Vets4Pets Harlow

04/11/2024

Keep your pets safe this firework season

04/11/2024

We have recently seen information concerning a counterfeit joint supplement available on platforms such as amazon and eBay. Images of then product resemble the genuine supplement but are believed to have caused illness in pets

We recommend pet owners wishing to buy supplements or medication, buy them from licensed pharmacies (available on the VMD website), or direct from the manufacturer. Always be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true or involve third-party sellers

STATEMENT FROM YUMOVE https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qhLd3SjTg6Gr6gB5/

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30/10/2024

Top tips for keeping your pets safe this halloween:
- Always create a safe space for your pet. This should be somewhere quiet where they can settle undisturbed.
- Not all dogs want to trick or treat! Consider carefully if your dog would rather stay at home than joining you for trick and treating. Walk dogs before sunset.
- Keep treats and decorations out of reach. They can look tasty to pets but are often harmful. Dangers include chocolate, sweets (artificial sweeteners like xylitol), and the risk of an obstruction from eating decorations.
- Protect pets from burns. Ensure all candles, lanterns and fireworks are supervised at all times.
- Microchip. Ensure pets are microchipped and the details are kept up to date.
- Be careful with pet costumes. Watch out for signs of stress if your pet is not enjoying dressing up - trying to get outfits off, lip licking, yawning, panting. Never force your pet to wear a costume, instead try 'cooperative care'

28/10/2024

Sometimes things dont go to plan - Meet Milo!

Milo is a highly intelligent and handsome boy who was recently rehomed. Milo's owners were keen to have him castrated due to him loving his older brother a little too much, but weren't sure how he'd cope with having a procedure at a brand new vet practice

Milo's parents came in to see vet Natasha and make a plan to make the experience as stress free as possible and start to build a relationship with staff at the practice. During his first visit, Milo had plenty of treats and fuss, and his friendly nature really shone out.

On surgery day, Milo received some anti-anxiety medication at home before coming to the vet that helped him to chill out. Despite this and due to his intelligent nature, Milo was very suspicious of us, so vet Morgan discussed a sedation plan with his owners. While we could have 'powered through' and gotten the procedure done without a sedation plan, it would make the experience very stressful for Milo, and make future visits more unpleasant.

Milo was so relaxed that he spent his time napping with student nurse Torri and was so excited to see her back for his post-op checks.

We look forward to milo's future visits, and hopefully he will too!

28/10/2024

Sadly it is not yet a requirement to stop or check for cats. Please be cautious when driving and stop if you hit anything.

25/10/2024

Meet Woody!

Woody was so excited to meet our team that we couldn't get a picture of him sitting still!!

Occasionally we pop animals 'out the back' for procedures or so we can have extra pair of hands - as you can see, they get a lot of fuss and are often quite happy.

25/10/2024

The bright flashes and loud bangs of fireworks can be exciting and fun for us, but for our cats, they can be confusing and frightening 😿

It’s difficult for them to understand that they aren’t in danger when they hear or see them, and since their senses are much better than ours, they experience fireworks more intensely than we do!

Here are our top tips to help your feline friend feel happy and safe during fireworks season, proudly supported by Ever Clean UK 🎆

[Visual description: An infographic explaining how to keep your cat calm during fireworks. There is a picture of a grey stripy animated cat in the middle of the picture, with gold sparks surrounding it. Points around the cat include: Get them inside well before dark and make sure all windows and cat flaps are shut/locked so they can’t get back out. Don’t pick up cats or restrain them if they are scared: cats prefer to control how they cope. Close your curtains before it gets dark and leave the lights on to hide the flashes. Try to stick to normal routines and behave normally. But if it helps, distract them with something fun to do. Make them a den to hide in if they wish. Provide a litter tray nearby. Comfort them if they come to you for reassurance, don’t ignore them. Give them a litter tray near their den. Even if they normally toilet outside, provide a litter tray inside. If you have more than one cat, give them a tray each plus a spare. Never punish them for anything they do when they’re scared. Play music to drown out the noises from fireworks. Keep them calm with pheromone diffusers. Try not to confine them to one room.]

24/10/2024

Bree, 2011 - September 2024
You will always be missed. Always loved

23/10/2024

Keeping your senior pet young at heart starts with giving them the food and exercise they need for their age, as well as looking for tell-tail signs they might need some extra
support. For tailored advice, just book an appointment with our Senior Pet savvy Nurses today.

Offer ends 7th December 2024

21/10/2024

Meet Molly!

Molly came to see our vets after her owner noticed she had a head tilt and wasn't able to walk properly. After a proper assessment they found that she had middle ear disease, and needed surgery.

