PDSA

Dating back to the 1920s, our Ilford Animal Cemetery and Pet Tribute Garden is a peaceful setting where you can go to commemorate much-missed furry friends 🌈 Since the first burial in 1927, over 3,000 animals have now been laid to rest in the grounds. Including some of the bravest this country has ever known. These include 12 of our PDSA Dickin Medal recipients, such as Mary of Exeter the carrier pigeon, Rip the WWII search and rescue dog and Simon the 'Able Seaman' cat 🪦 Find out more about how you can visit: http://pdsa.me/WO7N [Visual description: Image one - An old black and white photograph showing our Ilford Pet Cemetery from outside the entrance gate. Image two - An old black and white photograph of two young children stood next to Simon's plot, showing their respects. Image three - An old black and white photograph of two men carrying a pet casket, ready to be laid to rest at the pet cemetery. There is also a small dog sitting on the floor next to them. Image four - Inside the grounds of our Ilford Pet Cemetery on a frosty morning.]

The bright flashes and loud bangs of fireworks can be exciting and fun for us but, for our cats, they can be confusing and frightening 😿 It’s difficult for them to understand that they aren’t in danger when they hear or see them and since their senses are much better than ours, they experience fireworks much more intensely than we do! Ever Clean UK are proudly supporting PDSA and bring you top tips to help keep your feline friend happy and feeling safe during fireworks season 🎆 [Visual description: An infographic explaining how to keep your cat calm during fireworks. There is a picture of a grey stripy animated cat in the middle of the picture, with gold sparks surrounding it. Points around the cat include: Get them inside well before dark and make sure all windows and cat flaps are shut/locked so they can’t get back out. Don’t pick up cats or restrain them if they are scared: cats prefer to control how they cope. Close your curtains before it gets dark and leave the lights on to hide the flashes. Try to stick to normal routines and behave normally. But if it helps, distract them with something fun to do. Make them a den to hide in if they wish. Provide a litter tray nearby. Comfort them if they come to you for reassurance, don’t ignore them. Give them a litter tray near their den. Even if they normally toilet outside, provide a litter tray inside. If you have more than one cat, give them a tray each plus a spare. Never punish them for anything they do when they’re scared. Play music to drown out the noises from fireworks. Keep them calm with pheromone diffusers. Try not to confine them to one room.] #PDSA #PDSAPets #Fireworks #FireworkDisplay #EverClean #CatOwners #KittenOwners

When three-year-old Shadow was impaled by a 10-inch bamboo stick, his owner, Mark, thought he might have to say a heart-breaking goodbye 💔 In the middle of the night, at around 4am, Mark heard an almighty scream and immediately knew something was wrong. He followed the screaming sound into the back garden, where he found Shadow in distress. As he got closer, Mark was absolutely horrified to see that Shadow had a bamboo stick pierced deep into his chest. Mark rang the veterinary team at our Thamesmead Pet Hospital for help. They advised him to bring Shadow in right away. As soon as they got to the Pet Hospital, the team knew they had no time to lose, so they got straight to work to save Shadow’s life. Vet, Malcolm, said: “The x-rays revealed the bamboo stick had gone in between two ribs and punctured the chest wall. This allowed air into the space between the wall of the chest and the lungs themselves, causing Shadow's lung to begin to collapse.” Being such a severe injury that required high-risk surgery, Mark was warned that Shadow might not make it, leaving him distraught. However, thanks to our vet team’s efforts, Shadow’s surgery was a success! The air was drained from his chest and the wound in his chest wall was repaired to allow the lung to reinflate and prevent any further collapse. Much to the delight of Mark, Shadow was able to go home the very next day to continue his road to recovery with pain relief, antibiotics, and instructions to rest. Mark said: “After the warning that Shadow might not make it, we were just thinking the worst. We couldn’t imagine our lives without Shadow – he's not just a pet, he is a family member. He brings all of the family so much comfort. He’s back to being his adventurous self again and we’re so relieved his recovery has gone well.” 🥰 We’re so pleased to say that Shadow is now fully recovered and loves relaxing in the garden. But, he doesn’t go far from home these days and is always inside by 10pm! After fearing he was about to lose his furry friend, Mark is now urging all gardeners to make sure bamboo canes are safely stored or capped as they clear gardens this autumn. Thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, the cost of pain relief and antibiotics given to pets like Shadow is being supported throughout 2024 and will help reduce the pain for thousands of pets, making them more comfortable in their time of need. #PostcodeLotteryPeople [Visual description: Images one and two - Shadow at our Pet Hospital ready to undergo surgery to remove the bamboo stick that is visibly protruding out of his body under his arm. On image two, in a small circle in the top right is a picture of the bamboo stick after being removed. Image three - An x-ray image taken of the bamboo stick and how it is stuck. Image four - Shadow, being held by his owner, Mark, after his recovery.]

