Vets4Pets Leeds Kirkstall

04/11/2024

Worth knowing if you live near, or down wind of Leeds bus station!

03/11/2024

Oh Milo! Happy as.
We'd love to see your Muddy Dog Pics....

02/11/2024

Our dose of fresh air this weekend takes us to Newmillardam just south of Wakefield. We promise you, the drive is worth it. There's a mobility friendly walk around the dam, alternatively for the more active among us, there's miles of tracks and pathways that meander in and out of the woods. Lots of muddy puddles and a splash pool for the dogs mid way around the walk as well. What's not to love?

Newmillerdam Country Park is a park for all seasons, and its scenery makes it ideal for short walks or longer rambles.

01/11/2024

The whizz-bang’s have started already. Here’s a few tips to help encourage calm 🐾

01/11/2024

Our Team Focus this Friday is our lovely Lauren, Student Veterinary Nurse.

Already a qualified Veterinary Care Assistant in her own right, Lauren is now training over 2 years with a local college to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. Of course Lauren loves all animals, big and small, but if we didn't give too many clues away already in the photos, Lauren is absolutely passionate and dedicated to rabbits in particular (and Ice Cream!).

Lauren works in practice alongside a dedicated Clinical Coach, and between the theory side of things at college, and the practical elements she covers here with us, she is making her way through the nursing syllabus. Lauren says it's a huge challenge juggling working full time with studying, but she wouldn't have it any other way - she even thrives on the situation and uses it as an excuse to be super organised in practice and one of those souls you can 100% rely on.

Safe to say, the camera does NOT add 10 pounds in Lauren's case, but it might add a year or two as it's safe to say, this bright young nursing star isn't 18 any more.

31/10/2024

Try to get your dogs out and around the block for the toilet before the merriment of Hallowe'en starts this evening. It can be daunting and even quite scary for some dogs to see people dressed up in festive clothing so consider that and get them our early.

31/10/2024

Happy Hallowe'en all ye merry Kirstall'ers!

30/10/2024

It's that time of year when the nights are darker and all the fireworks are being let off early. Here's a few hints and tips on keeping your pet settled and safe when the festivities are going on....

28/10/2024

BITE ALERT!

Student nurse Aaliyah's face says it all. The smallest of bites is always the most painful!
Never mind though... as a student, Aaliyah needs to get practice in a range of skills and experiences and it's safe to say, this critter bite is one she's chalking off and putting down to experience.

22/10/2024

Have your say about fireworks and your pets in this RSPCA led initiative for change

https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks?utm_source=Fireworks_18102024&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button1&utm_campaign=Fireworks_18102024&campaigncode=24STNFDIGVOP1&fbclid=IwY2xjawGC2h1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXrnykfhvOy5GikSw2HLdHS4tcvI6TW3oGFIIqhNEX-laddnczaKHxjt9Q_aem_JN-qcDFO7lmeZ9zeXS--LA

Join our campaign to change firework regulations. We receive hundreds of calls about fireworks and animals every year.

22/10/2024

🎆Fireworks and Fear: Petrified Pets 🎆

In the lead up to fireworks season - are you prepared?

Fireworks seem to now occur regularly throughout October-December with Halloween, Bonfire night, Christmas and New year.

Although spectacular to watch they have very real implications for the welfare of our wildlife, livestock and pet animals.

⬇️Here is some advice this firework season. Stay tuned for more individual advice on each section in the coming weeks.

🐱Cats
✅Check microchip details are up to date
✅Try and keep them inside after dark. We understand this can be difficult. You may need to provide more play and calming aids to help them with a change in routine
✅Close all doors and windows to prevent them bolting
✅Shut curtains to dim the noise and flashes
✅ Give them a safe hiding place or don't disturb them if they find their own safe place to settle. Cats often like to be up high

🐶Dogs
✅Check microchip details are up to date
✅Walk before dark. If toileting outside go out with them on a leash to avoid them bolting if a firework goes off unexpectedly
✅Use calming aids
✅Give them as safe place to stay that is covered, dark and quiet. Do not lock them in here.
✅Watch that all doors are closed to avoid escape
✅You can comfort your pet, just ensure you stay safe if they are extremely agitated

🐭Small Furries
✅You may need to bring any animals inside if it doesn't cause them too much stress
✅They may require more bedding
✅Cover accomodation to prevent the lights from upsetting them
✅Move indoor enclosures away from windows to dull the noise and light

🐴Horses
✅Check local fire displays and prepare
✅Keep to a routine
✅Check the field or Stable is free from hazards
✅Give your vet notice if you require medication for your horses anxiety
✅Check on them regularly or stay with them if they are known to spook so you can react quickly if they become upset

🐮Livestock
✅Tell local farmers if you intend to have a Firework display and try to avoid the loud fireworks. Do not set fireworks off around fields containing livestock.

