Welcome - tips to help you and your pet have a wonderful holiday
Pre holiday
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See your home vet for any routine care your animal may need prior to travelling.
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Ensure you have enough medication for the duration of your trip.
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Double check that you have packed their medication and any special food they need.
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Make sure your they have effective tick treatment in place.
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If they are unwell or frail consider not bringing them to the island, both for their wellbeing and to avoid contributing to seasonal pressure on our small practice - bear in mind that we could need to refer cases to mainland specialists and ferries are generally fully booked far in advance.
When you are here
Forgotten your dog's medication? If you are still on the mainland, obtain it before crossing to the island as it may not be available here.
If you are already on the island then contact us to check whether we hold it in stock. If so, the most cost-effective solution is often for your vet to send us a written prescription, which you can collect by appointment.
If we need to examine your animal we will generally require your usual vet to first email their medical history to us.
Ticks
Mull has a significant tick population and they are most easily picked up in long vegetation. After walks check for any crawling on your animal's coat. Once they are embedded they can be carefully removed using a tick hook, available from most shops. Monitor carefully for any swelling or inflammation around bites, and be observant for any signs of ill health. Be aware that Lyme's disease has been recorded on Mull.
If you require tick treatment once here it is most cost-effective to have your own vet send us a written prescription. We supply Bravecto for dogs - though if they are particularly large or small we may not hold their size in stock.
Adders
In 2025 our practice saw 6 adder bite cases (5 dogs and 1 cat). Happily all recovered but this is a painful and potentially life threatening emergency. If you know or suspect that your animal has been bitten contact us immediately - we will generally want you to come directly to the clinic. Monitor any swelling around the head and throat and adjust or remove collar or harness to avoid constriction. If you have Piriton ...
Seashore Hazards
Seaweed
Do not allow your dog to chew and swallow seaweed, this is a regular cause of stomach upset or blockage, the latter requiring surgery.
Salt water
Swallowing excessive amounts of salt water, as can occur when playing in the water or swimming, can be fatal.
Sand Colic
Ingesting sand while digging or playing with a ball on the beach is a common cause of irritation and can result in blockage and hospitalisation.
'Swimmer's tail'
An unaccustomed amount of swimming can result in strained muscles, a limp, drooping tail and an unhappy dog. As with other holiday exercise, avoid a sudden increase in exertion.