Hannah Peripatetic Orthopedic Veterinary Service

30/04/2026

RIP Ted x

The Patterdale Terrier mix made his first appearance in Series 3 in 2020

23/04/2026

*Sensitive Topic*

Talking about su***de matters — but how we talk about it matters just as much.

Silence doesn’t protect people. Evidence shows that asking about suicidal thoughts does not increase su***de risk — in fact, acknowledging and talking about su***de can reduce distress and improve mental health, particularly for people who are already struggling.

But there’s an important balance.

Research also shows that certain types of media coverage and online discussion can unintentionally increase su***de risk, particularly among young people and those who are psychologically vulnerable. This is known as su***de contagion — and it’s something we all need to be mindful of, especially on social media.

So what does responsible conversation look like?

In an article ‘It’s good to talk, but it matters how we do it’ by Rosie Allister (researcher and manager of the Vetlife Helpline) Rosie describes some tips in how we communicate.

🔹 Be careful with language
Avoid sensationalist terms like “epidemic”, “spike”, or “crisis”. Never describe methods of su***de.

🔹 Avoid oversimplification
Su***de is never caused by one thing. Reducing it to a single factor risks harm and misinformation.

🔹 Challenge stereotypes
Avoid narratives that portray veterinary professionals as martyrs or suggest their death makes problems more “valid” or visible.

🔹 Respect the bereaved
Online discussions can be deeply distressing for those grieving. Avoid speculation, blame, or assumptions about someone’s thoughts or circumstances.

🔹 Avoid romanticising or memorialising in harmful ways
Pages or posts that frame death as a release can increase risk for vulnerable individuals.

🔹 Always signpost support
Balance difficult conversations with hope, recovery, and clear pathways to help.

💙 We should talk about su***de — openly, honestly, and compassionately.
But we also have a responsibility to ensure our words protect rather than harm, especially in public spaces like social media. Remember, if you are concerned that someone may feel suicidal, asking them directly is okay, evidence shows that asking about suicidal thoughts does not increase su***de risk. Ensure you also support and act compassionately to yourself and signpost to professional help.

If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out:

Vetlife Helpline (UK): 0303 040 2551
https://www.vetlife.org.uk/
Samaritans
Other trusted support/helpline
Speak to a trusted professional

‘It’s good to talk, but it matters how we do it’
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/do/10.1002/vetr.00200001

Dazzi T, Gribble R, Wessely S, Fear NT. Does asking about su***de and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What is the evidence? Psychol Med. 2014 Dec;44(16):3361-3. doi: 10.1017/S0033291714001299. Epub 2014 Jul 7. PMID: 24998511.

12/03/2026

14/02/2026

12/02/2026

Life on this beautiful Caribbean island is becoming increasingly di… Emma D’Arcy needs your support for Help Us Save Grenada's Animals – Your Support Matters!

11/02/2026

This podcast 'Stop Docking & Cropping' by Veterinary Team Training Podcast was made after a simple meme on Facebook of a cropped dog and the hosts comment 'I wish it had floppy ears' unexpectedly sparked a major argument across multiple “camps,” The host decided to step back from opinions and do what’s often missing in this conversation - the evidence and data.

This is especially interesting, given the social media 'pile on' by pro-cropping advocates that Cat The Vet has experienced recently when opening a conversation about the Westminster dog show and the Doberman with cropped ears.

This episode is US based and tackles a heavily debated topic in dog ownership and veterinary care: ear cropping (also covers tail docking and dewclaw removal).

Ear cropping = a mutilation; surgically cutting away/amputation of a portion of the ear flap (often around half to two-thirds depending on the style/breed), then posting/taping the ears for weeks so they stand upright.

✅The podcast is very clear about one thing:
These are amputations of normal body parts, most often done for appearance rather than medical need.

Historically, two arguments were commonly used:
➡Hunting dogs running through brush could tear ears/tails and bleed heavily
➡Dog fighting (historically) — removing tails/ears reduced injury targets
But the episode challenges whether those reasons still apply today.

The podcast cites that hunting license ownership in the U.S. has dropped over time (from around 7.7% in the 1960s to about 3.8% more recently), meaning the vast majority of dogs are not working/hunting in the conditions these practices were originally justified for.

The host ran two surveys (yes, we know informal surveys are not high up on the hierarchy of evidence):
➡pet owners
➡veterinary professionals

✅Pet owner-reported injuries
-Tail injuries: only ~11% reported their dog ever had one
-Of the dogs who did injure their tails, most needed only bandaging and healed well
-Only a tiny number reported needing an amputation
-Ear injuries were reported more commonly than tails — but again, most were managed with simple care.

✅Vet teams reported seeing far more:
-eye injuries
-paw/pad injuries
-broken toes/torn nails
-leg injuries
-mouth injuries (sticks, broken teeth, etc.)

Ears and tails did come in — but:
-Ear injuries were often treated with a head wrap / pressure and didn’t usually need surgery
-Tail injuries often needed a wrap and time, with amputations being uncommon compared to the number of dogs seen overall

The episode doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable part:
➡Tail docking: Often done in the first week of life, and Amy argues that even today it’s frequently done with little to no pain control. She also discusses possible complications, including healing issues and rare but devastating outcomes (including maternal overgrooming/mutilation of the wound).

➡Ear cropping: Typically done around 8–10 weeks, requiring general anaesthesia, but still involves:
-a painful recovery
-weeks of aftercare
-posting/bandaging for 4–8 weeks (sometimes longer)
-risk of infection or poor outcome (including ears not standing evenly)

What major US organisations say:
Amy discusses the difference between breed tradition and medical evidence:
The AKC still supports cropping and docking as part of breed standards (often arguing protection/safety).

The AVMA, however, states:
-tail injuries are rare
-and that roughly 500 dogs would need to be docked to prevent 1 tail injury (as quoted in the episode)
-and there is no evidence that ear cropping prevents ear infections or improves hearing

✅The big question the episode asks:

If most dogs are not hunting…
If ear injuries usually heal with basic care…
If there is no evidence it benefits the dogs health...
If it can damage the ability to communicate with body language...
If major veterinary organisations don’t support it medically….. Why are we still amputating body parts — mostly for appearance?

Amy’s conclusion is clear: these procedures persist largely because of what we think dogs “should” look like, not because of proven medical benefit.

Whether you’re strongly for or against cropping/docking, this episode is a data-heavy deep dive that’s worth hearing all the way through.

Listen to: “Stop Docking & Cropping”
Find it at www.vetteamtraining.com
https://www.vetteamtraining.com/podcast/episode/73bf33a7/stop-docking-and-cropping

11/02/2026

Gonadectomy before 2.9 years of age in female dogs and 2.2 years in males is associated with a substantially increased risk of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease, according to new research published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

The new study performed secondary analysis of data from over 20,000 dogs spanning 36 years, to explore the association between cumulative gonadal hormone exposure and risk of CrCLD in dogs.

The study took a different approach by treating gonadal hormone exposure as a continuous variable, rather than categorising dogs by arbitrary age cut-offs.

Read more 👉
https://www.bsava.com/article/risk-of-cranial-cruciate-ligament-disease-is-highest-in-dogs-that-undergo-early-gonadectomy-study-shows/

29/12/2025

3kg crazy Pom 🥰 5 months old, healed at 5 weeks 🦴

26/11/2025

🤪 credit The Raptured Spleen for this comedy gold