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Vet on the hill

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Vet on the hill

Welcome to Vet on the hill, Caterham's local vet surgery.
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29/06/2024

🐰 RABBIT HEALTHCARE - VACCINATIONS 🐰
Rabbits can be vaccinated annually like our dogs and cats. Our pet rabbits are at risk of picking up myxomatosis which can be a fatal viral disease. It is passed through blood sucking insects such as fleas, ticks mites and mosquitos as well as from one rabbit to another and objects contaminated with the virus. The clinical signs of the virus can take up to 3 weeks to show.
Being vaccinated doesn’t necessarily prevent your rabbit getting the disease but they are more likely to get a mild form and fight off the disease to make a full recovery. Unvaccinated rabbits are more likely to succumb to the disease.
Rabbits are also at risk of contracting another disease called rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease. It is virus that attacks the internal organs and cause internal bleeding. There are two strains of this disease which we vaccinate against RHD1 and RHD2. This is spread by rabbit to rabbit contact, the air and biting insects. It is fatal in most cases.
Even indoor rabbits should be vaccinated as biting insects can still come into the house. All enclosures need a thorough deep clean after any infection to prevent any other rabbits contracting the disease. 💉🐇

28/06/2024

🐰 RABBIT HOUSING 🐰
When it comes to housing our pet rabbits they do actually require a lot of space. According to RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund) rabbits should be in an enclosure L 3m x W 2m x H 1m and should have access to a shelter, you could choose to have a large enclosed space or a large open space. https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/space-recommendations/
Lots of people have made garden sheds into rabbit enclosures, if you have done this we would love to see photos of them! 🥰
Rabbits can also live indoors and the same measurements do apply. Some of our household items can be hazardous to rabbits such as electrical wires so do pick an area free from these and rabbits do like to chew so be warned your furniture is up for grabs! 🐇

27/06/2024

🐰 RABBIT DIET 🐰
Rabbits main dietary needs is hay, it makes up 85% of their diet, 10% is leafy green veg and 5% is rabbit nuggets. We have a growing problem of obesity in our pet rabbits due to being fed too many pellets or muesli. Muesli should be avoided as it encourages selective feeding so your rabbit likely won’t get the correct nutrients.
Rabbits really can never have too much hay, it’s important in digestion as it helps to keep the guts moving and prevent gut stasis which can be a fatal condition where the guts stop moving and can cause a blockage. It also aids in keeping rabbits teeth an appropriate length as their teeth are constantly growing and due to hay being abrasive it helps to file the teeth. If the teeth are not filed then it can lead to spurs which can be painful and stop the rabbit from eating. If a rabbit stops eating it can lead to gut stasis so it is important to contact your vet immediately if you notice this.
Leafy greens are fibrous and help in maintain gut health but should only be fed in a small amount, things like cabbage, broccoli and kale are safe for rabbits and rabbitwelfare.co.uk has an extensive list of safe foods as well as safe wild plants such as dandelions. 🌱🐇

26/06/2024

🐰RABBIT ENRICHMENT🐰
Rabbits believe it or not can be clicker trained just like a dog or cat and you can even do rabbit agility! Rabbits love to jump so you could set up your own agility course at home.
Like all pets, rabbits do require stimulation and will love playing with toys, some can even play fetch! In the enclosure you could place an old plant pot on its side with some soil to encourage digging because as you know this is also something rabbits love to do, you could also place some food items to help display natural foraging behaviour. This will help to stimulate your rabbits brain and prevent them from becoming bored and preventing unwanted behaviours such as chewing things they shouldn’t and over grooming.
Rabbits like to hide in tunnels and get up on different levels so these should be provided as well. 🐇

Thank you to one of our clients for these wonderful photos of her bunnies 👏🏻

25/06/2024

Please take a moment to follow the link in our bio which is a new study from the which details updated guidance for dogs showing signs of heat stroke, including cold water immersion and using fans or air conditioning on soaked dogs – to support owners to provide the best possible care whilst also seeking veterinary advice as soon as possible. 🐾

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/the-rvc-urges-owners-of-hot-dogs-to-cool-first-transport-second?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR34g3Vr-Lu4Vo5rOtmNADM-an5EE_qBt-AgwU6jODkdeCAuF90kMtxyFWs_aem_Ijrw4tEg4Yn1UcMj6Vrv0w