🦔 Wildlife
✅Check bonfires before lighting for any wildlife such as rodents or hedgehogs
✅Avoid setting fireworks off near known wildlife areas like nature reserves

🧑‍⚕️ How your vet can help
✅If your animals experiences distress then there are medications we can prescribe
✅You will likely need a prescription check even if you have it yearly
✅Veterinary professionals are also well placed to give you individual advice on how to help your pets

🎆If you plan to have a firework display:

➡️Please tell all your neighbours in advance that you plan it.
This will ensure they have had time to adequately prepare their animals for the event.
If possible please consider using alternative options such as silent or low noise fireworks if you know you are surrounded by families with cats, dogs, other pets or if you live by a farm or livery yard.

➡️Please tell owners how long the display will go on for and don't go beyond that so they know when it is safe to let their pets out for toileting or grazing.

➡️ Please do not release sky lanterns

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/litter/skylanterns

🚒👩‍🚒 Please also be fire safe!

🔥https://www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law

🔥https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/advice/fireworks-safety

Other links:

➡️ https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks

➡️ https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks

➡️ https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/storms-and-fireworks/

21/10/2024

Remember the wee kittens brought into us back in August? Our good friends at Bramley Vets for Pets put a lot of time and effort into bringing them on from abandoned babies to fit and healthy kittens full of life. Our thanks is boundless 😇🙌🏻

At 9 weeks old, they’ve now been rehomed and are happily making their mark on a family of pets, having 2 dog sisters and 3 cat brothers.

Good luck little ones 🥰🐾

We’ll keep you posted on these little nippers 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

20/10/2024

Sunday suggestion: accept and lean into the fact that your dog may well like to submerge in muddy puddles. Actively seek them out for it makes for one happy doggo.

Location: Temple Newsam Park (east Leeds)

Puddles: many

Mud: yes

Score: Lottie 1, Mama 0

19/10/2024

🐾

16/10/2024

Getting a puppy? Here's a handy list of things to take into consideration:

1) Puppies should be fully weaned and ideally over 8 weeks old before it leaves it's mother. It isn't uncommon for puppies (and kittens) to be rehomed too soon, so do make sure you're getting the dates right with the breeder.

2) Puppies need an initial vaccination course, of at least 2 injections, 4 weeks apart. They will then need an annual booster vaccination to make sure their immunity stays topped up against diseases which have the potential to kill.

3) Puppies must be microchipped by law by the time they are 8 weeks old. This would usually coincide with the time of 1st vaccination appointment with the vet.

4) Puppies need worming regularly, and in combination with this they will flea and tick preventative treatments as well. It's important to do fleas AND worms consistently as they lifecycle of the worm and flea involves the other critter and so doing one without the other is pointless.

5) Neutering for dogs can be considered at 6 months old. Some dogs we wont do until they are older, and some dogs, we wont recommend neutering at all (under certain conditions). Best thing is, make an appointment to see us at 6 months old and we can tailor a plan for your pet specifically. Gone are they days when everything got done at 6 months regardless.

6) Insurance - we can offer 4 weeks free insurance for your puppy but you need to make a longer term plan for how to settle fees for accident and illness. We recommend you look at 'lifetime cover' as a lot of clients get caught out with a time-limited policy (eg. cover for 12 months for that condition only).

