Forest Vets Mansfield

06/08/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

Whilst our Receptionist Michelle is away recovering we have had Bailey in as her replacement...

Technically he was visiting for his second vaccine but he got his big paws under the table and insisted on helping Head Receptionist Lîse with your calls.

We hope you are all doing well 🐾

17/07/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets - please find below our latest story! 🐾

🦆 Hook a duck! 🦆

Head of Reception Lîse received a call from Mansfield Wildlife Rescue
mid-afternoon to see if Vet Tom could see a duck with a fishing line that was stuck! The unfortunate Miss Mallard had swallowed a fishing hook (line and sinker --badumtsh) and it was wedged deep in her neck as you can see on the x-rays.
The rescue had attempt to remove the line but had sadly been unsuccessful. We were keen to get the duck back to her ducklings as soon as possible as these were still swimming around the lake!
Head Nurse Jenny and Vet Tom took a quick x-ray to locate the hook then anaesthetised the duck for a better view of Miss Mallard's long neck. The hook was way down at the bottom of her neck!

Some quick-thinking was needed and a piece of thin semi-rigid tubing was threaded over the line with some difficulty, then advanced down the duck’s oesophagus (food-pipe) until it hooked - the hook! The hook was then detached from the duck by pressing down on the tube and then safely nestled into the tubing to protect Miss Mallard's neck. The tube was removed with both the hook and the tasty maggots still attached.

Thankfully, with some quick thinking of volunteers to catch the duck and the expertise of the Vet staff we were able to release Miss Mallard back to the lake the same night and a full recovery is expected. However, it could have been a far worse outcome, for her and her young ducklings.
This is a timely reminder that if you enjoy fishing you should ensure all lines and hooks are taken with you, and if you do see any abandoned fishing line whilst out and about please remove it from the environment and help the wildlife!

22/06/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

We hope you are all ready for the good weather we have (hopefully) coming our way.

This week we had lovely Chloe attend for her recheck appointment with Vet Tom and she certainly was Summer ready!

If you have white pets - remember to get your pet safe sun cream at the ready for their paler areas and their ear tips to prevent sunburn.

Please remember - to refer to the Vets Now Safe Walking temperature guide before taking your dogs on their walks to reduce the risk of heat stroke.

🐾

07/06/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

This is a repeat reminder for all Cat Owners that in 3 days time (10th June) - all Owned Cats over 20 weeks of age should be microchipped to come into line with new legal guidelines.

Any Owners who have not had their Cats microchipped (excluding feral and stray cats) will be at risk of a fine up to £500.

The Practice does offer a microchipping service - more information about this can be discussed with the Reception Team.

For further information you can refer to our previous post:- https://www.facebook.com/forestvets/posts/pfbid0ZrRVJTLoN8c2xKfmXsZjPCmFwj5p45JcVwaLwqrwH893EA5huRCmA7Z5r1MgRMx7l
Or at the Cats Protection website:- https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/neutering-and-vaccinations/microchipping-your-cat

🐾

03/06/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

As the sun is making it's appearance and Summer is starting to arrive - have you seen VetsNow Dog Safe Walking Guide?

Every year heat stroke kills hundreds of pets often from being exercised or travelling at inappropriate times of the day in hot weather.

Vets Now advise the following:

12 - 15c -> No evidence of heat stroke risk

16 - 19c -> Generally safe to exercise all dogs however care should be taken with large, obese and/or flat faced dogs

20 - 23c -> Dogs exercised too rigorously are at risk or those who are suffering with underlying health conditions including obesity and/or breathing difficulties

24 - 27c -> Extreme caution should be taken - particularly for dogs who are large, flat faced, obese or very young

28 - 31c -> Dangerous for all but life threatening for larger breeds, puppies, flat faced dogs and obese dogs

32c + -> Heat stroke is a major risk regardless of size, breed or other health conditions

For those of you who work in dog friendly establishments you can find a download/print out of the original poster here - https://www.vets-now.com/summer/your-dog-walking-temperature-guide/

Happy walking! 🐾

31/05/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

How do you keep your pets teeth clean?

