What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 6:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 6:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 6:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 6:30pm Friday 8:30am - 6:30pm Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday 9am - 6pm

Brelades Vets

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Brelades Vets

We are a 100% small animal practice who pride ourselves on our compassionate care. Our main site is
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We have a dedicated team of staff who will treat all animals as if they were our own. In the event of an emergency please telephone the main Surgery at Dorking, 01306 883086 day or night. The out of hours recorded message will inform you who to contact. We provide our own emergency cover Monday – Friday until 2200hrs and Saturday -Sunday 0900 hrs – 1800 hrs, after these hours our phones go to Vets

Now Guildford 01483 346203 who are able to provide cover for overnight emergencies. All emergencies until 2200 hrs Monday- Friday and 0900 hrs – 1800 hrs Saturday and Sunday are seen at Dorking.

25/06/2025

We hope everyone is enjoying Rabbit Awareness Week 2025 as much as we are. Day Three focuses on bunny behaviour.

Rabbits can be a great addition to the family. Once they get to know you, they can be very friendly, but it is important to understand their behaviour to secure your bond and avoid frustration.

Rabbits are prey species so their natural response is to run and hide if they feel threatened. They need patience and regular interaction to encourage them to approach you. It is also a good idea to have hiding places, which they can use when they feel stressed, scared, unwell or need some time alone. Examples include tunnels, cardboard boxes and elevated platforms. These safe spaces should have a separate entrance and exit so your rabbits do not feel trapped and there should be at least one per rabbit.

Rabbits are very clever so providing enrichment is essential. This will encourage physical activity, foraging behaviours, and play. Examples of enrichment include willow balls, puzzle feeders, tunnels, cardboard boxes, dig boxes, turf trays and snuffle matts. You can also create hay racks up high so your rabbits need to reach for their hay and place piles of hay around your rabbits’ enclosure so they can burrow.

Understanding bunny behaviour:
“Binky” – a joyful jump and twist in the air, which is a sign of happiness, excitement, and playfulness
Licking – a method of showing affection
Flopping – laying on their side or their back, a sign that they are comfortable
Biting – a little nip or pinch can be used by your rabbit to get your attention but a hard bite is a sign of fear or stress
Teeth grinding – gentle soft grinding whilst being stroked or groomed can be a sign of contentment but loud grinding and squinting usually indicates pain
Thumping – a method of warning others of danger or used as a sign of annoyance (this often means you should stop what you’re doing!)

24/06/2025

Bonding tips for rabbits:
Introducing a new rabbit can be challenging but it is very doable. Before you start, make sure your rabbit is up to the process, is eating well and is fit and healthy. Both rabbits should be neutered, vaccinated and wormed before meeting. Mixed-sex pairs tend to work best, although same-sex pairs are not uncommon.

There are many different methods to introduce two rabbits, and this can be done at home or through a rescue centre. We recommend a slow steady approach.
• Provide each rabbit with separate housing that is within sight of each other.
• Ensure there are plenty of hiding places so they can leave if they want to.
• Swap scents by placing a small amount of hay or cloth with their scent on in each other’s enclosure to help them get used to each other’s smell.
• Once they are used to the sight and smell of one another put them together on neutral ground, like the living room, for short periods of time. Make sure there are distractions like hay, herbs and tunnels and monitor the interaction closely. Some chasing and nipping is normal initially but if the behaviours escalate, you should separate the rabbits and try again another day.
• Positive signs include sitting or lying together, sleeping together, playing together, grooming each other.
• Negative signs include chasing each other, growling, fighting or mounting each other.
• As they get more comfortable, gradually increase the amount of time they spend together and once they are happy spending 1-2 hours a day together you can introduce them to a shared living space. Make sure this has plenty of food, water and hiding spaces so there is no competition for resources.
• Once your rabbits are paired up, it is important to keep the bond alive so do not separate them.

23/06/2025

It’s Day One of Rabbit Awareness Week 2025 and our focus today is the creation of an environment that allows your furry friends to thrive. Whether your rabbit lives indoors or outdoors, the fundamentals of housing are the same. The RWAF recommends a minimum enclosure size for 2 bonded rabbits of 3m x 2m x 1m high with constant access to an additional sleeping area, toilet area and exercise area. This means a hutch is not enough and it should be extended to provide space to run, jump, dig, forage and rear up.

Rabbits are crepuscular so they are most active at dawn and dusk. Napping is common and they appreciate a cosy sleeping area. This should be warm, dry, and draught-free. Use rabbit-safe bedding like paper bedding or dust extracted straw.

Rabbits also like a clean environment so they appreciate separate dedicated toilet areas. Many rabbits can be trained to use a litter tray filled with newspaper, hay, straw or paper-based litter. A litter tray makes regular cleaning of the toilet area much easier.

Your rabbits’ housing will need regular cleaning. Throw away any wet or dirty material, including bedding and uneaten food, and remove droppings daily. As a minimum, remove and replace all the litter and bedding material weekly. Perform a deep clean monthly by removing everything from the enclosure and use rabbit-friendly cleaning products.

If you are unsure about housing requirements and creating a suitable environment, please come in and have a chat or check out the RWAF or RSPCA websites.

13/06/2025

Rabbit Awareness Week 2025 is fast approaching, and as part of our commitment to rabbit health and welfare we are offering the chance for all rabbit owners to bring in their rabbits and chat with our nurses as part of our free nurse clinics. This service will be offered from 23rd June to 4th July. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about diet, behaviour, housing and companionship, and ensure your rabbit has a wellness health check.

Given the warmer weather, health checks at this time of year are particularly important because flies are more active. We need to screen for risk factors for flystrike, and we can consider preventative options like Rearguard. If you need help with the application of Rearguard, we can apply this for you in the nurse clinic.

