Carlisle Vets4Pets Limited

31/10/2024

✨🎃Halloween & Autumnal Photo Competition Winners🎃✨

Congratulations to Ace and Pepper who have won the competition! Well done! Your Pets At Home voucher will be ready to collect from the practice tomorrow 🧡💫🐾

29/10/2024

25/10/2024

✨Happy Friday✨

This handsome boy is Fergus who recently came in to see us for his vaccinations, just look at those puppy dog eyes! 😍 He was a little superstar, so brave and well behaved! 🌟 We were very impressed with his good sit! 🐶💙🐾

24/10/2024

🎆Firework Advice For Small Animals🎆

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferrets and birds all need to be treated with special care when fireworks are being let off. These animals are easily frightened.

🐰Bring your pet’s hutch or cage indoors. A quiet room is best, but an unused garage or shed is a good alternative.

🐰If you are able to bring your pet inside your house, draw the curtains or black out and close the windows to block out the flashes of light in the night sky and to muffle the sound from outside. Switching the TV or radio on might help too, but make sure it’s not too loud - especially if your rabbit isn’t used to noises from the television.

🐰If you cannot bring your pet’s hutch inside, you should turn its enclosure around so that it faces a wall or fence instead of the open garden. This will help to stifle the sound and prevent them from seeing the flashes of light. Cover their hutch with thick blankets or a duvet to block out the sound of the bangs and the sight of the fireworks, but make sure your pet still has enough ventilation.

🐰Give your pet extra bedding to burrow into so it feels cosy and safe. For rabbits and guinea pigs you could put a cardboard box full of hay, with holes cut in for easy access and exit, in their hutch to give them an extra place to hide.

21/10/2024

We would like to share with you these gorgeous photos that one of our very talented clients has taken of their dog Freddie 🥰🧡🐾

Emma Halliburton Creative 📸🌟

18/10/2024

🍁🍂🎃Halloween & Autumnal Photo Competition🎃🍂🍁

To celebrate this special time of year we would love for you to share a Halloween or Autumnal themed photo of your pet in the comments below for a chance to win a £15 Pets At Home voucher!🐾

Here are some photos of our staffs' dogs to get you started 🧡

The winner will be selected at random on Halloween 🌟

15/10/2024

This handsome boy is Fox Spooky Maulder who recently came in to be neutered. His owner sent us these photos of him whilst he was recovering post-op, how chilled out does he look wearing his cone?! 🥰 We are so pleased he has now made a full recovery due to the responsible care his owner gave him post-op, and he is enjoying getting back to exploring 💙🐱🐾

10/10/2024

💚World Mental Health Day💚

In honour of World Mental Health Day we are looking at the positive effects of having a pet. Join us in sharing how your pet helps to support your mental health in the comments below 🐾

08/10/2024

🎆 Does Your Pet Hate Fireworks? ACT NOW!! 🎆

You can call the practice on 01228 547956 to discuss calming supplements that may help your pet during this time of year 🐶🐱

Other handy tips to help keep your cats and dogs happy during firework season...

🐾 Always keep dogs and cats inside at night during firework season. If your cat is used to going outside, provide a litter tray and make sure your dog is walked earlier in the day before the fireworks start.

🐾 Check your pet’s microchip details are up to date and ensure they are wearing a collar and a tag, so that if they do run away they have a better chance of being quickly reunited with you.

🐾 Close all windows and doors, and block off cat flaps to stop pets escaping and to keep noise to a minimum. Draw the curtains to black out any flashing lights from outside and if the animals are used to the sounds of TV or radio, switch them on (but not too loudly) in order to block out some of the noise of the fireworks.

🐾 Prepare a ‘den’ for your pet where it can feel safe and comfortable - perhaps under a bed with some of your old clothes. They may like to hide there when the fireworks start.

🐾 Let your pet pace around, whine, meow and hide in a corner if they want to. Do not try to coax them out - it’s just trying to find safety, and should not be disturbed.

🐾 Stay calm, act normally and give lots of praise for calm behaviour. It’s OK to cuddle and stroke your pet if it helps them relax, but if they prefer to hide under your bed, then let them do this instead.

