What’s for supper?
Our family dog Inca let us know when she was hungry
In humans, there are over 50 genetic factors that influence appetite and body mass. When geneticists look for these in dogs and cats they’ll probably find that obsessive food seekers like Inca, in this picture, probably have all of them! Many years ago I took my golden retriever Macy on a road trip in a vintage GMC motorhome across the United States. To celebrate our return Hester, one of York Street’s vet nurses, created a cake in the shape of the motorhome. It was too perfect to eat so I took it home, packed in a box and stored it carefully in a cupboard. A year later guess who found it in the cupboard? Inca, who fortunately was not poisoned by all the currants and raisins she ate!
My prized GMC Motorhome fruitcake after Inca had a little Labrador nibble
Some cats are also obsessive eaters and if allowed to eat as much as they want they can become worryingly overweight. Our most popular breed, the British Shorthair is perhaps the most likely to over eat but at York Street we see this at a medical problem level also in some Maine Coons and Persians.
This happy cat had a feeder it activated itself. That’s how it got to this size.
If you or I are more than 20 percent overweight we’re classified as ‘obese’. Obesity is as unhealthy for our buddies as it is for us.
Controlling excess weight is just as important as controlling infectious diseases or parasites. In our London companions the former is a far greater challenge than the latter two.
If your companion is overweight we should first of all eliminate medical reasons, then come up with a feeding plan that you, your family and your companions are happy with. It’s important to eliminate medical reasons for obesity because, as an example, while Dachshunds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and American Cocker Spaniels are all breeds prone to being overweight they’re also more at risk of underactive thyroid glands, a medical cause for being overweight.
As a general rule we encourage you to feed fresh food to your pets. If you prefer not to prepare fresh meals yourself we like what Butternut Box provides for dogs and Marro for cats. But for overweight dogs and cats, the commercially produced low calorie foods from makers such as Virbac, Royal Canin or Purina are very well thought out and (when medical reasons for weight gain have been controlled) very effective. If you’re concerned about your pet’s weight please book an in-person or telephone visit.
And don’t worry about treats. All of us enjoy telling our buddies we love and care for them so sharing is ok. We will calculate in these calories when creating a diet plan for your companion.
This is Macy, in France, sharing a madeleine as she checks into a hotel in Champagne, France.
Katie brings sparkle as well as experience to York Street
We knew vet nurse Katie Gray would be an asset to York Street. Katie’s previous extensive experience in general practice and at both charity and referral hospitals was wonderful. And everyone she previously worked with told us how lucky we are to have her join the London Vet Clinic. But it’s only after sharing full days with someone that you really get a full picture and my goodness how lucky we all are that Katie chose to move to London where she has close family.
Katie understands chickens and stick insects as well as cats and dogs…
If you notice Katie offering extra cuddles to smaller, older four legged visitors that’s because her ‘home help’ include squeaky-toy lover Angel and Elsa the slipper hoarder.
Like so many of us, Katie’s family introduced her to life with animals, in her instance guinea pigs and hamsters but also chickens and stick insects. (If you have a stick insect question, ask Katie!) You’ll see Katie at Nurses Clinics and helping the reception team but most of her day is spent with your companions, providing them with nursing care and attention.
I visited my dentist on Thursday. Here he is on Friday
Healthy teeth and gums are an essential core to good health. In fact this is something I should discuss in more detail next month but right now I just want to quickly share with you what my dentist Peter Kertesz gets up to on Fridays.
I saw Peter recently because I broke a tooth, not chewing on a beef bone I should add. (It was corn kernels!) As Peter and Monika his dental nurse completed the first stage of popping in a crown I managed to ask what they were doing the next day. On Friday, Monika sent me this picture of Peter in the process of saving three fractured canine teeth (via route canal treatment) in a clouded leopard.
Peter Kertesz does humans Monday to Thursday and everything else on Fridays.
Adam, Stephen, Paloma and Natalia regularly treat tooth and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) by scaling and polishing teeth and removing those that are beyond saving. When there’s a more complicated challenge we’re lucky to have Peter available, to give us his advice or to examine your cat or dog’s mouth. Peter is the only dentist ever to have been made an Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
I’ve just been interviewed by my son
Fifty six year ago, I came to London to work at the Veterinary Hospital at Regents’ Park Zoo. Working for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was, I thought, a great way to visit London and get paid for doing so! I had no idea I’d still be here!
Dr Amanda Guthrie is Head Vet at ZSL. Ben interviewed us both.
One of my kids, Ben, is amongst other things a broadcaster and just interviewed me for Wildest Moments, a new podcast from @OfficialZSL, that explores the encounters with nature that stay with us forever. Amanda is a zoo medicine specialist. My accent is all Canadian. Adam’s is Central Pennsylvanian while Amanda’s is Midwestern American.
My episode will be coming later this year – but you can listen to the first episodes now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: zsl.org/wildestmoments
#WildestMoments #ZSLAt200
Until next month.
All the best
Bruce & the York Street team