Dogs

International Dog Day 2026 🐾 There’s nothing quite like the joy a dog brings to everyday life. Whether they’re encouraging us out for an early-morning walk, joining us on a weekend adventure, bounding across the beach or simply curling up beside us at the end of the day, our four-legged friends have a wonderful way of becoming part of the

Dog attacks on farm animals have long been a serious issue across rural areas of the UK. Each year, livestock are injured or killed when dogs chase, harass or attack animals such as sheep and cattle. To tackle the growing problem, new legislation known as the Dogs Protection of Livestock Act 2025 has been introduced in England and Wales. The

For many dog owners, few things are more joyful than seeing their dog sprint after a stick, tail wagging and tongue hanging out. Fetch feels like one of the most natural games to play — simple, free, and fun. But behind this innocent pastime lies a serious and often underestimated danger. Throwing sticks for dogs can lead to severe injuries,

Understanding Parvovirus in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Parvovirus is one of the most feared illnesses among dog owners and veterinarians alike. This highly contagious and potentially fatal disease affects dogs of all ages but is especially dangerous for puppies and unvaccinated pets. Knowing how it spreads, recognizing the symptoms, and acting quickly if your dog becomes ill can make

How an endoscopy procedure saved the day.. Meet Otis, an 18-month-old Labrador Retriever who found himself in a bit of a rough spot. Otis, like many Labradors, has a hearty appetite, but recently he was struggling to keep his food down. His breakfast would make an unwelcome return later in the morning. Concerned, his owners brought him to Orchard House

The Border Collie is a highly intelligent, graceful herding dog born with an instinct to work and responds extremely well to training, which is why they are often used not only as a working sheep dog, but also as mountain-rescue or sniffer dogs. Border Collies make loyal, faithful pets that thrive on company and stimulation. The Border Collie is a

Naturally, you want to keep your puppy safe and well, but puppies don’t always know what’s good for them. Our A-Z of household hazards for all the things your puppy might want to eat, but shouldn’t, is a great guide which might just throw up a few surprises! Given the popularity of puppies, it’s also important to know how to

Arthritis, or Osteoarthritis, is a common condition in both dogs and cats that cause joints to become swollen and painful. Whilst it is an uncurable condition, pain management is an effective way to suppress symptoms. Osteoarthritis can affect dogs and cats of any age, but it is more commonly seen in older pets. What is Osteoarthritis? This is unfortunately a

The best dog walks in Northumberland is not an easy list to compile, but we will give it a go! Our veterinary practices are spread across Tynedale and each surgery is surrounded by beautiful countryside. Northumberland has lovely beaches, forests and parks too with many dog friendly shops, cafes, pubs and lots of things to do. We asked our team

When you’re out and about with your dog, it’s important that you’re aware of the Countryside Code. Being aware of this code can help to keep your dog safe, protect the environment and show that you are a responsible dog owner. Last month in Dorset a dog attacked and killed 45 sheep, and sadly as shocking as that is, it

Hexham town council have recently announced that they are working with local businesses to help promote them if they are dog friendly. Obviously as a vets in Hexham, we are very dog friendly, so it won’t apply to ourselves but we are delighted to hear that the town council are helping to make it a little easier for locals and

Bright, loyal and courageous Dachshunds are a German origin breed of dog who were originally bred for hunting. Dachshunds literally translates as ‘badger dog’! The unique build of a Dachshund enables them to chase animals into burrows. They have a surprisingly loud bark and plenty of energy. We can safely say you won’t have a dull moment with a Dachshund

Adder bites in dogs are quite rare and whilst we are lucky in Northumberland to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, the adder is a rarely seen but ever present member of our countryside. Every year, we see an increase in the number of dogs who are bitten by the only venomous snake native to the UK, the European adder (Vipera

  Where do you begin to describe a cocker spaniel? They are gun dogs “by trade” but Cocker Spaniels are also popular family pets. They’re known for being ‘happy’ dogs because their tails are always wagging! A highly trainable, adaptable breed and whilst the countryside would be their preference, they are good town and city dogs too. As long as

Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and rightly so! We see many of them at our branches in Hexham, Stocksfield and Bellingham. They are highly intelligent, affectionate, loyal, gentle and playful. In many ways, they are the perfect family dog. They do require plenty of exercise, and stimulation is important for gun dog

Dog walks in Tynedale and the surrounding area often feature on television and news articles, and if you are a resident of Tynedale then you’ll understand exactly why. Walking has many benefits, as does owning a dog, so naturally if you combine the two then we can safely say that walking your dog is good for you, and your dog!

  Brucella canis has made the headlines in 2025 with more and more people adopting dogs from areas such as Romania. Brucella canis is a Gram-negative bacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs. Key things to be aware of with Brucella Canis: The greatest risk of exposure is potential contact with Brucella canis contaminated materials, especially tissues

Breeding your dog is a big responsibility, and timing is everything. One of the most reliable ways to determine the perfect time to mate is through progesterone testing. At Orchard House Vets, we’re proud to offer in-house progesterone testing, providing fast, accurate results to give your dog the best possible chance of a successful and healthy pregnancy. 💚 We have

We were recently shown a chart of the life expectancy of dog breeds. The chart shows us the difference in the breeds with the longest life expectancy vs the breeds with the shortest life expectancy. brachycephalic breeds make up the bulk of the lowest life expectancies. Over the last 10 years the brachycephalic breeds have been popularised to the point of

We are often asked “which dog breed is the healthiest?”. It is not an easy question to answer as we have to factor in many things to be able to answer that question. Vets know more about the dog breeds that are unhealthy and more commonly have problems and can often answer based on the experiences they see on daily