Did you know that dental pain is an often under treated and ignored condition which can lead to reduction in quality of life and comfort for our furry friends?

There are a range of products available on the market to help support healthy teeth and gums at home. Some of the options are:

- Tooth brushing --> the best method for animals that tolerate oral examination at home. For better results - pair with a pet safe toothpaste for better cleaning action (some are enzymatic which can help breakdown tartar better) and tolerance. Small dogs, cats and those who have had previous dental work may benefit from soft silicone finger brushes as these are more comfortable on sensitive gums.

- Water additives --> liquids placed into drinking water providing dental care every time your pet drinks. Suitable for a multi-pet household or for animals that are food fussy. However, not the best option for pets who already have heavy plaque build up.

- Dental chews, treats and supplements --> these are the most commonly known options including some leading brand dental dog chews. Be warned though as not all dental treats are made equal as some are very high calorie with minimal benefit. Two commonly used dental supplements are Plaque Off and NutraPlaque.

- Dental diets --> many of the Veterinary Diet companies have started producing dental diets which provides daily oral care. Dental diets are beneficial for animals who prefer minimal invasion or those who can be fussy with treats.

Unfortunately, advanced dental disease will require a general anaesthetic with full oral examination to perform deep cleaning and extractions where required. See below, images of one of our patients before and after their deep clean with extractions. Thankfully, they will be much more comfortable now!

More information of appropriate and approved options for use at home can be found on the Veterinary Oral Health Council - www.vohc.org.

We would advise Owners with hypothyroid pets to beware any dental products containing seaweed as this can interact negatively with thyroid medication.

Keep smiling! 🐾

27/05/2024

20/05/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

We believe that good Pet Ownership starts at a young age and is best taught from well trained adults. However, it can be difficult to teach if you don't have a Dog at home!

The Dogs Trust have some wonderful resources to teach young people (from Early Years to 16+) a variety of Dog related skills - from being kind and how to handle them gently to Careers information for bright Canine related futures.

Resources can be found at the following link: -https://www.learnwithdogstrust.org.uk/resources/

🐾

17/05/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

As our Feline friend's get older or develop health conditions it can be hard to encourage them to eat. International Cat Care have some advice below on how you can encourage them at home. In a multi-cat household it is advised that each Cat has their own food bowl to reduce any food related competition.

If your Cat is still not eating they may require further investigations (such as a blood test to check their kidney function or diabetic status) or medications to aid their comfort (such as those with arthritis) or even a dental procedure (for those those that have broken or infected teeth).

If you have any concerns - please do not hesitate to give us a call 🐾

13/05/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

We see such a variety of furry, feathery and scaly friends here but the most common for us will always be Cats and Dogs. We are lucky to have lots of Canine companions excited to come visit but our Feline friends are often nervous, frightened, angry or a combination of all three.

There are lots of stressful events that occur on appointment day:
- Getting in the carrier at home
- Getting to the Vets - either by public or personal transport
- The waiting room
- The appointment itself

We advise Owner's ensuring their carriers are comfortable, suitably sized and with positive association for their pets. This can be helped by using something soft and familiar (such as a favoured blanket) inside the carrier and a heavy towel or blanket over the carrier to offer the cat a more protected hiding space. Synthetic pheromones (such as Feliway) or natural calming agents (such as Pet Remedy) can be sprayed inside/ on the carrier and even in the car to make the journey less stressful.

Inside our waiting room you will find we have a set of shelves positioned - this isn't special extra seating (or a place for the Vets to hide!). This is to enable Cats to be placed off of the floor (as they prefer to be on higher perches) and away from the eyeline of other animals they may find intimidating.

The International Society for Feline Medicine (ISFM) have lots of helpful resources for Owners on their website:- https://catfriendlyclinic.org/cat-owners/

The following link is for the Vet Visit specific resource:-https://icatcare.org/app/uploads/2022/10/ISFM-guide-for-cat-carers-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98Taking-your-cat-to-the-veterinary-clinic.pdf

We hope you and your Feline friends have a safer (and happier) journey to our practice in future. 🐾

10/05/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

We have a game for you all today - guess the breed!

