Hope you’ve been wrapping up warm in the cold weather? I’ve been very cosy in my hutch which has mainly been down to all the donations of food, bedding and money we’ve received through this year’s Winter Warmer Appeal. We know it is a difficult time at the moment for everyone – we’re seeing more new faces here and I keep hearing our carers talking about how the donations are down  - so from all of us here, a really big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to the Winter Warmer Appeal and if anyone else is able to help, even if it is just one tin or a couple of pounds, we’d be incredibly grateful!

Also this month we all got a little more jolly at the annual Christmas Fair  which was a huge success! Thank you to all who came down, it was very busy and we managed to raise a wonderful £3,500! All the money will go towards me and my friends at the Dogs Home, keeping us in the comfortable lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to!

Speaking of rabbit comfort, the National RSPCA has just started a new campaign: the Great Big Rabbit Survey. Unsurprisingly (as we are pretty fantastic!), rabbits are the UK’s third most popular pet, though in my opinion we should be the favourite! We are social, active and very intelligent animals, if I may say so myself! Sadly, thousands of my long eared friends end up in rescue centres every year.

The welfare of companion rabbits is a big priority for the RSPCA.  The survey aims to improve pet rabbit welfare and the first step is to find out more about rabbits and their owners, so the RSPCA can help develop practical care advice to keep pet rabbits happy and healthy. It will also be useful to any potential rabbit owners and help unwanted and abandoned bunnies find new homes.

If you click here you’ll be able to share your personal rabbit stories, get hints and tips on rabbit care, join the campaign for better rabbit welfare, be in with a chance to win lots of rabbit goodies and receive a free rabbit screensaver! Unfortunately it’s not a picture of yours truly but it’ll do!

That’s all from me just now, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love Theo
xxxx

Unfortunately for me I could not participate in the annual Dogs Show and Fun Day: my old hips just aren’t what they used to be, however, I must say, very lucky for the other participants! I heard it was a very exciting event! Thank you very much to all the sponsors, volunteers and visitors as the event raised £5,000 for me and my other furry companions! That’s a lot of cabbage in my eyes!

Speaking of food, with autumn growing very close that means one thing – carrot season! Oh, and the launch of our 2010 Winter Warmer Appeal. Last years donation’s of money, food, blankets and towels were really appreciated and helped us all keep extra warm when the cold weather hit, and this year we’re hoping everyone will be just as generous. I for one am hoping for a new woolly scarf and hat that will accommodate my ears!

Cheerio for now, keep me up to date with any news: you know I love to hear all the gossip!

Theo XX

Barney was brought into the clinic by his very concerned owner. He had been missing for five days and returned with a huge swelling on the side of his face. An examination revealed that Barney had a very large and uncomfortable cat-bite abscess.

A cat-bite abscess occurs when a cat is bitten by another cat and the skin is punctured, leaving one or more small holes. Unfortunately mouths contain a lot of bacteria and this is introduced into the wound on the teeth. The puncture holes are small, so they heal very quickly but this leaves all the bacteria under the skin to multiply and cause a horrible infection producing lots of pus which cannot drain away anywhere. As you can imagine abscesses become very painful as pressure builds up and the skin stretches. Cats also feel poorly due to the high levels of bacteria in their blood, usually resulting in a high fever.

Barney had a huge abscess on the side of his face

It was first necessary to drain the abscess. Barney was given a general anaesthetic to make sure this procedure was as stress-free and painless as possible. An incision was made to allow the pus to drain then the whole cavity was flushed with a dilute anti-bacterial solution.

Barney was anaesthetised to drain the abscess

As Barney’s abscess was particularly large some of the skin over it had started to die off - this occurs as the pressure of the abscess cuts off the blood supply to the skin. The section of dying skin was cut away by the surgeon. It was necessary to remove the area of dead skin as otherwise it would continue to die off and seriously affect the healing of the wound.

