Peterborough and Bretton Vets for Pets

26/08/2025

Happy National Dog Day from all of us at Vets For Pets Peterborough and Bretton. Here are some of our favourite dog facts:

🐾Greyhounds can reach speeds of 45mph.
🐩36% of UK households own at least one dog, according to The Good Kennel Guide.
🐕Dogs have a sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans
🐶There are 221 recognised dog breeds in the UK.

22/08/2025

🎨🐾Work In Progress🐾🎨

If you have been into our Bretton clinic this week you may have noticed a few changes. Our reception area is getting a brand new look, the painting has started but we are not quite yet finished! There are plenty more changes to come.

We are still fully open and seeing you and your pets during this time. We thank you for your patience during this new change and we can't wait to see it all finished!

22/08/2025

Never just a pet…

It’s easy to feel that we shouldn’t mourn our pets, but the grief we feel is real and valid. Our pets are there through life’s milestones, supporting us during tough times and sharing our happiest moments. Losing them can feel like losing a family member, and it’s okay to grieve.

Dr Holly Norman from Peterborough and Bretton Vets4Pets reminds us: “It is a completely valid form of grief. Pets provide an amazingly positive experience in people’s lives. That’s why they’re so hard to lose.”

If you’re struggling, reach out to friends, family, or support groups like the Blue Cross Pet Loss Support line. Take care of yourself, talk about your feelings, and remember: you made your pet feel incredibly loved.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3HMkQlk

Organisations that can help:

Blue Cross UK

Peterborough and Bretton Vets4Pets

Cats Protection

The British Horse Society

19/08/2025

Our Peterborough practice (St Pauls Road) have had a young black kitten handed in, found Ulverston Close. If you think they may be yours, please contact the practice directly on 01733 890 777 as soon as possible.

19/08/2025

World Photography Day!

Did you know 54,400 photos are taken every second? We’re a world of photo lovers, not only that we love our pets. In the UK there are about 13.5 million pet dogs and 12.5 million pet cats.

Share your favourite photos of your pets or wildlife in the comments below!

16/08/2025

Today is National Check the Chip Day.

We are asking our clients to double check their pet's microchip details are up-to-date. If you have moved house, changed your phone number or email please check with your microchip provider that they're all correct.

Why Microchips Are So Important?
Microchips are tiny, permanent devices implanted under your pet’s skin. Each chip holds a unique ID number linked to your contact information in the national pet microchip database. Meaning if they go missing or are stolen and are found they can be reunited to you.

The Law and Your Responsibilities
Dogs: Microchipping has been legally required in the UK since April 2016.
Cats: Microchipping became a legal requirement for cats over 20 weeks old in June 2024.

If you're unsure and need help, pop your pet along to us and we can do a very quick scan of their chip and advise you if your details are up-to-date.

05/08/2025

Come and meet Leanne at Pets At Home Bretton between 4-6pm this Friday the 8th August!
She’ll be answering any questions you have about physiotherapy for your pets, managing our older animals and everything to do with our furry friends!

We can’t wait!

Have you ever thought about having physiotherapy for your pet but you’re not sure whether I can help? 🐈 🐕 🐇 This is your chance to come say hello to Leanne and have a chat 👊🏻

Come say hello in Pets at home, Bretton, Peterborough Friday 8th August 4-6pm.

Alternative if you wish to enquire or book a physiotherapy session, please call us at the dogsthorpe branch on:

☎️ 01733 890777

22/07/2025

Microchips are a legal requirement for dogs and cats. It’s a very quick needle but provides priceless reassurance in case your pet is lost. Unfortunately we still get a lot of cats brought to us that have been found by a member of the public who are not chipped and it is frustrating when we can’t reunite them with their family. This post by VetsNow shows the importance of microchipping.
Call our client care team to enquire about microchipping.

We just had to share this incredible story from one of our very own vet nurses, Jade.

Back in 2012, her beloved cat Minx went missing from her home in Bristol. Despite endless searching, Minx was never found. 😢

A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Jade got a call from Fishguard Veterinary Services. A kind stranger had brought in a stray cat, and thanks to a microchip (and the same phone number after all these years!), they were able to trace her back to her rightful owner. It was Minx!

Jade made the 2.5-hour journey to be reunited with her girl, and yes, there were tears. 🥹 Minx is now safe at home, starting her recovery, surrounded by love.

If this isn’t a reminder to microchip your pets (and keep your details up to date), we don’t know what is! 🐾💕

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We're heartbroken to share that after her incredible return home, Minx was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and has since passed away peacefully at the age of 18. Her final weeks were filled with love, cuddles, and the comfort of being with her family once more. ❤️

20/07/2025

We’ve had this female cat dropped off at our Bretton practice. Microchipped but unfortunately can’t get hold of her owner who we would like to contact us. Found Hull Court.

16/07/2025

🍧🐶 Beat the Heat with a Dog-Friendly Ice Lolly! 🐾❄️

Summer is here, and just like us, our furry friends love a cool treat to keep them refreshed! Why not make a simple ice lolly that your dog will adore?

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for a dog-friendly ice lolly — perfect for hot days!

14/07/2025

🌞 Heatstroke Alert: What to Do Before You Transport Your Pet to the Vet 🌡️

When the heat is on, heatstroke can be life-threatening for your pet. At Peterborough and Bretton Vets4Pets we want to remind all pet owners of the critical steps to take before you transport your pet to the vet if you suspect heatstroke.

Wet Before Vet: Quick Actions That Save Lives

Cool them down: If you suspect heatstroke, immediately start cooling your pet down before taking them to the vet.

Evaporation cooling: For dogs, pour cool water over their body (making sure to avoid the head to prevent water entering their lungs) and increase air movement using a breeze, fan, or air conditioning whilst travelling in the car. This method helps the water evaporate and cool them down efficiently.

What to avoid:

Don’t use ice-cold water – it can cause vasoconstriction, which reduces your pet’s ability to cool down.

Never cover your dog with a wet towel as this can block evaporation and slow the cooling process.

Transporting to the vet: Once you've started cooling them down, transport your pet immediately to your nearest vet.

Ideally, use an air-conditioned vehicle, but if that’s not possible, keep the windows open.

If possible, bring a second person with you to continue pouring water over your dog while on the way to the clinic.

Remember: Heatstroke can cause lasting damage if not treated quickly, so acting fast is crucial. Don’t wait to get your pet the help they need.

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."