Allen, Briggs and Turner Veterinary Surgery

21/08/2024

***STRAY DOG***

EDIT...OWNER HAS COME FORWARD AND HE IS BACK HOME

We have had a small, black and white dog bought into us this morning. He was found in Wyberton by a member of the public.
Unfortunately we are unable to reach the owners due to the phone numbers on his microchip being incorrect.
If this is your dog or know who this dog belongs too, please contact the surgery on 01205 722696.

20/08/2024

Just to let everyone know that this coming Monday 26th August is a Bank Holiday.
We will NOT be open for routine appointments and operations.
As usual we will have our own in-house emergency service with our own vet and nurse on call.
If you have an urgent problem while we are closed please call 01205 722696.
We hope everyone can enjoy the Bank Holiday.

20/08/2024

We are trying to trace a Dawn Johnson from Boston regarding her cat Daisy.

We have Daisy safe at the surgery but unfortunately her microchip's contact details aren't up to date.

If you know Dawn please ask her to contact us ASAP on 01205 722696.

Thank you 😊

19/08/2024

17/08/2024

Today is Black Cat Appreciation Day 🐈‍⬛

Please comment and share with everyone photos of your beautiful black feline friends 🖤

This is Nurse Jo-anne's tri-pawed cat Max 🥰

13/08/2024

CALLING ALL VETERINARY SURGEONS !
We are recruiting for a caring colleague to join our friendly team as a PERMANENT VETERINARY SURGEON.

This is an excellent opportunity to join our independent well- established practice in South Lincolnshire.
Our search continues for our new permanent colleague to join us providing high quality veterinary care in our INDEPENDENT FRIENDLY SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE here in Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 1DS....

THE OPPORTUNITY TO START WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR EXPERIENCED VETS IN A FRIENDLY SUPPORTIVE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE.

We now need at least ONE FULL-TIME VET to join the team to allow us to maintain our high standards of patient and client care.
We are a single site practice (no branch surgeries).
Rural village location with good local schools and amenities.
We are a privately owned practice with 3 partners (Maxine Briggs, Nigel Turner, Sue Allen) who all are working as full-time clinical vets in the rota and on calls alongside a great team of 3 permanent vets.

We pride ourselves on our amazing team of RVNs and support staff who work alongside our vets.

We do our own out of hours work in a 1:6 rota currently and need someone who is prepared to take part in this side of the practice work load alongside our existing team of vets. This will enable us to provide this service for our clients while also sharing the out of hours work to improve the work/life balance for our vet team.
(We would have an experienced vet available to give help and support for the on call duty for those who need back up).

We are a busy general practice and also have an Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgery Referral Service.
We need someone to help us in the role of general practitioner in the first opinion side of our work at this time.

We see a wide range of medical and surgical cases on a daily basis in our first opinion work, alongside the important routine preventative veterinary care we provide.
We have a wealth of experience amongst our vets and they are all very supportive and happy to discuss cases with colleagues.
We have many loyal clients and pride ourselves on the "personal touch" .

Our vets are allowed clinical freedom and we do not set targets.
We have a mix of early and late shifts shared fairly between the vets with a mix of consulting days and surgical time days.

Set days off to allowing planning of personal life !

When on call a nurse is also on call with us and is available to come to help as needed.

We have our own in-house blood machines (Idexx), digital x-ray developer, modern ultrasound machine. ROBOVET computer system. PLUS MOST IMPORTANTLY AMAZING NURSES AND SUPPORT STAFF.

-Salary according to experience, with another 5% of the salary contributed by the employer into our employee PENSION PLAN.
-25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.
-10 days sick pay at full pay per annum, unused days carried over to the next year to a maximum allowance of 30 days per annum.
-5 days CPD allowance paid for.
-VDS membership paid.
-BSAVA membership paid.
-Mileage 45p per mile tax free (for travel costs when on call)
-Accommodation can be provided locally if required ( private semi-detached house in the village of Kirton).

Have a look at our website to see how we are working in the current times https://www.allenbriggsandturnervets.co.uk/
WE ARE HAPPY TO CONSIDER VETS AT ALL LEVELS OF THEIR CAREER AND CAN ALSO DISCUSS A PART-TIME ROLE (this would still involve some out of hours work to enable it to be fair on the existing team).

