News

As we transition from lockdown, more of us are exploring the outdoors with our pets in the summer weather. With increased time outside, the chances of coming across injured or sick wildlife also multiply. If you encounter a wild animal in need, it can be hard to know what to do. Wild animals can be very unpredictable if approached by humans, especially when they are frightened or injured.

Many of us are spending more time at home than we normally would, and you may be wondering if and how this may affect your feline friends. Below we have put together some useful hints and tips to help you create the perfect home environment, with some child-friendly activities included to keep both your children and cats occupied, all year round, but particularly during the summer months. 

Know the facts, reduce the risk

Spotting the signs of diabetes in your pets is crucial as just like us, our pets can suffer from the complex disease, but it isn’t always easily identifiable. During Diabetes Week, we wanted to raise awareness and share some advice about how you can help your pet by understanding what diabetes is, the causes and how to recognise the symptoms.

Having been in lockdown, and with schools closed for almost ten weeks, there has been a surge in parents getting rabbits for their children.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week here in the UK, so we wanted to explore the connection between pet ownership and mental health.

We have some big news here at Oak Barn. Vets Louise and Andrew Ketteridge will be retiring in June.

Bunny Behaviour

Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal in the UK. In 2019 the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing Report documented that 900,000 rabbits live in homes throughout the United Kingdom. So, do rabbits use body language to communicate their feelings like our dog and cat family members do? The simple answer is yes.

Rabbits, Rabbits everywhere....

It is always lovely to see wild rabbits hopping around the fields.  Sadly though, it is around this time of year, we start to see these beautiful animals with Myxomatosis.

On this VE Day, it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. The 75th anniversary will provide us with an opportunity to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of people from all walks of life. It is equally important to consider the role animals played and how they were touched by war.

We love dogs; they’re amazing companions - fun, loving, and they bring us lots of joy. But for some people their dog is more than just a pet – they’re a lifeline. Most of us are familiar with Guide Dogs, who are bred and trained to help people with visual impairments navigate their way around outdoors. But did you know that Hearing Dogs also exist, to support people with hearing loss?