This little cutie is called Squid and he is only 10 weeks old.

We have a series of hints for you because this game is not as easy as it looks:

Hint 1) I am NOT a pug!

Hint 2) I am a toy breed originally from Belgium

Hint 3) I come in short and long haired varieties

Put your guesses below 🐾

06/05/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

Sometimes we have some very sad days at the Vets. Poorly pets and final farewells can leave us feeling glum but sometimes we get a lovely surprise that brings a smile to our faces. We are always very grateful for every card, kind word, biscuit box and treat that passes through our doors and would like to say a BIG THANKYOU to you all - though it is of course not necessary to bring us gifts we do appreciate it.

Here is Lîse the Receptionist using our recent treat as a disguise - maybe no one will notice the cat behind Reception today and maybe she can sit long enough to have a hot cup of coffee!

03/05/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

It’s been a while since we shared a case with you so let me introduce you to “Ralph and the pain in his backside”.

Ralph presented to Forest Vets at the back end of last year for what was thought to be a ruptured a**l gland which cleared up with a good course of antibiotics. A short while later Ralph then came back to the Practice with pain when his tail was lifted and then developed a lameness in his back left leg which didn’t improve despite pain relief. Vet Tom proceeded to take some x-rays of Ralph’s legs but couldn’t find anything particularly exciting to attribute to why Ralph was so sore on it. Eventually, the lameness improved and Vet Tom and Ralph’s mum breathed a sigh of relief as they thought Ralph’s run of troubles were over.

However, last month Ralph presented with yet another swelling to the left of his a**l gland which was big and sore. This swelling burst and was thought to another a**l gland abscess, which again improved with antibiotics, but then a sinus tract appeared (a small, abnormal channel that connects a source of infection to the skin). Vet Tom took a further look at Ralph under a general anaesthetic suspecting his a**l gland had pr*****ed outwards which would certainly be a big pain in the bottom for Ralph! Vet Tom sent the abnormal tissue to an external lab who informed us… it wasn’t an a**l gland at all!

The clever Lab people informed us it was a chronic and deep infection which got Vet Tom thinking. What if Ralph’s problems were all actually linked? What if this wasn’t a nasty abscess in his bottom gland but rather next to his bottom? Vet Tom had previously had an odd case before… what if there was a foreign body! Ralph is a very active young man who is always off causing mischief for his poor Mum and loves running around parks and woodlands. He had actually attended in September 2023... for a small wound on the inside of his left leg which at the time had healed fine and was a very distant memory for Vet Tom and his Mum. What if all these things were actually one bigger problem?

So, Ralph went off to a big Referral Hospital who performed a CT and found… a great big stick! (pictured to the left). It is thought that this stick got into Ralph’s body and migrated around his leg and bottom region – causing his infections and sore leg. Thankfully the clever Hospital Vets were able to remove the stick and Ralph can hopefully get back to normal dog mischief and his Mum can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

29/04/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

We believe there is lots more to health and wellness than just prescription medication. There is a plethora of supplements available on the market and here at Forest Vets we are happy to supply the NutraVet Range. There is a wide variety of supplements available whether you have loose stools, scruffy coat, bladder troubles or need something to calm you down.

Some of our most used supplements are:
- Nutrabio -- to aid intestinal function - commonly used for pets with diarrhoea

- Nutraflora -- high strength probiotic for everyday gut health and immunity

- Nutramarin -- for maintaining healthy liver function - good for the mature pet on multiple medications

- Nutracyst -- for supporting urinary tract function - good for patients with urinary issues such as bladder stones/crystals or with frequent cystitis issues including stress related cystitis

- Nutraren -- support for health renal function - good for pets with chronic kidney disease

- Nutracalm -- fast acting support for stress and anxiety - good for pets with anxiety or who struggle with car travel

Many of these products aren't just for dogs and cats - they are also for small furries, reptiles and birds too!

