Shepherds' Vet Centre

08/01/2026

💡DID YOU KNOW?

Shepherds' Vet Practice has been accredited as an 😾 ISFM Gold Cat
Friendly Clinic 🐈. We are the only practice within a 13 mile radius to have achieved this gold standard 🏅

⭐️This accreditation is an internationally 🌎 recognised award, and means we have met criteria to help minimise stress in your cat at our clinic 🐈‍⬛️
The accreditations are Bronze 🥉, Silver 🥈 and Gold 🥇, and as we have achieved Gold 🥇 this means we have achieved the highest accreditation level.

✅️ we keep cats 🐈 and dogs 🐕 separate in the waiting room,
✅️ we have a dedicated cat consulting room
✅️ have a dedicated cat ward with lots of cat approved hospital cage features.

💡 We really think cat 💡😾

✅️ Most importantly, our staff are trained in approaching and handling cats sensitively and respectfully
✅️ staff stay up to date with their knowledge of feline medicine 💊
✅️ One of our vets 🩺 Ali Shepherd, also holds an advanced certificate (specialising in small animal internal
medicine) .

🐾 We do as much as we can to keep your cats visits and/or hospital stay as stress free as possible 💕

We look forward to welcoming you and your feline friends into the practice@l 🐈

06/01/2026

💡Have you gone on a diet or joined the gym to shift those extra pounds as your New Year resolution ?
🍁 Do your pets spend less time outdoors due to the colder weather?
🐾 Have your pets had a few extra treats over Christmas?
🥶 Unfortunately this may result in weight gain!

💡What’s the risk?
Weight gain can put pressure on your pet’s joints which can increase the risk or worsen arthritis. Weight gain can also contribute to other diseases such as diabetes and cardiac disease.

🐈 How to help your four legged friend stay fit:
🏃‍♂️ Short, frequent walks for dogs
🧩 Indoor play or puzzle feeders to keep them active
🧥 use dog friendly jackets and coats, especially for older dogs, dogs with short hair and small breeds
🥕 Watch portion sizes and limit treats

✅️ We know how hard it can be to see your pet struggle with weight but we're here to help. We run nurse led weight clinics to give you help and support, including regular weigh ins, dietary advice and setting weight goals.
There are a huge range of options to help nowadays. So please act and improve your pets quality of
life 🐕

If you want to discuss any pet weight issues contact the surgery on 📞 01562 822986

05/01/2026

💥 CLIENT NOTICE 💥

Our out of hours emergency cover will be provided by Blaise Veterinary Referrals - Birmingham - from 7pm Monday 5th January til 8:30am Tuesday 6th January. We will be back open as normal from 8.30am Tuesday morning.

You can call our usual number 01562 822986 and you will be diverted to them.

Thank you for your understanding

01/01/2026

30/12/2025

🎇 New Year Celebrations 🎇

🎆 Fireworks can be frightening for many animals 🐕 due to loud noises and bright flashes.

With a small amount of preparation you can help your pet feel safe this time of year.

Here are some top tips to keep your pets safe 🐾

✅️ Keep them inside
✅️ Walk dogs before dark🐕‍🦺
✅️ Keep cats inside 🐈
✅️ Lock windows and cat flaps

💡Create a calm environment
💡Close curtains or blinds to block out flashing lights🎆
💡Play calming music 🎵
keep the TV on📺
💡Create a cosy den or safe hiding place

✅️ Plug Pheromone diffusers in asap
✅️ Start calming supplements asap
Call us 📞 to see if they can prescribe🩺 medication💊, Your pet may need to be seen by the vet for this so call us as soon as possible.

💡How to keep outdoor pets safe 🐇
✅️Bring outdoor pets indoors for the evening 🐇
✅️Move animals living in hutches (such as rabbits 🐇or guinea pigs🐹) into a garage or shed
✅️ Muffle loud bangs by placing a breathable blanket over the hutch or enclosure
✅️ Provide extra bedding so pets can burrow and hide if they feel scared.

📞 please contact us on 01562 822986 for further advice or to make an appointment

30/12/2025

🎉🎊 New Year opening times 🎊🎉

Our out of hours emergency cover will be provided by Blaise Veterinary Referrals - Birmingham from 4.30pm Wednesday 31st December till 8.30am Thursday 1st January.
We will then take over and be available for emergencies in practice throughout New Years day bank holiday from 8.30am.

Please call us on 📞 01562 822986 if you have an emergency.

💡Please be vigilant with those cocktail sticks, chocolates, mince pies and alcohol around greedy dogs and cats who are waiting for the moment your back is turned 🚑

23/12/2025

🎄Christmas and new year opening times 🎄

Please be aware that some of our out of hours emergency service will be covered by Blaise Veterinary Referrals from 12am Thursday 25th December through to 9.30am on Friday 26th December, we will then take back over to provide our normal in practice out of hours service outside of our opening times.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our wonderful clients and pets a very merry Christmas 🎅

22/12/2025

📢Repeat prescriptions📢

💡Dont forget today is the last day to order your repeat prescriptions to get them before Christmas 🎄🐕

21/12/2025

The feastive period is full of fun and festivities, however it also brings a few hidden dangers for our pets. We want to keep your pets safe this Christmas, so here are the top things your pets should avoid this Christmas:

☣️ Toxic Foods
🔸️ Chocolate (especially dark chocolate)🍫
🔸️Grapes & raisins – (watch out for mince pies and Christmas pudding) 🥧
🔸️ Onions & garlic – (common in stuffing and gravy) 🧅
🔸️ Alcohol – (even small amounts can be dangerous) 🍷
🔸️Xylitol-sweetened treats – (found in sugar-free sweets and some baked goods) 🍬

⚠️ Dangerous Decorations
🔸️ Tinsel and ribbon – (can cause serious intestinal blockages if swallowed)
🔸️ Glass ornaments – (can break and cause injury)
🔸️ Fairy lights – (chewing can lead to burns or electric shock) ⚡️

🪴 Festive Plants
🔸️ Poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe – (can cause stomach upset or toxicity if eaten)
🔸️ Lilies – (extremely dangerous to cats)

🍴Table Scraps
🔸️ Fatty leftovers (like turkey skin) can trigger pancreatitis
🔸️Cooked bones can splinter and cause internal injuries 🍗

💡Remember visitors & noise can very stressful for some pets
✅️ Provide a quiet, safe space for pets if the celebrations get a bit overwhelming.

If you have any concerns or think your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t, call us immediately 📞 on 01562 822986 🐕

🎄Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! 🎅

20/12/2025

💥 CLIENT NOTICE 💥

Our out of hours emergency cover will be provided in practice between 12pm and 7pm Saturday 20th December then Blaise Veterinary Referrals - Birmingham will take over till 10am Sunday 21st December. We will then take back over till 5pm. From 5pm Blaise Veterinary - Birmingham will then take back over till 8.30am Monday 22nd December. We will be back open as normal from 8.30am Monday morning.

You can call our usual number 01562 822986 and you will be diverted to them.

Thank you for your understanding

09/12/2025

💥 CLIENT NOTICE 💥

Our out of hours emergency cover will be provided by Blaise Veterinary Referrals - Birmingham - from 7pm Tuesday 9th December til 8:30am Wednesday 10th December. We will be back open as normal from 8.30am Wednesday morning.

You can call our usual number 01562 822986 and you will be diverted to them.

Thank you for your understanding