Oakhill Vets

13/08/2024

SADIE AND HER SUPER PAW! 🐾
This is Sadie the Labrador who came into our Kirkham branch last week for her vaccinations. She loved showing us her tricks... and her super paw 😂 !

10/08/2024

TOO HOT TO TROT? 🌡
With the sun due to make an appearance this weekend 🤞 we thought that it was a good time to remind you about how to test if the pavement is too hot to take your dog for a walk!

7 second rule:
✋ Rest your hand on the pavement
⌚ Wait seven seconds
🌡 Too hot? Don't walk your dog!

Here's our top tips for walking your dog when it's hot…
1 - Walk early morning or in the evening.
2 - Invest in some dog boots.
3 - Stick to grass where possible and avoid pavements.

08/08/2024

HOW IS YOUR PET’S ORAL HEALTH? 🦷
Signs that they could have a problem with their teeth include:
🦷 Halitosis (bad breath)
🦷 Dropping food, eating awkwardly
🦷 Wanting to eat, but then backing away from the bowl
🦷 Only eating wet food
🦷 Eating less and weight loss
🦷 Pawing at the face
🦷 Drooling
🦷 Becoming withdrawn

If you notice any of these symptoms, then it’s important to get them checked out by one of our vets. They may recommend descaling your pet’s teeth to remove the thick tartar deposits. This will require a short general anaesthetic, but it allows the vet to clean well beneath the gum margin, which is the most important area when it comes to periodontal disease.

Or it may even be necessary to extract a tooth or teeth. If this is the case your pet will be able to live a normal life without a number of teeth (and sometimes no teeth at all).

The chronic pain caused by diseased teeth cannot be underestimated! That’s why our 10-point health check - which everyone on our 365 Care Plan comes in for twice a year - includes a teeth and gum check. This enables our vets to spot any potential issues early on.

05/08/2024

PET OF THE MONTH JULY 2024: PEACHES
Thank you to everyone who put their pet forward for Pet of the Month in July - we had a record number of entries! We love seeing your pets and hearing about their personalities, so please do enter again this month if you haven’t been selected yet....you can enter as many times as you want! Email [email protected] to enter.

Congratulations to Peaches (and her Mum & Dad, Ian & Gemma) for being July's winner. We love her sassy face, which I've believe she pulled when she heard her vaccination was due this month!

😍

02/08/2024

ARTHRITIS IN CATS: WOULD YOU SPOT THE SIGNS?
Just like in humans, osteoarthritis is a common condition in older cats, but one that is unfortunately often overlooked. Many symptoms are dismissed as simply ‘old age'. But whilst old age is inevitable, it isn’t a disease – it doesn’t cause pain or stiffness like arthritis does!

Read the full article: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/small/arthritis-in-cats-would-you-spot-the-signs/

30/07/2024

DOUBLE COATED DOGS 🐕
Do you have a double coated dog? Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Shelties, Huskies, Samoyeds, Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs are all examples of double coated dogs... along with may more.

Important research from Dr David Marlin:
https://www.facebook.com/DrDavidMarlin/posts/pfbid0zowSYn3UovwxEXVXVpgEohnyRW69EatXaJdUnW362zfM41n2vSS9cXjCEU96QN5kl

27/07/2024

TRAVELLING ABROAD WITH YOUR PET THIS SUMMER? ⛱
Did you know that to travel abroad you will need an Animal Health Certificate for you dog, cat or ferret, and the correct vaccinations?

📞 Call us to book an appointment with a vet.

👀 Go online for more information: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/pets/help-advice/travelling-with-pets/

24/07/2024

ALFRED'S OPERATION
Alfred came to see us after developing some lumps. As he is an older gentleman, he had some pre-operative blood tests to confirm he was able to have an anaesthetic, and then our vet Lisa operated to remove his lumps while nurse Paige carefully monitored his anaesthetic. Here he is recovering well!

