Vets for Pets Colne

29/10/2024

Bonfire night can be a scary time for our pets, and the fireworks just seem to be getting more frequent and earlier in the year. Check out some of our non-prescription products that can be really helpful along with den building to give them a safe space. Call into the surgery for some helpful information leaflets and to pick up these without an appointment needed. Stronger medications if you've really got a nervous N***y are available but would need a vet check to discuss and prescribe.

Here's Bandaged Bobby in his safe space. Covered roof, radio on, blankets to nest in, with treats hidden in there, his favourite toy and a bowl in there as he's used to having some tucker in there in the lead up to the big night.
Get building and if you've any pics to share that may help others, that would be fantastic!

22/10/2024

Can you spot the heartbeat? We like to check we have multiple pups, that they are active or have good ❤️ beats depending on stage and mum is all well.
We scanned Zoe the Frenchie and they were having a good old jump about!

15/10/2024

https://www.vets4pets.com/about-us/better-world-pledge/
As a company we are committed to becoming the most responsible pet care business in the world through our Better World Pledge. Three pillars build our pledge: Planet, People and Pets.
Check our part of our work on the link.

At the Pets at Home Group, we and our colleagues are committed to becoming the most responsible pet care business in the world through our Better World Pledge.

12/10/2024

Smell alert! 👃👃
Many apologies to our clients who are having to run the smell gauntlet through the carpark. Not from us.
We've reported to the local Environmental agency and would encourage you to do the same.

Environmental Agency Helpline 0800807060

11/10/2024

Well it's pretty grotty getting a little bit of anything stuck between your teeth. We knew there was something going on with this chap as soon as he walked in the room with the worst case of halitosis we've come across in a long time. He'd been chewing at himself and got himself a full-on basket weave of hair wrapped around his bottom teeth, causing a nasty gum infection. With a severe heart murmur we were very reluctant to sedate but he was a little bit of a crocodile so we had to play it safe with a muzzle. It took a bit of patience but with Amy sharp forceps work and Dani's reassurance, we got a big chunk of fur out of that very smelly mouth. Instant relief!

09/10/2024

SPEED is of the essence when exposed to any of these autumnal toxins! ☠️

S - Stop them eating any more
P - Phone the vets
E - Emergency appointment
E - Evidence (take in whatever has been eaten where possible)
D - Don't delay!

Check out the poster and QR code to find out more about how to protect your pet this autumn.

01/10/2024

A big thank you on Veterinary Receptionist Day to our frontline team who do everything to keep things organised, efficient, and running as smoothly as it can. With a prescription in one hand, a mop in the other and still with another 2 hands to answer the phone and cuddle your pet , I don't know how they do it. Hats off to you!.

30/09/2024

Have you a Curiosity cat or a Pampered pooch??

https://mypetpersona.elancoapps.com/clinic/2DnnsnhIN77IQzjMQBnH

Complete the questionnaire and share your pet’s persona with us to help us recommend parasite protection that matches the lifestyle and personality of your dog or c at.

25/09/2024

So Emma's dog came in today and spent the day as "Practice pet therapy" dog.
Miya loves it. Here she is doing her Dumbo impression 😍😆 and saying 👋

23/09/2024

As part of our Sustainability Committent, our scrub hats have been updated. Using reusable hats as well as masks gives a colourful look in theatre!
Vote for your favourite!
The nurses here also show off our biogradeable and recyclable packaging for medications.

20/09/2024

Not all paws are the same shape.

But if they are small and fluffy, we will always help xx
Come and ask the team about our Rabbit Complete Care , including vaccines, fly strike treatment, nail clips and vet and nurse consultations ( and for these, ask for Vicky- she's our bunny-mad nurse and will definitely give you all the help and advice required! ).

