VioVet Blog - All Posts by Nick

  • New Puppy Checklist Image

    New Puppy Checklist

    26 February 2026 Last updated: 27 February 2026 - By in Dogs

    Bringing home a new pup? This ultimate puppy checklist covers everything you need to prepare for your dog's first weeks at home - from food and vaccinations, to training, insurance, and daily care. Key Takeaways Start with the basics - the right puppy food, a safe sleeping area, toys and feeding equipment are essential. Book vaccinations, mic...

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  • How to Body Condition Score your pet Image

    How to Body Condition Score your pet

    12 October 2022 Last updated: 29 February 2024 - By in Pet Health

    The best way to tell that your pet is the correct weight is by working out their Body Condition Score (BCS). Every animal will have a slightly different body build, even compared to those of the same breed. The ideal weight will therefore vary and so breed averages are not good guides to follow when trying to calculate this. Fortunately Body Condit...

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  • A vet guide to treating separation anxiety Image

    A vet guide to treating separation anxiety

    13 May 2021 Last updated: 17 March 2025 - By in Pet Care

    This is one of the most common behavioural disorders in our pets, in fact an estimated 14% of pet dogs suffer from the condition. Separation anxiety is a fear that is caused by separation or the threat of separation from family members. It can be really frustrating to control but with a good behavioural plan in place you can eventually get on top o...

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  • A skin supplement guide Image

    A skin supplement guide

    15 March 2021 Last updated: 18 March 2021 - By in Pet Care

    The largest organ in our pet’s bodies is by far the skin, and lots of skin means lots of hair! In fact our feline friends have up to an estimated 60,000 to 120,000 hairs per square inch of skin, and our doggy companions 150,000. Most breeds shed at least twice yearly which equals millions of hair every year. All that hair can only grow proper...

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  • Why do vets care about our pet's teeth? Image

    Why do vets care about our pet's teeth?

    25 January 2021 Last updated: 8 March 2022 - By in Pet Care

    Why do vets care about our pet’s teeth? So our dog or cat’s breath smells and they have plaque building up. It’s been like this for a while though and we’re used to it. Does it really matter? Actually it does. Plaque is a build up of bacteria on the teeth and gums and these bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream through t...

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  • Rabbit poop - what’s normal? A vet guide Image

    Rabbit poop - what’s normal? A vet guide

    3 December 2020 Last updated: 9 August 2021 - By in Small Animals

    The famous saying goes that ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’, but for our pet bunnies it’s actually their poop! You can tell a significant amount about how healthy your rabbit is by keeping an eye on their toilet habits. This may sound slightly crazy but please read to the end of this blog before you make up your mind. What...

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  • Christmas Pet Care Image

    Christmas Pet Care

    25 November 2020 Last updated: 11 December 2024 - By in Pet Care

    There are so many things to think about during the christmas period and it’s easy to let something slip! To keep your pets happy and healthy during the season we’ve compiled a few Christmas top tips as recommended by our vets. Decorate your house safely Keep decorations out of reach. Hanging decorations like lights and tinsel can ei...

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  • Pet Safe Gift Guide Image

    Pet Safe Gift Guide

    24 November 2020 Last updated: 25 November 2020 - By in Pet Care

    Christmas has snuck up on us and is just around the corner! There’s a huge variety of toys and treats out there for your pets to unwrap on the day, but which one should you get for them? How can you work out whether they are safe or appropriate? Here is our pet safe gift guide to help you choose the best possible gift for your furry friend. 1...

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  • Avian Influenza Update Image

    Avian Influenza Update

    16 November 2020 Last updated: 15 March 2022 - By in Birds

    UPDATE - 15th May 2021: The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and ban on poultry gatherings has been lifted from midday on 15 May. However, high biosecurity standards remain important. UPDATE - 7th December 2020: Ontop of the below information, it is now a legal requirement from the 14th December for bird owners to keep their birds indoors only. This...

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  • Feeding your rabbit or guinea pig Image

    Feeding your rabbit or guinea pig

    4 September 2020 Last updated: 5 July 2024 - By in Small Animals

    Rabbits and guinea pigs have a very complex digestive system that relies on what is called ‘Hind Gut Fermentation’. This includes a microflora of healthy bacteria that help them break down the tough forage and fibre they eat. It’s really important you give the right diet to keep this microflora happy and your pet healthy. This sho...

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