Vets4Pets Letchworth

02/11/2024

Pop by if you can. Help to support this very worthy charity 🐾

We will be at our new look Letchworth Pets at Home Store this weekend following their recent refurbishment raising funds for the cats and kittens in our care.

We will be selling Cats Protection new goods as well as raffle tickets for our wonderful Christmas Raffle.

02/11/2024

Here's some gorgeous for you. We definitely didn't forget to post 🤫🫣.

Happy weekend. Remember to think of all the furbabies this weekend while you're celebrating Guy Fawkes 🐾🎇🎆🐾

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween!!! Form the team of Vets4pets Letchworth! 🎃👻

We all would love to see what you and your fur babies have been up too this spooky season 🎃👻🐾

Remember

🐾 Keep the treats away from the paws

🐾 Make sure microchips are up to date

🐾 keep doors shut or guarded so no paws go on the run!

Have fun!! And keep safe 🎃👻🐾

30/10/2024

With firework night coming up I am sure many of you will be worried about the stress it can cause your fur baby. have got calming music for pets between 5pm-9pm on 2nd & 5th November.

For the pets and owners who find fireworks season distressing, try our radio sanctuary: Classic FM’s Pet Classics. 🐾

On Saturday 2 and Tuesday 5 November from 5-9pm, join us for soothing classical music and practical tips from RSPCA (England & Wales).

Just tell your smart speaker to “play Classic FM” or listen on . 🎶

25/10/2024

Happy Friday one & all. You know the drill by now. Just a handful of the cuties we saw this week. Looking forward to seeing lots more next week 🐾🎉🐕🐩🐈🐇

22/10/2024

This adorable adventurous girl is called Queenie 😍 .
Queenie came to see us this morning for a health check. To make sure she was ok, after the little adventure she'd been on.
She went out on Thursday and didn't come back as she usually does. Her mum, worried called around the local vets to see if anyone had found her but to no avail. She then got a call over the weekend to say she was safe and well. She was having a little holiday in Chesterfield in Derbyshire. 😱😱

Her family were delighted to know she was ok and set about trying to figure out how they would get her back. He mum all ready to drive to collect her. She then got a call from a friend to say she was in Chesterfield visiting her mum. So she was able to collect the jet setter and return her home.

Moral of the story. Please always get your pets micro chipped. If it wasn't for Queenie's chip her family may never of seen her again. 🐾🐾

&found

18/10/2024

Happy Friday 🥳. We made it to the weekend 🙌🏽. Here's this week's . So many cuties its hard to choose 😍 🐾. Here's just a few.

16/10/2024

This adorable chap is Hank. He loves a fuss when he comes in, and we love giving him butt straches.

Hank was showing signs of allergies. On examination our vet discovered he had Demodex.

Demodex- is a mite that lives near hair follicles, many mammals naturally have demodex including us! Mainly found in our eyelashes!

However when your immune system is suppressed sometimes they can over produce and cause noticeable symptoms.

Some dog breeds such as Bulldogs, Staffordshire bull terriers etc are more prone due to genetics

Symptoms normally include -Alopecia (hair loss)
-Inflammation to the skin
-Crusty skin
However it is normally not itchy

Treatment includes
+Parasite treatment
+medicated baths

Below are the pictures of the slides from the skin samples taken from Hank. Some of you might find it interesting. 🐾🐾🔬🧫

15/10/2024

Happy Tuesday here's a lovely picture to make you smile. The very lovely Milo & Mabel visited us for vaccinations & health checks 😍🐾

14/10/2024

Incase you didn't already know. We've been having some building work done. 🔨🔩🪛 Some of you will of seen the dust & heard the engineers busy working away. It's not been easy but it will definitely be worth the extra cleaning & the stress.
Our Vets4Pets family is ever growing & we were running out of space. The building work will give us 2 extra consult rooms, one of which will be a family friendly space. Especially designed for those who are saying goodbye to their fur babies. We will also have a extended colleague room.

We can't wait to show you all the finished project any day now. But for now here's a few "in progress" pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/share/P2jpSMcGgfgXDJJT/

12/10/2024

It is so important to keep your fur baby healthy. A good balanced diet & exercise is a must. Games for stimulating their brains are also a great idea. See some tips for the

Today is !

Did you know that worldwide, studies suggest that up to 63% of pet cats and 59.3% of pet dogs are overweight or obese 😱

Like humans, obesity in pets can cause the following health problems: diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and respiratory distress.

Here are some tips to help keep your pet’s weight in check 😄

If you ever have any concerns for the welfare of your pet, please contact your veterinarian.