21/07/2024

ALWAYS LEARNING
Our team regularly take part in continuous professional development (CPD) to keep their knowledge up to date. Here's a recent CPR training session at Lytham road, which vets and nurses from all three branches attended.

18/07/2024

FLEAS AND TICKS 🦟
The warmer months are a prime time for fleas and ticks. Ensure your pet is kept up to date with treatments to keep the itchiness at bay!

Our 365 Care Plan makes this easy for all cat and dog owners by providing year-round parasite treatments - along with a whole host of other benefits - for one affordable monthly direct debit.

👉 Go to https://www.oakhill-vets.com/pets/365careplan/ for more info and to join today.

15/07/2024

HYPONATREMIA 🐾
Did you know that if dogs swallow too much water when the are swimming, they can become seriously ill? This is called Hyponatremia - very low levels of sodium in the blood. It occurs when a dog swallows too much water and it dilutes the amount of sodium in the blood.

This doesn't mean no more swimming, it just means be careful that your dog does not get too excited and make sure that they do not spend excessive amounts of time in the water in one go.

👀 Water intoxication signs incl:
- Staggering/loss of coordination
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Dilated pupils
- Glazed eyes
- Excessive salivation

While all dogs are at risk of water intoxication if they swallow too much water, some dogs are more at risk than others. These include:
- Small dogs that only need to swallow a small amount of water to have too much
- High energy dogs that may spend more time in the water
- Dogs with little fat to absorb excess fluid

12/07/2024

MEET OSMAN 🐈
Gorgeous Osman came in to our Lytham Road branch for his castration on Monday.

Cat castration has several advantages including:
✔ Removal of s*xual urges makes your pet less inclined to 'roam’ in search of females 'on heat’
✔ It can reduce or prevent certain forms of aggressiveness
✔ Prevents testicular cancer
✔ Reduces the risk of prostatic disease in later life
✔ It can help to control hormone diseases such as tumours
✔ Castrated animals are often more gentle whilst retaining their spirit and intelligence.
✔ No risk of unwanted pregnancy if living in a multi s*x multi-pet household
✔ Can often help control 'dominance’ behaviours

📞 Speak to us to find out if your cat would benefit from being castrated.

09/07/2024

A NEW QUALIFICATION FOR NURSE EMMA
Emma qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse at Myerscough College in 2016, having already gained a BS (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

Having had a particular interest in pain management and physical therapy to assist an animal's recovery and enhance overall wellbeing and quality of life, Emma has just completed a Foundation Certificate in Canine Exercise Rehabilitation and is now qualified as a Certified Canine Mobility Nurse.

Emma will be looking to provide exercise rehabilitation for canine patients following injury or surgery, and to assist alongside our senior clinics (coming soon!) at keeping your senior pets moving comfortably.

06/07/2024

PET OF THE MONTH JUNE 2024 - HUNTER
Congratulations to Hunter (and owner Sue) who was drawn as our for June!

Could your furry friend be our next Pet of the Month?
👉 To enter simply send your favourite pic of them to [email protected], and include some information, like their age, breed, most funny/unusual habit and favourite activity.

03/07/2024

ALL HANDS ON DECK!
9 adorable Labrador x Spaniel puppies came in to our Goosnargh branch last week for their first vaccinations and microchipping. Luckily we weren't short of volunteers to help hold them! 💚

03/07/2024

30/06/2024

6 STEPS TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE IN HOT WEATHER
💧 Make sure they always have access to fresh water to drink.
💨 Provide adequate ventilation at all times.
🚗 NEVER leave them in the car. Even 'not long' is too long!
⛱ Provide shade from the sun in the hottest part of the day.
🥵 Look out for early signs of heatstroke e.g. heavy panting, restlessness and lack of coordination.
🦮 Avoid exercising dogs in the heat of the day: especially older dogs, brachycephalic breeds or dogs that you know have heart of lung problems.

