For many, the Christmas weekend means a party with good food and decorations in the window.
But it is also a risky holiday for small animals, where tempting Christmas tables are full of toxic things and the package strings can tear the stomachs of the animals.
Add that this year there are many new, inexperienced owners with the dog boom during the pandemic.
- That combination, and that there is a shortage of veterinarians, is very worrying.
What if something happens and they can not get care when needed.
It can be several hours drive to the nearest emergency room.
A poisoned animal has time to kill at that time, says Susanne Ekstedt.
"Incredibly tough decision"
SLU University Animal Hospital in Uppsala has for a year now had the emergency room closed between 22 in the evening and 07 in the morning, which it will also have during the coming major weekends.
- For us, it was an incredibly tough decision to have to close at night.
It is linked to staff shortages and that we provide more advanced care than before, so we simply do not have the opportunity to keep the intake open around the clock as we need to take care of inpatients, says Anna Kjerrman, acting head of the small animal clinic.
Drove to vets
The shortage of veterinarians is so acute that the issue is now on the government's table.
SLU University Animal Hospital wants to be able to return to around the clock open as soon as possible, but then more employees with the right skills are required, says Anna Kjerrman.
- It is difficult.
It's much tougher to be a vet today, pet owners have higher demands and the tone on social media is awful.
The drives that are started towards the staff do not make it easier to recruit staff, she says.
In the clip above, Susanne Ekstedt - surrounded by puppies - talks about the anxiety before Christmas.