PLEASE APPLY BY SENDING YOUR CV AND A COVERING LETTER FOR THE ATTENTION OF MAXINE BRIGGS AND SUE ALLEN TO :
[email protected]

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED VIA FACEBOOK.

13/08/2024

We are looking for a qualified RVN or experienced Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Allen, Briggs and Turner Veterinary Surgery

**WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE**

A kind and caring team of vets, nurses and support staff.

The role is ideally full-time but part-time considered.
We have a mixture of early (7am - 3pm) and late shifts (11am-7pm) shifts.
We do our own OOH emergency care for our own clients which would involve 1:8 weekends on call, and 5 week nights over 8 weeks on call.
We pay increased hourly rate for all out of hours work to compensate for the intrusion of personal life.
Some Saturday morning shifts 8 am - 12pm will be required.

We are a friendly team of vets, nurses and support staff.
The role will involve all aspects of nursing and dealing with the clients.

Salary according to experience and increased rate of pay for all out of hours work .
Pension scheme
CPD funded
VDS funded
Uniform provided
Staff discount on goods and services for own pets.

Please apply by emailing CV with covering letter FAO Liz Farley (Clinical Manager)to: [email protected]

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY VIA FACEBOOK FOR THIS POSITION.

12/08/2024

We’re the UK’s leading veterinary charity. Throughout our 48 Pet Hospitals, we save the lives of pets

05/08/2024

We would like to let everyone know about our "changing of the guard" at Allen Briggs and Turner.
Over the last few months we have been in a transition period in the very important role of our Office and Human Resources Manager.

After over 40 years of hard work and dedication our Practice Manager Margaret Royce has now retired from this role.
Margaret has been at the helm of the practice through many changes and has always been a familiar face and voice to so many of our staff and clients.
We thank her so much for all she has done for us and wish her a happy and healthy retirement which she truly deserves.
We will continue to keep in touch with Margaret and she will always be very close to our hearts.

During the last few months Margaret has been working closely with our new Office and HR Manager Gillian McBride to introduce her to our business and how we work.
We welcome Gillian to Allen Briggs and Turner. Gillian has many years of experience working in this type of role and we look forward to working with her in the coming months and years ahead as we take Allen Briggs and Turner into the future.

The management of the clinical side of the practice is now shared by two of our long standing RVNs Liz Farley and Della Melton. They look after all the day to day running of the surgery which requires many years of experience "on the ground" in the veterinary industry which they have in bucket loads !
We thank them both for all they continue to do for Allen, Briggs and Turner.

We are proud to remain an INDEPENDENT VETERINARY SURGERY owned by Sue Allen, Maxine Briggs and Nigel Turner.
We are extremely fortunate to have such a great team of people working alongside us to enable us to continue to provide this service to our clients and their pets.

Thank you to all our team at Allen, Briggs and Turner...both long standing and new !

01/08/2024

‼️☎️ IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL CLIENTS 📞‼️

Whilst we appreciate that emergencies can happen and you're sometimes unable to make your appointment, we often have no shows because the pet doesn't need to see us anymore or clients simply forgot.

This is very frustrating for us as we try our very best to get your pets seen as soon as possible and we are incredibly busy at the moment.
This morning alone we have had FIVE appointments simply not turn up!! This equates to an hour of veterinary surgeons time where we could have been seeing other pets.

If you can't make or don't need your appointment anymore PLEASE RING US and let us know as far in advance as possible so that we can offer the slot to another patient in need 🐕🐱🐇

Thank you for your patience 🙏

29/07/2024

Take care everyone ❤️

21/07/2024

If it's staying warm we all need to bear this information in mind. 🐾🐾🐕

The weather is finally warming up, which is wonderful but it does mean our dogs are at a greater risk of heat stroke.

Prevention is the best cure for heat stroke & if you are worried about your dog, here are two golden rules to remember;

Cool them FIRST & cool them FAST

Get them WET & to your VET

The longer a dog’s temperature remains in the danger zone, the greater the chance of them developing permanent damage or even dying. So lowering their temperature as fast as possible is vital.

Dogs cooled by their owners before heading to the vet have lower temperatures on arrival & therefore a better chance of not suffering serious illness or death.