The dead skin was sugically removed

The area was then very thoroughly cleaned and flushed with saline, to try and remove all the infection.

The area was thoroughly cleaned

Barney was left with a large open wound behind his ear which needed to be carefully sutured. This type of wound is at risk of “break down” because of possible residual infection, so good post-op wound care is essential.

The large wound was sutured

Barney was returned to his owner the same day with instructions to clean the wound several times a day, ensuring that any pus which still might develop would be removed. Barney did need another smaller operation two weeks later as more skin had died off and required removal, but after another couple of weeks it had healed beautifully.

All healed

Cat bite abscesses (CBAs) can occur in several different places: those around the face are most common but we often find them around the rump and the tail base and even on the tail. This is probably because the cat is bitten as he is running away!

They are usually caused through territorial fighting, a reason why they are common in un-castrated males, but also occur in females and often around breeding season. In these situations not only are cats prone to abscesses but they are also at high risk of catching Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus (FIV) an incurable disease, very similar to HIV in humans, which is mainly passed through saliva. Early neutering significantly reduces the risk of cats catching FIV and reduces the incidence of CBAs.  For these reasons we also castrated Barney while he was with us to hopefully avoid him getting into trouble again!

Barney comes in for a final check up looking much better!

Small Animal Unit construction.

I speak for everyone in the home including my budgie friends when I say we are all eagerly anticipating the completion date for our new Small Furry Accommodation next month. The cold weather’s encouraging us to curl up from the shivery snow and I can’t wait to see my new pod; I’m looking forward to arranging and rearranging my hay and shredded paper so I can be as snug as a bug in a rug. Thank you from all the little creatures here at the Home for donating to the Small Furry Appeal last year; now with the new pods we will have the comfort and space to play until we find that special someone to take us home.

Speaking of appeals, my bigger friends (the cats and dogs) would like to express their gratitude to all of the kind and generous people who have donated to our Winter Warmer Appeal. We have had lots and lots of food, blankets and towels donated to us which will definitely help over the next few months ahead. The cold weather had really hit us and having the warmth of the heaters and of the donated blankets really made our temporary homes more comfortable until we move into the new pods.

Let’s hope that spring jumps up soon, bringing all of us the warmer weather and bringing life back to Bristol. We have lots of fun and fantastic events coming up and we would love for you to get involved. We have Kathy’s Coffee Mornings, our Race Night, our Spring Fair, RSPCA Week, the Mutt Strutt and of course, the RSPCA Bristol Branch Open Day where we will get to socialise with other animals that come to visit for the day. Go on, have a look at our Events page for more information. That’s all for now my little chicks, let’s look forward to the great things 2010 has in store!

The Clinic team leapt into action - first Peter was given emergency treatment to stabilise the shock and blood loss, then we had to examine his mouth under general anaesthetic to see where all the blood was coming from. We found a really nasty injury – Peter’s hard palate (the roof of his mouth) had been completely split open by the impact of the car.

Peter had to undergo surgery to stitch up the split. It was important that the injury was completely closed by the sutures, because otherwise food material can get into the wound and cause problems with infection.

The split in Peter's pallet

In fact, for the first few days Peter was completely “NIL BY MOUTH”, to allow the healing process to start. We placed a feeding tube into Peter’s food-pipe in his neck so we could give him liquid food straight into his stomach, by-passing his sore mouth. Peter needed very intensive care over the next few days, but the RSPCA nurses were determined he was going to pull through.

Peter all better after his operation

Peter was a perfect patient – he was very tolerant of his feeding tube and was good about having to have loads of injections every day. He became a firm favourite with the Clinic staff so we were all delighted when the tube came out and Peter started to eat normally again. Here he is fully recovered, scoffing down his last meal with us. Nobody came forward to claim Peter so he was transferred through to the Animal Home next-door to be found lovely a new family.

