Dogs

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

The awareness of depression and mental illness in people is finally getting more attention in humans but do we overlook dog depression? The suggestion of a dog being clinically depressed is likely dismissed by many, after all, dogs are the wagging tail and friendly face we all love to see? But give it a second thought … Is the idea

How best to care for older dogs? On average dogs live for around 12 years, although many live for much longer. Over the years you can expect your dog to change, not just physically but mentally also. What once interested them, may no longer do so. How do you cope with the changes? How best to care for older dogs?