Cold water immersion is a great way to cool down fit young dogs & results in very quick reductions in body temperatures.

For older, flat faced or unconscious dogs, thoroughly dampening their coats & putting them in a strong breeze can be preferable because then we avoid water in their airways but the advice about water temperatures is the same.

Any water cooler than your dog will cool them down but we should not avoid cold water.

There have been concerns that vasoconstriction would slow heat loss but this is not significant and we shouldn’t be afraid of them shivering (although if they shiver that is a sign we can stop cooling them) because it won’t send them back into the danger zone.

With good cooling, some dogs can become hypothermic & while we should try to avoid this, the development of hypothermia does not increase the risk of death.

Once you have started cooling your dog down by whatever method is most suitable at the time, you need to get them to your vet.

Start cooling the car before you get in it, if it’s a hot day it will be warm in there! Open the doors & windows, turn on the aircon & make sure your dog benefits from a breeze of the open windows on the journey.

There are lots of myths about heat stroke in pets and how to treat it, especially when it comes to home care, where you really can be instrumental in saving a life if you do it properly.

Which is why combatting and correcting them is so important!

For more great Heat Stroke information, check out Hot Dogs - canine heatstroke education for dog owners

References;

Hall, E.J., Carter, A.J., Bradbury, J. et al. Proposing the VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat-related illness in dogs. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86235-w

Hall, E.J.; Carter, A.J.; Bradbury, J et al Cooling Methods Used to Manage Heat-Related Illness in Dogs Presented to Primary Care Veterinary Practices during 2016–2018 in the UK. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10070465

Shapiro Y et al Experimental heatstroke. A model in dogs. Arch Intern Med. 1973 May;131(5):688-92. PMID: 4701378.

Hall, E.J.; Carter, A.J.; O’Neill, D.G. Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081324

Hall, E.J.; Carter, A.J. et al Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9050231

Anne J. Carter, Emily J. Hall, Jude Bradbury et al Post-exercise management of exertional hyperthermia in dogs participating in dog sport (canicross) events in the UKhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103827

Kanda J, et al Association between active cooling and lower mortality among patients with heat stroke and heat exhaustion.. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259441

Canine heat-related illness – new perspectives from recent research
Jude Bradbury, Emily Hall, Anne Carter, Dan G. O'Neill https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2023.0015

Davis MS, et al Comparison of Postexercise Cooling Methods in Working Dogs. doi: 10.55460/2ATZ-TMQ7

Parnes, S.C. et al A Randomized Cross-Over Study Comparing Cooling Methods for Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia in Working Dogs in Training https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233673
Post exercise changes in compartimentai body temperature accompanying intermittent cold water cooling in the hyperthermic horse
D. J. Marlin et al https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04085.x

Hanel RM et al. Best practice recommendations for prehospital veterinary care of dogs and cats. https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.12455

15/07/2024

Update from Jerry Green Dog Rescue about Tilly.

Remember Tilly, the foster terrier who was stolen last week? She’s been found! 🎉

She’s currently being monitored at the vets and is being very well looked after. Thank you to every single one of you who shared our post or sent us information to help find her. 💚

13/07/2024

Due to the damp weather conditions our hedgehog friends are struggling to find enough food.

Please follow this advice from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society if you think you have found a hedgehog who is not well.

🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔

12/07/2024

Please be on the lookout for this lovely little dog 🐕

04/07/2024

One things for sure...someone who will be in Number 10 tomorrow ! 😃 😊

Larry, the Downing Street Cat, has ‘served’ four Prime Ministers for the past 13 years 🐱 His roles, according to official sources, include greeting guests, inspecting the security of the building, and testing antique furniture for 'napping quality'. Larry's commitment has earned him a role in the hearts of the nation ❤️ He's now patiently waiting to welcome the winner of tonight's vote 👀

04/07/2024

It's Polling Day...here's something for anyone taking their dog along to the Polling Station !
Shared from our colleages at the PDSA

02/07/2024

However many toys we buy our pets they always have one that is their absolute favourite.
It's either the texture or the squeaky or combination of both.

Bruno loves his Kong Wubba toy the most !
We stock a range of these hard wearing toys in our Dispensary.
Tried and tested by Bruno and no damage after several weeks playing !

