Orchard Vet Centre - Harborne, Oldbury, Wednesbury

26/08/2024

We’re closed today!

If you need urgent veterinary care while we’re closed you can call Vets Now on 0121 238 2003

Members of our Pal For Life pet health scheme get free access to VidiVet too!

We’ll be open again from 8.30am tomorrow

22/08/2024

Another sleepy bunch of kitties to for International Cat Day with the ultimate cat sandwich provided by Pigeon, Mia and Babooshka! 🐱😻

20/08/2024

A reminder of our opening hours over the coming bank holiday.

Remember, we need at least 48 hours' notice to complete medication or prescription requests.

We will only be open from our Oldbury branch on Saturday the 24th of August, returning to normal opening hours on Tuesday the 27th of August.

Thursday 22nd Aug...............8.30am - 6.30pm
Friday 23rd Aug......................8.30am - 6.30pm
Saturday 24th Aug.................8.30am - 1pm
(Oldbury only)
Sunday 25th Aug.....................Closed
Monday 26th Aug...................Closed
Tuesday 27th Aug...................8.30am - 6.30pm

For emergency veterinary care outside of these hours, Pal for Life members have free access to VidiVet ! You can also contact Vets Now on 0121 238 2003

16/08/2024

Here are a couple more of your pictures from International Cat Day and what a majestic pair Izzy and Autumn are! 🐱🥰

14/08/2024

A massive thank you to everyone who participated in our post for International Cat Day! As promised – here are a few of your feline companions 🐱🐱🐱

This is Milo, Mia, Nutmeg and Korky 😽

12/08/2024

Joining our Pal For Life scheme couldn’t be easier! If you’re an existing client you can call one of our friendly reception team to book in for a consultation with the vet and we will be able to pop you on the scheme at your appointment.

If you aren’t yet registered with us all we need is your previous vet history – from there we can book you an appointment to join the scheme.

There are no complicated forms to fill in – we just require a signature and a direct debit mandate and then you’re good to go!

Get in touch with us to book your appointment to join our Pal for Life pet health scheme
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

09/08/2024

Prices for the Pal For Life scheme vary depending on age and species with some animals being covered for as little as £19.95 a month*

To get a quote for your pet call our reception team at your nearest branch today
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890
Harborne 0121 428 1777

(*please note the price listed above is for rabbits)

08/08/2024

Today is International Cat Day! 🐱😽

Taking place annually on 8 August, International Cat Day aims to unite cat owners and lovers and celebrate cats!

One of our three surgeries has achieved Cat Friendly Status, and we work closely with Furbabies Cat Rescue it’s safe to say that we’re cat lovers!

Join us in celebrating by sharing your pictures of your cats in the comments section below along with the hashtag . We’ll pick out a few of our favourites to share to carry on supporting this purrfect day!

Here are a few snaps of your furbabies you've previously shared with us - can you spot your cat?

07/08/2024

The Orchard Pal For Life Scheme is a membership scheme and NOT an insurance policy.
By enrolling your pet you become a member of our exclusive club.

The Scheme has the following advantages over commercial insurance policies:
🐾 No limit to the amount of cover - Your subscription will not be increased because of age or illness.
🐾 All illnesses are covered - We will not exclude anything that develops during membership, so life-long problems are covered - for life.
🐾 There is no excess to pay when treatment is carried out at our surgeries.
🐾 Old and sick animals can also be covered - even those on long-term medication.
🐾 We include many things that no insurance policy can cover, such as vaccination, nail clipping, microchips, minor ailments - and a check-up whenever you want.
🐾 A range of discounts for non-medical procedures such as neutering, behaviour counselling, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, anti-season injections, grooming, preventative healthcare, etc.
🐾 Discounts for pet-care products, worm and flea preparations, and diets.
🐾 No-claims discount for pets that remain healthy.
🐾 Additional pets can join at a reduced subscription

Call your nearest branch today to find out more!
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

07/08/2024

*NOTICE FOR ALL WEDNESBURY CLIENTS*

Unfortunately our computer systems are still down at our wednesbury branch therefore we are unable to book or check any appointments unless in emergency cases. This means we may ask some clients to attend our Oldbury branch instead.