📞 Contact us immediately if your pet does not respond to efforts to cool it down, or you are worried they may have heat stroke.

28/06/2024

RABBIT VACCINATIONS
Are your rabbits vaccinated? We recommend that ALL rabbits get vaccinated. Vaccines are essential to:
- Protect rabbits from nasty, life-threatening diseases.
- Create or boost their immunity to certain diseases.
- Prevent rabbits from passing on infectious diseases.

Common rabbit vaccine MYTHS:
❌ Vaccinations can damage a rabbit’s health
❌ House rabbits don’t need to be vaccinated
❌ RVHD is not a common disease in the UK
❌ Once a baby bunny is vaccinated, it’s immune to common diseases for life
❌ Myxomatosis vaccinations don’t always work
❌ Rabbit vaccinations are more effective when they’re given in spring

Read about these myths and find out what vaccines your rabbits need (and why): www.oakhill-vets.com/small/the-importance-of-vaccines-for-rabbits/

27/06/2024

ANIMAL POISONLINE 📞
Run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), the Animal PoisonLine is a 24-hour emergency telephone service dedicated to helping pet owners who are worried their pet may have been exposed to something harmful or poisonous.

They have experience of thousands of toxic substances in all animals and cover everything from human drugs, household and garden products, plants, agricultural chemicals to venomous bites and stings.

Based on the information you provide, their vets and scientists will be able to tell you if you need to go to the vets for immediate treatment, or whether they can save you the trip.

📞 You can call 01202 509000, 24 hours a day if you are concerned about your pet. Calls cost £35 between Monday- Friday 8am to 8pm and £45 at all other times, including bank holidays.

26/06/2024

NEUTERING: WHY YOUR BUNNY NEEDS IT! 🐇🐇
When you neuter your rabbits, you not only prevent the risk of unwanted litters, but you also reduce the risk of some tumours in females and may reduce territorial aggression and undesired s*xual behaviours in both s*xes.

Here are some of the main benefits:
👉 Pregnancy – The most obvious risk of being unneutered is pregnancy, and most rabbits can get pregnant at around three months old, even if they are related!
👉 Illness – By neutering your rabbits you decrease/eliminate the risk of certain cancers, for example uterine and testicular cancer. Sadly, female rabbits are very likely to develop uterine (womb) cancers relatively early in life. They can also develop womb infections, or other cancers such as mammary (breast tissue) cancer.
👉 Fighting – Rabbits are sociable animals so should always be kept in friendly pairs or groups – the ideal pairing is usually a neutered male and neutered female. Neutering reduces the likelihood of fighting in both male and female rabbits and also means they are less likely to show aggression towards you too.
👉 Urine spraying – neutered rabbits are less likely to spray urine to mark their territory.
👉 Better house training – neutered rabbits are much less likely to exhibit marking behaviours, making it much easier for them to live happily indoors.

Read the full article, including what the procedure involves: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/small/neutering-why-your-bunny-needs-it/

24/06/2024

RABBIT AWARENESS WEEK 2024 🐰
Thinking of getting a rabbit? Rabbits can make fantastic family pets – as long as you understand what makes them tick and can give them all the love, kindness, and patience they need to thrive! Happy bunnies will hop, dance and binky their way into your heart. But rabbits are not usually:
❌ Good pets for young children.
❌ Pleased to be picked up or petted.
❌ Able to live in small spaces.
❌ Happy living alone.
❌ Easy to look after.

👉 Is a rabbit right for you? We explore the welfare needs of a rabbit so that you can see if you could meet them and find out if a rabbit is the right pet for you (and your family). Read full article: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/small/could-you-meet-all-the-welfare-needs-of-a-rabbit/

21/06/2024

JOIN THE 3,567 PETS WHO ARE ALREADY ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF OUR 365 CARE PLAN
When we designed our 365 Care Plan, we decided that peace-of-mind and value for money were the most important priorities. So our plan provides worry-free preventative healthcare, ensures continuity of care and enables you to spread the cost.