We treat thousands of pets across our 49 Pet Hospitals every year. But what we do wouldn't be possible without our amazing volunteers who kindly donate their time to our charity, like Sophia 🤩 The lovely Sophia has volunteered at our Neath charity shop since last December, after hearing about it through a friend! Speaking about her experience, Sophia said: “A friend told me about volunteering at PDSA. I love animals, so I thought volunteering there would be a great way to show my support and do something important. I’ve volunteered before, so I did have some experience, but it’s not needed at PDSA. They provided me with plenty of training and support to get me started, such as using the till and organising stock.” Sophia spends most days volunteering at our Neath shop every week, where she helps serve customers. She also sorts through the much-needed donations from the general public by pricing items in the back room before they’re moved onto the shop floor. During her time volunteering with us, Sophia says meeting customers and getting to know a great team of people who also volunteer their time are her favourite parts about the role. She added: “Spending time with the lovely team at the shop and putting a smile on the customer’s faces are what I love most about volunteering at PDSA. I get to meet lots of people of all different ages from all different backgrounds. It’s really sociable and a great way to make new friends.” 🥰 Recently, Sophia received our Pawsome People Award, which recognises the commitment, passion, and positivity our amazing volunteers show in their roles 👏 From everyone at PDSA, we'd like to say a huge, heartfelt thanks to Sophia for all of her help! [Visual description: Image one - Sophia working behind the till at our Neath charity shop. Image two - Sophia sorting through new donations in the stock room. Image three - Sophia tidying shelf displays on the shop floor. Image four - Sophia holding up her Pawsome People Award certificate.] #PDSA #PDSAPets #Volunteer #Volunteering #AnimalCharity

Take a tour around a Pet Hospital! 🏥 Last year, gift in Wills paid for approximately 1.5 million treatments for poorly pets. We've helped people and their pets across the UK for over 100 years, but we can only keep our services running because of kind supporters like you ❤️ Leaving a gift in your Will is such a wonderful act of kindness to help transform and save pets lives in the future. Give back to pets, with a gift in your Will: http://pdsa.me/Lyaq [Visual description: PDSA Vet Natasha, giving a tour around one of our Pet Hospitals. The tour includes the reception, consultation rooms, prep area, the lab, x-ray room, operating theatre, kennels and the dispensary. There are various different pets and vet team members shown throughout the video.]

Imagine enjoying playtime in the garden, only for it to end in your furry friend breaking both their elbows! Tragically, that’s exactly what happened to the five-month-old puppy, Moon 😱 Moon was enjoying a run around outside with her family, when she suddenly took a frightening tumble and smashed both of her front legs on the floor. She wouldn’t get up, her front right leg was lame and she was crying out in pain. It was clear that something was wrong, so her extremely concerned owner, Eren, phoned her vet immediately and took Moon straight in for emergency treatment! But, after discovering her pet insurance wouldn't cover the extent of Moon's injuries, Eren was relieved to hear that she may be eligible for our help. Moon was urgently transferred to our Southampton Pet Hospital, where our veterinary team discovered she had fractures in both front legs. Sadly, evidence suggests that French Bulldogs may be prone to this type of fracture due to a possible inherited issue with their elbows. The following morning, Moon went into theatre to have both elbows repaired. Surgical screws and wires were placed in her legs to hold the fractured bones together. Whilst under anaesthetic, Moon was sick and she needed to be monitored closely following her surgery in case of developing aspiration pneumonia. This is something flat-faced breeds, are at a higher risk of, due to their narrowed airways. Despite close monitoring, Moon was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. She remained hospitalised for a week with intensive treatment including oxygen support, fluid drip, pain relief and antibiotics. Eren said: “The complications meant we honestly thought we were going to lose her. The whole team at Southampton Pet Hospital worked tirelessly to make sure she recovered and came home to us. They never gave up and I can’t thank them enough. They treated us with such kindness, and everyone was fully invested in Moon and her wellbeing.” After her treatment, Moon improved, and she was well enough to go home to continue her medication and recovery. At her check-up just one week later, the team was pleased to see her breathing was back to normal and her elbow fractures were healing well 🥰 Vet, Lynne, said: “We’re so pleased Moon had a happy ending. Her treatment was made even more complicated by breed-related health concerns. For people who are considering sharing their lives with this loveable breed, we’d strongly advise them to do lots of research to understand potential health problems and what this could mean for them.” [Visual description: Image one - French Bulldog, Moon, out in the garden. She is standing on the grass, looking up at the camera with her tongue out. Image two - A close-up of the stitches on Moon's elbow after surgery. Image three - Moon enjoying a walk outside. Image four - Moon recovering in her crate at home. You can see the green bandage on her front leg.]

