Brentford Vets for Pets

02/05/2026

The risk of Brucella Canis infecting a member of my profession is low, but it should always be taken seriously. As this article published recently at a human infectious diseases conference shows.

This vet was extremely poorly with serious symptoms caused by Brucella Canis but, most importantly, had had no high-risk exposure to known positive dogs, beyond those who were patients she looked after.

This is why it is so important that imported dogs are tested, and confirmed negative, before they enter the UK. This is now mandatory for those travelling from Romania but a responsible importing organisation will do this for dogs from other high-risk countries as well.

It is also why a repeated test must be performed after the dog has been in the UK for three months, to ensure any who may have been developing the infection during the first testing period, are identified.

A positive result doesn't mean your local clinic won't care for your dog, but it does mean they know to put extra precautions in place to keep their staff safe.

To my colleague, (who, I must be clear, I do not know but we are all peers in this profession) I sincerely hope you are doing better now and I am very sorry this happened to you.

To find out more;

APHA Advice for Veterinary Professionals; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/canine-brucellosis-summary-information-sheet-for-veterinary-staff

APHA Advice for Owners; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/brucella-canis-information-for-the-public-and-dog-owners/brucella-canis-information-for-the-public-and-dog-owners

Veterinary Voices UK article on Brucella Canis; https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/brucellosis-canis-in-the-uk-an-overview

British Veterinary Association - BVA Advice on Brucella Canis; https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/brucella-canis/

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announcement on the new testing requirements for Romanian imports; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/brucella-canis-testing-dogs-before-import

The abstract page at the ESCMID Conference; https://www.escmid.org/congress-events/escmid-global/abstracts/information-for-presenters/abstract-finder/ (there is no direct link to this image, I was sent it directly)

27/04/2026

Have you seen Torin, missing from Dorset but could be anywhere in the country now

22/04/2026

Veterinary Receptionist Week

This week is Veterinary Receptionist Week, and while we don’t have “receptionists” in the traditional sense, we want to take a moment to recognise the incredible team who keep our front desk running smoothly, our Practice Administrator, Client Care Coordinator, Nurses and VCA’s 💙

Covering a veterinary reception desk is so much more than answering phones and booking appointments. It’s a fast-paced, emotionally demanding role that requires compassion, organisation, and resilience every single day.

Our team are the first friendly faces you see when you walk through the door and the reassuring voices on the other end of the phone. They juggle a constant stream of calls, coordinate appointments, manage emergencies as they arise, and support both clients and clinical staff — often all at once.

They comfort worried pet owners, celebrate happy outcomes, handle difficult conversations with empathy, and keep everything running behind the scenes. From managing paperwork and insurance queries to helping keep the day on track for our vets and nurses, their role is vital to the care we provide.

Thank you for your patience, kindness, and dedication — we truly couldn’t do it without you.

21/04/2026

Pet Travel Update April 2026

Important changes just announced by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that will affect many UK pet owners travelling to the EU.

Here’s what’s new

EU pet passports are NO LONGER valid for UK residents

From 22 April 2026, UK residents cannot travel using an EU-issued pet passport, even if it was issued in:
• an EU country
• Northern Ireland
• or previously held before travel

EU pet passports can now only be used by owners who live in the EU

Trying to travel on one as a UK resident could result in refused entry at the border.

Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) are now mandatory
All UK residents travelling from Great Britain to the EU with a dog, cat or ferret will now need:
✅ An AHC issued by an Official Vet
✅ Completed within 10 days of travel
✅ A new certificate for EVERY trip

Why this matters

Some owners have been using EU-issued passports as a workaround but this loophole has now officially closed.

Top tip: Book your AHC appointment early especially before peak travel periods.

If you need help planning pet travel or booking an AHC, get in touch with our team on 020 8150 8683

Brentford Vets for Pets I

20/04/2026

your cat. 🐈

🦠 Infections can spread in ordinary places – a shared water bowl, contact with other animals or pathogens on items brought indoors such as clothes and shoes.

💉 Vaccinations and health checks are important at every stage of life, even if your cat seems healthy. Discuss vaccinations and boosters with your vet to make a personalised plan for your cat.

Find out more about vaccinating your cat 👉 https://icatcare.org/articles/vaccinating-your-cat

19/04/2026

We’ve had a busy weekend at the practice, with several stray cats and dogs brought in to us. 🐾

It’s a timely reminder that in the UK, it is a legal requirement for both cats and dogs to be microchipped. Microchipping is the quickest and most reliable way for us to reunite lost pets with their owners.

If your pet isn’t microchipped yet, or if your contact details have changed, please take a moment to get this sorted—it really can make all the difference.

You can call us on 020 8150 8683 to book a nurse appointment to have your pet microchipped and our reception team are happy to check that your pets microchip details are up to date #

02/04/2026

27/03/2026

We understand that visiting the vet can be a stressful experience for both cats and caregivers. Our top tips will help reduce some of that stress and anxiety 👇

🐱 Choose a sturdy and secure carrier, place a blanket from home inside for a familiar scent.

🐱 Leave the carrier out at home as an extra bed or safe space, so your cat doesn’t always associate it with leaving.

🐱 Spray the carrier with synthetic feline pheromones at least 15 minutes before putting your cat in it.

🐱 Cover the carrier with a cloth or towel while you are travelling to help keep your cat calm. Rather than holding the carrier by the handle, which can cause it to swing, carry it with both hands from underneath.

🐱 Visit an accredited Cat Friendly Clinic so you know your cat will be handled gently, with respect, and their unique needs will be understood. Find your nearest 👉 https://icatcare.org/cat-friendly-clinic/for-owners-and-caregivers

Take a look at our website to find more of our tips for making vet visits less stressful, including a free downloadable guide! 👉 https://icatcare.org/articles/taking-your-cat-to-the-vet

27/03/2026

We are trying to locate the owner of a cat that was sadly brought into us today after being involved in a road traffic accident 💔

He is a young adult, entire male ginger cat with tabby/stripes on his legs and tail. He is not microchipped, but was wearing a yellow collar with a blue buckle (no tag).

He was found near St Leonard’s Church in Heston.

If you believe this may be your cat, or you have any information that could help us identify his owner, please contact the practice as soon as possible on 020 8150 8683

Please share to help us reach the owner 🤍

17/02/2026

🥞 If there's ever a time to have some flippin' fun, it's Pancake Day! Here's our recipe for dog-friendly pancakes. 😋

Tag someone who needs to make these👇

Please adjust your dog's daily intake accordingly if treating them to a pancake.

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.”

19/01/2024

The team at Vets4Pets Cramlington say greyhound Frank was "an absolute gentleman" when he came in for some dental work.

Seven-year-old Frank was brought in by owner Harriet to get rid of some plaque which had built up and to treat a gum inflammation. Veterinary nurse Vicki said: "Frank was a very good boy and left with clean, fresh and sparkly teeth. It's so very important to get your dog's teeth checked and we advise pets to have an annual dental check. Eighty per cent of dogs over the age of three have dental disease. Prevention is much better than cure and regular checks and routine cleaning keep your pet's mouth healthier for longer and can help to prevent extensive extractions later in life. We are always happy to offer advice on maintenance and dental care at home such as teeth brushing or dental supplements."

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."