Boroughbridge Vets

26/06/2025

A kind member of the public has brought in a cat found in Boroughbridge high street for some urgent veterinary care. She is an older black female cat with no microchip. She has possibly been identified as the ‘Boroughbridge street cat’ but we’re hoping that she does, in fact, have a home somewhere.
If you have any further information or think she may belong to you, please contact the practice on 01423 900449.

23/06/2025

If your vet recommends that your pet needs an detailed ultrasound (either of a specific organ, entire abdomen or heart), we can enlist the services of Vet Practice Support. They are a team of highly experienced and skilled practitioners that travel to practices to provide their services ‘in-house’. We work closely with them to help aid diagnoses and treatment for your pet.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure which can play a crucial role in diagnosing various medical and surgical conditions. It can also be helpful in ruling out certain problems. Your pet will be an inpatient with us for a few hours and our vets can give you most results when you come to collect them. VPS always follow up their visits with a detailed report, usually within 24 hours, that can help us to guide you in further decision making for your pet.

If, at the time of scanning, your pet needs further tests (blood, urine, biopsies, endoscopy etc.) or imaging (endoscopy, radiographs) or even surgery, then these can be done at the same time, or organised for another day to suit.

We can’t thank VPS enough for their assistance with critical and complicated patients over the last few years.

20/06/2025

**PLEASE STOP WALKING YOUR DOGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY**

We have seen far too many people walking their dogs in the heat this week. Please do not take the risk...they will not die from missing a walk, but can very easily die from walking, even short distances, in this heat.

And a reminder to not leave them in the car, not even for 3 minutes. Cars will heat up very quickly and can cause heat stroke rapidly.

From your very concerned Vet team.

18/06/2025

Little Dexter was an absolute angel for his vaccination with Vet Lucy. We look forward to seeing him grow into those big ears and feet!

12/06/2025

Steve Kirby, BVetMed CertSAS MRCVS, is our visiting orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon. As a peripatetic surgeon, he is able to offer specialist orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery for our patients, here at the practice. He works closely with all members of the clinical team and we are able to offer all pre- and post-operative care in the practice.

We routinely send radiographs taken in-house to Steve for his specialist opinion and advice on next steps. He takes care to fully assess and analyse each radiograph and make suggestions based on the patient, their clinical history and ongoing medical management.

We'd like to thank Steve for all he does, and give recognition to the fantastic surgery he is able to offer our patients, all in the comfort of the practice.

10/06/2025

Pet First Aid Kits.

You wouldn't go on an adventure without a first aid kit for yourself...so don't forget one for your pet(s)! Injuries, cuts, lameness, thorns etc. can occur at any time, but are you prepared if you are a significant distance away from help/ your car?

Whilst human first aid kits will come in useful, we'd recommend you pack the essentials for your pet(s) too. We have listed some of the main items we feel are necessary.

1. A kit to hold all items
2. Tweezers to remove thorns etc.
3. Tick remover- especially when walking in the spring/summer long grass
4. Gloves
5. A variety of wound dressings, bandaging material and cotton wool
6. Antiseptic spray/wipes
7. Saline/eye wash (can be used to clean wounds)
8. Scissors
9. Any medication your animal is currently taking
10. Torch/light for your pets collar
11. Collar with tag (with up to date information)
12. Sling/Foil blanket
13. Silver nitrate for bleeding nails
14. Food and water for your pet

Before you travel or explore a new hiking route, please ensure you have a contact number for a nearby veterinary practice and get your pet seen ASAP if anything occurs when you are out and about.

07/06/2025

Opening times, by appointment only:

Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-12noon

When we are closed, we have two options for Out Of Hours (OOH) providers. Swift Referrals in Wetherby and Medivet in Thirsk. If you are in need of veterinary care, please phone our usual number (01423 900449) and you can be forwarded to the OOH provider of your choice.

If we have patients in our care during the daytime, and we feel they need care overnight or investigations we cannot provide in house, we will discuss OOH options with you and ensure they have all your pets history, test results and details.

05/06/2025

Did you know we offer a Pet Health Plan for cats and dogs? We offer a 12 month plan, spread over monthly payments which cover:

1. Annual vaccinations including kennel cough for dogs
2. All year round flea, tick and worming treatments specific for your pet
3. Money off microchipping your kitten or puppy
4. 1x nurse consultation half way through the year
5. 10% off consultations, preventative dental care and additional parasitic control
6. 5% off chronic medications

If you are interested in joining our PHP for your pet(s), please follow the link below or come into the practice to discuss. Costs of the plan for dogs depends on their bodyweight.

Pet Health Plan Purchase your Pet Health Plan We all know the value & benefit of keeping our pets happy & healthy This is why we want to help reduce and spread the cost of routine preventative healthcare for your pet. We’re working with our Pet Health Plan administrators, Vetsure, to deliver preve...

02/06/2025

Ticks! Why is it important to protect our pets against ticks?

Ticks are one of the biggest culprits in spreading blood-borne diseases in this country. Lyme disease is the most commonly spread disease, which can have damaging and long-lasting effects in humans, and in our pets. Untreated Lyme disease common symptoms include fatigue, joint swelling, and fevers. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, but it is impossible to tell which ones do. It is important to protect your pet by using a prescribed treatment that kills the tick as quickly as possible.