15/10/2024

This is Felix. He's the most handsome buttercup in town, and deserves all the love after being on his best behaviour on his surgery day. We even gave him a matching bandage to go with his flower cone. Isn't he just the sweetest 🥰

13/10/2024

This weekend we're out and about with the dog at Middleton Park in south Leeds. With over 630 acres of woodland and grassed areas, even on busy days you don't feel crowded and certainly if you have a reactive dog, it's a great place to go - there's just so much space. There's a cafe in the park itself and if you fancy something a little more substantial to eat, there's a cafe at Middleton Bike Park which is adjacent as well. Either way, it's a win win.

We'd love to see pics of you and yours out and about 🐾🐾

11/10/2024

We are blessed to have Jamie, Registered Veterinary Nurse on our team. Jamie has been with vets4Pets over 6 years now and in that time has progressed from Student Veterinary Nurse, to being a Clinical Coach to her own student, Charlotte.

Not one to shy away from study, Jamie already had a a degree in Animal Behaviour before joining the vets4pets family and her knowledge is always being put to the test with all manner of behavioural quirks that we see in domestic cats and dogs in practice.

During her studies, Jamie spent time volunteering in Africa, where she got to be involved with Lions as well as other African species - a once in a lifetime experience for sure.

At home, Jamie juggles her nursing responsibilites with being a Mum, to a 2 legged little girl, and two four-legged Miniature Daschund's, Pippa and Nancy.

Jamie, thank you for being with us 🐾😍

11/10/2024

Happy Vet Nurse Day!

They are the patient’s best advocate, the client’s confidante and the vet’s wingman. They are the glue that keeps it all together.

Veterinary Nurse, because being awesome isn’t a job title 🐾

10/10/2024

Another reminder- it's not just Christmas and Easter when we see chocolate poisoning cases. One greedy Jack Russell Terrier we had in recently had polished off a packet of digestive biscuits from the coffee table. Be aware - the sooner we act, the better the outcome.... the stomach starts to empty after 30 minutes so if we are going to make them sick, it has to be quick to catch as much of that chocolate before it hits the intestines as possible.

10/10/2024

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

08/10/2024

Our Careplans offer savings on preventative health care and allow you to spread the cost of these must have items over the course of the year in affordable monthly payments. Ask our team for more info.

07/10/2024

If you're getting a kitten - a few things you'll want to plan in:

1) vaccinations - as a kitten, it will need 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart, and then annually to keep immunity levels up against a handful of diseases that can kill.

2) parasite control - we recommend flea, tick and worm treatment tailored to your cat, depending on whether it's a house cat or goes out side and if it hunts or not. Treating fleas without a wormer and vice versa is pointless as both are linked in the life cycle of the each other - you have to treat both for it to be effective.

3) neutering - all cats should be spayed or castrated from 4 months of age - recovery time is up to 2 weeks after surgery for girls, less for boys.

4) microchip - it is now law that all cats should have a microchip and we can do this at second vaccination of neutering appointment.

5) insurance - what's your plan for when things go wrong? We can offer 4 weeks free insurance while you do the research and shop around, but it's heartbreaking when the unexpected happens and there is no plan in place to cover costs.

05/10/2024

Where are you off to with the dogs this weekend? One of our favourite spots for a stroll is Golden Acre Park just north of here on the A660. There's even a wee cafe for refreshments. We'd love to hear what your favourite haunts are.

04/10/2024

It's that time again and this week our TEAM FOCUS is one of our youngest (and newest) colleagues, Dechlan.

Dechlan joined our reception team, having spent several years in the hospitality industry and he's fitted in with our team and clients so well. He's a bit of a dark horse and when he's not juggling customer service with saying hello to your pets on the desk here, he has 3 main passions.

1) Football. Dechlan can be found on the pitch most weekends (and midweek too if the rota allows) and its safe to say he his footwork is pretty special.

2) Dechlan is in a band and his biggest claim to fame is playing on the up and coming stage at Leeds Festival. He's a decent little singer and is often caught getting lyrical when the phone here isn't ringing.

3) A keen runner, Dechlan is currently training for a half marathon to raise funds for cancer research which is a charity close to his heart. You can support his efforts here if you want to - every little helps!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/dechlan-kirk-1715862369641?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fdechlan-kirk-1715862369641&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawFooB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHf-DfSMzwAVP8usZZms7-TjoZ2b0kND5QhOs-A6XEpf9e0DImDtVcWdg-g_aem_fZ-XUW5Bya9LscN2rX1dbg

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.