Jelly the Cocker Spaniel
🐾😍Gorgeous ❤Jelly❤ the Cocker Spaniel came in on Monday to be spayed.
Her operation was performed by Vet Caitlin with RVN Lou monitoring.
Jelly had the most amazing top knot and really worked her sad eyes on the team, encouraging lots of cuddles throughout her stay!
ℹ️🆕AN UPDATE FOR OWNERSℹ️🆕
Traditionally WHVC has always carried out ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in bitches, where the entire uterus and both ovaries are removed surgically.
From January 2023 we moved to performing an ovariectomy (OVE) instead, where only the ovaries are removed, unless there are any complicating factors such as a uterine abnormality or uterine infection.
The benefits of OVE are associated with reduced tissue handling, lower risk of bleeding, and reduced potential trauma to other abdominal structures. The abdominal incision is often smaller as only one end of the reproductive tract needs to be exteriorised, which may help to reduce immediate postoperative pain.
There is no increased risk of pyometra (uterine infection) or uterine or mammary tumours in bitches that have had OVE rather than OVH. Removal of the ovaries has a protective effect as they are the hormone-producing organs, so full OVH is no longer a necessity.
All keyhole spays are OVE, and OVE procedures have been practised throughout Europe for many decades as standard.
☎️Please feel free to phone or email us for more information on (01296) 623439
Lexi
Lovely ❤️Lexi❤️ came in a few weeks ago to have her teeth cleaned under general anaesthesia. She was a little unsettled after admission & was stood up panting and restless. Katie spent some time settling her into her kennel for the day.... we think Lexi appreciated it as every time Katie stopped stroking her she pawed her for more😊
Buddy
Handsome ❤️Buddy❤️ came in to be neutered & microchipped earlier this week.
As you can see he rather enjoyed his cat igloo! We provide all cats with a box or igloo so that they have somewhere safe to hide when they are in their kennel.
We are an International Cat Care Silver Cat Friendly practice.... but what does this mean to you and your cats? What should you expect?
📌Find out below🔽
https://catfriendlyclinic.org/cat-owners/what-you-should-be-looking-for/
George
Handsome ❤️George❤️ came in earlier this week to be castrated by vet Maurino. He was a really lovely Labrador and a very easy going patient.
We hope that he is remembering to 'rest' whilst he recovers from his operation & look forward to seeing him back for his post op check.
✅At the end of the month our team review ALL patients that have been back for a post operative check and review at any complications in detail.
Complications we sometimes see are wound interference, wound inflammation & infections, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
👀We then benchmark our results against the national neutering database (NASAN) to see how we are measuring up.
📊Our team continuously measure, monitor, review & update the treatment we deliver to your pets.
VNAM 2024 #ProtectTheTitleVN
🥳🤩May is Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, an annual campaign run by BVNA (The British Veterinary Nursing Association) .
👩⚕️During this month teams are encouraged to share the important role of the veterinary nurse in practice. Here at WHVC we have 17 registered veterinary nurses, 5 student nurses and 1 veterinary care assistant.
Our team are dedicated, highly trained professionals who work together to deliver exemplary nursing care to the patients.
Did you know that the title 'veterinary nurse' is still not protected and anyone can call themselves one, even if they are not qualified to do so?
To ensure your pets are being cared for by a qualified veterinary nurse make sure that they are 'registered' & you see the post nominals RVN. This means they have undertaken the required training, are qualified and are on the RCVS - Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons register. They must also abide by the code of professional conduct & undertake at least 15 hours of additional education every year whilst they remain practicing & on the RCVS register. Only enrolled student nurses and registered veterinary nurses may be delegated to by the veterinary surgeons to undertake tasks such as blood sample collection, IV catheter placement, minor surgery, dental scaling & more.
Many of our nursing team have undertaken further qualifications such in areas such as emergency and critical care, anaesthesia & analgesia, dentistry, feline nursing, animal behaviour & exotics nursing. We are very lucky to have such a large, experienced, highly qualified team.
ℹ️Find out more about the 'PROTECT THE TITLE VN' 👀
https://bvna.org.uk/project/bvna-protect-the-title-campaign/
ℹ️RCVS Protect the title VN campaign video🎥
https://youtu.be/spXekWQXALE?si=pIHZ3SC4Hx3uosP2
A hard part of the job!
😍🐾Sometimes, we have such a tough job.........
Pet Health Club
🧐Have you joined our Pet Health Club yet?
🐾Over 3,000 patients here at WHVC have already signed up to our Pet Health Club,
There are so many benefits which help you save money and spread the cost of your pets preventative healthcare treatments.