🐾 Avoid leaving your pet alone during such potentially upsetting events. If you do have to leave the house, don’t get angry with your pet if you find they have been destructive or toileted after being left on its own. Shouting at a frightened pet will only make them more stressed.

🐾 Adaptil plug ins for dogs and Feliway plug ins for cats can help your pets feel calm in your home by creating a reassuring environment.

🐾 Thunder shirts can be worn by dogs which work by applying pressure to points on their body which helps to keep them calm and reassured.

07/10/2024

We would like to give a big shout out to the Dalston Black Reds under 7s Football Team who came as runners up in the final of their recent football tournament! 🏅🌟 Well played boys! ⚽️🥅 You all did amazing! 😃🙌 Dalston Junior Black Reds FC

04/10/2024

🌏Happy World Animal Day🌍

This special day is a day for all animals and animal lovers around the globe. Celebrating animal rights and welfare, helping to raise awareness of how animals are treated globally and to improve standards of animal wellbeing, all over the world to make a real difference to them 💚💙🐾

To celebrate World Animal Day we would love for you to share a photo of your pet with their favourite animal for a chance to be our Facebook profile photo for a month. The winner will be selected randomly on Friday 11th October 📸🌟

Follow this link for more information about World Animal Day https://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/

World Animal Day HQ

03/10/2024

MISSING CAT - PLEASE SHARE

Thank you 🙏

02/10/2024

This is the gorgeous Bhodi who recently completed all his puppy party sessions 🐶🎉 Well done Bhodi! You were a little superstar! 🌟💙🐾

01/10/2024

Happy Veterinary Receptionist Appreciation day!🎈

Today, we would like to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our veterinary receptionists Catriona and Jenny they are the heart of our practice.

Thank you for all that you do! 🐾❤️🐶🐈

30/09/2024

🐹

30/09/2024

MISSING CAT - PLEASE SHARE 🙏

27/09/2024

🐹

Can’t believe Nibble, Nourish, Thrive is almost coming to an end! We’ve enjoyed every moment of sharing and learning with all of you. 🐹

But wait, there’s more! Our final topic focuses on companionship—from bonding tips to the ideal diet, they’ve got everything you need to keep your furry friends happy and healthy.

Did you miss our earlier posts? No problem, just scroll back to catch up!

And don’t forget, your likes, shares, and comments help raise awareness about guinea pig welfare.
Join us in making a difference!

https://guineapigalliance.com/about-gpaw/

26/09/2024

🐹 Guinea Pig Awareness Week 🐹

To celebrate this special week we would love for you to share a photo of your much loved piggies in the comments below 🧡

26/09/2024

🐹

🦷 Guinea Pig Dental Health🦷

Did you know your piggy's teeth never stop growing? 😮

🌿 Hay is your piggy's dental superhero! It naturally wears those ever-growing chompers. 🏋️‍♀️

🦷Chewing hay = happy teeth!

😀Don't forget that high-quality feeding hay should make up 85-90% of their diet.

🚫 No toothbrushes needed - just a yearly vet check up!

Remember, a happy piggy is a healthy piggy, and healthy teeth are a big part of that equation! 😄

https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/diet/

26/09/2024

🐹

Your piggies diet could be the key to their happiness and health 🌿

Here's a quick nugget of wisdom: Guinea pigs can't produce their own vitamin C, making them prone to scurvy. Yikes! But don't worry, a balanced diet of high-quality feeding hay, fresh greens, water and the right nuggets can keep them bouncing with joy. 🐹💚

Ready to give your guinea pig the best life possible?

Hop over to our website for the full scoop on guinea pig nutrition https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/diet/

26/09/2024

🐹

We hope you're having a blast and enjoying ! It's day four, and today we're diving into Guinea pig health, from their peak to squeak. Let's talk about how your piggy's diet can affect their health!