25/06/2024

🐰 RABBIT PAIRING AND BONDING 🐰
Rabbits are social creatures and should be kept in pairs, ideally a female and male neutered pair however some do get along fine if they are in a same s*x pairing but some do fight. If you are wanting to bond rabbits then this should be a slow introduction as is the case with many pets. This will usually be done by allowing them to see one another and sniff but not being together so a partition can be used such as two different enclosures close together.
You can place items that have the rabbits scent in each enclosure so they get used to their smell. This can then increase to short periods of introduction but they must be kept closely monitored because they can be quite vicious if they do fight and should be done in a neutral zone where neither rabbit has been. You may not need to bond your rabbits if they are siblings but it is always important to closely monitor them.
Rabbitwelfare.co.uk has lots of useful information about bonding rabbits. 🐇

24/06/2024

With their little twitchy noses, fluffy bobtails and happy binky’s it’s easy to see why rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK with an estimated 800,000 pet rabbits (PDSA.org.uk). Behind their very cute appearance rabbits have a variety of different needs which can make them at sometimes a challenging pet to have, but they can be a very loving, intelligent and affectionate pets.
Over the next week we will be sharing lots of tips and information on keeping your rabbits happy and healthy 🐇

21/06/2024

🩺 BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY 📞
This week at the practice some of our pooches have been hard at work, Anouk and Peggy answering calls and Charlie in an ‘operation’.
Please send us or tag us in some of your photos if your dog joins you at work 🐶

18/06/2024

💛 Golden retrievers: the ultimate mood boosters 💛
This is Buddy and he came in for his puppy check and vaccinations recently ⭐️

13/06/2024

Look at those ears 😍 Muffin the Corgi pup recently came in for vaccinations and we all had to have a little cuddle 🐶

11/06/2024

🐱 CAT MICROCHIPPING 🐱
It is now the law for all cats to be microchipped. If your cat isn’t then you have 21 days from the 10th of June to get them chipped.
⭐️ We are offering £10 off cat microchips for the rest of this month, so please do give us a call to book an appointment 📞

07/06/2024

❗️From 10 June 2024, cats in England will need to be microchipped and registered on a database by the time they’re 20 weeks old.❗️
For the rest of June we are offering £10 off the normal microchip cost ⭐️ this needs to be booked as an appointment and can be done by one of our Veterinary Nurses.
*Please note this appointment would not include a vet check*

04/06/2024

🐱 NATIONAL HUG YOUR CAT DAY 🐱
Today is the perfect day to give your cat that extra love, attention and snuggle time (if they allow it!) 🤪

29/05/2024

‘From when I was 15 years old, my mum showed me this popular tv show and I watched it and it literally changed my life. It was the popular Supervet show which is led by the world renowned Professor Noel Fitzpatrick. He showed me what it was like working in the veterinary world and taking care of sick and injured animals. I didn’t like the side of career path of becoming a vet as I couldn’t see myself becoming one or even had the grades to become one. And then I saw a Senior RVN and I was smitten with the profession.
Once I passed my GCSEs, I went to Plumpton College to do a BTEC in Level 3 extended diploma in Animal Management with Science which was an incredible experience and a different way to not do A Levels. After passing my BTEC with flying colours, I got into my first UCAS option which was to study FdSc in Veterinary Nursing in the most prestigious veterinary university in the UK, the Royal Veterinary College.
My favourite part of being a vet nurse is teaching work experience and students how to work in the veterinary practice. I love all aspects of veterinary nursing but I love communicating with the clients and getting to know all the animals that enter our doors. I would love to become a clinical supervisor to teach and train students to share my knowledge and experiences being a RVN in practice. I love all pets but mostly cats! I have two cats and a Russian horsefield tortoise at home!- Olivia S- RVN

24/05/2024

A puurfect way to start the weekend with some gorgeous Ragdoll kittens 🐱😍

22/05/2024

‘From a young age I always knew I wanted to work with animals. Once I left school I went to Brinsbury College and completed a BTEC National diploma in Animal Management. For a year I struggled to find a veterinary nurse apprenticeship and after thinking I wasn’t smart enough to go to university my mum encouraged me to apply. My BTEC course gave me enough UCAS points to apply and 3 years later I qualified in 2016 from Plumpton College with a foundation degree in veterinary nursing which is my proudest achievement. My favourite part of being a veterinary nurse is nurse clinics as I love interacting with clients and their pets. I also enjoy all other aspects of nursing and it so rewarding seeing patients who have improved due to the care we have provided. I am also a clinical supervisor so I help to train students whilst they’re in practice and I love to be able to share my knowledge with the future RVN’s.
I have a real soft spot for cats (even the spicy ones!) having been an avid dog person from a young age and currently have a little rescue cat at home.’ - Gemma H - RVN 🐾

