On Sunday 10th March, Dignipets held its second Stafford & Cannock pet memorial walk. Dignipets organises walks to help raise awareness of pet loss and to help pet owners meet others who have lost their pet. We would like to thank everyone who attended this walk, especially as this year the weather was not on our side; we are hoping for better weather next year. Dignipets does hold several pet memorial walks throughout the year, in such locations as Baggeridge Country Park, Telford and Leicester. If you wish to join us for a future pet memorial walk, you can sign up to our mailing list t ..read more

At Dignipets we find it important to stay up to date with the latest rules and guidelines. We will review this blog throughout this year as we are expecting to have more guidelines coming out. Sadly, we have received already a few enquiries for XL bullies as there seems to be a general confusion amongst public and pet owners here and there. XL bullies do NOT have to be put to sleep without a genuine reason like no quality of life or aggression. On Friday the 15th of September, Rishi Sunak our Prime Minister announced that American Bully XL types will be added to the breeds banned list by the e ..read more

Pet carers gathered at Baggeridge Country Park to remember their four-legged friends during the Dignipets Memorial Walk last Sunday. Animal lovers from across the region met on Sunday, September the 10th to walk in memory of their past pets and to highlight pet bereavement. Dignipets is a mobile veterinary service specialising in veterinary hospice and end-of-life care in The Midlands. They provide home visits across the area for pets with a chronic or life-limiting illness that benefit from veterinary support in their own home. The practice organised the walk for pet owners that have needed D ..read more

“My pet is aggressive, anxious or extremely stressed and nervous going to the vets or with strangers at home. How can I make sure the last phase of his life is as peaceful as it can be?“ At Dignipets we are used to talking to distressed owners who are planning their family pet’s end of life care. Going through this is even harder if you know your pet will have difficulty accepting care or even worse has just lashed out and hurt you. All members of our team are fully trained to support you and your pet. We take pride in offering support in a way we would want to be supported ..read more

Most of my rabbits passed away around 4-5 years old but you are 10 now and still with us. During the years we had to take you to the vets a few times and they found out you were struggling with arthritis and cataract. You used to go out in the rabbit hutch, but you have gone so skinny I am worried you will get too cold now even though you love the fresh grass. I also worry about fly strike even more as you cannot groom yourself. Days seem to flow into each other, but my mum came over who lives far away and mentioned you are really starting to age now, and she noticed a real change. Will you l ..read more

You act and look like you are still a puppy sometimes, but I know something is brewing and you are getting older. As a hospice vet myself I should see all the signs, but I can be in denial when it comes to my own pets (probably because it’s a bit scary). I never cared for a collie before. The other dogs in my life all aged and slowed down and had obvious symptoms but with you it is very subtle. When we do pain scoring as hospice vets, we often say Collies are never in pain because they don’t show. And you are no different in hiding any discomfort you might have. Nonetheless I have started you ..read more

As I sit here and watch you sleep I am thinking if you are happy with your life? You will be 18 years old in May and I wonder if you will make it until then. I know being old you will need to sleep more and that cats sleep A LOT anyway but is that enough? I’m considering your quality of life and it’s a combination of so many things; I know you’re eating and drinking, still going out to the toilet yourself, still mobile and able to jump, still seeking affection, still going to watch the world go by out of the window which you always loved. Plus you are still having inquisitive moments when ther ..read more

On Saturday the 18th of March Dignipets held the first pet memorial walk in the Stafford/Cannock area. These walks are to help raise awareness of pet loss, and to allow pet owners to get together to walk in memory of a pet they have lost. We have previously held pet memorial walks at Baggeridge Country Park, and in the Telford area.  Unbelievably we had a break in the rain just in time for our walk, and the location on Shoal Hill was beautiful. It was lovely to see so many pet owners turn up, and to hear the stories of the pets they were walking in memory of.   If you wish ..read more

Entrance Coton Meadows Last week I dropped by to see Karina and Ken in their crematorium in North Shropshire. My Name is Donna Ness and I am one of the hospice vets with Dignipets. I am providing in-home hospice and end of life care for in Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and surrounding areas. When Coton opened last year, I was curious about Coton meadows and wanted to see what this new location had to offer to my clients and they did not disappoint. Karina and Ken were keen to meet me and show me around. Coton Meadows inside A great deal of love and care has been put into this wonderful faci ..read more

The Christmas holidays are a special time of year for family to gather together to celebrate. So how can you include your older pet in the festive celebrations?  Presents for older pets  Although many older pets may not play the same games that they used to, there are still ideas you can do for their Christmas stockings.  Have you considered a Kong toy? This can be filled with their favourite food and then put into the freezer before giving to your pet. Many older pets enjoy just lying and licking the food from out of the toy.  Perhaps they would enjoy having a gentle treas ..read more