Are you giving your buddy a Valentines Day card this year?
Even though January was an event filled month, newspapers still found space to publish figures showing that while there are roughly 12.7 million children under 16 years old in the UK, there are just as many dogs (12-13.5 million) and probably as many cats (10.5-12.5 million).
It’s been cold so we make sure your friends are dressed up warm for their afternoon visits to the ‘rest and relief’ patch behind York Street.
Here at York Street we see many individuals or young couples with rewarding local jobs, and dog or cat companions. Children may be on the horizon for some but for now the fun, or exasperation, of caring for other living beings if filled by their very lucky four legged buddies.
London is not one of the regions where there are more dogs than children under 16, but The Office of National Statistics says that when it comes to toddlers it is. Here in London, there are 1.1 million toddlers and 1.2 million dogs. Breed popularity varies enormously around the UK but in central London, small, flat-faced, you could say toddler-like breeds remain consistently popular.
These pups enjoy a tete a tete in the Reception room at York Street.
If you are planning on getting a new pup or kitten please feel free to telephone us for practical advice. For example both Pugs and French Bulldogs seem to have great senses of humour but avoid individuals with tiny nostril openings and snorty breathing. They will need surgery once they’re mature, to breathe normally
(Does your dog or cat love you? Read this month’s blog.)
What do you talk about at a prestigious veterinary lecture?
I’ve been invited to give the Keith Entwistle Memorial Lecture at the Old Divinity School at St John’s College, Cambridge this month. “Would you like me to talk about something serious such as ‘What happens to empathy’ during your studies?” I asked. “Thanks but we’d prefer a bit of gossip, like people you’ve met as a vet.” I was told. So gossip it will be.
Because the London Vet Clinic is the oldest and largest independent vet clinic in central London we probably meet people who are fodder for gossip columnists but I’m happy to say that if we do, we don’t notice. It’s through the clinic’s and my involvement in animal welfare that I’ve met several Prime Ministers, the late Queen, the Princess Royal and others.
Grant Petrie and I were invited by the Prime Minister of Mauritius to give the first ever CPD (continuing professional development) lectures in that country. Vet and nurses from York Street have regularly volunteered to participate in spay and neuter programs abroad especially in Greece but its by involvement at the boring logistics side of animal welfare that lead to my meeting Japan’s Prime Minister, being invited to have tea at Akasaka Palace with the then Prince and now Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and to have a personal meeting with the Dalai Lama. I hope the students enjoy the name dropping but I promise there will be purpose in its use.
As Chair of the charity Humane World for Animals, Bruce met the Dalai Lama when he opened its India branch.
The Dalai Lama enjoyed this little gift Bruce gave him.
When they met, Bruce remembers Queen Elizabeth saying “Good boy!” and giving his chest a scratch.
We met several diabetic cats in January
As a follow-up to last month’s reminder that staying slim is the best preventative medicine, in January we diagnosed sugar diabetes in several cats. All of them, and their human families, are doing well on insulin treatment.
Burmese cats have a slight genetic predisposition to “diabetes mellitus”. So do Norwegian Forest Cats but the most important risk factor is being middle aged and overweight, even just slightly overweight. Central London cats are at more risk than others because most live leisurely indoor lives, are neutered and are fed very well. If your 6 year old plus cat is drinking more, or losing weight please let us know.
It’s not unusual that by the time diabetes is diagnosed a cat needs its electrolytes rebalanced by intravenous fluids.
There are minor price changes this year
If you track this type of data you know that the Consumer Price Index (CPIH) is going in the right direction, falling to 3.8 percent by the end of last year. Inflation in the veterinary sector remains irritatingly high, at over 7.5 percent. We have increased some of our professional fees by between 2 and 4 percent. For example our consultation fee has changed from £95 to £98. There are no increases in the costs of drugs, parasite prevention medicines, lab tests, travel documents or over the counter products.
We met old friends and had our annual Christmas dinner in January.
Ashley McManus, York Street’s manager for 30 years, visited from Dublin recently. In ‘retirement’, Ash is anything but. She’s become a qualified medicines dispenser in Ireland, obtained advanced computer skills and we’re happy to say her mother is in fine fettle. Ash sends everyone her best wishes and says she misses all of you. We’ll see Ash again shortly.
Ashley always hid her bright lights at York Street
Veronica Aksmanovic and her family also visited, from their home in Frankfurt where she moved to care for her parents. She tells us she wishes there was a veterinary clinic in Frankfurt with the ethics and skills of York Street. Her daughters are still a few years away from university but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they’ll all return to London one day.
Veronica maintains her medical and surgical skills working in Frankfurt.
Another former member of the team who keeps in touch is Dr Crina Dragu who first visited us as a veterinary student and then as a graduate vet. Our dentist Peter Kertesz stimulated her interest in dentistry. Crina presently does dentistry in Geneva and Lausanne but later this year she’s moving to Nice to join Azurvet, the Côte d’Azur’s excellent referral clinic. It’s great to know that York Street has such a positive influence on those who have been part of us.
Dr Crina Dragu says her son Cezar is interested in ancient history.
In mid January the team had its annual Christmas dinner in the Library of the Garrick Club in Covent Garden. Last year we finished off the night in the Club’s billiards room but this year the squad moved on to a late night karaoke bar!
The nurses felt that Stephen Warren’s hair needed some added colour.
I hear on good authority that some Cambridge University faculty can dance as well as sing.
Until next month, take care.
The London Vet Clinic Eating & Choral Club