If you have an appointment booked at our Wednesbury branch please contact us to let us know when it is - 0121 556 6890

We apologise for any inconvenience and are working to fix the the system as quickly as possible.

05/08/2024

There are a number of benefits to joining our Pal For Life Scheme – All of the following are free when you join!

FREE
🐾 All consultations and treatment fees for illnesses and accidents
🐾 All operations carried out for medical reasons
🐾 Primary and booster vaccinations
🐾 Health examination on entry
🐾 All necessary laboratory tests, x-rays and other investigations
🐾 Consultations, general advice, check-ups, nail cutting and other minor procedures in the out-patient clinics
🐾 Identity microchip implants

Discounts on
🐾 Medicines used for treatment
🐾 Neutering and other non-medical operations
🐾 Preventative dental treatment
🐾 Preventative healthcare programme
🐾 Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
🐾 Medical control of breeding
🐾 Non-medical procedures
🐾 Worm and flea treatments
🐾 Pet care products
🐾 Food and prescription diets
🐾 Boarding cattery fees

PLUS
🐾 Reduced subscriptions for extra pets
🐾 10% discount off renewals if your pet remains healthy!

Call us today to find out more or to book your pet in for an initial consultation -
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

02/08/2024

Since the early 1980s, The Orchard Veterinary Centre has provided a safe and sure way of providing high quality, no worry, veterinary treatment with its Pal For Life scheme. Over the years more than 20,000 pets have benefited from the Scheme.

For a modest subscription (monthly direct debit or annual payment) your pet cat, dog or rabbit is covered for unlimited veterinary treatment at any of our surgeries for the rest of its life. So you have peace of mind and your pet has the best treatment we can offer.

🐾 Free veterinary fees 🐾
On the Pal For Life Scheme, you no longer need to worry about the cost of seeing the vet – your pet can come and see us as often as you feel necessary and there will not be any charge for the vet or nurse consultation. You would also get discounts on treatment, medicines, neutering, worming, flea treatments, pet care products, food and other services. Just like the NHS, all you have to pay for is the prescription - which is discounted to members.

🐾 Free vaccinations 🐾.
Annual boosters are free for life on the scheme, with younger animals being covered for their first set of vaccinations too.

🐾 Open to all pets 🐾
Any animal that we treat can join, young or old, healthy or sick! Animals that are healthy on joining get the widest cover but all pets, even those not eligible for any form of insurance, get the main benefits on our Critical Care cover – ask for more details!

You are unlikely to find such comprehensive cover at such a reasonable cost anywhere else!

01/08/2024

A cat has been handed into our Oldbury branch after being found outside the One Stop on Throne Road.
If you are able to provide any more information or think this cat belongs to you, please call our Oldbury branch on 0121 544 0404

31/07/2024

You can book your pet into our cattery either by phoning us directly on 0121 428 123 or by booking online. All online bookings receive a discount of 10% with clients of Orchard Vets receiving further discounts!

To find out more head to www.orchardvets.co.uk/cattery/booking or can drop us a message here on Facebook and we’ll do our very best to assist you.

For further information, visit our website www.orchardvets.co.uk/cattery

30/07/2024

Happy International Friendship Day! ❤🐶🐱

We'd like to say a massive thank you to Rosie for sharing her success story with her furry friend, Korky. Continue reading below to hear all about Korky's journey;

"We adopted Korky and Nutmeg from Clent View Cat and Kitten Rescue in January 2023. We’d had to have our lovely Tortie, Purrdy put to sleep the day after New Year and we were devastated.

Two weeks later we took Nutmeg and Korky home. Both were four months old and along with other litters, had been rescued from a derelict site.

They settled in well but in May, we noticed Korkys belly was getting bigger and bigger. I took him to see Emma and sadly, he’d got wet FIP, an awful disease. His life expectancy was just five weeks. A cure, daily painful injections had only recently been licensed and Emma explained how expensive it was and that it could be traumatic for the cat to have the injections

My husband had been suffering with anxiety and depression and having Purrdy put to sleep hadn’t helped. Korky had brought joy and sunshine back into his life. He declared that Korky had saved him and he wasn’t going to give up on him without a fight.