A lovely sight to see Peter able to eat again and ready for a new home

The dog show and fun day will be located at Petruth Paddocks, Cheddar, BS27 3RP, and organisers would like to invite you and your four legged friend to join them for a great day out.

ALL profit made from the day will be donated to RSPCA Bristol & District Branch and Bristol Dogs & Cats Home (Registered Charity No. 205858).

Pedigree, non-pedigree and non-classes will be offered along with games, a sausage eating competition and lots of fun stalls!

There will be prizes galore from doggy treats to pet photo shoots for each winner to pet portraits.

For more information and a schedule please visit www.friendsforpets.co.uk or call Becca on 07779 007828.

Apparently this new project is going to provide the smaller residents at the Home, such as myself, with far more suitable housing than we currently have. Whilst we know the staff at the Dogs Home do their best to care for us as well as possible, our current accommodation is old and quite small – we don’t really have the space or environment to exercise or behave as we could do. Lots of men with clipboards have been wandering around us for months, measuring and writing things down. It’s been very exciting. Poppy told me she had overheard them talking about RSPCA size recommendations and the word ‘pod’ has been used a lot – does that mean we’ll have our own supply of peas?

Lots of posters have been put up in front of our cages talking about how we will have a new layout which should allow ‘greater accessibility to potential adopters’ which I think means that the public will be able to see us better and that can only mean that they will fall in love with us more easily and offer us a new home to go to where we’ll be loved forever! If that happens then I’ll probably make loads more friends as they’ll be coming and going much more quickly.

The only worrying thing is that this project is going to very expensive. I saw the maintenance chap, Paul, rubbing his head a lot recently saying it is going to cost the Home a whopping £106,000  - that’s an awful lot of carrots!

The men in suits told him it is all going to get underway this summer so the staff have decided to launch the Small Furry Appeal. This appeal will be really important to help raise the money to build our new homes.

But the Appeal isn’t just about more space; it’s also to teach people about taking care of small animals properly and how our needs are just as important and complex as a cats or dogs.

A lot of people think it’s a good idea to have rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs and other smallies as pets for small children – but I can tell you from experience, that really is not always the case! Sadly, a lot of my friends have come here because they haven’t been looked after properly or their child owner has got bored of them. We have feelings too you know and get bored and lonely when we’re ignored. Before taking on a small animal you really need to consider our specific needs, like the type and size of living space we require, what companionship we may or may not need and our exact food requirements (Did you know that lettuce is actually poisonous to us rabbits?). With the right care, love, commitment and attention some of us can actually live up to 15 years!

Small animals like me and my friends are more intelligent than people give us credit for and we need attention and stimulation too. We tend to get overlooked and misunderstood just because we’re small, which really is a sad. We’re clever too you know! Did you know many of us can actually house trained? And just because we sleep and eat in our hutches doesn’t mean we deserve to be there all the time, getting less attention, exercise and love compared to a dog or cat. Rabbits also need as much exercise as a small dog! Imagine being shut in a small cage with no company or stimulation; it’s a lonely existence and like all animals, we also feel sadness, depression and fear. If no one comes to see us we become scared of socialising with humans or even other animals of our own species which makes us unwanted.

Bristol Dogs & Cats Home cares for over 70 small animals including me. Like a lot of the animals that arrive here, many have come here because they have been neglected or abandoned by owners who can no longer cope, or no longer care. The Small Furry Appeal will pay for our new bigger pens bigger - providing a higher standard of care for me and my friends during our stay. Please help us raise the vital £106,000 to make our time here at the Bristol Dogs and Cats Home as comfortable and happy as possible! Any donation big or small will make a big difference to our lives and will give us the best chance to meet the right person we have been waiting so desperately for.

This month we’re talking about RSPCA Week as it’s jumped up on us with the year hopping by so fast! My floppy ears have perked up listening to conversations at the Home and it sounds like a really important week that will help all of my furry and feathery friends.

