Suffolk Exotic Vets

09/12/2024

Happy International Day of Veterinary Medicine! 🐾
Today, please join us in celebrating the incredible contributions of the veterinary community as a whole; but especially those dedicated to exotic animal care - because we are a bit biased! 😘
Whether it is providing dedicated outstanding out-of-hours care to our exotic patients, advising other vets on how to diagnose tricky conditions to performing life-saving surgeries on rabbits and other small furies, Catherine does an amazing job as our head vet! Her compassion, dedication and expertise is plain to see everyday! 🩺
She leads a small but mighty team of passionate nurses, care assistants, receptionists and support staff, who together work tirelessly to provide the best care to animals of all sizes and species! 🐍🦉🦎🦜🐀🐟🐰
If you would like to join us in saying a big THANK YOU to Catherine and the team, we would love to see your stories in the comments.💜

07/12/2024

The lovely Milo was back in clinic for some repairs on his bottom beak, which has been chipping off due to a vertical split! ❤️
Using a brief gas anaesthetic Dr Catherine was able to burr the beak to better match the missing area, as well as create a reinforcement, to help stop the vertical split growing downwards.
Milo was in great hands with Alwen the nurse, and recovered brilliantly; proudly showing off his new beak accessory to anyone that passed by! 🥳

03/12/2024

"We just wanted to express our eternal gratitude and thanks to you and all the staff at Suffolk Exotic Vets for your continued treatment of Bella. When we first were made aware of your practice we had endured close to a year of failed diagnoses with our local practice - extremely unaware of what was wrong with Bella and this had continued for months, we were just losing hope.

We knew deep down that there was something more wrong with her, but we had no idea of your practice and we truly wish we did. Before we came to you at Bella's last appointment at a non-exotic vets we were encouraged to euthanise her then.
But we knew it wasn't her time yet.

Then we found you and your team - and you all gave her the best last few months of her life - you instantly knew what the problem was and put her on the right treatment. We will never be able to thank you enough for all you have done for Bella and right up until the end you were always optimistic and positive for her future and for that we will always be indebted to you.

Despite being almost an hour away, we wouldn't take any of our rabbits (or our chinchillas!) anywhere else now, for you are the only vet we have seen who seems to be confident in what they are doing with these animals.

Thanks for giving Bella a good quality of life up until the very end, it meant a lot to us that you were with her during her last few moments.
We will never be able to thank you for what you have done for us and Bella. "

Bella's humans kindly requested that we shared their testimonial 💜

29/11/2024

29/11/2024

Here is Gemma our fantastic receptionist with 'Tiny Simon' the Royal Python! 🐍

22/11/2024

Beautiful Benny the Eagle Owl was referred to us yesterday after exhibiting some peculiar behavior to his owners. 🦉
With a brief anaesthetic Catherine was able to take various samples and radiograph images which will help us to diagnose and treat the problem. 💜

14/11/2024

There is still time to nominate any of the team or the practice as a whole for the Burgess Vet Awards! 🐰🏅🐹
https://www.burgesspetcare.com/burgess-excel-vet-awards/nomination-form/
Nominations close on the 22nd of November! 🐰

It's that time of year again! 🥰 Nominations for the Burgess Excel Vet Awards ARE OPEN!! 🐰💜🐹
These awards celebrate the hard work of veterinary professionals and practices who work tirelessly to help improve specifically rabbit and guinea pig health & welfare, which is something we are passionate about! Last year we were absolutely thrilled to win in three categories! 🤩
Our whole team is absolutely dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to all our small furry patients; whether it be a routine nail clip with the nurse, to complex surgical procedures, second opinion referrals and intensive hospitalisation! 🩺
The award categories we are eligible for nomination of include:
💜 Rabbit Friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
⭐️ Guinea Pig Friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
💜 Rabbit Vet of the Year (Catherine and Ellie!)
⭐️ Rabbit Nurse of the Year (Lizzie and Alwen!)
💜 Rabbit Support Staff of the Year (Gemma and Jo!)
If you've had a positive bunny 🐰 or piggy 🐹experience with any member of our team, why not consider nominating them for a Burgess award?
Nominations are open NOW and close on 22nd November! 🥰
https://www.burgesspetcare.com/events/burgess-excel-vet-awards/
You can nominate more than once, across the various categories and staff members!

As always, we thank pet owners for your continued support of this independent practice and for trusting us with the care of your special furry companions! 💜

31/10/2024

🎃👻 Halloween at Suffolk Exotic Vets! 👻🎃
October has bought some seasonal changes to our waiting area 🥰 Avoid those 'Hibernation Horror Stories' by taking a look at Lizzie's tortoise info board!🐢 Vet Student Scott is looking frightfully good today and is ready with sweets for any Trick-or-Treaters! 🍬 Gemma has created a lovely autumnal themed board and Jo & Speedy are also all dressed up! Can you spot what animals the team have created from pumpkins this year? 🎃 We would love to see your pumpkin carvings or spooky plans! 💀

31/10/2024

29/10/2024

29/10/2024

EDIT: Vin is safely on his way to RSPCA East Winch for continued vet care, with some help from our wonderful nurse Lizzie and a kind member of the public in Norfolk!🥰

⚠️ URGENT HELP NEEDED - RUNNER REQUIRED! ⚠️
'Spicy Vin' the Gull was bought in by a member of the public and is currently in our care, being treated for a poorly leg! We are unable to facilitate his long-term rehabilitation; but have secured him a place at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre! 💜
Can anyone please help us relay him from us (NR34 8RL) to RSPCA (PE32 1LG)?
Call the practice on 01502 447 501 if you can help! 🥹

