Vets4Pets Chester Caldy

11/10/2024

Today is Vet Nurse Day!

We are so lucky here at Chester Caldy Vets4Pets to have such an incredible team of nurses. The practice would be totally lost without them!

So what do vet nurses do? You can see just some of the amazing jobs they do in the picture below!

WE LOVE YOU NURSES!

Do you have any kind words for our nursing team? Please leave them in the comments! ❤

04/10/2024

It's World Animal Day!

A day to celebrate all the amazing animals that we are lucky enough to share our planet with!

Can you imagine the world without animals? We certainly can't!

What animals do you share your home with? We would love to see them and hear all about them in the comments! 😻

01/10/2024

Today is officially Black Dog Day!

Do you have a black dog at home? What is your favourite thing about them? 🐾😍

28/09/2024

Today is International Rabbit Day!

Wishing everybunny a hoppy rabbit day!

We would love to see your bunnies in the comments! 🐰❤

26/09/2024

Calling all our lovely clients!

As a lot of you are probably aware, In February 2023 our amazing JVP and Head Vet Emma was diagnosed with stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Emma underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and targeted therapy and thankfully she has had a complete response to her treatment.

Throughout Emma's cancer treatment, she continued her hobby of running to try and keep as fit as possible.

Emma had been planning to run the Conwy half marathon last year but I had to pull out for obvious reasons, however, she has signed up again for this year and she is currently in training to get her fitness back up.

IBC is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. Many people diagnosed with IBC are not as fortunate as Emma, they may not have a complete response to treatment or many are already stage 4 by the time they are diagnosed.

Emma is fundraising to help pay for much needed research. So little money is donated for this rare and deadly form of cancer and we would appreciate any donations that people can give, every little helps.

You can donate by clicking the link below. Thank You 😍.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-hall-1722633850802

26/09/2024

Today is Remember Me Thursday!

Remember Me Thursday is a day to shine a light on all of the orphaned animals needing homes.

Have you taken in an orphaned pet? We would love to see them in the comments below ❤

24/09/2024

Following on from a tough couple of weeks where sadly numerous team members have been subject to some very unkind words from clients, we ask you to take a moment to read this...

All jobs within the Veterinary Profession are mentally and physically demanding, and emotionally draining.

We work long hours and are very busy all day. We are upbeat and enthusiastic when we welcome your new pet, and then are kind and compassionate when it is time to say goodbye. Sometimes, someone’s sad goodbye is just 15 minutes before someone’s happy hello. The emotional impact on our team members is massive.

Vets have the highest su***de rate of any profession in the UK, and is double that of doctors treating humans. One of the recognised drivers of this, is dealing with emotionally charged clients in person, on the phone and on social media on a daily basis.

We provide veterinary services daily, and we are one of the only veterinary practices in the whole area to open 7 days a week to be there for our clients as much as physically possible. We are so proud of our entire team for their hard work and dedication.

We strive to provide an outstanding service at all times.

Unfortunately, there are circumstances that prevail where we are delayed in being able to see your pet due to an emergency case, we struggle to source your medication due to shortages, or where there is a financial query.

We understand that you may feel stressed, upset or anxious and we are happy to work with you to resolve any issues you may have, but do request that you continue the discussion in a calm and polite manner.

We are real human beings, with feelings, with families. We do not deserve to be shouted at, sworn at, or threatened with violence.

No one can tell if someone is already struggling and further harsh words could be the final straw. We do not want to lose any team member as a result of stress at work.

So please, take a few minutes, and a few deep breaths and then allow us to help you with your query in a calm and stress free manner.

Thank you for reading.

10/09/2024

We have had a lovely female bunny handed in to our practice today. She appears to be well handled and around 6 months to a year old. She was found in Wood Lane, Broughton. If you think she may be yours, please contact the practice on 01244 353020 ❤️

28/08/2024

We have sadly had a deceased neutered bale bengal type cat handed in to our practice. The cat has no microchip but does look like an owned cat. He was found in Mickle Trafford near Plemstall Lane. If you think he may be yours, please contact the practice on 01244353020.

22/08/2024

We have teamed up with Tissue Bank to help animals in need ❤️

Whilst it is not something that any of us like to think about, did you know that when it is time for our pets to cross the rainbow bridge, they can leave their legacy behind by becoming a tissue donor for other pets in need?* 🌈

Tissue donation can help cure conditions in dogs and cats and help recipients with conditions such as bone cancer, broken bones and ligament or tendon rupture.