Ticks are often found in wooded and grassland areas and are most prevalent from spring through to autumn, but they can remain active throughout the year. Ticks climb up grass blades and wait for a host to attach to, which could be your pet, or you!

How do I check my pet for ticks?
Ticks feel like a small bump on your pet’s skin. They vary in size depending on whether they have fed. We would advise you thoroughly check your pet after they have been outside, especially in longer grass areas. Ticks are common around the head, neck, ears and feet. But they really can be found anywhere!

What do I do if I find a tick on my pet?
Even if your pet has had tick treatment, it is important you remove any attached ticks to lessen the chance of any disease transmission. If the tick is removed incorrectly, causing stress to the tick, it can increase the chance of disease transmission. Methods such as covering with Vaseline, pulling, cutting or burning them are not advised.
The best way to remove a tick is by using a tick hook which is shown in the picture above.

 Slide the tool between the tick’s body and the skin of your pet, making sure none of the fur is caught in the hook
 Gently turn the tool anti-clockwise until the tick comes away
 Dispose of the tick safely (we suggest wrapping it up in tissue and sealing it over)

If you don’t feel confident removing a tick correctly, feel free to make an appointment with one of our nurses and they will be more than happy to show you how. We also keep tick hooks in stock if you just need to purchase one. Ticks can leave small skin lesions which can take some time to heal-please monitor the area for abnormal swelling or discharge.

How do I protect my pet from ticks?
There are many different treatment options available as spot-ons, tablets or collars. Please make an appointment to see one of our vets to discuss what treatment is most suitable for your pet.

You may want to consider joining our Pet Health Plan. It includes year-round, preventative parasite treatment. Please see our website for more information.

https://www.boroughbridgevets.com/pet-health-plan/

29/05/2025

Just a reminder we are still accepting new clients and new patients. Whilst we are getting busier each month, we still have space to welcome new members to the Boroughbridge Vets family.

We will need your pets previous history and ask that you contact your current vets prior to your first appointment so they have time to send it over it us. With any new puppy/kitten, please bring along any paperwork you might have, including vaccinations, parasite treatment and microchip details.

To register, please phone the practice on 01423 900449, or come in and see us.

26/05/2025

Bladder stones in our feline and canine patients.

Small crystals in urine can eventually form larger bladder stones (uroliths or cystic calculi) if the conditions within the bladder are appropriate for them. There may be a large, single stone, or a collection of stones that range in size from sand-like grains to gravel and comprised of differing minerals.

Signs of bladder stones mirror those of typical 'cystitis' or simple urinary tract infection and cannot always be felt on palpation alone. Symptoms include straining or inability to urinate, bloody urine, or pain when urinating. Most pets with a urinary tract infection do not have bladder stones, so vets do not assume the presence of bladder stones based only on these clinical signs.

Bladder stones can develop within a few weeks or may take months to form. The rate of urolith formation and growth varies, depending on factors such as diet, urine pH, and how much crystalline material is present in the urine.

If the vet is suspicious of bladder stones, a urine sample will be taken from your pet to look for infection, crystals and signs of blood. This will be followed by imaging of your pet’s bladder. Most bladder stones are visible on radiographs, or by an ultrasound exam of the bladder, depending on the type.

There are three main treatment options for bladder stones: surgical removal, non-surgical removal, and dietary dissolution. The specific treatment recommended for your pet will depend on the type of stone (or crystals) present. Your vet will discuss the pros and cons of each treatment option with you in more detail, based on your pet's individual circumstances. Early recognition may allow your vet to adjust your pet's diet or medication before the need for surgery.

Stones that cause blockages of the urethra are considered an emergency. If your pet (especially male cats) is unproductively straining to urinate, please contact the surgery as soon as possible on 01423 900449

23/05/2025

# # warning, graphic photos attached to this post # #

This handsome boy is Tom. Over the last 15 years, he has always enjoyed sunbathing and keeping toasty warm behind glass windows. Whilst this is a normal behaviour for p***y cats, Tom started to suffer with sore tips of his ears. Medication wasn't successful, so his owners made the decision to surgically remove the affected pinnae to prevent further issues.

Cats, especially those with white ears and pink skin, who like to sunbathe, are at an increased risk of developing Squamous Cell Carcinomas. This is a skin cancer that is commonly found at the tips of the ears (pinnae) due to exposure to excessive sunlight.

Surgery to remove the ear tips (pinnectomy) is often recommended, though chemotherapy and radiation has been documented with good success rates.

Tom's anaesthetic and recovery was smooth and his diligent owners now apply cat-safe sun-cream to his ears to prevent any further complications. We are very happy with his recovery, even though he was displeased to see us at his last visit.

Whilst it is difficult to stop cats from sunbathing, we recommend trying to limit sun exposure in the middle of the day, placing UV blocks/shades on windows, or regularly applying cat-safe sun cream to the ears of white haired/light skinned cats during the spring/summer months.

If you have any concerns about your cat's skin, please don't hesitate to book an appointment with one of our vets by calling 01423 900449.