We researched treatment and discovered a tablet, Remdesevir (!) had recently been licensed too. We contacted Emma who agreed to research it. The tablets were ordered as a matter of urgency and Korky embarked on the treatment - one tablet a day for 84 days.

We weren’t looking forward to tabletting Korky as we know how much of a nightmare cats can be, but Korky was a star. It was as if he knew we were helping him. Every day a tablet was popped into his mouth and was duly swallowed. Within a week his belly was getting smaller and he became a kitten again. He had regular blood tests and at the end of his treatment, I’m glad to say he was finally cured. His claim to fame is that he’s the first cat to be successfully treated for FIP at Orchard!

In the first photo, you can see how swollen his belly is. He’d been on his tablets for a week. In the following photos, he is cured and his cheeky nature is showing

Korky is such a lucky cat and I wanted to show that FIP can be cured!

Rosie"

29/07/2024

The staff at the Cats Whiskers are all devout cat lovers, which is why they make the best carers for your furry companions!

🐱 Cattery manager Kim started working at the cattery in 2014. In her spare time, she helps run Furbabies Animal Rescue, while at home she has three cats of her own!

🐱 Mandy is our Cattery Assistant Manager. A genuine animal enthusiast, Mandy surrounds herself with four-legged friends. She formerly managed the cattery from 1996 until 2018 and has considerable experience in animal care.

🐱 Self-certified ‘crazy cat lady’; Janine has been with us for 4 years now. She loves her garden and enjoys spending time outside. She is also an avid walker.

🐱 Brittany has been a casual member of staff with us at the cattery for 5 years, so we were delighted to make her a permanent member of the team in February of 2023! At home, she has a dog and loves taking long walks.

🐱 Karen has only been with us since February 2023 (but has settled in wonderfully!) and has had cats all her life. In her spare time she sings in a choir...or three!

24/07/2024

There are a number of benefits to using The Cats Whiskers aside from its convenient location!

🐱 Peaceful luxurious accommodation.
🐱 Situated next to Orchard Vets which is handy should your pet need urgent treatment while you are away - Any concern over the health or well-being of a boarder is quickly reported and swiftly investigated by the veterinary staff.
🐱 Bring your cat's own bed or favourite toys for an even more homely stay if you wish.
🐱 Clients of Orchard Veterinary Centre qualify for discounts off all boarding fees.

22/07/2024

Did you know that Orchard Vets has its own cattery?

Situated at the heart of Harborne Golf Club, our cattery provides luxurious accommodation for your cat to enjoy a holiday at the same time that you do!

The cattery was purpose built, designed by our veterinary team, with the object of providing the very best in boarding facilities so you can relax and know your feline friend has every need catered for.

Each chalet provides individual accommodation for your cat during their stay and is protected by all round sneeze barriers. Shelves are provided for those cats that like to be high up in the world with chairs and other homely objects for those cats that are no longer mobile enough to reach high places without a little help!

Double homes are available for cat couples who enjoy each other's company, with larger family homes that can house up to eight if needed! All litter trays, dishes, toys and bedding are provided but you are very welcome to bring in your cat's own scratching post and other familiar items to make him feel more at home.

The building is completely air conditioned, providing the optimum temperatures for comfort, while feel-good feline pheromones help cats settle in and feel relaxed very quickly.

We will try to match your cat's normal diet and, with our extensive range of foods, we can cater for even the fussiest of eaters.

To book your cats stay call The Cats Whiskers directly on 0121 428 1234

19/07/2024

Here's another success story to celebrate the upcoming International Friendship Day!

Handsome Hunter (aka Chuntz!) here had been through the rehoming process twice before being adopted by his current family in 2019. Although slightly crazy in nature, Hunter is a lovely boy who we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know quite well over the years.

We're thrilled that he found his forever family 🥰

17/07/2024

This is Charlie who is well known at both our Wednesbury and Oldbury surgeries!

We'd like to say a big thank you to Charlie's mom who had this glowing review of our vet Angela, and a wonderful story of success to share.

"Charlie wants to say a big thank you during the month of International Friendship Day to the amazing Angela the vet.