In return, the Veterinary Tissue Bank will cover the costs of your pets cremation and return the ashes to you free of charge ❤️

To find out more about tissue donation, you can visit vtbank.org or contact our practice on 01244 353020 and we will be more than happy to help ☺️

*in order to become a tissue donor, your dog or cat must have a full vaccination history, have no history of malignant disease, have no systemic infection at the time of donation, have no history of chronic systemic autoimmune disease or have been vaccinated within the last 28 days,

04/08/2024

We have had a sweet dog handed in to our practice this afternoon. She was found wandering around and a kind member of public brought her in. She has no microchip or collar. She appears to be elderly and she is very friendly. If you think she is yours or belongs to someone you know, please call the practice when we open at 8.30am tomorrow morning. She will be taken care of overnight ❤️

28/06/2024

Can't believe is almost a wrap! We've loved every moment of sharing and learning with everyone. 🐰

But hold up, they're not done yet! Their final topic is all about companionship—from bonding tips to the perfect diet, they’ve got everything you need to know to keep your furry friends happy and healthy.

Missed out on their earlier posts? No worries, just scroll back to catch up!

And remember, your likes, shares, and comments help spread the word about rabbit welfare. Join them in making a difference!

27/06/2024

Happy Day Four of Rabbit Awareness Week 2024! 🐰

Today, they’re diving into how you can create a thriving environment for your fluffy friends with the right nutrition. Let’s hop right into making mealtime both delicious and exciting for your bunnies! 🏡

Don't forget to like, comment, and share their posts with your fellow bunny lovers! 🐰

26/06/2024

We hope everyone's enjoying Rabbit Awareness Week 2024 just as much as we are! 🐰

Today, they're diving deep into bunny behaviour.

Learn how to nurture positive habits and recognise the signs when something might be off.

Your furry friend counts on you to understand their needs, so let's hop to it!

Like, share, and comment to keep the conversation going! 🐇✨

25/06/2024

Welcome to Day Two of Rabbit Awareness Week 2024 - Healthy Diet, Happy Bunnies!

Today they're hopping right into how what your bun eats affects their health.

Stay tuned, join the conversation, and let's keep spreading the word about rabbit welfare together! 🐰

24/06/2024

24/06/2024

24/06/2024

🐰 It's day one of Rabbit Awareness Week 2024 - Healthy Diet, Happy Bunnies! and they're diving straight into the importance of a healthy diet for rabbits!

Whether one is a well-seasoned rabbit owner or just a bunny lover, there's something for everyone! So let's spread the word and make sure all bunnies are well-fed and thriving!

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!💚

08/06/2024

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month!

Do you have a rescue cat at home?

If so, we would love to see them in the comments below! 😻

06/06/2024

This week is Pet Appreciation Week!

We are very lucky here at Vets4Pets Chester Caldy that we get to see lots of pets of all different species, breeds, shapes and sizes and we appreciate every single one of them!

We would love to hear all about the pets you have at home, along with pictures of course! 😍

29/05/2024

We are proud to announce that Vets4Pets Chester Caldy has been accredited as a Dog Friendly Clinic!

The Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme has been set up by Dogs Trust and The British Veterinary Behaviour Association to help vet clinics and owners make every dog's veterinary experience the best possible.

To find out more, and how you can help your dog have a better trip to the vets, visit www.dogfriendlyclinic.org.uk

11/05/2024

Did you know that our Veterinary Nurses spend a large amount of their day monitoring our inpatients?

All of the pets that stay with us for the day have a nurse regularly with them, ensuring that they are all comfortable and recovering well from surgery.

Here is our Student Nurse Elisabeth taking care of some of our cat inpatients 😻



Our patients all love Elisabeth and rightly so, she's fabulous and definitely gives them great cuddles! 🥰

08/05/2024

Today is National Receptionist Day!

I think you will all agree with us when we say we really do have the very best reception team here at Chester Caldy Vets4Pets.

The reception team are the very first faces our clients see when they walk in and the last friendly faces our clients see when they leave.

They really are the most hard working, friendly and professional team we could possibly ask for and we appreciate them every single day.. the practice could not run without them!

Do you have any nice words to share about these wonderful humans? If so, please share them in the comments below 😍

07/05/2024

Following on from our last post about Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month, we thought we would share some of the many things that our nurses do on a daily basis at our practice!

Did you know that veterinary nurses are trained to carry out many diagnostic tests meaning that some of the tests your pet has had at our practice many well have been carried out by one of our awesome nursing team?

Here is our student nurse Keelyn carrying out a urine dipstick test for one of our patients just today! 😍

01/05/2024

May is Vet Nurse Awareness Month!

We are so lucky here at Chester Caldy Vets4Pets to have an incredible team of nurses.

Throughout this month, we will be introducing our nurses and sharing just how much being a vet nurse involves.. it is so much more than cuddling puppies!

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.”