Don't forget to like, comment, and share our posts with your fellow guinea pig lovers! 🐹


https://guineapigalliance.com/about-gpaw/

25/09/2024

🐹

25/09/2024

🐹

🐹 It's day three of Guinea Pig Awareness Week 2024 - Nibble, Nourish, Thrive! and we're jumping right into the importance of a healthy diet for guinea pigs! Stay tuned for more tips and info throughout the week, and don't forget to show your support by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. Let's make the best one yet!💚

Whether you're a long-time guinea pig owner or just a piggy enthusiast, there's something here for everyone! So let’s spread the word and ensure all piggies are well-fed and thriving! 🥬

https://guineapigalliance.com/about-gpaw/

25/02/2024

When Kelly from our Colton store's Pets Grooming salon discovered a lump on the tail of nine-year-old Rufus she suspected something wasn't right, so alerted his owners Les and Andrea so they could get it checked out. They brought him to Vets for Pets Leeds Colton where it was confirmed he had a cancerous tumour which needed surgery.

Les, who adopted Rufus from Dogs Trust in Leeds as a puppy, said: “Rufus is such a big part of our life; we’re absolutely besotted with him. We probably wouldn’t have noticed the lump if not at the groomers as the tail isn’t somewhere you would usually stroke and feel. Kelly loves Rufus and really looks after him, so we want to say a big thanks for spotting it. Who'd have known what would have happened if she hadn’t noticed.”

Rufus had to have his tail removed, but is now making a good recovery. He's been visiting Kelly for a groom every six weeks for the last three years. She said: “You get to know everything about a dog as you groom them. I’ve discovered similar things before on other dogs so I mentioned it to the owners so they could get it checked out. Dogs are my life and you do worry; I’m so pleased they caught it. Now he’s got a fully docked tail like a little bunny rabbit. It’s lovely and suits him – when he gets washed he wiggles his bum.”

21/02/2024

Arthur's owner Louise says he "looked like a brand-new tortoise" after having his beak filed at Sutton in Ashfield Vets4Pets.

Louise adopted the four-year-old Horsefield Tortoise from a family member in October. Although she has had other pets, Arthur is her first tortoise, so she has been doing some research on how to best care for him.

Louise said: "I noticed Arthur's beak was unusually long, so I brought him in to Vets for Pets; I bring all my pets there. When he came out, I thought 'you beautiful boy, look at you – you look so handsome!"

Vet Steph, who looked after Arthur, says that tortoise beaks continuously grow and normally grind down themselves while they're eating. She said: "Arthur needed a little help as his jaw isn't perfectly aligned; his lower jaw is further out than his top jaw, so I filed it around half a centimetre. He was really good; a real cutie."

18/02/2024

Owner Claire says she couldn't be more grateful to Vets4Pets Hamilton after their quick diagnosis saved the sight of six-year-old Alba.

Claire knew there was something terribly wrong with her miniature dachshund cross when she called her in from the back garden last summer and Alba ran headfirst into a closed patio door. She rushed her to the vets, where investigations led the team to diagnose her with uveitis – an eye condition which causes inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.

Claire said: "It all happened so suddenly; Alba must have heard my voice and guessed where to go. It was quite scary seeing how bad she was. We couldn't be more grateful for the team in Hamilton spotting the uveitis as quickly as they did, otherwise Alba would have gone blind within a matter of days. Their knowledge saved Alba's sight. I still can't believe it happened. It's taken months of treatments, but it's such a relief to have our girl back to being her funny, bossy self."

Vet Neil, one of the team who treated Alba, said: "Alba's pupil was really narrow and wouldn't respond to light properly, which can be a sign of uveitis. Once we had ruled out other conditions, we were able to get her to an eye specialist for ongoing treatment. She's now doing really well."

16/02/2024

Ducky's owner Antonia was in a state of panic when she saw a fox had dug its way into the field where she keeps him – killing two of her other ducks and chickens.

Antonia was about to move her brood into their pen for the evening when she saw what had happened and noticed that Ducky had severe bite wounds under his wing. She rushed him to Vets4Pets Vets Milton Keynes for emergency surgery – and after having his wound stitched up the one-year-old duck is now making a good recovery.