Angela has helped Charlie with a very complex illness (IMPA) since the end of last year when Charlie first presented with a throat infection that almost sent him off his legs with an extremely high temperature. Angela’s care and expertise helped to diagnose the bacteria that had been causing the illness and successfully treat it as we realised the usual antibiotics weren’t fighting the bacteria as it was resistant to that type of medication.

Unfortunately, after this bout of illness, Charlie’s joints all started swelling up and he could barely stand, he was in immense pain. It was absolutely heartbreaking, I had no idea what was wrong. Once again, Angela helped to diagnose his illness through intensive testing, ensuring no stone was left unturned and she has devised a treatment plan that has seen him coming on in leaps and bounds.

Charlie and I are so grateful to Angela for everything she has done for us - including replying to my numerous frantic emails, answering my anxiety-fueled questions as soon as possible and always getting Charlie in to see her as soon as there’s anything I’m concerned about. That’s along with spending hours researching the best way to treat the illness, as it is a rare and complex one. The love and compassion she has shown to Charlie is just amazing. I am so thankful to her, and so is Charlie."

15/07/2024

Meet Kipling and Kooper 🐱🐱

Kipling was handed in to our Oldbury branch by a member of the public back in October with a sore and inflamed eye. A typical kitten, Kipling was lively and playful and it didn’t take long for his cheeky nature to captivate our Eve who took him on as her own.

Less than one month later tiny Kooper was found in a shoe box in a bin and handed in to us by another member of the public. We estimated that Kooper was around 4 weeks old upon his arrival and was lethargic with a raised temperature. Initially fostered by vet nurse Leanne, it didn’t take long for Eve to fall in love with him too.

Now both Kipling and Kooper and fit and healthy and living their best lives as adopted brothers in their new home - just check them out now!

We also have it on good authority that their bad starts in life have not impeded their natural hunting abilities!

11/07/2024

This gorgeous girl is Rosa – our student vet nurse Lily’s pride and joy!

Rosa comes to visit us at our Oldbury branch every Thursday for hydrotherapy sessions with Eve and she loves every minute of being in the tank.

Rosa undergoes hydrotherapy to treat hip dysplasia which she was diagnosed with in February of this year. Since starting her weekly sessions she’s seen an increase in muscle mass by 3cm!

Rosa has also lost a significant amount of weight as part of her rehab plan which is not only effective in treating his dysplasia but has a number of other health benefits too.

Secretly, we love having Rosa with us on a Thursday, so we’re hoping her treatment plan isn’t too effective!

09/07/2024

Staff pets also use our rehab services!

This little cutie is VIP Floki - senior vet nurse Becky's fur baby!

As an older boy, Floki needs a little bit of help in keeping him nimble in his senior years. His sessions with Eve help to maintain more muscle mass, improve mobility and restore normal joint function. Physiotherapy exercises at home are also a great mental stimulant too!

If you think your pet could benefit from our rehabilitation services, contact us today ☎️
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890

05/07/2024

✨Staff spotlight✨

We just want to take a moment to brag about our super-talented team member; Emma.

We’re sure many of you recognise Emma as she works behind the desk at all three of our surgeries, but did you know that she’s also a dab hand with a pencil and paper (yes, these are all hand drawn!)

Make sure you give Emma’s page a follow to find out more about her work – she does commissions too!

03/07/2024

We're still looking for more gotcha stories, adoption stories and recovery stories to share on our page over the coming weeks!

Comment your stories below, or send them in an email to [email protected] 🐱🐶🐹

The 30th of July is International Friendship Day 🤝

We thought we’d take an unconventional approach to celebrating this wholesome day by shining the light on you and your furry besties throughout July. We need you to send us your stories! We’re looking for gotcha stories, adoption stories and recovery stories (and the more pictures to go with it, the better!) If you’d like us to share your story on our page, add it to the comments section below or pop it in an email to [email protected].

We can’t wait to hear all about how your friendships have blossomed 🥰

02/07/2024

The 30th of July is International Friendship Day 🤝

We thought we’d take an unconventional approach to celebrating this wholesome day by shining the light on you and your furry besties throughout July. We need you to send us your stories! We’re looking for gotcha stories, adoption stories and recovery stories (and the more pictures to go with it, the better!) If you’d like us to share your story on our page, add it to the comments section below or pop it in an email to [email protected].