Middle ear disease affects the area behind the ear drum and can be extremely painful and disorientating. Symptoms include dizziness, uncontrollable eye movements and lack of appetite.

In order to relieve the pressure and clean out the area a specialist camera was placed into Molly's ear to visualise the area. This was then used to make a small hole in her ear drum and flush the area out, making sure to not damage any of the sensitive structures in her ear. In the second photo you can see how 'bulgey' Molly's ear drum was before the procedure.

Since the procedure Molly has been a whole lot more comfortable and is back to jumping on furniture

21/10/2024

Archie, 2020 - August 2024

Our beautiful boy, taken way too soon, he will be forever missed.

17/10/2024

Fireworks Season is approaching

What can you do to help?
- Start desensitisation early - from a young age, and plenty of time before fireworks season
- Provide somewhere safe for your pet - quiet, dark and cosy. Play music and keep doors and windows shut. Use pheromone/calming products such as Adaptil, Feliway and Pet Remedy
- Contact your vet if your pet requires medication to prevent stress. Give us plenty of notice if possible!

16/10/2024

Did you know? As well as completing clinical training each year, our staff also attend seminars to help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and you, the clients.

This week we were invited to attend a session by Fiona at /Mid Point 4 Women. In a largely female dominated profession and workplace, menopause and midlife affects every one of us. Fiona helped us to understand the pitfalls and triumphs of this time, and how we can support those around us

For more information and to see what Mid Point 4 Women offer, please checkout their facebook

16/10/2024

More on this to come today!

14/10/2024

Meet Albie!

Albie was found dumped at a very young age, but thanks to some very special people, he is living the high life. Despite his difficult start, Albie's family are doing everything they can to keep him healthy and happy. He has now found his forever home and so came in for his first vaccinations and microchip.

Albie enjoyed a cheesy treat while having his jabs and chip, no stress or restraint required :)

11/10/2024

10/10/2024

Did you know we offer laser treatments?

Laser treatment is a non-invasive, pain-free procedure that can help with a variety of conditions such as wound healing, infections, and even arthritis. The laser uses specific wavelengths of light to minimise inflammation and promote recovery.

As far as Dot was concerned, she had 20 minutes of cuddles and treats and will now be more comfortable moving her old bones. Dot had a great time!

If you think laser may benefit your pet, then please email us at [email protected]

09/10/2024

Teddy, 2009 - October 2024

We thank you all for the many years you looked after him.
Especially Garrick who knew Teddy for 15 years.

07/10/2024

Meet Cooper!

Cooper was in a few weeks ago as he'd had some problems with his teeth. He's a rescue dog whose been loving life with his new family. Cooper was an absolute star and a real cuddle monster. Here he is recovering with Chloe and having some TLC.

Can you guess what breed Cooper is??

04/10/2024

Last week, reception manager Angela and receptionist Claire were invited to attend the British Veterinary Receptionist Association 6th annual congress.

Claire and Angela were treated to a day of talks on topics such as emergency triage, bereavement support, and communication skills.

Our team strives to provide the best care we can for both your pets and family. Veterinary medicine is always changing so the team regularly partake in training to ensure we are always up to date with the latest tips, techniques and products.

03/10/2024

Meet Darcy!

Darcy's owners noticed he wasn't right and had lost weight, so presented him to our out-of-hours, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. At the QMH, Darcy was diagnosed with Diabetes.

Darcy's owners were very worried by this diagnosis. Darcy wouldn't tolerate injections twice daily, but without treatment he would die. Darcy is also an adventure cat and doesn't always come home on time.

Luckily, a new Diabetes medication has been released, and we were able to start Darcy on it straight away. Darcy now has an oral medication once a day and has been doing amazingly.

Darcy popped in today for his 6-month review and we are so happy with his progress. 🥰😻

02/10/2024

Would you know what to do if your pet injured themselves? What about if they required CPR? We hope these are skills you never need, but pet first aid can save lives.

There are still places available for this event, details below

02/10/2024

Bobzy, 2008 - September 2024

30/09/2024

It can be hard to decide what insurance, if any, is best for your pet. Here's our handy guide to Insurance

27/09/2024

Guinea pigs love having friends!

Guinea pigs love to live in single s*x pairs or ideal groups.
Plus, they’ll also love being around you!
Due to their highly social nature, guinea pigs can only be truly happy as one of a pair or as part of a small suitable group of guineas – litter mates make the best companions.

If you’re planning to keep a male and female together, it’s recommended that the male is neutered to avoid the unwanted patter of tiny guinea pig feet

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.”