More information on NutraVet products can be found on - www.nutravet.co.uk

** featuring staff pet Peach with her Nutrafibre! ❤

27/04/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

This week has been Veterinary Receptionist Awareness Week - it runs through the last week of April every year.

We would be lost without our Reception Team that are constantly running at a mile a minute. When they aren't answering the phones they are:

- Referring patients to the External Referral Hospitals and Centers for advanced imaging and procedures
- Being the communication between Front of House and the Clinical Teams
- Being an empathetic shoulder of support in yours (and our!) times of need
- Mopping up after mischief caused in the waiting room
- Taking additional training such as for Bereavement Support, British Veterinary Receptionist Award, Suitably Qualified Person Training
- Helping with socializing our patients - especially those a bit nervous for the Vets

And so much more!

We hope you love our Reception Team as much as we do.

Have a good weekend 🐾

22/04/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🐾

This is the ever so handsome Emrys who has been visiting us for several weeks after causing some mischief with his 'gentleman' areas. All of the Vets and Nurses were involved in Emrys care - from Milly finding his problem bits, Sophie removing said problem bits and then Tom treating his kidney problems he threw into the mix post anesthesia! The Nurses had a Goliath task keeping this friendly giant safe, medicated, comfy and clean but they trooped on through it!

He came to visit Vet Tom for his post-operative check and as you can see I don't think he minds us too much.

Here's to hoping Emrys continues to behave for his parents for many more years to come! ❤

18/04/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

We would like to remind all cat owners that you have until the 10th June 2024 to get your cat microchipped and registered to a UK Government approved database to come inline with new Government rules. If your cat has travelled from abroad their microchip still needs to align with these guidelines and relevant details transferred to a UK database. All details must be kept up to date including home address, owner's name and any other appropriate contact details.

All kittens, adult or senior cats without a chip currently will need to have a microchip implanted by 10th June. All kittens born after 10th June will have until 20 weeks of age to have a microchip implanted. Whether the cat is indoor, outdoor or only strolls as far as the garden path -- they must be microchipped. Failure to be in line with Government rules will result in a fine of up to £500.

The only cats exempt from this rule are those that are feral/stray/unowned.

The Practice offers a microchipping service for those animals yet to meet requirements. Microchipping can be performed in a regular consult (dependent on animal temperament) or can be tied in with any surgical procedures your furry friend may require.

If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to give the practice a call 🐾

**post featuring Staff Cat - Margot! 🐾

30/03/2024

Good Morning we are having issues with our phone lines this morning, for genuine emergencies please call 07423768658 please do not leave a message . Our phone lines are open until 12

28/03/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🌿

We would like to wish you all a “Hoppy” Easter this year! 🐇

We would like to remind everyone of the following opening times

Friday 29th March: CLOSED
Saturday 30th March: 9am til 12pm
Sunday 31st March: CLOSED
Mondy 1st April: CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd April: Open as normal 9am til 6pm

Should you require any Veterinary Care over the bank holiday weekend our out of hours provider is VetsNow Claycross.

All details can be found by contacting our phone line or online.

Remember to keep that chocolate out of tiny paws reach! 🐾🍫

15/03/2024

🌿🐾🌿

Just to inform you all we are back up and running!

🌿🐾🌿

Good morning from Forest Vets🌿

Unfortunately our phone lines have gone down again for unknown reasons.

Please call 07423768658 for any concerns you have today. Please understand we are down to one phone line due to this.

Our email is also currently down as we are without internet service at the practice. We will update you all once the phone lines are reinstated.

Thank you for your patience at this time 🌿

27/02/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

Are your microchip details up to date?

If you have moved house, changed name, changed e-mail address or changed mobile number and you haven't informed the microchip company then it may be very difficult to reunite you with your furry friends!

On more than one occasion since the New Year we have had animals present to us with out of date microchip details - this has at times led to significant delays in getting them back home.