We can’t wait to hear all about how your friendships have blossomed 🥰

01/07/2024

Did you know we treat exotics here at Orchard Vets?

Our vet Emma has a GP certificate in exotics and loves to meet all your unusual pets 🥰

If you have a slightly less conventional pet give us a call to register today -
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Wednesbury 0121 556 6890
Harborne 0121 428 1777

28/06/2024

You should bring your rabbit for a health check with one of our vets every 6-12 months and check that they are eating correctly and passing plenty of droppings every day.
We advise that you neuter your rabbits to avoid any unwanted litters. Female rabbits can develop uterine cancers if unneutered, while males can become aggressive towards other males.

It’s important to keep an eye out for signs of fly strike, gut stasis, Encephalitozoon, RVHD and Myxomatosis in rabbits…

🐇Flystrike is particularly common during warm weather. It’s caused by the green bottle fly laying eggs on the skin. Once these eggs hatch the maggots grow by feeding on the rabbits' flesh.
🐇Myxomatosis is a virus spread by biting insects. It causes gradual swelling around the eyes, ears, a**s and ge****ls. You should always get your rabbit vaccinated by your vet to prevent infection. But if you do see any of the signs mentioned, then you should see a vet immediately.
🐇Encephalitozoon is another common parasite with symptoms such as head tilt or trouble standing up.
🐇RVHD is fatal in unvaccinated rabbits, sometimes with no warning signs. In rabbits that survive the first few days after infection, diarrhoea with blood is often seen.
🐇Gut stasis is potentially life-threatening in rabbits. It occurs when normal gut movement slows or stops altogether.

If you notice your bunny has a bloated belly and stops eating, drinking and passing stools call us immediately.

That’s it for Rabbit Awareness Week 2022 – we hope you’ve found this week interesting and useful.

All information for this week was brought to you from the Rabbit Awareness Action Group website so if you would like any further information or resources visit them directly at https://rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/

27/06/2024

Rabbits can be kept indoors or outdoors, but if keeping them indoors it’s important that you gradually introduce your rabbit to common household sights and sounds, and make sure that all areas are rabbit-proofed!
For outdoor bunnies, your housing should be sheltered from the elements, have plenty of warm bedding, be dry and well ventilated and secure from any predators.

You should give your rabbits’ housing a quick clean daily, throwing out wet/dirty bedding, uneaten food and cleaning and refilling food and drink containers. Each week you should give the housing a thorough clean, removing and replacing all bedding. Every month you should give your rabbits’ housing a ‘deep clean’ where you take everything out, scrub the housing with an animal-safe cleaner then replace bedding with fresh hay.

For more information on how to provide the best environment for your bunny, follow this link -> https://rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/rabbit-welfare/environment/

26/06/2024

Rabbits are herbivores which means they need a plant-based diet with lots of fibre. Choosing the best diet for your bunnies can be confusing as they need a balanced diet with the right mix of fibre, vitamins and minerals to keep them happy and healthy.

Fibre is a key part of any bunnies' diet as it keeps their digestive system healthy and moving which can help to prevent illnesses such as gut stais. Providing your rabbit with unlimited access to good quality, dust-extracted feeding hay or fresh grass is a great way to ensure that they get their fill of fibre! This should make up 85-90% of your rabbits diet which can be supplemented with a small portion of nuggets, a handful of rabbit-friendly fresh greens and constant access to fresh, clean water

There are lots of tasty plants and vegetables your rabbit can eat too! Here are some rabbit-friendly greens;
🌿Basil
🌿Broccoli
🌿Celery
🌿Coriander
🌿Curly kale
🌿Dandelion leaves
🌿Mint
🌿Parsley
🌿Thyme
🌿Watercress

Not all greens are safe and some can be poisonous for your rabbits. There are a number of plants you should keep your rabbit away from including; begonia, buttercup, carnation, cowslip, daffodil, foxgloves, hemlock, holly, ivy, nightshade, primrose or poppy to name a few!

Make sure you monitor your rabbits' weight either at home, to by bringing them to see us for regular weight checks. This is a great way to keep an eye on their overall health.

What’s your bunnies favourite snack?