11/10/2024

It's that fabulous time of the week again. which can only mean it's time for . Just a handful of the beauties we saw recently. Don't you agree they are all adorable 😍🐾🐾

10/10/2024

Today is . The theme this year is prioritising mental health in the workplace.
Many people experience "Burnout". Working extended hours for many days or even weeks at a time, in stressful, fast paced environments.
The veterinary industry, is just one of many professions renowned for this work pattern.
Compared to the general population, there is evidence of elevated psychological distress in the veterinary profession with higher levels of:
*anxiety
*depressive symptoms
*suicidal thoughts
*su***de risk
This is not just a UK problem; similar findings have been reported in almost all countries where research has been conducted.

We know that around 1 in 6 people in the general population will experience a mental health problem each year. By 2030, it is estimated that there will be approximately two million more adults in the UK with mental health problems than there were in 2013.
(Info from )

Today more than ever we need to stand together, to recognise signs of burnout and help support each other. By recognising workplace burnout we can hopefully create a more productive, engaged, and fulfilled workforce. If everyone on your team is mentally healthy, your workplace will be productive and your team will thrive. Let's support each other not just today, but everyday. If you or someone you know is struggling there is support out there. Please reach out and get whatever help you need. Everyone deserves a safe, supportive working environment.

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/world-mental-health-day/ #:~:text=World%20Mental%20Health%20Day%20is%20happening%20on%20Thursday%2010th%20October%202024

09/10/2024

Just to let you know we are closing early tonight. So our awesome staff can celebrate our 10th birthday. (We know it's a little late) 🎉🎂🍾🥂🥳

If you need urgent veterinary care after 6pm please contact the Royal Veterinary College on 01707666333.

We will be open as usual on Thursday morning at 9am. 🐾🐾

07/10/2024

*** Meet The Team Monday ***

Its been a while since we introduced you to a new member of the team.
This is the very lovely Missy. Missy joined our front of house team last month. She definitely is an animal lover. She has 4 horses called Crystal, Rosie, Teddy & Poppet and a Leopard Gecko called Lola. Missy has a soft spot for Dachshunds, so she will steal them for a cuddle when you come in. She also does a bit of fire breathing on the side but I will let you ask her about that when you see her.

Welcome to the team Missy 😘

04/10/2024

World Animal Day 2024. Today we celebrate the invaluable presence, love & affection the animals in our lives give us. This day is aimed at raising awareness about animal rights, promoting ethical treatment, and advocating for better welfare standards for all animals. no better day to share with you our Friday favourites 😍🐾.
Please feel free to share pictures of your fur babies that give you strength & love everyday 🐾🐾

03/10/2024

Let me introduce you to a very sad Coco. 😕

Coco came to see us yesterday, to have vomiting induced. 🤢😕 Her teenagers had sadly left some chocolate where she could reach it. 😱

Luckily Coco's mum & dad got her to us quickly and she managed to bring most of it up. They also have pet insurance which means they don't have to worry about a big vet bill & Coco can get the treatment she needs. 😍

Please remind friends & family of food dangers around your fur babies & double check your insurance policies are up to date & valid. 🐾🐾

02/10/2024

We would like to share with you some very exciting news. Our amazing vet Megan has added a new feather to her bow, In the form of a Veterinary Dermatology Certificate. 🧫🔬 🦠
Which means Megan can diagnose, treat and help manage a wide variety of skin conditions, including allergic dermatitis and ear infections. We can offer multimodal management options in addition to using in-house cytology to aid diagnosis and management. She can also accept second opinions and referrals from other practices.

Pictures below of some of the slides Megan investigates under the microscope 🔬.

Please join us in congratulating her in her awesome achievement. All the studying paid off, well done Megan 🎉🥳🍾🥂

01/10/2024

We would like to introduce you to our version of 2 for Tuesday 😍. Look at these beauties, that came to see us last week. As you can see one of them wasn't as keen to pose for the pic as the other. 🤣🐾

27/09/2024

Happy Friday lovely people. We hope you are all staying as dry as you can. Our thoughts & prayers go out to those you have been affected by the awful downpours this week. Here's this week's 🐾🐾

22/09/2024

***HELP***

Are you missing a dog??

We have a young female dog who was found roaming around the villages outside of Baldock.💔 She is microchipped but no details are registered.

If she is yours or you have some information please call the practice on 01462481010 (please do not comment on this post).

We would really love to get her back to her family. Someone must be missing her.

The dog warden has been informed.
Thanks 🐾

20/09/2024

Happy weekend to you all. Here's some of our favourites 😍🐾

13/09/2024

Yay we made it 🥳. It's Finally Friday. If you're feeling a little exhausted like we are, hopefully these lovelies will cheer you up. 🐾🐾

06/09/2024

Another bunch of gorgeous babies this week.😍 🐾

03/09/2024

We have had a female, beagle type dog handed in to us by a member of the public. If you think she might be yours please contact us as soon as possible on 01462 481010. Proof will be required. We will need to contact the dog warden if no one gets in touch. Please share 🐾

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.”