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We just wanted to say a huge congratulations to the whole GB Team for such a great performance at the Agility World Championships last weekend-what amazing results!
Special mention to the amazing partnerships we are lucky enough to work with:
Martin with Shape running in large winning a silver medal in the large overall team event and Selfie running in small-vice world champions in the small category - wow!
Naarah with Lemon running in large also winning a silver medal in the large overall team event and winning bronze overall in the large category- incredible!
Steph with Skedaddle running in medium winning bronze as part of the medium team in the agility round-brilliant!
You are all amazing and we are privileged to work with you - so pleased for you all and for the Team overall - way to get the job done! Congratulations!
Special mention to the amazing partnerships we are lucky enough to work with:
Martin with Shape running in large winning a silver medal in the large overall team event and Selfie running in small-vice world champions in the small category - wow!
Naarah with Lemon running in large also winning a silver medal in the large overall team event and winning bronze overall in the large category- incredible!
Steph with Skedaddle running in medium winning bronze as part of the medium team in the agility round-brilliant!
You are all amazing and we are privileged to work with you - so pleased for you all and for the Team overall - way to get the job done! Congratulations!
The SMART Team would like to wish everyone taking part in the Agility World Championships in Belgium the best of luck, and especially to the amazing partnerships we work with:
Martin with Shape running in large and Selfie running in small
Naarah with Lemon running in large
Steph with Skedaddle running in medium
Martin with Shape running in large and Selfie running in small
Naarah with Lemon running in large
Steph with Skedaddle running in medium
Today is Veterinary Receptionist Awareness Day and also National Black Dog Day! Pictured here is our wonderful receptionist Noelle, and lovable black Labrador Arnold in our Swansea clinic.
September was pain awareness month for both us and our pets. Do you ever consider how your pet's behaviour could change if they are in pain?
The IVAPM has produced this poster to help highlight some of the more common changes you may see. Spotting these changes early is key to help avoid any underlying clinical conditions escalating and causing longer term issues.
If you are concerned about your pet's current health/fitness/pain we are able to offer fitness assessments in clinic to help determine if there are any concerns, if modifications at home can help with this or if treatment is needed. Contact us on 01792 931239, 02920 799886 or https://buff.ly/3zvIUEX for more information.
The IVAPM has produced this poster to help highlight some of the more common changes you may see. Spotting these changes early is key to help avoid any underlying clinical conditions escalating and causing longer term issues.
If you are concerned about your pet's current health/fitness/pain we are able to offer fitness assessments in clinic to help determine if there are any concerns, if modifications at home can help with this or if treatment is needed. Contact us on 01792 931239, 02920 799886 or https://buff.ly/3zvIUEX for more information.
Pet of the Month for September is Willow.
Favourite activities: woodland walkies, new adventures and rolling round in the grass!
Favourite toy: a Nylabone to chew!
Favourite treat: chicken nuggets
Special talent: Surprising the people she loves with a BIG hug (standing on her back legs with her front legs over your shoulders while she gives you a kiss!)
Owners report: Willow was very timid and worried when she first started visiting, but with plenty of treats, patience and love from the Smart Clinic Team she soon began to enjoy her appointments and is now excited to see them (Dr Katie has even had a hug - sorry Dr Katie!) Willow says thank you all for being so kind and helping her with her lameness issues (and for letting her bring her "little" but noisy brother Bertie along for moral support!) she is able to enjoy her adventures to the full, thanks to the Smart Clinic.
Willow is a gentle giant who came to Smart Clinic just under a year ago with intermittent lameness in her front left leg, especially when she was getting up after resting. There wasn’t any obvious incident that led to this limping, but a soft tissue injury was suspected as there were no signs that anything was wrong orthopedically. During Willow’s initial appointment, we did see some lameness on both front legs, especially as she tired. We also noted that Willow was pacing while she was changing speed, meaning that she was moving the limbs on one side of her body in unison. We see this pacing in dogs when they are restricting movement due to stiffness or pain. There was tightness and restriction in her left shoulder, triceps and back, as well as a mismatch in her muscle development.
Easing the tightness of Willow’s muscles with a combination of acupuncture, soft tissue massage and laser therapy was the first step in helping Willow get to a place where we could then encourage the appropriate use of her underdeveloped muscles. Willow was sent home with physio exercise homework, and carrying these out regularly (with the help of her little big brother Bertie) has helped hugely with building Willow's strength and enabling her to live life to the fullest. Well done team Willow!
Favourite activities: woodland walkies, new adventures and rolling round in the grass!
Favourite toy: a Nylabone to chew!
Favourite treat: chicken nuggets
Special talent: Surprising the people she loves with a BIG hug (standing on her back legs with her front legs over your shoulders while she gives you a kiss!)
Owners report: Willow was very timid and worried when she first started visiting, but with plenty of treats, patience and love from the Smart Clinic Team she soon began to enjoy her appointments and is now excited to see them (Dr Katie has even had a hug - sorry Dr Katie!) Willow says thank you all for being so kind and helping her with her lameness issues (and for letting her bring her "little" but noisy brother Bertie along for moral support!) she is able to enjoy her adventures to the full, thanks to the Smart Clinic.