👀 10 reasons to join with your cat or dog!
1. Two 10-point health checks with a vet
2. Annual vaccinations
3. A year’s supply of premium flea and tick prevention
4. A year’s supply of premium worm prevention
5. Regular nail clipping, weight clinics and a**l gland expression with Registered Veterinary Nurse
6. FREE microchipping
7. 10% off additional vaccinations e.g. Kennel Cough and Rabies
8. 10% off medications
9. 10% off dental and surgical procedures (incl. neutering)
10. 10% off food and accessories purchased in branch

👉 JOIN 365 CARE PLAN: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/pets/365careplan/

18/06/2024

OBIE RECOVERING WELL AFTER HIS CASTRATE!
Here's Obie showing vet Lisa how well he's doing after his castration operation 2 days ago!

Obie is a Shar Pei cross, who was rescued late last year by his lovely owners. As you can see he is now thriving after a tricky start to life and undergoing eye surgery a few months ago.

16/06/2024

MEET GEORGE
Gorgeous George, the Golden Retriever, came into our Lytham Road branch earlier in the month for a consultation with vet Kate.

15/06/2024

14/06/2024

OAKHILL PUPPY PARTIES
Every month our Registered Veterinary Nurses host a puppy party at our Lytham Road, Fulwood branch. These are from 7pm-9pm, usually on a Tues or Weds.

These puppy socialisation sessions provide a safe place for you and your new addition to:
✔ Learn about puppy socialisation and habitation, vet visits, play and exercise, behaviour and training, and nutrition.
✔ Meet other dogs and discover new experience.
✔ Play with other dogs of a similar age.
✔ Ask our nurses any questions you may have.

Your puppy must be registered with Oakhill Vets to attend. The good news is we’re accepting new registrations at all our branches!
👉 Register as a patient: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/pets/about/register/

Your puppy must also:
✔ Have had their second vaccinations.
✔ Be under 14 weeks of age on the date of the party.

Places are limited, so reserve yours today to avoid disappointment.
👉 Email [email protected] or call your local branch to book.

06/06/2024

PET OF THE MONTH MAY 2024 - SURA
Congratulations to Sura (and owner Holly) who was drawn as our for May!

Could your furry friend be our next Pet of the Month?
👉 To enter simply send your favourite pic of them to [email protected], and include some information, like their age, breed, most funny/unusual habit and favourite activity.

03/06/2024

📣 REGISTERED VETERINARY NURSE VACANCY
Are you a motivated, proactive, and confident RVN who thrives on patient and client interaction? You could be just who we’re looking for to join our friendly team in Preston! There will be the opportunity to undertake all aspects of nursing duties, including inpatient care, anaesthetic monitoring, and nurse consults.

Why work with us?
✔ Proudly independent practice
✔ Friendly, supportive team with qualified RVNs at all branches
✔ Regular team social events and clinical meetings, along with whole practice social events
✔ Full or part time hours available with no OOH
✔ Shared weekend rota
✔ CPD encouraged and funded up to certificate level if desired
✔ BVNA membership
✔ Pension scheme

As an employer, we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of all our staff. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating a caring environment where everyone can thrive, with initiatives focused on employee wellbeing. We are a flexible employer, open to discussing working patterns which fit your needs, so welcome applications from candidates looking for full time or part time work.

So, if you're looking for a good work life balance, and a rewarding career in a friendly, supportive environment, apply today! Send your CV to [email protected].

👉 For more info go to https://www.oakhill-vets.com/careers/small-animal-rvn

03/06/2024

HAVE YOU HAD A 5-STAR SERVICE? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kind words, recognising the hard work and dedication of our wonderful team really make our day!

👉 If you've had a great experience and would like to leave a review, you can do so on Google. Simply search for 'Oakhill Vets' and your branch on Google, then click the link next to our star rating. 🙏🏻