27/08/2024

Many apologies, but the lift service is currently out of order. If you are unable to access our facilities, call upstairs to 01282 857730, or ask a Pets at Home colleague to assist.
We may be able to carry out our services in the quieter area at the rear of the store, or we may ask you to take a seat downstairs whilst we carry out our examination upstairs and conduct the rest of our consult with you again at the rear of the store. We shall do all we can to assist, and are expecting completion of the required works before the end of the week.
Thank you for your patience. 🙂

26/08/2024

At only 50g, Sweetpea was indeed a little sweety. Diagnosed with severely enlarged ovaries, her lovely owner let us perform surgery to help her. At her size the surgery was tricky, improvising with sterile cotton buds as gentle retractors and using tiny equipment from our opthalmic surgery kit!
She made a great recovery after RVN Vicky's smooth anaesthetic, and was trying to escape from Jill with enthusiasm!

25/08/2024

Bank holiday opening times for Monday are 10 till 4pm, so call if you need us. No bank holiday surcharge at Vets for Pets for our clients ❤️.

Out of these hours call Vets Now on 0161 222 6101 for any help or advice. Video calls are available through Vets Now on their website.

Our Complete Care clients can also call the 24/7 Vet Care Helpline detailed in their membership pack.

14/08/2024

A few from Trawden Agricultural Show so you might find your 4 legged friends .Check out Steve Bradley's other albums from the event!📸📸

12/08/2024

Congratulations to Nancy as Best in Show, winning a bottle of Champagne for her mum Chloe as well as a bottle of Pawsecco!
The £20 Pets at home gift voucher she also won from us, is for shared b***y between them.
Thanks for all the entries at Trawden Agricultural Show .
More winners to follow as the pictures come through❤️🐕❤️

11/08/2024

Thank you all so much for your support today at show.
Will have a count up to see what we've raised for Support Adopt Foundation.
A fantastic day, and thanks to all the team for their unending enthusiasm!
Let's find out who won overall best in show...

10/08/2024

Trawden show tomorrow 😃😃Sorting out our signage for our stall. Come and say hello and take part to help raise money for the Support Adopt for Pets Foundation ❤️.

09/08/2024

We are sponsoring the Fun Dog show! 10 great classes, so something for everyone with £20 Pets at Home vouchers for each class winner and a bottle of Champagne for best in show🐶🍾.
We're also doing Dental exams, Microchip checks, Clay pawprints and a Tombola, all for charity. Come and visit.
A great day about and sun is due to shine🌞🌞

See you there!

https://www.facebook.com/share/cnKAEo1S7fYGK5Ts/

Trawden Show is a fabulous day for all the family!
Sunday 11th August 2024 @ Trawden rec

29/07/2024

Holidays abroad looming and thinking of taking your 4 legged friend 🏖🐩🐈?

Helen Pratt MRCVS is a qualified Official Veterinarian and can assist with the process, from Rabies vaccines, the Animal Health documentation process and Parasite recommendations, as well as calming products for a stress free journey.
Travel clinic and AHC documentation is £195 with a 25% discount for repeat travel.

Contact us for more information on the AHC process.
And Happy holidays 😎

13/06/2024

All creatures small and smaller. Both brought through for different check ins with squeals of delight from everyone for the cute factor. There can be hard times but also some perks.

30/05/2024

That time of year for rabbit botty checks!

On Complete Care for £8 month, this is one of your perks to ensure your rabbit receives Flystrike protection over the summer, so do call the surgery if we have not yet called you, or if you are not on a Careplan
This year we are using mainly F10, an insecticidal product, that is easier ( though more frequent) to apply, and can be applied to reddened skin if needs , which if sore round the rear, they are definitely a higher risk bunny.

For more info, check out the Rabbit Welfare website.

Find out about Flystrike in rabbits today. Explore prevention, risk factors, treatment advice and more here.

20/05/2024

Visit the RSPB page for more info😊

05/05/2024

Bank holiday Monday 6th May.

Open tomorrow from 10am till 4pm, so call our team if you need veterinary assistance on 01282 857730.

Out of these times call VetsNow for help advice or emergency care on 0161 222 6101. If a Complete Care client, don't forget you can contact your 24/7 Vet Helpline dealer in your package for any queries day or night.

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.