Arran Vets

05/08/2026

Congratulations to The Arran Farmers Society, under the presidency of Neil Henderson , on their 188th Arran Show which went on very successfully despite a wet and windy day .
Many Congratulations to overall Champion Limousin heifer Vogue owned by David Henderson and family and Reserve champion Rio ridden and bred by Jen McNeish .
Thank you to Jayne Faulkner for doing a grand job judging the dog show in such adverse weather conditions .
Maisie Baird was the very well deserved overall champion with pretty 9 year old Australian Shepherd Kite Defelice taking reserve .
Skip , bred by Ian McConnell, was very delighted to win the puppy class and was third in the Working Dog Class , he enjoyed his first show !
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

07/07/2026

Piper and Scout , adorable new kittens for the Jones family this week in Whiting Bay .
If anyone on Arran might consider rehoming older dogs or cats do contact me please at the surgery .
We do sometimes have very deserving older animals needing good homes and keep a list of anyone looking .
I am aware currently of 2 smashing, middle aged , larger breed dogs on the island from a very loving home needing a new caring owner.
01770 302511
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

01/07/2026

It’s always exciting to have a new bit of kit , whatever your line of work , and this week we have been really impressed with our brand new Multi Parameter monitor .

‘Muma,’ a tabby cat under the care of Arran Cat Rescue from Sliddery was the first to be hooked up to the new monitor whilst under general anaesthesia to be spayed . The 12th ACR neuter of 2026 . ‘Muma ‘was a hard to catch feral cat and had already given birth to lots of kittens .

With a bright , easy to read display screen the monitor measures the patients’s blood pressure, temperature , ECG , Oxygen Saturation , End tidal Co2 , heart rate and respiratory rate .

Next to be monitored were two young rabbits , ‘Thumper ‘ and ‘Otis‘ from Shiskine , in to be anaesthetised for castration so that they can live peacefully together .

Today, ‘Clyde ‘ a Retriever cross collie dog from Lamlash , was in for a general anaesthetic for a mass removal . As an older dog it was very reassuring to quickly see all his vital signs on just one monitor whilst he was asleep .
It’s still really important , of course , to look at the patient not just the screen but it’s a great tool to have especially for older patients and more lengthy or challenging surgeries .

Charlotte Clough MRCVS

22/06/2026

Could Matilda from Brodick be Arran’s oldest rabbit?
She was born in August 2014 so she’ll be 12 later this year .
A well looked after rabbit can live 8-12 years .
Matilda was looking very lively today when she came in for her annual Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease vaccine. The latter is very prevalent on Arran and both viruses mean that wild rabbits only live 1-2 years .
These viruses are spread by insect bites so they do not need to interact with a wild rabbit to be one infected .
Rabbits need companionship, plenty of space and a good diet to thrive , they are not suitable for young children . Although Matilda lost her lifelong rabbit companion recently she still enjoys the company of her humans , and gentle dog and cats and freely interacts with them in the house .
See below for advice on keeping rabbits .
Let us know how old your rabbits are .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/welfare-need/new-to-rabbits/

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/rabbit/wellbeing-and-care/how-long-do-rabbits-live

10/06/2026

Rio, Victor, Lexus, Prince and Holly were the picture of good health at their appointments for equine influenza boosters at the surgery this week. Excitement is building for the Arran Show on Wed 5 th August this year .
There has been a recent marked rise this spring in Equine Influenza cases across 36 counties in Scotland , Wales and England .
If you are attending events with your horse or pony it is recommended to move flu vaccination intervals to 6 months rather than a year in the face of this increased risk .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS

06/06/2026

I have been contacted about dead blackbirds in Brodick this week . If you see a dead , wobbly or fluffed up , blackbird or song thrush in your gardens , on the Isle of Arran , this summer 2026 . ( Remember female and young blackbirds are brown . ) email [email protected] or comment below and continue to report any dead birds to APHA, see links below .
Through this summer especially report primarily blackbirds but also other song birds like thrushes ,sparrows or goldfinch and owls which are also susceptible to the ,new to Scotland , USUTU virus.
In this warm weather , only very freshly dead birds could be potentially tested.

They were seen last year in primarily Brodick but also Sandbraes , Corrie, Whiting Bay , Lamlash and Kildonan . Two out the three of these approximately 30 blackbirds seen to be affected last year on Arran , that were sent away to be analysed , were positive for Usutu virus . The third was too decomposed to test .

Usutu virus is a bird pathogenic flavivirus and is spread by bird biting mosquitoes.
It very rarely infects humans who have been bitten by infected mosquitoes and mostly causes no symptoms . There are some reports across Europe of neurological disease in immunosuppressed humans but none so far in the UK .

