Heathfield Vets

24/01/2025

This lovely boy is Wicket and he visited us recently to be neutered. Wicket, like most ferrets, enjoyed napping, sleeping and snoozing for most of the day! He enjoyed giving the nursing team anxiety by not responding to any stimuli when asleep but it turns out he can just sleep through anything 😆.

23/01/2025

Ever noticed your dog dragging their bottom along the floor (we call it 'scooting') or biting and bothering at their back end? You may have noticed an odd fishy smell around them too -These are all signs of an a**l gland issue.

A**l glands are small glands located either side of your dog’s a**l opening. They are filled with an oily, foul smelling liquid which is naturally expressed each time your dog poos. Problems can occur when this does not happen on a regular basis, possibly due to passing softer stools which don’t push the material out sufficiently. The material inside thickens, making it harder to express naturally and the glands can become impacted, inflamed and infected. The enlarged glands can become uncomfortable or painful for your dog which they may try to relieve by scooting or licking their bottom.

If you think your dog may have an a**l gland issue, speak to our team on 01435 864422. you can also read more about a**l glands on our advice page https://heathfieldvets.co.uk/a**l-glands/.

22/01/2025

We'll be closed from 12:30-14:00 today for a staff meeting and training so food and medication cannot be collected during these times, but we are here until 18:00 so please do pop in to see us outside of these times.

As always, if you have an emergency call us on our normal number 01435 864422 and our phone answering service will take a message for one of our team members to call you straight back.

Thank you for your understanding!

21/01/2025

Have you got a cat that needs to lose a few grams? Here are our top tips for helping a dieting feline!

🐈 Make sure everybody in the house knows about your cat’s diet so they don’t sneak them any forbidden snacks!

🐈 If you have multiple cats in the household, feed them separately to prevent overeating. Microchip feeders can work great to prevent them from stealing other cats’ food.

🐈 Putting their food in a treat dispenser is fun and mentally stimulating.

🐈 Throwing single bits of kibble for your cat will encourage movement and play.

🐈 If your cat has a favourite sleeping place, try occasionally placing them at the other end of the house/on a separate floor so they have to walk back to their favourite spot.

20/01/2025

Join our Platinum Pet Club online https://heathfieldvets.co.uk/pet-care-plan and enjoy the benefits and savings all year round. Existing members can also upgrade to our home delivery option, the easiest way to get your pet's flea and worming treatment. 📦

17/01/2025

16/01/2025

Book your appointments online via our booking page https://heathfieldvets.co.uk/appointment/. Choose a time that suits you and select your preferred vet. You can also order medication and food via our online order form https://heathfieldvets.co.uk/repeat-prescriptions-and-food/. 💻

16/01/2025

*** OWNER FOUND, thank you for sharing! ***

We have been presented with a stray cocker spaniel found in a garden in Swaines Way. She is a 2 year old orange roan cocker spaniel, she is chipped but we have been unable to reach the keeper with the details associated with the chip. If you have lost your dog, please call us on 01435 864422. She is currently with the finder and being well looked after. Proof of ownership will be required.

15/01/2025

Getting a puppy is amazing, but it can also be overwhelming, especially if you've never done it before!
What advice would you give to a new puppy owner? Anything you wished you had done differently or any wisdom you could pass on? 🐕

14/01/2025

Unlike car insurance, pet insurance is not something we would encourage you to change each year for the best deal. We recommend finding a policy that works for you and your pet, with the view that this may be a policy you will renew for years to come.

If you are unhappy with your pet's current insurance policy and are thinking of cancelling and choosing a new policy, there are some important things to bear in mind. When you take out your new policy, any pre-existing health conditions are likely to be excluded. For example, if your pet has a history of occasional itchy skin, your new policy may exclude any claims related to skin conditions or allergies. It's vital to check exactly what you will be able to claim for with a new policy, and to be aware of what you can't.

While it's important to find a pet insurance company and policy that you are happy with, be aware of the potential exclusions if you decide to switch.

13/01/2025

If it's too cold for a long walk, dogs can easily get bored sitting indoors. Some simple mental enrichment games and toys can keep them occupied and excited without any frosty paws! Here are a few of our favourites:

Towel Trouble
Lay a large towel out and sprinkle on some treats or a handful of your dog's kibble. Roll the towel up and knot it a few times. Your dog will love trying to unravel the towel to get to the biscuits!

Treat Hunt
Try some simple scent work with your dog indoors! Take a treat in your hand (or their favourite toy if they aren't food oriented) and show it to your dog. Say 'Find it!' and throw the treat a short distance. Make a BIG fuss when they find it so they know they've done the right thing. You can then start throwing the treats further or even hiding them in the room for your dog to search out.

Trick Time
Your pet may have mastered 'sit' and 'paw' but why not challenge them (and yourself!) to something a bit more advanced? There are plenty of videos online that show you how to train a cool trick, we like this one for learning how to 'play dead' https://youtu.be/E_gT_snmtP0?si=XlJRkcHqeHI-GP1F. Tricks don't have to be demanding, even a few minutes working on your dog's 'stay' command throughout the day can be really rewarding.

There are lots more enrichment ideas online that will help work your pet's brain and keep them stimulated. Just make sure to pick ones which are safe for your pet (for example, treats in a cardboard tube aren't great for paper shredding pups!).

10/01/2025

We are often asked questions like "What's the ideal weight for a labrador?" or "How much should a Yorkshire Terrier weigh?" and the answer is always "It depends!". Dogs come in all shape and sizes, even if they are the same breed. The best way to gauge if a dog is the correct weight is to look at their 'Body Condition Score'. This score looks at your dogs individual shape and fat coverage and is something you can do at home just by observing and feeling your dog. If you are worried that your dog may be under or over weight or you're not sure of their body condition score, speak to one of our team on 01435 864422.

09/01/2025

It's cold and we're feeling those January blues! We'd love to see some pictures of your pets enjoying winter to cheer us (and everyone who sees them!) up!

08/01/2025

03/01/2025

We now offer a home delivery options for our Platinum Pet Club members. Never miss a dose of your pet's flea and worming treatment! Sign up or upgrade your existing plan online at https://heathfieldvets.co.uk/pet-care-plan. 📦

02/01/2025

Pepper the ferret visited us to have a tooth abscess treated and one of her teeth removed. Pepper is a bit of a spicy girl but she did enjoy lunchtime with the nursing team and a post operative nap. Then it was back to escape attempts😆.

01/01/2025

Ian, Philip, Gerald and the whole Heathfield Vets team would like to wish all our wonderful clients and fantastic patients a very happy new year! It has been a pleasure looking after your pets and we'd like to thank you all for trusting us with their care. 💛