Antonia said: "I was so worried. You don’t often hear of ducks recovering from fox attacks, but there is something about Ducky and the way he was so brave. I'm sure he was protecting a lady duck, as he's a bit of a romantic. It's the first time we've gone to Vets for Pets, and the team were amazing; they've done an incredible job."

Vet Becca, who treated Ducky, said: "He's a really lucky duck, as it was quite a big wound. When he first came in, he was understandably subdued and quiet but when he came back for his stitches to be taken out, he wanted to explore and tuck his head into everyone’s shoulders."

07/02/2024

Well done to the team at Vets4Pets Guildford who've been awarded a silver level certificate for being a rabbit-friendly clinic.

After head veterinary nurse Ella noticed that more customers were bringing in rabbits the practice took a series of steps to give them as stress-free an experience as possible. Ella, who also fosters rescue dogs in her spare time, said: "There was a long list of things that we needed to prove that we did from making sure the rabbits are kept separate from other animals and not booked in at the same time as barking dogs, to providing heated kennels for those who need to stay in, and using special equipment made especially for rabbits."

Practice manager Kevin said: "All of our vets have plenty of experience with rabbits we have some real rabbit geeks here, so it was a big thing to us. There are so many good people in this world and I'm so proud to be around them."

28/01/2024

Beautiful Bear was born deaf, so he's learned to follow his owner Lisa's visual commands.

Lisa, who shops at our Tamworth store – "it's my second home!" – got two-year-old Bear as a kitten and suspected he was deaf when he didn't respond to her voice. She had it confirmed by her vet soon after. She said: "He was very scatty, and scared of people he didn’t recognise. He wasn’t bothered by loud noises like my other cat Emily and when I came home from work he wouldn’t hear the door open.

"He's doing really well though. I try to do some sign language with him – I point at him and do a solid hand sign at him to stop. He picks up on vibrations and scents too. He meows, making a really loud chirping sound which I’ve never heard a cat do before, and he’s always rubbing his head against my legs and following me everywhere. I was advised not to let him out because he wouldn’t hear cars or other dangers, so he comes outside with me every morning to have a sniff around the garden and always comes straight back in." Bear and Lisa's other cat Emily are on Instagram as

27/01/2024

Ten-year-old Dutch rabbit Alfie has been visiting vet Kate at Vets4pets Wolverhampton for dental treatment for the last eight years – and she says he's such a loveable character that he's become "part of the family".

He's one of the oldest rabbits treated by Kate and the team, and she says his longevity is down to the care and love he gets from his owner Tracy and her family. Kate said: "Alfie is famous in this practice – everyone knows him. We and his family are dedicated to making sure her little old man is happy. The beautiful thing about being a vet or vet nurse is you build these relationships with the owners and their pets – they become your surrogate pets."

Tracy's been keeping rabbits all her life, and says that having space and routine is key. She said: "Alfie is an old man now and has a routine. He goes into a hutch at night and is let out in the morning. He's out all day and has his favourite spots in the house. We clean him out every day and give him a lot of attention. When he was younger he would follow us around; if I was clearing a cupboard out he would be in the cupboard to help. Now he's old and wants to be warm and watch instead. I can't thank Kate and the practice enough. Kate's been fantastic with him."

26/01/2024

Eight-year-old Winnie the Schnauzer cross is running around like a puppy again thanks to laser treatment and physiotherapy after two successful knee operations at Vets for Pets Basildon.

Worried owner Tracy brought Winnie in to the practice after she collapsed on a walk last year – and the team discovered the cruciate ligament in a knee had ruptured. She’s since had ops on two knees and is on a recovery plan led by vet physiotherapist Izzy.

Tracy said: "Winnie has had a tough year with 15 teeth removed, two cruciate ligament operations and two bouts of pancreatitis but thankfully she's hardy. She’s treated fabulously at the Basildon practice. Izzy is great with her – she totally relaxes in her hands and does little snores with her eyes open. Winnie has a new lease of life again and is running around like a puppy."

Izzy said: "When pets have surgery or injure themselves they move differently which causes them to be sore in other places. Winnie has laser therapy then a massage to help the healing process. Laser treatment is a specialist service that not enough people know about – it can help in so many ways after an operation.”

