Bicester Vets

Did you know that unneutered female cats come into season (heat) at this time of year? When your cat is in season, she’s fertile and can become pregnant - and seasons start any time from four to twelve months old - when your kitten is still a kitten! In fact, cats come into season every 2 or 3 weeks from February to October. So, it goes without saying that if you don’t want any unplanned pregnancies, it’s important to spay your cat. Having male and female cats neutered will also help protect them from potentially fatal conditions and viruses, too. Neutering cats is a routine procedure with good recovery times, but we know that as pet owners, it can be daunting to think about your pet having a procedure of any kind. If you’d like to know more about neutering your cat, or have specific questions you’d like answered, don’t hesitate to give our team a call. #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #CatSeasons #Neutering

It’s World Kidney Day today, and just like us, pets can suffer from kidney disease. Kidney disease in pets may be caused by underlying health problems, poisoning, chronic (long-term) urinary problems or simply older age, to name a few. But what are the signs? 💧Drinking more 💧Weeing more 💧Vomiting 💧Weight loss 💧A reduced appetite 💧Lethargy If you notice any of these signs in your four-legged friend, make an appointment for a check-up. The sooner we can make a diagnosis, the sooner we can put a plan in place to help your pet. #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #WorldKidneyDay #KidneyDiseaseInPets

Is something bugging your pet? While parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms are a year-round problem, they can be more prevalent at this time of year. Signs of a problem, depending on the parasite, can include: 🪱 Itching 🪱 Sore, inflamed skin 🪱 Hair loss 🪱 A pot-bellied appearance 🪱 Passing white segments (that look like a grain of rice) in faeces 🪱 Vomiting 🪱 Diarrhoea 🪱 Loss of appetite 🪱 Coughing 🪱 Weight loss 🪱 Weakness/lethargy If your pet is showing any of these signs, call our team. Keen to get your pet onto a preventative care programme? We can help with a tailored plan to suit your pet’s individual needs. And don’t forget, as part of the Bicester Vets Healthy Pets Club, routine parasite prevention is included - peace of mind for you, and protection for your pet! Find out more about our health club here: https://bicestervets.co.uk/healthy-pets/ #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #Parasites #ParasitePrevention #BicesterVetsHealthyPetsClub

Today is International Women’s Day, and the perfect opportunity to celebrate the amazing women in our team who keep our practice running seamlessly! Always here to care for your pets, we honestly couldn’t run our practice so effectively without them. Thank you for all your constant hard work, and for always putting our clients and their furry family members first! If you’d like to raise a special mention to one of our team who’s had an impact on you or your pet, feel free to pop a message in the comments below! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #InternationalWomensDay #CelebratingOurTeam

Is your pet a member of the Bicester Vets Healthy Pets Club? Designed with your pets in mind, it allows you to spread the cost of all your pet’s preventative healthcare needs across the year via manageable monthly payments. With discounts added in, it’s better for your pet and your pocket. Peace of mind for you, and protection for your pet - it’s something we all want! To learn more about our plans, available for cats, dogs and rabbits, visit our website > https://bicestervets.co.uk/healthy-pets/ Want to chat things through? Our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #BicesterVetsHealthyPetsClub #HealthPlansForPets

Did you know that today is National Love Your Pet Day? As if we needed an excuse to celebrate the furry and feathered friends that do so much to enrich our lives! To celebrate your unique bond with your pet, will you be doing anything extra special today? Maybe a slightly longer walk with your dog or a trip to their favourite spot, playtime with your cat, or some new toys for your rabbits and guinea pigs? Let us know in the comments below - you may just inspire other pet owners with a brilliant idea! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #NationalLoveYourPetDay

Animals can suffer from many of the same health conditions that humans can - and one of those is epilepsy. As today is International Epilepsy Day, we think it’s a good time to raise awareness of the condition! Seizures, or fits, can be frightening to experience as a pet owner. Pets can suffer a one-off seizure, or epileptic pets may suffer regular seizures without treatment. If your pet suffers a seizure, follow our top tips for managing the situation at home, and always call us for advice. We can let you know if and when your four-legged friend needs to be seen, and what the next steps are. For pets diagnosed with epilepsy, try not to worry - with the right treatment and regular check-ups with our team, there’s no reason they can’t continue to live a normal, happy life! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #EpilepsyInPets #InternationalEpilepsyDay

We often talk about how arthritis can affect our canine companions, but cats can suffer from this debilitating disease, too. Would you recognise the signs of arthritis in your feline friend? There’s so much we can do to manage the condition and make our cats’ lives easier. From pain relief to joint supplements, to simple adjustments at home such as providing low-sided litter trays, accessible sleeping areas, and raised food and water bowls. If you think your cat could be suffering from arthritis, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Together, we can make life more comfortable for them! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #FelineArthritis

It’s February, and while love is all around, we’re focusing on heart health! Heart disease can affect cats and dogs, and the signs of a problem can vary and often worsen over time. Some of the most common signs include: > Reluctance to play or exercise > Panting/open mouth breathing > Difficulty breathing > Breathing more quickly than usual > Lethargy > Coughing > Bloated/swollen tummy > Collapse If your pet is showing any of these signs, or you’re concerned about their heart health in any way, get in touch with our team for an appointment. We’re very fortunate to have not one, but two vets with a special interest in cardiology and additional expertise in this area. With Jason and Rachel, your pets are in good hands! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #HeartDiseaseInPets

With Christmas and New Year approaching, unfortunately, fireworks will still be lighting up the sky and causing stress to so many pets. Speak to our team if your pet suffers from firework anxiety, there are many ways we can help. And at home, try out our top tips for making the festive season less frightening, if there are fireworks around. Together, we can help make our pets feel safe, secure, and keep them protected. #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #FireworkSafety

Following our recent Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) inspection by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), we're delighted to say that we have been re-awarded with Small Animal Veterinary Hospital accreditation. The PSS is an initiative to accredit UK veterinary practices, with the aim to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care. It's voluntary, and around 2/3 of vet practices in the UK have become accredited. Veterinary Hospital accreditation is for general practices that can also investigate and treat more complex cases. In addition to meeting core standards, we must, among other things: 🩺 Ensure nursing staff are present on the premises around the clock, and a veterinary surgeon is available 24 hours a day to attend to inpatients if required 🩺 Maintain and improve clinical standards by monitoring performance and the outcome of treatments 🩺 Provide a range of specialist equipment, such as specific diagnostic equipment (ECG, ultrasound, CT scanner) 🩺 Submit to a rigorous examination of our premises and facilities, with emphasis on cleanliness and sterility ... to name just a few! We're incredibly proud of this accreditation, as we believe it shows our commitment to providing the highest level of care, with the best possible facilities and team, to the pets in our community. If you'd like to know more about the PSS, don't hesitate to chat with our team when you're next visiting! #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #RCVSAccredited #SmallAnimalVeterinaryHospital #YourKindOfVets

Over the last few weeks, you have been sharing your winter pet photos with us for our Annual Christmas Video 🎄✨ We have been inundated with photographs and have loved seeing our beautiful pet patients enjoying life, exploring the outdoors and snuggling up at home. Thank you to everyone who has participated! From our team to you and your pets, Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and for now, here are your furry, feathered and scaled family members..... #BicesterVets #OxfordVets #PetPatients