🐶🐱Our plan includes🐱🐶
✅Annual vaccinations
✅A healthy pet check, every six months with our nurses
✅Year-round flea, tick and worming treatment
✅Discounts on long term medications
✅Discounts on prescription diets
✅Discounts on dental checks and treatments
✅Discounts on neutering
✅FREE microchip*
✅Nail clipping*
✅Routine anal gland expressions*
✅Exclusive member discounts over on our My Family Vets online shop
And so much more!
To sign up & to find out more, click the link below🔽
https://www.whvc.co.uk/pet-health-club
*T&Cs apply
🐾Gorgeous 🩷Cybi🩷 "Cubby" came in on Saturday after cutting his paw on a walk. Vet Luke administered pain relief and sedation, before RVN Lou flushed and cleaned the wound. Luke sutured the laceration and then a protective bandage was placed to help aid healing.
Cybi was one of the most placid and well mannered Labradors they had ever met!
He will be due back for wound checks and bandage changes with our nursing team this week.
☺️We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery
Archer ♥️
#Reposted
Feel better soon Archer ♥️
Smudge
🥰🐾Gorgeous Smudge came in earlier this week be spayed.
Her surgery was performed by veterinary surgeon Rachel.
🐈 A cat spay operation takes between 40 minutes to an hour, including preparation time. Once awake from anaesthesia patients are monitored for signs of pain & additional analgesia is administered prior to coming home, if needed.
✅ We recommend that you continue to monitor your cats for signs of pain once discharged and we advise you use The Feline Grimace website or app to do so - you will be provided with a link & QR code on your cats post op instruction sheet.
https://www.felinegrimacescale.com
If you do feel your cat is painful, despite their prescribed pain relief - please phone us for advice.
Tommy
🥰Gorgeous Tommy came in last week to be castrated. As you can see how was very happy & playful ♥️
Now Tommy is neutered he is less likely to fight and wander far from home.
We strongly recommend both male and female cats are neutered, microchipped & fully vaccinted BEFORE they are let outside to roam free.
🧐DID YOU KNOW THAT BY 10TH JUNE 2024 IT WILL BE A COMPULSORY LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL OWNED CATS TO BE MICROCHIPPED?
ℹFind out more hereℹ
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/treasured-pets-now-safer-as-microchipping-for-cats-becomes-compulsory
😞Today we bid farewell to 🩷Chloe Mockett🩷, one of our brilliant Registered Veterinary Nurses as she off to pastures new for the next chapter of her career.
☺️Chloe first joined us as a kennel assistant before starting her SVN training. Chloe sailed through her veterinary nurse training and joined the RCVS Register in 2021.
Since qualifying Chloe has continued to learn, starting her advanced exotics nursing certificate alongside being one of our student veterinary nurse mentors.
Chloe has been a brilliant colleague & friend and we will all miss her very much - we know that she has a very bright career ahead, where ever that may be!
Gorgeous Oreo came in to be castrated yesterday...... as you can see he was super playful and very happy once awake from anaesthesia 🩷🐾
👩🏻⚕️Today we bid farewell to Holly, one of brilliant small animal veterinary surgeons as she relocates back up north to be nearer to her family. Holly first came to WHVC whilst on placement from university. She fitted right in and our team loved her! It was an easy decision to take her on once she qualified from The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) back in 2019. Holly is super hard working, a brilliant vet & surgeon… and our chief Schnauzer hugger! We will miss her humour and laughter around the practice ♥️Good luck Holly♥️
Daphne the Dachshund
☎🐾🩺Back in October Daphne the Dachshund presented as an emergency after being kicked by a horse.
She was completely non weight bearing & very painful on one of her hind legs.
Daphne was given strong pain relief & some sedation so that radiographs (X-rays) could be taken of her leg.
Unfortunately radiographs revealed she had two fractures of the malleolus (pictured) - but she was lucky as her injuries could have been much worse.
Vet Maddie decided that an external fixator wound be most appropriate to help stabilise the fractures and encourage fusion of the bones. As she is a Dachshund amputation of the limb would have put a lot of pressure on her long back/spine, so saving the leg was the desired outcome.
Surgery was performed under general anaesthetic. Her operation was performed by veterinary surgeon Maddie with clinical director Michelle assisting & RVN Lou monitoring anaesthesia.
A single sterile metal pin was placed across each of the two breaks to stop the broken bones from moving. This was very fiddly as Daphne is very small and the pins were only 1mm in diameter! An external metal frame was then drilled into the tibia (leg bone) and metatarsals (toe bones) to stabilise the joint and the fractures and stop movement.
Her anaesthetic & operation went really well, and only an hour after waking up from anaesthesia she was tucking into her dinner. She remained hospitalised overnight for supportive care and pain relief and was discharged back to her owner the following day.