We would love to see some photos of your pets playing with their favourite toys..

26/06/2024

More information about treating heat stroke....

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

25/06/2024

🍋We have seen a worrying increase in people suggesting the use of lemon juice to use in dogs with heat stroke🍋 Especially in Brachycephalic (Flat faced breeds)

When dogs have heatstroke they can often pant excessively and produce lots of saliva, people believe lemon juice will help clear this if they pour/squirt into the mouth.

When polled in the Veterinary Voices UK Facebook group, 0 of over 970 veterinary professionals would recommend giving lemon juice!

💔One member sadly lost a case because an owner had been attempting to manage heatstroke at home, a heartbreaking tragedy.

If you think your dog has heatstroke:

❌ Do not pour lemon juice into its mouth if they are producing excessive phlegm or saliva
❌ Do not attempt to force any liquid into its mouth - you risk causing aspiration
❌ Do not leave wet, cold towels stationary on them. They quickly warm and trap the heat

✅ Do...
✅ Bring your dog inside into a shady, well ventilated, cool room
✅Call your veterinary team and follow their instructions
✅Prepare yourself to promptly transfer to your practice
✅Cool them down by pouring cold water on them
✅ Depending on their current condition they may drink small amounts of cool water, don't allow they to lap up huge quantities at once incase they vomit
✅ Travel in a cold, air-conditioned car

✅ According to one study into heat-induced illness in dogs, those actively cooled before arriving at the vets had a lower mortality rate than those not cooled prior to arrival.

More information on heatstroke and how to manage while transferring to your veterinary team? See Dr David Marlin:
https://drdavidmarlin.com/managing-dogs-in-hot-weather/

23/06/2024

Just in case anyone is unsure...if in doubt don't take your dog out walking in the hot weather. 🐾

22/06/2024

It finally seems to be the weather we all wait for to get out in the garden and have barbecues.
Please keep your pet's safety in mind.
Please read this information from our friends at the PDSA.
Let's all enjoy the Summer safely.
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day !

12/06/2024

Just to remind everyone...tomorrow is the day we get our new phone system....

☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️

Just to let everyone know...this coming Thursday 13th June we are having our new phone system installed.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We will do our utmost to ensure you can still contact us.
PLEASE TRY TO AVOID CALLING US ON THIS DAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE VOLUME OF INCOMING CALLS. THIS SHOULD HELP ENSURE URGENT CALLS GET TO US WITHOUT DELAYS.

For ordering repeat medications and making routine enquiries we would suggest avoiding Thursday 13th June to help urgent calls get through to us.

Due to the whole UK phone system going digital in the coming year we have had to make this upgrade as our current system is not going to work once the digital system takes over.
Again we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

10/06/2024

☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️📞☎️

Just to let everyone know...this coming Thursday 13th June we are having our new phone system installed.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
We will do our utmost to ensure you can still contact us.
PLEASE TRY TO AVOID CALLING US ON THIS DAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE VOLUME OF INCOMING CALLS. THIS SHOULD HELP ENSURE URGENT CALLS GET TO US WITHOUT DELAYS.

For ordering repeat medications and making routine enquiries we would suggest avoiding Thursday 13th June to help urgent calls get through to us.

Due to the whole UK phone system going digital in the coming year we have had to make this upgrade as our current system is not going to work once the digital system takes over.
Again we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

06/06/2024

We've had some amazing new chews and treats arrive...

Cricket and mealworm 'Insecta' treats have proven very popular with taste testers today! 🦗🪱

We also have camel skin braids and lamb skin braids which many staff have already bought for their own pets

30/05/2024

It's that time of year again.....

20/05/2024

ANOTHER BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY IS COMING UP!!!!

NEXT MONDAY 27TH MAY.

WE WILL NOT BE OPEN FOR NORMAL SERVICES THAT DAY BUT HAVE OUR OWN IN-HOUSE EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR URGENT CASES.
If you are concerned about your pet when we are closed please contact the surgery on 01205 722696 and follow the instructions given to reach the duty vet on call.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO ORDER ENOUGH MEDICATION FOR YOUR PET TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT RUN OUT OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

Have a happy and safe Bank Holiday. 🥰😊