pets and to highlight pet bereavement....
Crisis kits for pets
A lot of the pets we see at home for hospice and end of life consultations have illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure or severe mobility problems. In many cases we worry that a pet is going to take a sudden turn for the worse, and that the wait to see a vet may be...
Merel presents our Dignipets palliative, hospice and end of life CPD talk to Bilston Veterinary Clinic
Last week Merel was able to visit Bilston Veterinary Clinic. Bilston Veterinary Clinic has provided veterinary care to small animals and pets for more than 30 years. Their small team of fully qualified staff all have at least 30 years of experience and is headed up by...