It has been a legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped in the UK by 8 weeks of age for several years and it is compulsory to maintain correct details in regards to this.

As of the 10th June 2024 - all owned cats in the UK will legally need to be microchipped by 20 weeks of age. This microchipping law includes all cats including senior pets and failure to do so will involve a fine of up to £500.

There are several different websites who keep documentation of microchip details. If you are unsure who your microchip is registered with you can check by inputting your pets microchip number into the following website: https://www.check-a-chip.co.uk/

If you have any questions or concerns - do not hesitate to give our friendly Reception staff a call 🐾

22/02/2024

Good morning from Forest Vets 🌿

Alongside the bad weather we have ended up with some bad phone lines to match!

Unfortunately because of this you may struggle to get through to us at this time.

For urgent cases please ring the mobile number of: 07423768658

For any non urgent cases please bare with us and we will update this post once the phone lines have been resolved.

Keep safe everyone ☔️

18/01/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

We hope you are all keeping safe with this wet weather we are having 🌧

We have had several clients attend the practice bright and early for their 9am appointment - sometimes up to half an hour or more! Unfortunately for health and safety purposes the practice is not able to admit any clients or patients before 9am unless previously agreed by a Vet or Nurse. Any early risers will be asked to wait inside their vehicles or in the car park until 9am.

We do not operate a 'walk in' clinic or service at Forest Vets. We have had several clients attend the practice without consulting with the Reception Team first about availabilities.

In the case of an EMERGENCY we ask that you telephone the practice en route as this allows staff to be prepared for your arrival. Failure to do so could cause delays in your pet's treatment.

As many of you will know we have been exceptionally busy in recent history and now we have additional availability due to our Nurse Clinics with Jenny and Alice. Our Nurses are able to do appointments for claw clips, a**l gland expression, bandage changes, post op checks, second vaccinations, weight clinics and blood sampling. They are very friendly and I'm sure you will all make them feel welcome.

08/01/2024

Good afternoon from Forest Vets 🐾

Have you set yourself a fitness goal this New Year?

Is your dog holding a little extra chunk around the middle after Christmas?

Why not consider taking part in the 99k for Canines walking challenge organised by the Dogs Trust Charity?

The event involves walking 99km throughout the month of February to get people active, social and raise funds to aid the charity in their continued support of the dogs of the UK. You do not need a dog to join in and those who have older furry friend's or those with joint disease are advised they are permitted to a few extra sofa days (but perhaps the human may have to do some solo walking or join with a friend!).

Those who take part will receive a Dogs Trust pet bandana after their first donation.

Happy walking! 🐾

06/01/2024

Happy New Year from us here at Forest Vets 🌟

We hope you have all had a wonderful Festive period and have made many happy memories.

We have some house keeping to start the year off:
We operate a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for all forms of abuse at the practice. Our Reception staff are receiving a large volume of verbal abuse on call and in person and we ask that you understand that the Reception Team work under Practice and Government Policies. All telephone conversations are recorded and are accessible to Management. We ask for your kindness and appreciate this time of year is difficult for many with financial concerns and with new Government/Governing body Policies.

We would like to remind everyone of a post we shared in September 2023 regarding prescribing law changes - "From January 2024 we will need to have a specific note added to the pet’s file detailing exactly what products, amounts, frequency of dosing etc are allowed to be dispensed. We will offer a reduced price “anti parasitic check” to fulfil this obligation if required".

We understand this may lead to frustration but ask you understand this is a legal requirement and not Practice specific.

We are sorry to start the year with a glum post so we would love for you to share your holiday adventures with us. Do you or your pet's have any New Year Resolutions?🐾

15/12/2023

It's nearly Christmas!!!

Just a quick post to say thank-you for all the festive gifts and goodies we've gratefully received over the last few days! One of our wonderful clients brought us in this homemade gingerbread house... needless to say it didn't stay looking this good for long!

It's always lovely to feel appreciated, especially after a tough week like this one.

Have a great weekend folks!!