Willow is a gentle giant who came to Smart Clinic just under a year ago with intermittent lameness in her front left leg, especially when she was getting up after resting. There wasn’t any obvious incident that led to this limping, but a soft tissue injury was suspected as there were no signs that anything was wrong orthopedically. During Willow’s initial appointment, we did see some lameness on both front legs, especially as she tired. We also noted that Willow was pacing while she was changing speed, meaning that she was moving the limbs on one side of her body in unison. We see this pacing in dogs when they are restricting movement due to stiffness or pain. There was tightness and restriction in her left shoulder, triceps and back, as well as a mismatch in her muscle development.
Easing the tightness of Willow’s muscles with a combination of acupuncture, soft tissue massage and laser therapy was the first step in helping Willow get to a place where we could then encourage the appropriate use of her underdeveloped muscles. Willow was sent home with physio exercise homework, and carrying these out regularly (with the help of her little big brother Bertie) has helped hugely with building Willow's strength and enabling her to live life to the fullest. Well done team Willow!
Introducing Nyx our Physiotherapy Assistant Mary's beautiful Collie:
What a rollercoaster the past few months have been! Back in May, my lively border collie puppy, Nyx (almost 11 months old), got really sick. It started with diarrhoea, and within a day, she had a high fever and was completely lame on her left hind leg. After a scan showed enlarged lymph nodes but no blockages, she was referred to Bristol Vet Specialists (BVS). There further tests confirmed inflammation, but the cause was still unknown. They started her on Prednisolone for a suspected immune-mediated disease. It wasn’t ideal, but the plan was to keep her on it for six weeks.
At first, she improved—her fever improved, though still on the upper end and she was very happy to be home. But then, just as we were hoping to lower her steroid dose, she went lame again. Another visit to BVS showed ongoing issues with her lymph nodes and now gut changes. The vet worried about cancer, fortunately it was ruled out at this time. At home, we struggled with steroid side effects, including lethargy and increased appetite, which made things hard. She scavenged everything! I was still sleeping downstairs with her every night due to frequent toileting.
By early July, antibiotics were added to her treatment. On July 23rd, we had another scan, and I was hopeful after seeing improvements at home. But the results were disheartening—the lymph nodes were still enlarged, and the vet mentioned cancer again, despite previous tests clearing it. Heartbroken, I decided to make the most of her summer making precious memories.
Fast forward five weeks to our next scan at the end of August, and to everyone’s surprise, it came back completely CLEAR! I can’t express how incredible that felt. We have a future to plan for, and hopefully that can include agility training. However, we don’t have all the answers but do know part of her illness was autoimmune, there’s a chance of flare-ups as we taper her steroids. Only time will tell, but for now we're down to 5mg from 25mg of steroids. The long-term high dose of steroids has left her with very little muscle, lack of exercise tolerance, heat intolerance and lots of bald patches where her fur has yet to regrow!
We’ve got a long road ahead to rebuild her strength and fitness!
Join us on this journey as we navigate Nyx’s rehab and celebrate every small victory together.
What a rollercoaster the past few months have been! Back in May, my lively border collie puppy, Nyx (almost 11 months old), got really sick. It started with diarrhoea, and within a day, she had a high fever and was completely lame on her left hind leg. After a scan showed enlarged lymph nodes but no blockages, she was referred to Bristol Vet Specialists (BVS). There further tests confirmed inflammation, but the cause was still unknown. They started her on Prednisolone for a suspected immune-mediated disease. It wasn’t ideal, but the plan was to keep her on it for six weeks.
At first, she improved—her fever improved, though still on the upper end and she was very happy to be home. But then, just as we were hoping to lower her steroid dose, she went lame again. Another visit to BVS showed ongoing issues with her lymph nodes and now gut changes. The vet worried about cancer, fortunately it was ruled out at this time. At home, we struggled with steroid side effects, including lethargy and increased appetite, which made things hard. She scavenged everything! I was still sleeping downstairs with her every night due to frequent toileting.
By early July, antibiotics were added to her treatment. On July 23rd, we had another scan, and I was hopeful after seeing improvements at home. But the results were disheartening—the lymph nodes were still enlarged, and the vet mentioned cancer again, despite previous tests clearing it. Heartbroken, I decided to make the most of her summer making precious memories.
Fast forward five weeks to our next scan at the end of August, and to everyone’s surprise, it came back completely CLEAR! I can’t express how incredible that felt. We have a future to plan for, and hopefully that can include agility training. However, we don’t have all the answers but do know part of her illness was autoimmune, there’s a chance of flare-ups as we taper her steroids. Only time will tell, but for now we're down to 5mg from 25mg of steroids. The long-term high dose of steroids has left her with very little muscle, lack of exercise tolerance, heat intolerance and lots of bald patches where her fur has yet to regrow!
We’ve got a long road ahead to rebuild her strength and fitness!
Join us on this journey as we navigate Nyx’s rehab and celebrate every small victory together.
