PDSA 🐾

Bee and wasp stings can happen to our cats and dogs 🐝 Bees often leave a sting behind in the skin, while wasps don’t and can sting multiple times. If your pet shows signs of swelling or an allergic reaction, contact your vet straight away ⚠️ Find out more by searching 'insect bites and stings in dogs' on our Pet Health hub. [Visual description: Infographic titled 'what to do if your pet is stung by a wasp/bee'. Signs and symptoms: swelling, licking or biting the sting, whining and crying, limping or holding up a paw, drooling, and hives. If your pet is having an allergic reaction, they could have more severe symptoms. If this is the case, get them to your vet as soon as possible. If your pet is showing signs of swelling around the mouth or throat area, see your vet immediately. Never squeeze a sting, as this can make things worse. If your pet's reaction is mild, call your vet for advice and closely monitor them for signs of an allergic reaction.] #PetHealthAdvice #PetSafety #BeeSting

Every day, something special happens when people choose to help 💗 As Trishaa shares, volunteering often consists of small acts of kindness that grow into lasting memories and meaningful stories. Rachel’s experience reflects that perfectly. From the strong sense of team spirit to feeling supported and valued in her role, her story shows the real impact of being part of a caring community. A million acts of hope begin with one small moment. Tap the link in bio to get involved and sign the UK's biggest thank you card 💗 @1mactsofhope [Visual Description: image one - The image shows Trishaa smiling while standing in a PDSA charity shop. The background features PDSA-themed posters with information about volunteering and its impact. A speech bubble above Trishaa quotes: "Volunteering will leave you with lasting lessons and maybe a few beautiful stories to carry with you." Another quote reads: "Acts of kindness often happen in the smallest, everyday ways." A sign promotes "A million acts of hope. Image two - Rachel holding a "Lead Volunteer Certificate of Recognition" stands smiling in an office with PDSA branding visible on the walls. The text reads: "Rachel, PDSA Volunteer says: 'It's a great place to be. There's a real sense of team spirit here, and I feel supported and valued in my role. The managers take good care of us, and everyone helps each other – it’s like a little community.'"] #MillionActsOfHope #volunteering

We've teamed up with @1mactsofhope this week to share uplifting stories and spread a little more light across the UK this week 💕 Pets have a special way of bringing people together, whether it’s through shared smiles, support, or simple everyday moments. Now it’s your turn. Share a story about a pet in your community that’s brightened your day for a chance to win a £30 voucher to spend on our online pet store. T&C's apply. UK 18+ only. Enter by commenting below. Closes 15 May at 11pm. Winner chosen at random and contacted via PM 18 May. Prize: £30 voucher to spend on PDSA Pet Store - link in bio. Voucher must be used by 13/05/2027. Limited to 1 use. To be used in full or combined with purchase. No cash alternative. Not affiliated with Instagram/Facebook. [Visual Description: Image one - Bertie's owner sitting on the sofa, gently petting a fluffy brown dog. Bertie's owner is wearing glasses and appears content. A stuffed animal is visible on their lap. A text box reads: "Meet Bertie, the much-loved local legend with a heart of gold. He’s built the sweetest bond with his neighbours (more like his adopted grandparents) and brings joy to everyone he meets." In the top left corner, the logo says "A million acts of hope. Image two - A white cat resting on a gray carpet. There’s a logo in the top right corner that says "A million acts of hope." A caption below says "meet charlie, a familiar little face at the local hairdressers, popping in daily for a fuss and a cuddle from customers mid-appointment. A true mood-booster who never fails to make people smile. Image three - Owner, Tom, is sitting and smiling while holding a black and white dog named Boomi. The person is wearing a beanie and has headphones around their neck. A logo in the corner reads "A million acts of hope." The text below describes Boomi as a local celebrity who received widespread community support for urgent medical treatment.] #MillionActsOfHope #Kindness #Positivity

Today, we’re remembering Judy and her incredible story of courage🎖️ Eighty years ago, Judy, an English Pointer and the mascot of HMS Grasshopper, survived the escape from Singapore during the 1942 invasion. She went on to become the only dog officially registered as a Prisoner of War in WWII. Despite shipwrecks, beatings and harsh camp conditions, Judy protected her fellow POWs, even saving non‑swimmers by pushing driftwood towards them. Her courage and companionship helped keep morale alive in unimaginable circumstances. When she returned to Britain, Judy captured the nation’s heart and was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal in 1946 for “magnificent courage and endurance… and for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness”. 👏 #pdsadickinmedal [Visual Description: Image one, A black and white photo of a dog wearing a medal. Image two, A group of individuals in military attire stand under a canopy. One person is pinning something on another's uniform. A dog is seated on a platform nearby wearing a medal.]

Can you guess the dog breed from these 6 clues? 👀 - I tend to be very playful by nature - My breed appears in a popular Disney film - I have a natural love for running - I'm often full of energy - My coat makes me very recognisable - "Spot" is a common name for dogs like me! Have you got your guess? Drop it below! 🗨️ [Visual Description: A pink graphic with the outline of a dog and a question mark on its body, surrounded by paw prints. Text asks, "Can you guess the dog breed?" Text around a dogs silhouette includes: "I tend to be very playful by nature," "My breed appears in a popular Disney film," "I'm often full of energy," "My coat makes me very recognisable," "I have a natural love for running," and "'Spot' is a common name for dogs like me." The bottom features the PDSA logo with the tagline "The Vet Charity for Pets in Need."]

