One of my very good clients informed me today that summer is a popular time for families to get new puppies.  This was news to me - I thought that people generally got dogs around Christmas time.  But I was labouring under a misconception.  Summer holidays are actually the times that families feel that they … Continue reading What (not) to Look Out for When Buying a Pup

This week we shall turn to the equestrian world.  As related a month ago in this column, you will be very aware that Downpatrick is a cradle of modern horse racing.  We have one of the finest courses in Ireland and been blessed by the visits of some equine superstars.  I see no reason why … Continue reading Should we Still be Whipping Racehorses in the 21st Century?

Please forgive the melodramatic title.  But trouble is brewing in Lecale, right under our noses.  And indeed inside our noses.  In these divided times, this is a problem that has the potential to unite us all, rich and poor, old and young.  The problem has the rather unsexy name of “Antibiotic Resistance” (AR), but I … Continue reading Antibiotic Resistance – A New Plague?

Now, when folk think of Downpatrick, they think of many things:  St Patrick, history, great pubs, fantastic veterinary care.  However, I doubt many think that it is the cradle of horse racing, but it is.  We do of course have a famous race-course - Downpatrick Race Course, which has just hosted a festival of racing … Continue reading Downpatrick as the Cradle of Horseracing?

So finally May is here - and summer has begun!  Our ancestors celebrated this month as the feast of Bealtaine.   This feast traditionally begins on May 1st - May day.  Various activities are associated with this day - from washing your face in the dew to maintain a youthful complexion, to various animal-related practices. … Continue reading Bealtaine

A question that we are often asked in the clinic is “Can I Feed My Dog Raw Meat?”.  Most people feed their dog on branded pet food, but some folks like to make their own diets for their pet.  This trend stems from a desire to feed the dog the “best quality” ingredients, or sometimes … Continue reading Should You Feed Your Dog Raw Meat?

One of the toughest things about being a vet, and one of the privileges is ending a life humanely.  In this country we are licensed to euthanize animals.  This act has many euphemisms - “put to sleep”, “put down”, and “say goodbye”; among others.  These phrases all mean the same thing - taking a conscious … Continue reading The Hardest Goodbye

If you eat food that has come from animals, do you care if those animals were well treated in their lifetime?  If you do, how would you know?  After all, one packet of smoky streaked bacon looks like another, right?  This question has tasked animal welfare campaigners for generations.  Market research has indicated that the … Continue reading Is Your Food Animal Welfare Friendly?

This week I would like to time travel into the near future.  I wish to take you on a journey to see some of the advances in veterinary medicine, and how they could benefit your dog.  Specifically I would like to look at the future of bionic support for dogs - using modern materials to … Continue reading Robo-Dog – The Future?

This month at Downe Vets we have been busy lambing!  This means helping mummy sheep (ewes) give birth.  You may not know this, but sheep, unlike people, generally have a season for giving birth.  We call this “lambing season”.  The idea is that the lambs are born at a time of year when the weather … Continue reading It’s Lambing Season!