The external fixator remained in place for 4 weeks before being removed by vet Maurino, but her internal pins remain in place. She has had a slow gradual increase to exercise and 12 weeks down the line she is doing great and enjoying longer walks on the lead (see video!).
🥰Daphne was a lovely, brave little 'sausage' and a delight to look after. We are all thrilled that she is back to normal enjoying life with her owner & doggy friends.
Rosco The French Bulldog
🐶Meet lovely Rosco the French Bulldog.
He first came in a few months ago to be castrated and whilst under anaesthesia his upper airways were examined.
👀This revealed a very elongated soft palate and a large tongue which would partially occlude his airway, he also had extremely narrow nasal passage openings.
Vet Holly recommended that he had corrective airway surgery performed to help making breathing easier & improve his quality of life.
👩🏻⚕️His surgery would mean he would be able to run in the park without tiring as quickly. Also when sleeping his airways would remain more open, reducing sleep apnoea, snoring and improve quality of sleep.
🧐If you own a flat faced breed you might find they snore and change position lots whilst sleeping, or perhaps they fall asleep sat up a lot. This can be signs of airway problems as postural changes are how they adapt try to make breathing easier. You may find they fall behind their friends whilst running in the park, or sit / lie down a lot - this is known as exercise intolerance.
His surgery will also help him cool down in the summer as he will be able to pant effectively. Prior to surgery excessive panting could have resulted in airway swelling & obstruction, which can be very serious. This makes the summer months a very dangerous time for flat faced dogs.
Rosco’s operation was performed by vet Maddie & his anaesthetic and recovery monitored by RVN Lou.
The recovery phase of this procedure is fairly high risk, thankfully both the operation & anaesthetic recovery went very well. After a night of nursing care, pain relief (and lots of cuddles!) he was discharged home.
His owner reports he is doing very well since having his surgery ♥️
To find out more about BOAS & the procedure performed we recommend having a read of this helpful article by Davies Veterinary Specialists:
https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/brachycephalic-upper-airway-obstruction-syndrome-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Do
Adorable pups!
👩⚕️Earlier this week Vet Maddie met these gorgeous puppies for their first vaccinations and microchips. Although small (and super cute!) at the moment, they are Cane Corso puppies and will grow to be around 45-50kg!
🧐Did you know that is a legal requirement for puppies to be microchipped before they are 8 weeks of age, this is the minimum age they should leave their breeder, so you should expect that the breeder does this before you pick them up. A breeding licence is required for anyone breeding three or more litters in a 12-month period and/or anyone that breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs.
🐾The owners of these pups have done a great job in caring for them and have ensured that they are vet checked, wormed, flea treated, vaccinated and microchipped before they are rehomed to their new owners.
ℹ️There is a lot to consider when breeding and we strongly recommend you look at the following guidance from The Kennel Club
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-breeding/first-time-breeders
ℹ️If you are considering getting a puppy we recommend you follow the advice on The Puppy Contract website, to help ensure you ask the right questions and can make an informed decision before going ahead.
http://puppycontract.org.uk/
AMR Awareness week 2023
💊Our practice is taking part in the 2023 Antibiotic Amnesty💊
Throughout November 2023 we are asking pet owners to return any unused or leftover antibiotic medications to us for safe disposal. Please drop off any unused medications to us at the practice. You can hand them in to a vet, nurse or the reception team. This medication might be left-over from a recent prescription, antibiotics that you didn’t need or out-of-date medication.
⚠️🦠Antimicrobial resistance is a world-wide health threat🦠⚠️
💊 Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria develop mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antibiotic treatments, making treatment for people and animals less effective
💊Bacteria are becoming resistant to many antibiotics that we use in human and
veterinary medicine
💊 The environment is at risk if antibiotics aren’t disposed of properly. If antibiotics are
disposed of inappropriately e.g. via household waste, this can contribute to
antimicrobial resistance in the environment
✅Antibiotics are an essential treatment for many conditions in humans and in animals; we must use antibiotics carefully to keep them working when we need them:
❌ You should never give your pet left-over or out of date antibiotics. Using antibiotics when not needed could risk side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis for your pet, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance
❌ Antibiotics should be disposed of safely. Inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics could contribute to antimicrobial resistance and pollute the environment through waterways, affecting our wildlife.
Let’s keep antibiotics working, together!
#AntibioticAmnesty #OneHealth #AMR
Maggie May
🥰Maggie May came in last week to have a lump removed from her groin by veterinary surgeon Luke. Maggie May is a favourite among the team, having spent some time with us earlier this year for another condition. She is an absolutely gorgeous dog and just loves a cuddle. In the video is her having a fuss with SVN Katie and then later after she had been given her pre-op pain killers and sedation. She was lovely and calm, thanks to the paw-side manner of Katie & Luke.
