The festive season for most of us means the Christmas decorations come out of the loft and are delicately placed throughout our homes to provide that festive environment we all love. Read the rest of this entry »

When you are out enjoying a summer walk with your dog, resist the temptation to pick up a stick to throw. Sadly we see a surprising number of injuries caused by dogs impaling themselves on sticks, which lodge in the ground like a javelin right in front of the dog running flat out to catch it. You can imagine the rest! Read the rest of this entry »

The New Forest provides a diverse habitat for many animals, and ticks certainly use that to their advantage! Not only do ticks cause a reaction where they have attached, but they can also spread some nasty infectious diseases. This year is a bumper year for them! Read the rest of this entry »

From spring onwards it is not uncommon to see snakes in the New Forest. The adder is Britain’s only venomous snake, and can deliver a nasty bite to inquisitive dogs who get too close for comfort! Read the rest of this entry »

Summertime is very welcome for most of us in the New Forest, but the warmer weather also brings some unwanted visitors… flies. Some flies will lay their eggs on other animals, especially if their coat is dirty or damp. When the eggs  hatch the maggots will start eating whatever they can find, which usually involves the surrounding flesh! Read the rest of this entry »