23/10/2024

It's that time of year again! 🥰 Nominations for the Burgess Excel Vet Awards ARE OPEN!! 🐰💜🐹
These awards celebrate the hard work of veterinary professionals and practices who work tirelessly to help improve specifically rabbit and guinea pig health & welfare, which is something we are passionate about! Last year we were absolutely thrilled to win in three categories! 🤩
Our whole team is absolutely dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to all our small furry patients; whether it be a routine nail clip with the nurse, to complex surgical procedures, second opinion referrals and intensive hospitalisation! 🩺
The award categories we are eligible for nomination of include:
💜 Rabbit Friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
⭐️ Guinea Pig Friendly Veterinary Practice of the Year
💜 Rabbit Vet of the Year (Catherine and Ellie!)
⭐️ Rabbit Nurse of the Year (Lizzie and Alwen!)
💜 Rabbit Support Staff of the Year (Gemma and Jo!)
If you've had a positive bunny 🐰 or piggy 🐹experience with any member of our team, why not consider nominating them for a Burgess award?
Nominations are open NOW and close on 22nd November! 🥰
https://www.burgesspetcare.com/events/burgess-excel-vet-awards/
You can nominate more than once, across the various categories and staff members!

As always, we thank pet owners for your continued support of this independent practice and for trusting us with the care of your special furry companions! 💜

21/10/2024

TODAY IS REPTILE AWARENESS DAY! 💚🐢🐍🦎🐊
Reptile Awareness Day 2024 is a day dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about the incredible world of reptiles. Reptiles, which include snakes, turtles, lizards, and crocodiles, are fascinating creatures that play vital roles in ecosystems around the globe!
Here are some ways you can appreciate and get involved contributing to the preservation of reptiles:
💜Advocate for Responsible Pet Ownership: If you have reptile pets, advocate for responsible pet ownership, appropriate husbandry and correct care practices.
💚Learn about Local Reptiles: Research the reptile species that inhabit your local area and understand their role in the local ecosystem.
💜Educational Workshops: Attend educational presentations about reptiles, their biology, and their importance in ecosystems.
💚Visit a Reptile Sanctuary: Spend the day at a reptile sanctuary or zoo to learn more about various reptile species and their conservation needs.
💜Support Conservation Efforts: Contribute to organizations and initiatives that work to protect reptile habitats and conserve endangered species.
💚Further your Knowledge: Did you know that Lizzie and Catherine hold have Advanced Practitioner Certificates, which means that they have the most-up-to-date knowledge regarding reptile care for owners in the UK? They are both more than happy to share this knowledge and promote best practice!

Photographed here are just some of the many reptile patients we have had the privilege to care for! We would love to share the reptile love - please post your reptile pets in the comments! 🐢🐍🦎
*by posting your photo you consent to Thomas Veterinary Ltd using the image for marketing or educational purposes in the future.

14/10/2024

Ipswich clients, please keep an ear and eye out for little Bella if you are out and about; her family are missing her! 💔
If you think you might have seen her or have information, please contact Rosanna directly (not the practice).

07/10/2024

Stray Tortoise

Found early Sunday morning just off Ashen lane in Stoke by Clare.
Unfortunately it has no microchip, if you have any information please contact the Long Melford branch on 01787 370773

Proof of ownership required

03/10/2024

Welcome to the team, Alwen - our new RVN! 🩺💚

Alwen qualified as a Registered Veterinary nurse in 2008 after completing my training with the Collage of Animal Welfare.
She worked in a general small animal practice in Bury St Edmunds until 2014. There she worked as a senior nurse and a clinical coach; mentoring and helping student nurses with their training and assessments. 👩‍⚕️
Alwen took a break from nursing to have and look after her two daughters, then started doing locum and part-time work around East Anglia. 👩‍👧‍👧

She has a keen interest in critical care nursing; especially in small animal practice.
Her critical care knowledge and experience relates well to the many emergency or out-of-hours cases we see; so she is a welcome addition to our on-call staff. 💜

01/10/2024

Today let's celebrate our amazing receptionists: Jo & Gemma! 💜
As well as being a smiling face welcoming you through the doors, there is a LOT of behind-the-scenes work for a veterinary receptionist, that doesn't always get appreciated:
☎️First point of contact for all calls and emergency triage!
📘Diary management & appointment admin.
🖨Tech support & printer whisperer!
🫂Counselling and supporting the bereaved.
🐇Animal handler (and cuddler!)
📸Pet photographer & Social Media content creator!
💊Dispenser & post person!
🧽Cleaner & Infection Control.
📩Insurance claim processor.
💷Finance management.
🛍Stock management & delivery coordinator.
🤬Emotional punching bag for upset clients (rarely, but sadly this is true).

It is worth noting that while our client care team do a great job taking care of the humans that come through our doors, when working in a team this small there is no 'one' role; and our nursing team do a fantastic job helping us to cover the front desk, taking phone calls, enquiries and updates from owners on a daily basis! 💚

30/09/2024

⚠ ATTENTION ALL BIRD OWNERS! 🦅🐦🦚🪿🐓🦃🦉
New government rules make it a legal requirement for everyone in Great Britain who keeps birds to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The deadline to do this is TOMORROW! https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-including-game-birds-registration-rules-and-forms