20/05/2024

The handsome Prince came in to have his 1st vaccination with us and received his certificate for being super brave 🧡
He is a Cane Corso puppy and is definitely going to be a bit bigger when we see him for his next vaccine 🐾

16/05/2024

How can I become a Veterinary Nurse? 🩺
There are few ways to get into veterinary nursing and most take 3 years to complete.
🐾 We have the apprenticeship route, this is where the student veterinary nurse is in practice usually 4 days a week then at college 1 day a week for studying. Before starting the apprenticeship they usually need to be in practice for 6 months and may start off as a veterinary care assistant before becoming a student.
🐾 We then have the degree route depending on how the university works you may need to complete block placements in a practice over a period of a few weeks at a time or the university may work similar to the diploma where you study for part of the week then the other part in a practice. You can either complete a Foundation degree FdSc or a Batchelor of Science BSc in veterinary nursing. For the degree you will need to have completed a certain amount of work experience hours in a practice.

We have nurses in our team who have completed different pathways to get where they are today. 🧡

13/05/2024

‘From a very young age I loved being around animals, my Mum’s family in Ireland had a farm that I spent many summers at looking after the farm animals, cats and dogs, that is where my love for animals grew. I also have a great passion for horses too, previously completing a National Diploma in Equine management.

Over the years I have rescued and hand reared many wood pigeons, kittens and puppies.

In 2006 I had my first job as a student veterinary nurse, I have loved it ever since, progressing from RVN to Head RVN in 2014’ - Hannah - our Head RVN 🐾

11/05/2024

Tilly was in this week for her final vaccination and was awarded our first Bravery Certificate 🧡
I’m sure you will all agree that she is very cute 😍

09/05/2024

To carry on with the celebration of our wonderful Veterinary Nurses this month ⭐️ here is just a few of the roles that they take on here at the practice 🩺

03/05/2024

Peekaboo 🫣😻

01/05/2024

The month of May marks a time to celebrate our wonderful Veterinary Nurses not only at Vet on The Hill but across the country in Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) 🤍

Each year we have a different campaign and this year is Progression. I’m sure many of our lovely clients know what our Veterinary Nurses do but unfortunately some people still do not know the role of a Veterinary Nurse which is why we have a whole month dedicated to raising awareness.

You may see the abbreviation RVN which stands for Registered Veterinary Nurse, this means that the nurse has successfully completed their training and is qualified. They are registered with the governing body RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) and they must has complete 15 hours of CPD (continuing professional development) a year to remain on the register.

Whilst a Registered Veterinary Nurse is protected, the title Veterinary Nurse is not protected which can be confusing. The BVNA (British Veterinary Nursing Association) have been campaigning to protect the Veterinary Nurse title.

Over the next few weeks we will be explaining more about the progression in Veterinary nursing and a little bit about what the profession entails 🩺 🐾

27/04/2024

Happy World Veterinary day to all of our team and fellow veterinary professionals 🌎

Thank you for your constant dedication and compassion towards our animal friends 🐾

23/04/2024

This week we are celebrating Veterinary Receptionist Week 🧡

Whether it’s laughing with you, giving your pets a cuddle, cleaning up accidents in the waiting room or grieving with you when it’s time to say goodbye.

Thank you to our team for your dedication and help in keeping the practice running smoothly 💫

🐾

16/04/2024

The puurfect hiding place 🐱🙈

15/04/2024

Have your pets vaccinations lapsed? 💉
Call us to book them in for their all-important annual health check and vaccinations to help protect your pet 🐾

11/04/2024

🩷 HAPPY NATIONAL PET DAY 💙
From all of us at Vet on The Hill 🐾

09/04/2024

How cute are these 4 😍
All ready to go to their new homes after having their first vaccinations and microchips 🐱

03/04/2024

🐾 MEET OUR TEAM 🐾
Paula has worked in veterinary practice for 13 years as a receptionist and animal nursing assistant. She has a cat called James and a Chug who is called Charlie. Paula enjoys spending time with her 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Address

17 Essendene Road
Caterham
CR35PB

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441883341306

Website

http://www.vetonthehill.co.uk/

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Videos

🐰Rabbit Awareness Week🐰

With their little twitchy noses, fluffy bobtails and happy binky’s it’s easy to see why rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK with an estimated 800,000 pet rabbits (PDSA.org.uk). Behind their very cute appearance rabbits have a variety of different needs which can make them at sometimes a challenging pet to have, but they can be a very loving, intelligent and affectionate pets. Over the next week we will be sharing lots of tips and information on keeping your rabbits happy and healthy 🐇