07/02/2012 by admin.

This morning we had a call from a very distressed owner regarding their treasured pet hamster, which appeared almost lifeless.  We told them to come straight down and we’d see them immediately, fearing the worst.  On arrival and examination, the hamster felt VERY cold to the touch, but WAS breathing and had no other signs of injury or illness.  Katherine was suspicious that it was in a state of hibernation, although technically hamsters generally don’t hibernate.  Upon consulting the ‘in-depth-small-furry-mammal-manual’, APPARENTLY, if the temperature drops below 4 degrees centigrade, then this can happen.

SO, we fired up the trusty incubator, and lo and behold, within an hour the hamster was happily stuffing its pouches, with a whole bowl of food!!  VERY much alive.  The hamster was then reunited with a very relieved owner during this afternoon.

Another happy ending!

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »

20/01/2012 by admin.

Just a quick update on dear Tilly.  We hear that she and her new ’stepbrother’ are getting on MARVELLOUSLY.  Also she can now negotiate stairs.  Apparently whilst she’s descending, Bobby creeps up behind and bops one on ‘er, she continues down, then waits at the bottom and gives him a good wallop when he’s landed.  All’s fair etc etc …  AAaaaaaaah.

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »

03/01/2012 by admin.

It is with mixed feelings that I’m writing this news snippet ….

At the end of last week, we found a lovely new home for ‘Our Tilly’, who (as you may well be aware) has been living an ‘upstairs-only’ existence with us for well over a year.  We always knew that if she threatened to try and negotiate the stairs, we would have to find somewhere else for her, but her choices would be limited owing to her ’special needs’, ie ‘wobblyness’.  To cut a long story short, one of our longstanding clients recently lost one of their old cats, and did mention that they would be looking to take on another at some point.  As their situation ticked all the boxes for our Tilly’s ‘wish-list’ in a new home, we waved farewell to her on Thursday.  After the initial ‘getting to know you’ hiccups with their other cat, we now know that she has made herself very much at home, without pushing the other cat’s nose out.

Life in the office just isn’t quite the same without her, but we are all really happy that she’s now got 24/7 TLC for the rest of her days.  (And … we will still get to see her for her regular nail ‘manicure’ …. oh what fun, she just LOVES her claws being clipped … NOT).

Anyway, we like to look upon this as a happy ever after story!

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »

08/12/2011 by admin.

Yeah, yeah, OK, so the title is a BIT of a tenuous link BUT …… we (the M&T staff) were generally chatting about ‘Things Christmassy’ this morning, and someone mentioned the knotty problem of trying to wrap up presents whilst being attacked by a hyper kitten or pup, who thinks the glittery ribbons etc are fair game for playing with, and worse, eating!  Love it or hate it (wrapping up presents), please please do be careful with assorted string/ribbons and other such matter for tying round parcels, as if eaten by your pet, this could potentially cause a major problem, resulting in emergency veterinary treatment, sometimes even an exploratory operation!

Also, whilst we are on the subject of Christmas, please make sure you dispose of your turkey carcase carefully, so that no prying noses/paws can retrieve it out of the kitchen bin.  If your pet does get hold of any bones, potentially this can cause a blockage, or damage to the throat, etc.  Better safe than sorry eh? ….

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »

30/11/2011 by admin.

Oh my, we are all SO so happy this morning.  Monday’s ‘escapee’ was captured, safely, by his owners last night.  Obviously the excitement of 48 hours of ‘going native’ in the undergrowth behind our car park had worn a bit thin by the time a) the rain had come down, b) it had dropped cold and c) there was no waiter-service-nice-food!!  Needless to say, the (much relieved) owner has now purchased a good quality, sturdy, wire basket.  We like a story with a happy ending.

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »

29/11/2011 by admin.

Unfortunately one of our client’s cats escaped from its basket on the way to our surgery yesterday.  The owner is obviously very worried and wants to find her cat again.  It was a young male castrated black and white domestic shorthaired with a black spot on its chin.  It is ID chipped but hasn’t got a collar on.  It escaped in our car park so is in the centre of Belper.  If anyone sees a cat matching this description please let us know or bring it in for us to scan.  The owner will be very grateful.

 Just something to think about – is your cat basket safe and secure and suitable for your cat or could the same thing happen to you? (we hope not)

 Lets all keep our fingers crossed for a good outcome!

Posted in M&T Mutterings | No Comments »