Advice from APHA
People are encouraged to keep their gardens free of any stagnant water to minimise any mosquito breeding grounds particularly now that we are in the mosquito active season which runs from April to October.
Other advice . Cover arms and legs and use insect repellents outdoors , change outdoor water bowls for pets frequently , empty flower pots and paddling pools frequently , close windows at night .

Charlotte Clough MRCVS

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-detection-of-usutu-virus-in-scotland

https://www.mosquito-scotland.com

03/06/2026

For keepers of livestock , new Bluetongue regulations in Scotland came into force on the 1st June and require testing and vaccination of animal entering Scotland from other areas of the UK …. See below.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/bluetongue/pages/bluetongue-movement-restrictions-for-animals/

The midges that spread bluetongue virus are now active ( As we know all too well on Arran ! )and the recent warm weather means the virus is now able to replicate inside the midges and can be spread by them to other susceptible animals. Animals can also be infected through germinal products (semen, ova or embryos).

Temperatures in many areas of Europe are also high, so newly bluetongue infected midges in these areas can also spread the disease. The risk of transmission from midges blown across the channel has therefore increased.

The risk of spread of bluetongue virus (serotypes BTV-3, BTV-8 and BTV-12) from all routes remains at medium (occurs regularly).

APHA urges all keepers of cows, sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas and deer in Great Britain to familiarise themselves with the signs of the disease and the nation specific bluetongue control policies and movement requirements that currently apply.
The disease is notifiable and any suspicion must be reported . Vaccination is the best means of control .
Bluetongue virus does not affect humans.

Charlotte Clough MRCVS

04/05/2026

Four lucky ,treasured pets .
Tia Stewart from Brodick . Sylvester the elderly cat and the Girbow family rabbits .
This week is Pet Appreciation Week which celebrates the huge value of pets in our lives : companionship , exercise, play, entertainment and a reason to get up and about , all benefitting pet owners’ mental health .
Spoil your pets, in a healthy way, this week !

Pet ownership is a privilege, not a right and before acquiring a first or additional pet family member seriously consider the responsibilities of pet ownership .
🐾 Good health . Research average life span, insurance costs and annual routine healthcare costs . Children under 18 and elderly people with failing eyesight or dementia need daily help to check their pets’ welfare .
Research nutrition , costs and availability,especially for exotics who often slowly die from unsuitable food .
🐾 Company . Rabbits and Guinea pigs must always be kept in pairs or small groups .
We love dogs because of their sociability so leaving them for 8 hours whilst everyone is out at work is cruel.
🐾Environment . Rabbits need a really large pen with opportunity to graze and get some sunshine . They love to run , jump , somersault and play. Keeping one rabbit in a small hutch is neglect .
Ponies need safe fencing that won’t cause injuries and access to shade and shelter.
Birds need to fly freely.
🐾Mental state . Freedom from pain and distress such as electric shock collars , harsh punishments or allowing dogs access to prey on livestock, other small pets or birds .
Loneliness and restricted space cause distress and frustration behaviours.
🐾Behaviour . Training dogs from early months so that they can run and explore off lead in a safe place and interact with other dogs and not be a nuisance to livestock .
Don’t choose a working breed if your idea of a walk is to the end of the road and back or you have mobility challenges.
Cats love to explore outside and show frustration when confined though are happy as a sole pet .
Horses thrive on daily exercise, company and training.
Work out exactly how much time you have every day for each potential pet before you buy .
This is great link and interactive questionnaire to see which pet might suit your lifestyle .
Charlotte Clough MRCVS
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/choosing-a-pet

22/04/2026

Holiday Travel to the EU with your pets .
As of today , Wednesday 22nd April 2026, if you are a permanent resident in UK, you will not be able to use an EU issued Pet Passport to travel abroad with your pet.

Your cats dogs and ferrets will now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) to be issued every time they are taken into the EU including Eire .
For Northern Ireland you can still use the Pet Travel Document.
Only pets whose owners have their main residence in the EU, will be allowed to travel with their EU passports, all others must be issued an AHC for each trip.

The AHC design is changing at some point and will now last for 6 months travel for each trip .
Only 5 animals are allowed per private vehicle rather than 5 per person .

I’m not sure what documentation will be required to prove permanent residence in the Uk or in the EU and no timescale has been given on the release of the proposed new UK pet passports.

The APHA update detailing these changes:

The changes apply to non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets

02/04/2026

Easter opening times at Arran Vets .
Good Friday 3rd April .Closed Emergencies only
Saturday 4 th April .Open 9.30 to 12
Easter Sunday .Closed Emergencies only
Easter Monday .Open as usual 9-6
01770 302511 for help .
Happy Easter from Skip who is saying , ‘ hide the Easter Eggs out of reach of dogs , enjoy some spring walks but beware of bee stings and adder bites in the Glens and remember tick protection !
Charlotte Clough MRCVS