18/01/2024

Veterinary nurse Mel from Vets4Pets Bristol Longwell Green loves cats so much she's helped the practice make a number of improvements to give cats as stress-free an experience as possible when they're brought in.

Mel, who has an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour for Veterinary Professionals, helped introduce facilities like a separate feline waiting area and cattery and the use of quiet clippers – and the practice now has a silver level certificate for being a cat-friendly clinic. She said: "I love dogs but I'm really a cat person. Cats can be misunderstood which can lead to them having quite a stressful life, so if we can make things easier for them and help people understand what cats need then everyone will be happier.

"As animal lovers there's always more to learn and understand about what makes them happy. Enrichment at the home is important for a happy cat – and as cats are naturally solitary animals if you live in a multi-cat household it's important to understand what they need. The rule is to have a resource per cat, plus one spare. So if you have two cats you should have three feeding stations, three litter trays and three scratch posts spread around the house so they have the opportunity to move around to wherever they want to go. Scratching is as natural a thing for cats to do as going out hunting is, so if they're unable to go out it's about providing the chance for them to behave as naturally as possible."

07/01/2024

Four-year-old Sebastian the Jack Russell is back to his usual boisterous self after being treated at Vets4Pets Abingdon for a condition that was causing the knee caps on his back legs to dislocate when he walked.

The condition, known as medial patellar luxation, would cause him to hop or skip when exercising. It's quite common in terriers and small dog breeds, but Sebastian's case was quite severe and he was given surgery by orthopaedic surgeon Joe to deepen the groove his patella runs in on his right hind leg, and also to move and reattach his patellar tendon.

Sebastian is owned by practice vet Hannah who said: "After the operation he just wanted to get back to normal straight away but he couldn't ... and that's where we struggled. He wanted to be out and about, charging around and playing with his toys but he needed to rest." Hannah had to give him medication for six weeks to give his knees time to heal. She said: "He's absolutely fine now – he's fully recovered and running around like a lunatic again!"

05/01/2024

When 11-year-old lurcher Jess was brought into Vets for Pets Leeds Birstall 24/7 Small Animal Hospital on Christmas Eve feeling very poorly with pyometra – a life-threatening uterus infection – the team knew they had to act fast; so vet Emily and nurses JD and Hannah headed straight in to perform emergency surgery on her in the early hours of Christmas morning.

The operation went so well that by lunchtime nurse Krishna was able to call her owner Beth to say she was well enough to come home to recuperate – and Beth made the hour-long drive from her home in Keighley so she could bring Jess home before the family sat down for their Christmas dinner. Beth said: "It was a stressful start to Christmas, as we were worried about Jess because of her age and because she's never had anything wrong with her before. We're so grateful for everything – it was so nice of them to come in on Christmas Day to operate on her, to look after her so well and to get her home on top form. The vets were fantastic from start to finish. Jess is recovering nicely – you can see the happiness is back in her!"

Krishna said: "Our night team always do an amazing job, and performing serious surgery like that at that time of night and on Christmas Day of all days is just brilliant. Jess did amazingly well to bounce back so quickly, and it was amazing being able to call her owners to say that she could come home to spend Christmas with them. It's the sort of call we all love to make, but doing it on Christmas Day was extra nice."

03/01/2024

Six-foot-long boa constrictor Astrix was the centre of attention when he called in for a routine "top to tail" health check at Vets4Pets Penzance.

Astrix, who's four, is part of a menagerie of six snakes, bearded dragons and six dogs belonging to veterinary nurse Lowenna, who works at the practice, and her partner Mark. The team looked at Astrix's eyes and mouth and checked his breathing to rule out any respiratory infections and also checked his scales.

Lowenna said: "He got a clean bill of health, he was absolutely fine and everyone had a turn holding him. Asterix is quite reserved, a little bit shy usually. He did really well when he came in as everyone wanted to touch him and he was like 'okay I quite like the attention.' Astrix has got a lovely big set-up at home. He's quite a big boy, weighing in at nearly 10 kilos, so the vivarium is more than seven foot long. We have a reptile room and he has the run of it. He has a large bucket of water too if he ever wants to submerge himself."