RSPCA Week is an annual event that runs from the 27th April until 3rd May this year. Its aim is to raise money and awareness for local branches and rescue centres like ours. Remember, we get no funding from the National RSPCA, Lottery or Government so we rely entirely on kind folks like you to lend us a helping paw - I mean, a helping hand!

Nearly 2,000 unwanted, stray and neglected animals come through the doors of the RSPCA Clinic and the Bristol Dogs Home every year, costing us over £27,000 a week! Now I’m no expert on numbers but that sounds like a lot! Just to think that one of those unwanted little animals was me until I was brought here and I am so happy that I was saved and am now being well looked after, all because of the love and support from you.

There are loads of ways you can help. You can either organise your own fundraising activity or take part in one of ours! Why not promote RSPCA Week at your workplace or school and get everyone involved in your event. You could organise some wacky games, a table top sale or cake sale (everyone loves those – especially carrot cakes!), or even something as simple as a ‘dress-down day’ – every penny you raise will make a difference to us little ones. We even have a free fundraising pack available with all sorts of useful ideas and tips.

Speaking of events, we will be holding our own event, a Mutt Strutt, to mark the end of RSPCA Week on Saturday 2nd May. The Mutt Strutt (a sponsored dog walk) will start from the Dogs Home will take you on a scenic three mile circular route around Bristol with many places of interest on the way - it will be a great way for everyone to spring into action! I do hope you can come and help walk some of my dog friends from the Home or you can bring your own pooch.

If you would like more information on anything about RSPCA Week or would like a free fundraising pack, you can contact Rusti, one of the nice ladies in the office. Her phone number is 0117 3003968 or you can email rusti@rspca-bristol.org.uk

Rosie feeling very poorly before her operation

These stones, known as calculi, are caused by mineral salts in the diet which in some individuals can build up in the urine: very small calculi can be passed normally but if they are too large can remain in the bladder. These gradually increase further in size and can result in the complete blockage of the bladder and urethra, which is a very serious veterinary emergency. Although in Rosie’s case the stones could be easily felt, we often take an xray to confirm the diagnosis.

Xray showing bladder full of stones

Due to the size and quantity of the calculi the only remedy to her problem was an operation called a cystotomy: This involved surgery to open up her bladder and manually remove the stones.

Operation to remove the stones

As you can see from the picture there were dozens of them, from small pieces like grit to 3cm diameter pebbles. It was necessary to flush her bladder and urethra thoroughly with saline to ensure that even the tiniest pieces of stone were removed as these could have caused further problems.

All of these came out of her small bladder!

Poor Rosie went through a long operation but was feeling so much better the next day - she was back to her usual bouncy self and was well enough to return home to her relieved owners.
The stones were sent off to a laboratory for analysis: this told us what the stones were made of and as a result Rosie is now on a special diet which should prevent any further stones being produced.

Rosie feeling much better and on her way home

Dylan settled very quickly with all our other animals and has made himself right at home - currently snuggled up and snoring away with our other dog Mac. He is a lively and loving dog and his favorite activities are eating (we have to hide all his food in a food bin so he can’t nibble on the sly!) and being taken for long walks to chase balls across the countryside.

After a trip to the Devon coast for a few days last week, we also discovered his love for jumping the breakers on the beach… although he couldn’t quite make out the sea. He was not too sure what it was! We are wondering whether we might try his paws at some dog agility, I think he would love it!

He has proven to be very good off the lead, although still needs a bit of training as expected for a young and very lively dog!

He has very much become a part of our family very quickly and we can’t imagine what life was like before having him.  Choosing to adopt was one of the best things we could have done - we struggled to find the right dog for us at first but patience is a virtue as they say and the wait has definitely paid off!

We’d like to say a big thank you to all at Bristol Dogs and Cats Home who put up with us week in week out and all the support and advice you have given - a thoroughly positive and rewarding outcome, we couldn’t have asked for more from our new little guy!