Shola was hit by a speeding car near her home 😢 A neighbour found her lying in the road and feared the worst. They gently wrapped her in a blanket and went door‑to‑door until they found her owner, Natalie. “I’ll never forget how I felt when I saw her. It was one of the worst days of my life.” Natalie rushed Shola to a PDSA hospital, where she arrived in a critical condition- bleeding, struggling to breathe, and unable to stand. Our team placed her in an oxygen chamber and gave her strong pain relief. Shola fought for her life overnight. By morning she was finally stable enough for X‑rays and an ultrasound. Once she improved, Shola went home with medication and strict rest before returning for surgery to repair her injured leg. The operation was a success, and over the following weeks her strength returned. When her stitches were removed, she was bright, active and healing beautifully. “We’ll never forget what PDSA did for our family. We’re so grateful they saved Shola’s life.” When love isn’t enough, your donation is. Even a small gift today could help save another pet in their moment of need 💕 [Visual Description: a black and white cat with a bandaged paw. There is a heart shaped text bubble with the words, “when love isn’t enough, your donation is”.]

A huge thank you to @postcodelotteryuk players who, since 2013, have raised an incredible £26,870,123 for us 🥳 Thanks to everyone who plays, we have been able to fund emergency care and life-saving equipment in our Pet Hospitals, as well as pet first aid workshops and trusted advice for pet owners across the UK. [Visual Description: A vet nurse in teal scrubs is using a stethoscope on a black and white dog. The person is smiling, and they are in a veterinary setting. The image features the logos of Postcode Lottery and Postcode Animal Trust.] #postcodelottery #charity #partnership

Happy Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month to all of our fellow nurses! 🐾 Today is an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible work veterinary nurses do every single day. We’re proud not only of the brilliant nurses within our own team, but of every veterinary nurse out there making a difference - often behind the scenes, often without a spotlight - well not today! One of our amazing Vet Nurses, Shauna, gives us a glimpse into this rewarding and vital profession 👏 [Visual Description: Shauna speaks to the camera. As she talks about her experiences working in the veterinary industry as a vet nurse, the video cuts between her interview and short clips of veterinary nurses in their everyday work. These clips show nurses caring for animals, preparing equipment, assisting in procedures, and interacting with pets and their owners.] #VeterinaryNursing #VetNurseAwareness #AnimalCare

Why do cats bite? 🐱 From play to feeling overwhelmed, understanding the reason can help you respond the right way. [Visual Description: The image is an informative poster titled "Why Do Cats Bite?" from PDSA, explaining reasons why cats might bite. It includes six illustrated reasons: playful behavior, fear or anxiety, teething, overstimulation, pain or illness, and affection nibbling. Each reason is accompanied by a cartoon cat demonstrating the behavior. The header states, "Cats explore the world with their mouths. Here are common reasons why they might bite." Text at the bottom reads 'if you're concerned about your cat's behaviour or if they're showing new or unusual behaviours, contact your vet advice.] #PetAdvice #Cat

Adventurous cat, Lily, has lived with her loving family for her entire 17 years and counting. When her owner, Ruth, noticed an unusual change in Lily’s ears, she became concerned. Ruth explained: "Lily’s been very fortunate to have excellent health until the tips of her ears turned black. At first, we thought it was oil, because she spends a lot of time sprawled out underneath cars. When I tried cleaning her, I quickly realised it wasn’t that. Close-up, I could see little scabs forming, which bothered Lily; she’d scratch them and make them bleed." Worried about what it could be, Ruth took Lily to Bournemouth PDSA Pet Hospital, where she’s registered for low-cost vet care. There, the vet team examined her ears and diagnosed Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) – a form of skin cancer. PDSA Vet Emma Fisher said: "SCC is a type of skin cancer most commonly caused by sunlight (UV) exposure. White cats, like Lily, as well as hairless cats or those with light-coloured skin, are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Symptoms include scabby, black, crusty skin, which can later turn red, raised, and weepy, in hairless areas such as the ear tips, nose, and eyelids." On the day of surgery, Lily was admitted and placed on a drip (senior patients sometimes need extra support to maintain their blood pressure) before being given a general anaesthetic. The procedure to remove both ear flaps went well, and after two months indoors, she began to venture back outside again ❤️ [Visual description: Lily, a white cat, is recovering after surgery to remove her ear flaps. She is wearing a recovery cone.] #Cancer #PetHealth #Cat

What kind of Bank Holiday duo are you and your pet?💕 - The explorers - The sun-seekers - The can't-keep-me-dry crew - The cuddle-club Tell us which duo you are in the comments! 🐾 [Visual description: Image one, a child and a dog look out over the river, with speech bubbles reading: ‘What kind of Bank Holiday duo are you and your pet?’ and ‘The explorers’. Image two, A small dog lounges in a sunlit spot. Text reads, "What kind of Bank Holiday duo are you and your pet? The sun-seekers". Image three, Two wet dogs on a grassy field with trees and houses in the background. A speech bubble above them reads, "What kind of Bank Holiday duo are you and your pet?" Below it says, "The can't-keep-me-dry crew". Image four, A black and white cat is covered with a cosy pink blanket, being gently petted. The text overlay reads, "What kind of Bank Holiday duo are you and your pet? The cuddle-club".] #bankholiday #petsofinstagram

What a month it has been for team PDSA🐾💕 Want your photo featured? Keep tagging us! [Visual description: A series of April highlight images, each with bright pink text overlays. The visuals include: runners at the London Marathon, UK pet statues wearing PDSA cones to show that pets offer comfort and support and deserve love and care too, the unveiling of the Magawa statue, a photo of Barbara fundraising at a recent event; a team photo celebrating Gloria’s 20 years at PDSA, and the new subscriptions available in the PDSA shop.] #pdsa #monthlyroundup #fundraising