02/01/2024

This brave girl is collie-cross Sherpa, who the team at Vets for Pets Livingston say was "impeccably calm" when she was rushed in for emergency injury after hurting her eye in a freak accident.

Sherpa's owner Caroline was taking Sherpa for a walk when Sherpa caught her eye on a stick as she went exploring a bush. She was quickly admitted into surgery where she received X-rays and, after a two-hour procedure by practice owner Dr Adam, aided by nurse Erin, the stick was removed. Adam said: "Sherpa was amazingly tolerant following an extremely random occurrence. It was astonishing." Sherpa didn't lose her sight and is now making a great recovery.

Caroline said: “We were suddenly thrown into the worst living nightmare, it was absolutely horrifying. It’s truly a miracle what Adam and the team achieved from the moment they answered our call for help. They gave us hope."

24/12/2023

This little Christmas cracker is Molly, who survived against the odds and gave birth to three premature puppies after being brought in to Vets for Pets Cirencester as a pregnant stray with severe injuries from a fight with other dogs.

Martina, who owns the practice, said: ”It was really touch and go and we thought Molly might not make it. The team treated mum first, got her on a drip and stabilised her before successfully managing to deliver the puppies – two boys and a girl – by caesarean section."

Molly, who's a Cairn Terrier, and her three pups are recovering well at home with Martina. “As they needed 24/7 care I took them home and emptied the whole spare bedroom so there was a nice, warm and comfortable quiet place for Molly and her puppies. I was attached to her for the first five days – my husband Matt even brought food up to the bedroom for me as I stayed there all the time. It was really hard work but it was all worth it. They’re absolute darlings and doing really well now – mum is already brave enough to go on dog walks.”

Martina says Molly will continue living with her in the future, and the puppies will be adopted when they are stronger.

19/12/2023

This beautiful buzzard is on the mend after undergoing surgery on a broken wing at Vets4Pets Newmarket after he was hit by a car.

A member of the public rescued the buzzard and brought him in to see if the team could help. After a successful operation and five days of recuperation he's ben taken to The Raptor Foundation rehabilitation centre to continue his recovery.

Practice manager Natalie said: "We put him under general anaesthetic and performed orthopaedic surgery. We'll see him again next month to see how he's progressing and then hopefully he'll be released back into the wild. We wish him a speedy recovery as he's such a handsome chap.”

17/12/2023

Here's a salutary tale in the run-up to Christmas Day ... the story of poor little Tego, who had to be rushed to Vets for Pets Morpeth for emergency treatment after snaffling 48 Quality Street chocolates, their wrappers and part of the box.

Owner Sarah realised chocolate was toxic for dogs so phoned the vets who told her to get the five-year Tibetan Terrier there immediately. Sarah said: "They were brilliant with him. The chocolates were a birthday present for my daughter Olivia, and they were all wrapped up and put in the lounge with the door shut. I went to work and when I came back Tego had somehow managed to get in the room and rip into them."

Vet Eleni and the team helped Tego cough everything up and took blood tests and put him on medication before he was allowed home. Eleni said it's a useful reminder to keep chocolates well hidden – and to act fast if your dog eats any and induce vomiting within one to two hours to prevent the body from absorbing the toxins.

16/12/2023

Five-year-old Buddy will be thinking twice about picking up sticks in future after one pierced his tongue and he had to be taken for treatment at Vets4Pets Lisburn.

Owner Danielle says Buddy doesn't normally play with sticks but one day he saw other dogs having fun with sticks and ran over to join in. "We heard a loud yelp and he came sheepishly over to us, with his tail between his legs, and we realised he was in pain. We took him to the practice where Becky the vet found the hole under his tongue and treated him with dissolving stitches, antibiotics and painkillers. Becky was so lovely."

Danielle says: "Buddy is doing absolutely great now and we are keeping an extra eye on him – we've even bought him a fake fabric bendy stick from Pets at Home!"