Since Tracey rescued Lucky 10 years ago, the pair have become inseparable! So, you can imagine how upset Tracey was when she found out her beloved furry companion was diagnosed with a life-long condition 😟 Tracey noticed that something was wrong with Lucky when he became sleepier than usual. She said: “He had become lethargic. He wouldn’t come upstairs with us and just lay in the living room on the floor. He no longer enjoyed his walks, and he couldn’t even get comfortable when he tried to lie down. It was then that I noticed he was struggling to move and knew he needed help.” Worried about what was wrong, Tracey reached out to the team at our Oldbury Pet Hospital for help. They told her to bring Lucky in for an appointment, so the vet could do a thorough examination to understand what was causing Lucky’s suffering 🏥 Vet Nurse, Gemma, said: “Lucky was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. This is a very common condition in older dogs that causes stiff, painful and swollen joints. Sadly, it can’t be cured. It’s a long-term condition that needs life-long management. But, there are several treatment options to slow progression and to manage pain.” After discussing options with Tracey, the vets put a plan in place, which would help make 13-year-old Lucky feel more comfortable. Gemma added: “Lucky was prescribed some joint supplements, pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce inflammation and soothe the pain and stiffness in his joints.” Thankfully, Lucky responded well to the medication, and within two weeks, he was back to his old self. The team kept a close eye on him, with regular check-ups, and if he began to struggle again, his treatment plan was altered accordingly 🥰 Extremely grateful for Lucky’s care, Tracey told us: “Lucky is doing really well and is able to enjoy his walks now thanks to the treatment plan. PDSA’s support means the world to me; they’ve given me and my boy extra time together. Lucky is back to his old self acting like a puppy again running around the garden. I am really thankful to PDSA as they’ve given Lucky a second lease on life.” On #WorldArthritisDay, we'd like to say thank you to our loyal supporters who make it possible for us to look after pets like Lucky, whose owners, like Tracey, need us most ❤️ [Visual description: Tracey and Lucky sitting in the waiting room at our Oldbury Pet Hospital.]

To celebrate #VetNurseDay, we'd like to introduce you to Emma from our Sunderland Pet Hospital 🩺 Emma worked at animal shelters in the Republic of Ireland before she moved to Newcastle. She wanted to continue working in the charity sector but was also thinking about moving into a Veterinary Nurse role, and that's how she found PDSA. Emma started her new career with us as a Veterinary Care Assistant and she's now studying to be a qualified Veterinary Nurse 🥰 Find out how you can get into veterinary nursing: http://pdsa.me/TjCF [Visual description: Emma, Student Veterinary Nurse, is smiling at the camera. She is wearing teal scrubs and has a stethoscope around her neck. In the background behind her shoulder is a dog in a kennel.]

According to our most recent PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, 88% of pet owners said that owning their pet makes them mentally healthier! 🥰 This #WorldMentalHealthDay, tell us how your pet has been there for you ❤️ [Visual description: All four images are entries from previous PDSA Pets Photo Competition. Image one is of two cats, Honey and Penny, curled up together touching noses. Image two is of two dogs, Willow and Zula, lying down in green grass looking at the camera with their ears pricked. Image three is of two guinea pigs lying down next to each other in a pink bed. Image four is of three cats in a bed together, all looking at the camera.]

From a young age, Kim knew how important our work is in ensuring no precious pet is left to suffer and that struggling families have somewhere to turn ❤️🩹 She explained: "As a small child living in East London, I remember my parents using PDSA's services because they couldn't pay for our family pets' treatment fees elsewhere. They always donated whatever they could afford on the day – which, at the time, probably wasn't much – but this instilled my fondness for PDSA. “I recently decided to update my Will and support more charities – one of them being PDSA. I have never needed to use PDSA's services as an adult, but it has always been a charity close to my heart. They are a beacon of light for keeping pets happy and healthy, and I’m not sure how my parents would have managed without them. “To show her appreciation, my mum left a gift in her Will to PDSA when she sadly passed away. It's lovely to follow her example and help a loving family with pets who may be in a similar financial situation to ours all those years ago. “If you can, please leave a gift in your Will to PDSA and join me in helping the next generation of pets and their owners during their time of need." Gifts in Wills help us care for 3,200 poorly pets in need every day. Get your Will written for FREE: http://pdsa.me/qpFQ [Visual description: A woman riding on a chestnut horse through a field.]