Stay tuned for some tips and information throughout the week and don’t forget to show your support by liking, commenting and sharing our posts.

04/06/2025

Pet of the Month May 2025 is Hulk. Hulk is a lovely guinea pig who has sadly suffered from a prolonged illness over the last 2 months. His owners dedication and nursing at home really helped promote his recovery and we are extremely glad to hear he is feeling better. The amount of care our small furries require when unwell can be surprising so we hope both Hulk and his owner are taking some time to relax now Hulk is getting back to his normal self.

15/05/2025

KITTEN TOOL KIT : HAZARDS
Kittens are very inquisitive and love to explore, but be aware that there are many hazards around the house we need to consider.
Block off any gaps between cupboards, furniture and kitchen appliances as cats love these hiding places and they can get stuck or lost.
Keep cupboards, washing machines and tumble dryer doors closed and double check for feline visitors before you turn appliances on.
An open window or balcony door far above ground level can be tempting for your cat to jump through, but this could lead to injury if they’re too high. Make sure your windows and balcony doors are closed or when open they are not wide enough for your cat to squeeze through.
Keep toilet lids down to avoid the risk of drowning or coming into contact with cleaning chemicals.
Cats love to curl up somewhere warm, and in front of a fire may seem very inviting. But you should always supervise your cat around fires and put a guard around open fires to keep them at a safe distance.
Cats love playing with string, rubber bands and hair bands, but if swallowed these materials can cause life threatening problems if they get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract. It is best to keep these items out of reach and use cat-safe toys instead. Similarly, keep all cables and wires out of reach.
Ornaments, Christmas baubles and trinkets could be a choking hazard for cats or cause injury.
Make sure antifreeze, rat poisons, insect killers and cleaning products are kept in cupboards as these are toxic to cats.
Remove all poisonous plants from the household – lilies in particular.
A lot of human medicines like paracetamol are toxic to cats so keep these locked away.
Let us know if we’ve missed any!

06/05/2025

Winston is a gorgeous boy who found a lovely second home with his rescue family. The nasty wound on his face took some dedication to heal but it did successfully close up. Winston was recently hospitalised because he was unwell and underwent some investigations. It was really nice to spend some time with him again and we are glad he is now feeling more like his normal self.

01/05/2025

KITTEN TOOL KIT : LITTER TRAYS
Luckily most cats learn how to use a litter tray quickly - they may only need to be shown the litter tray and they instinctively know what to do. However, kittens will learn an association between going to the toilet and the material under their feet. They will form a preference for toileting on that type of material and will generally prefer this material throughout their life. This means you should try to provide the litter type they have been accustomed to or make any changes to the litter type gradually. Make sure the litter is frequently changed so your kitten has a clean appealing environment for toiletting.
The location of litter trays is also crucial. They need to be easily accessible and your cat needs to feel safe when using them. It is best to place litter trays in a secluded corner of the room so your kitten is not disturbed. Trays should also be kept away from beds and food/water bowls.
As your kitten grows you may need to purchase a larger adult-sized tray and we always recommend having one more litter tray than the number of cats in the house.

29/04/2025

PUPPY PREPARATION : SAFE SPACES
All puppies need a safe quiet area for relaxing and sleeping. This often takes the form of a covered crate or a box containing a bed. The crate can be left open for your puppy to come and go as they please. If you want to encourage use of this space you can offer your puppy treats or meals inside the crate. Once your puppy is happy entering the crate voluntarily, you can start shutting the door for short periods of time and this can be lengthened as tolerated. Enrichment will often help keep your puppy content whilst in a crate. Crate training can also help minimise the stress of any hospital visits as all dogs are kennelled if they are admitted for surgery or for care when unwell. We always aim for a calm experience in the hospital and this is much easier if your puppy is already used to being in a crate.

25/04/2025

KITTEN TOOL KIT : THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP
Kittens are really playful and can race around then fall asleep exhausted the next moment. A sleeping kitten can be very endearing, but it is important not to disturb them as good quality sleep is needed for growth and development. Like babies, kittens need lots of sleep, so make sure they get plenty of time to rest.

22/04/2025

PUPPY PREPARATION : GROWTH
Puppies grow quickly and many owners worry about their rate of growth or how much to feed. Feeding should be based on the guidelines provided by the manufacturer of their food and will need to be adjusted over time. Body weight can be monitored and recorded on growth charts, such as those produced by Waltham Petcare Science Institute. Weigh your puppy every 2-4 weeks up to 6 months of age then every 1-3 months until fully grown. Growth charts can be used to reassure that you are feeding the correct amount. But they can also identify issues like puppies that are gaining weight too quickly (with a risk of becoming overweight) or puppies that are gaining weight too slowly (an indication of underfeeding or illness). Check out the Waltham growth curves and start monitoring growth today!

17/04/2025

KITTEN TOOL KIT : GROWTH
Kittens grow very quickly and as owners we may worry about how much to feed our kitten or how quickly they are gaining weight. As a rough guide, a kitten’s birth weight is around 100g and they gain about 100g per week initially. This will slow down over time but can be monitored through weight checks every 2-4 weeks for the first 6 months then every 1-3 months until fully grown. Body weight can be recorded on growth charts, such as those produced by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. Growth charts can be used to reassure that you are feeding the correct amount, to identify kittens that are gaining weight too quickly and are at risk of becoming overweight and to identify kittens that are gaining weight too slowly and may be under-fed or suffering from a growth condition.

Check out the Waltham kitten growth charts for more information!

Address

20 Knoll Road
Dorking
RH43EP

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 6:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

01306883086

Website

http://www.breladesvets.com/

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