Live Well Vets Caerphilly

Fun Fact Friday 🐾

Knock knock... who's there? Woody. Woody who? Woody Woodpecker, of course!

Last week we introduced you to the fascinating aye-aye, one of only two animals known to use percussion hunting. This week, meet its equally remarkable counterpart: the woodpecker!

That rhythmic tapping echoing through the trees is far more than background noise. Woodpeckers drum against bark with purpose, listening for the hollow reverberations that betray grubs hiding just beneath the surface. Then, with a long, sticky tongue perfectly built for the job, they reach in and claim their meal.

Sound familiar? It's the same clever technique the aye-aye uses, tapping branches with its slender finger to pinpoint and extract its next snack.

Two very different animals, on opposite sides of the world, independently arriving at the same ingenious solution. Nature's very own built-in sonar 🌿

🐶 Your dog's behaviour is one of the best indicators of their wellbeing.

Sometimes behaviours that seem naughty or stubborn are actually your dog's way of communicating.
For example:

🐾 Suddenly refusing walks
🐾 Lagging behind on walks
🐾 Becoming more irritable
🐾 Hiding away
🐾 Excessive licking or chewing
🐾 Following you everywhere

These changes don't always mean illness - but they shouldn't be ignored either.

Pain, anxiety, changes in routine, ageing or underlying medical conditions can all affect how your dog behaves.

The key isn't to assume they're "being difficult" - it's to ask why.

If your dog's behaviour changes suddenly or continues over time, a veterinary check-up is a good place to start. Give us a call

🐾 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

Our pets can't tell us when they're uncomfortable, anxious or in pain with words, so they communicate through their behaviour instead.
Changes like:

🐾 Sleeping more than usual
🐾 Becoming clingier or more withdrawn
🐾 Eating differently
🐾 Avoiding certain movements
🐾 Becoming unusually vocal
🐾 Losing interest in play

..can all be your pet's way of saying something isn't quite right.

Behaviour isn't simply "good" or "bad" - it's valuable information about how your pet is feeling.

If you notice a change that lasts more than a day or two, or something that feels out of character, it's always worth speaking to your vet.

Sometimes the smallest behavioural changes are the earliest clue that something needs attention.

Why did Rocky suddenly start sneezing after his walk? 🐶

He was still bright, eating and drinking normally—but the repeated sneezing, nose licking and discomfort on one side told his owners that something wasn’t quite right.

What our team discovered inside Rocky’s nose was quite a surprise! 👀

Read Rocky’s story and learn the signs that could mean your dog has picked up more than a few interesting smells on their walk 👇
https://www.livewellvets.co.uk/dog-suddenly-sneezing-nasal-foreign-body/

If your dog suddenly starts sneezing repeatedly, pawing at their face or showing discomfort around their nose, please contact your nearest Live Well Vets practice for advice. 💚🩷

Dog Suddenly Sneezing? Signs of a Nasal Foreign Body | Live Well Vets Is your dog suddenly sneezing after a walk? Learn the signs of a nasal foreign body and how Live Well Vets removed a 3 cm stick from Rocky’s nose.

Fun Fact Friday 🐾

Aye Aye, captain! Meet the Aye-aye, one of only two animal species in the world that uses "percussive foraging" to hunt.

This remarkable technique involves tapping on tree bark, listening carefully for hollow spaces, and then gnawing a hole to extract the grubs hidden inside.

And the Aye-aye has an unusually long, spindly middle finger, which it uses like a precision tool to fish out the grubs once the hole is made.

Nature's built-in toolkit, reporting for duty!

Meet Lua🐾

.. and try not to fall in love!

Those eyes. Those tufty ears and those perfect markings.😍

We're not sure Lua knows just how stunning she is, but we certainly do! Pure beauty, inside and out 🤍

Lovely to meet you at our Whitchurch Practice Lua !

🐶

Meet Ralph🐾

This sweet little boy came in for a health check at our Whitchurch practice last week. Look at that face - he looks just like a little teddy bear, and he was so well behaved!

We can't wait to see you again soon. We bet you'll be twice the size next time, but still just as adorable as ever! 🐾🐶

🐶

Meet Mali ☺️

Meet Mali🐾

Mali came into our Caerphilly practice recently, and honestly, how could anyone resist that face? Just look at those chops! Beautiful girl !👄🩷

Meet Monty 🐾

We've been loving every minute since opening our Whitchurch practice, and the new faces (and paws) have been pouring in.

This handsome boy is Monty, we think those lushous ears deserve their own fan club!

Lovely to meet you Monty 🐶

🐶

Meet Mali🐾

Mali came into our Caerphilly practice recently, and honestly, how could anyone resist that face? Just look at those chops! Beautiful girl !👄🩷