PAWS Veterinary Health Centre

02/12/2025

Our Elf had a rather important message this morning for one of our vets.
He wasn't sure whether it was a routine blood test or whether Santa should be worried!

It turns out it was just for Rudolph's Lifetime Care Club blood test!

01/12/2025

Our Christmas elves have returned!

This year we're sure they will have even more fun causing chaos for our team.

However first of all, they would like to announce that from today, Willows Veterinary Centre will be handling our out-of-hours service.

Details of how to contact Willows will of course be available on our recorded answerphone message when we are closed.

https://www.willows.uk.net/in-patient-care/out-of-hours-emergency-service/

29/11/2025

Our very own receptionist Mandy will be representing Midshire Veterinary Group in a couple of weeks at the Sheepy Tractor Run - see if you can spot her on the Saturday!

More details can be found on the Sheepy Ploughing website here:

27/11/2025

It may be a little while since Guinea Pig Awareness Week, but since they are so cute, you can never have too many guinea pig posts!

So here's the PDSA's blog post about keeping small furries warm this winter.

Guinea pigs originally came from the mountains of South America - their ideal living temperature is between 15-20 degrees, similar to our own.

25/11/2025

Thirty sleeps to go!
In celebration, we will soon be setting up our winter wonderland grotto in reception for everyone to pose with their pets. We love seeing so many pets getting into the festive spirit each year and will be looking forward to everyone sharing their snaps!

24/11/2025

With just over a month to go before Christmas, we wanted to give everyone advance notice of our Christmas and New Year opening times, which are as follows:

Monday 22nd December: PAWS (8am - 6pm) & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic (8:30am - 6pm) Open As Usual
Tuesday 23rd December: PAWS (8am - 6pm) & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic (8:30am - 6pm) Open As Usual

Wednesday 24th December: PAWS & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic both closing at 1pm

Thursday 25th December: CLOSED
Friday 26th December: CLOSED

Saturday 27th December: PAWS Open 9am - 3pm

Sunday 28th December: CLOSED

Monday 29th December: PAWS (8am - 6pm) & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic (8:30am - 6pm) Open As Usual
Tuesday 30th December: PAWS (8am - 6pm) & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic (8:30am - 6pm) Open As Usual

Wednesday 31st December: PAWS & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic both closing at 1pm

Thursday 1st January: CLOSED

Friday 2nd January: PAWS (8am - 6pm) & Whitestone Veterinary Clinic (8:30am - 6pm) Open As Usual

🎄🎅🦃🎉

22/11/2025

As the weather gets colder, the risk of antifreeze toxicity in pets sadly increases. This common poison can be extremely sweet and palatable and sadly even small volumes can result in kidney failure and fatalities.

The best solution is preventing access - ensuring containers are kept safely out of reach and intact, but also considering just how much of these chemicals we utilise in and around our cars, as run-off from de-icing can create a tempting peril for passing animals.

  Unsurprisingly, the VPIS sees an increase of antifreeze (which usually contains ethylene glycol) cases during the winter months, as motorists prepare their cars for the drop in temperatures. The toxic dose for companion animals is alarmingly small and differs between cats and dogs. Given the smal...

21/11/2025

Following our post last week about the Competition and Markets Authority investigation into small animal veterinary practices we have been genuinely touched by the kind comments both here on Facebook, but also in person. 🥰
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to comment and pass on positive stories to us.❤️

19/11/2025

Antimicrobial Resistance is an enormous threat to the future health of animals and people, and ensuring that these vitally important medications continue to work is something that we can all have a hand in.

Ensuring that antibiotics are only used when appropriate, that the correct antibiotic is used, and the course is followed correctly are some of the central principles to antibiotic stewardship. Our team are passionate about this topic, with many of our vets able to speak at length about its significance.

Worldwide, clinicians, human patients and pet owners can all come together this "Antimicrobial Resistance Week" to consider the implications of how we use these drugs. More information and food for thought can be found here:

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices.

17/11/2025

Not every AI summary can be spot-on and while this technology is in its infancy, a number of inaccuracies can creep in. However Google's AI summary of PAWS history has clearly been doing its research well!

We were delighted with how spot-on this summary was:

"PAWS Vets Nuneaton has a history of over 125 years, founded by Henry Arthur Barrett around the turn of the 20th century. It has grown and evolved, with the addition of the Whitestone Veterinary Clinic in 2005 and the formation of the Midshire Veterinary Group as a limited company in 2012. Today, it operates as an independent, small animal practice and is part of the larger, mixed practice, Midshire Veterinary Group.
Founding: The practice was founded by Henry Arthur Barrett over 125 years ago, at the turn of the 20th century.
Growth and changes: The practice has grown significantly over time, and the history boards in the reception show its journey over the past century.
2005: The practice added a smaller branch surgery, Whitestone Veterinary Clinic.
2012: Midshire Veterinary Group was formed, and the practice became a limited company. The small animal practice kept the name PAWS, while the farm and equine side became Midshire Farm and Equine.
Current status: PAWS Veterinary Health Centre is the small animal division of Midshire Veterinary Group, a larger, independently owned practice that also includes farm and equine services. The group is also a member of the XLVets network."

15/11/2025

Happy Saturday!

Not everyone is aware that PAWS opens every Saturday between 9am and 3pm for consultations. While we primarily run an emergency only service, we do book a small number of routine appointments and nurse clinics each Saturday. Please speak to a member of our reception team about availability.

13/11/2025

PAWS and Whitestone are proud to be independent veterinary practices owned and run by the same vets that care and treat your animals; Ian, Alex, Hannah, Thaddeus and Chloe. PAWS, Whitestone and Midshire Farm and Equine are all part of the same independent company - Midshire Veterinary Group Ltd, and we are the only independent small animal practices in Nuneaton.

With the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation into small animal veterinary practices in the UK we want to provide reassurance to our clients and thank you for your continued support.
The CMA have created a youtube video for pet owners, explaining the ongoing investigation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDMzRFtZ3gE

The CMA have put forward a number of measures for small animal practices, both independent and corporate-owned to adopt. Whilst these measures are currently under review we would like to confirm that many of the measures are already in place in our practices including:

🐶 A price list of common treatments and procedures can be found on our website: (https://www.pawsvets.co.uk/content/paws/paws-common-prices).

🐱 Our vets have clinical freedom to provide the best care for both you and your pets within the way we work. We don't set financial targets for our teams to meet and we truly believe in providing genuine choice.

🐰 The CMA are looking to ensure that clients are aware of the availability of online pharmacies to source the medications if needed. We are happy to provide written prescriptions for medication on request. Many of these online pharmacies are owned by corporate companies and we appreciate the continued support of those clients that purchase medications through our practices rather than online.

🐹 We can provide written estimates for any procedures discussed, irrespective of the size or cost of the treatment. These are itemised and can be discussed at length with our vets.

In our 125th year since the practice was born, we would like to thank everyone again for their support and custom by bringing your pets to us. Our independence allows us to make decisions based solely on what's best for our patients and their owners. We feel it is important to be independent and see it as one of our biggest strengths as we move forward, continuing to invest in our people, our facilities, and the standard of care we provide to your beloved pets.