Nothing is more frustrating than a cat urinating indoors. Unfortunately, this is a very common problem with multiple possible causes. It is important to remember that your cat is not doing this to annoy you; there is a reason for his or her behaviour. This could be, for example: a bladder infection, bladder stones, marking territory for other cats, stress caused by renovations or children, etc. It is therefore essential to determine the underlying cause. In all cases, we will ask you to collect a urine sample from your cat and bring it to us. This can provide us with a lot of valuable information and may allow us to start an appropriate treatment. We have a detailed information leaflet about unwanted urination in cats; please contact us for a copy.

If you wish to clean the spots: scrub thoroughly with Biotex or green soap (do NOT use chlorine-based products, as these actually attract the cat). Then use the environmentally friendly spray UF-2000; this breaks down the urine odour by means of enzymes.

We very often see cats that bite or lick themselves bald, particularly on the backside near the tail. Small scabs may then appear in this area. This biting/licking is often caused by itching. Itching at the backside is very commonly seen in cats that have fleas or a flea allergy. In cases of flea allergy, you may not see many fleas on your cat; even a single bite can be enough to trigger this reaction. A second cause, which we see somewhat less frequently, is when the cat suffers from blocked anal glands (two small sacs next to the anus filled with scent glands). This can cause itching, prompting the cat to bite at the backside.

If you notice this, the first step is to provide effective flea control. If the cat is experiencing severe itching, we advise you to come in so we can determine the underlying cause and give the cat something to help reduce the itching (and scratching).

There are many anti-parasitic products on the market; for advice on effective treatments, you can contact us by phone or at the reception desk!

Many people are very alarmed when they see an animal vomiting blood or notice blood in the stool. This is, of course, entirely understandable, but it is not always equally serious or an emergency. There is a difference between fresh blood and older/digested blood.

Stools
If there are a few drops of fresh (red) blood in the stool, it often means that a small blood vessel at the very end of the intestines has burst, for example because the animal has been straining. This is not a reason to panic. However, if this happens more frequently, it may be due to something such as a polyp in the rectum, in which case you should come in to have it examined. If you notice that the stool is dark or black in colour, it means there is older/digested blood present. This indicates that the animal is losing blood from the beginning of the stomach or intestines and can be a sign of more serious illnesses. If you observe this, it is important to contact us promptly.

Vomiting
If there are a few drops of fresh (red) blood in the vomit, the same applies as above; a small blood vessel may have ruptured. If there is a large amount of blood or if it occurs more frequently, there may be an issue with the stomach (such as an ulcer or tumour); in that case, we advise coming in promptly. If the vomit has the appearance of coffee grounds, this means it contains a significant amount of (digested) blood and is an indication of more serious conditions. In such cases, we advise contacting us promptly for further investigation.

There are different opinions about the best age to spay a female dog. Based on various studies, it appears that the risk of developing mammary gland cancer decreases if a female dog is spayed before^e her fourth heat.

For small dogs (adult weight under 20 kg), we can perform spaying as early as 6 months of age, before the first heat. At this stage, the ovaries and uterus are still small.

For dogs with an adult weight over 20–25 kg, the situation is slightly different. In these dogs, there is an increased risk of urinary incontinence later in life if they are spayed before their first heat. For larger dogs, we therefore recommend allowing them to go through one heat cycle and then spaying them three months after that heat.

For personalised advice regarding your own dog, you are always welcome to call us or stop by.