Rochford Veterinary Surgery

07/12/2024

💚 PET OF THE MONTH! 💚

You can usually hear Bertie before you see him. Bertie is one of our diabetic patients. Unfortunately as it is with most diabetic patients Bertie had developed diabetic cataracts. This is where the lens of the eye becomes thickened, and vision becomes impaired.

Usually in these situations the patient will be referred for a specialist cataract removal surgery but as Bertie becomes incredibly distressed when he comes to any veterinary practice (hence his lovely singing), this was a route that we couldn't consider at the time.

In the mean time we monitored the eye and treated Bertie symptomatically, despite our efforts, his eye eventually deteriorated to the point where we had no choice but to enucleate (remove) it.

It's a good job that we did remove this eye, as it was then found to have not only the cataract wrong with it, but the intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) was too high, it had also developed an ulcer, the retina had detached and the components within the eye had all started to attach to each other.

Although he has a cataract in his other eye, Bertie is coping incredibly well having had this procedure and we are all very proud of how brave he was coming in for his surgery. Fingers crossed he keeps on the up!

Way to go Bertie! 👏🎶

04/12/2024

'Tis officially the season!

Our Christmas decorations have found their way into the practice and now we're starting to really feel in the spirit. We hope they add a little bit of cheer to your day the next time you come for a visit. 🎄

20/11/2024

🐰COLD BUNNIES!🐰

As winter closes in we'd like to share with our rabbit owners the Rabbit Welfare Association website. Here you can find lots of advice about keeping your bunnies healthy and happy.

The link below is all about how best to approach winter if you have rabbits that live outdoors. ❄️

Discover expert tips for keeping rabbits warm in cold weather. Explore outdoor housing advice and ensure your bunny's comfort. Read more!

12/11/2024

Is your pet suffering with OA? Are they on any treatment to help ease their pain?

If you are thinking about starting them on a treatment plan, take a look at the options available for them in our latest blogpost. Here, you'll learn what to expect from a meeting with one of our vets, as well as get an idea of what might work best for you and your pet.

Osteoarthritis in dogs and cats - The treatment options

06/11/2024

💚 PET OF THE MONTH 💚

Ash came to us with a back leg injury, which after xrays, was revealed to be a fracture near his hip joint.

Our vet Catherine then had to take Ash into surgery, to perform a femoral head and neck excision. This is where the joint that sits in the hip socket is taken off, and the surrounding muscles hold the bone in place instead.

Once surgery had started, it was found that Ash had done most of the work for us when his injury occurred, meaning that after taking the broken off piece of bone it was just a matter of smoothing off the edges so that it would be more comfortable for Ash to use the leg.

Ash coped incredibly well with the surgery, and made and excellent recovery. He’s even back to using four legs! It is without a doubt that he deserves to be this month’s star pet ⭐️

31/10/2024

Summer says

🎃 H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N 🎃

From all of us at Rochford Vets!

25/10/2024

Dogs Trust have excellent resources available on their website, such as action packs with tips and tricks on how to support your anxious dog during firework season.

Fireworks can be distressing for dogs. Prepare ahead to help your dog cope this season and beyond.

22/10/2024

🎆 FIREWORKS 🎆

As firework season begins to get underway, we thought we'd share our top tips for supporting your pet, especially if this is a time you know they struggle with.

🌟Prepare early, if you know your pet gets stressed when fireworks are going off it's important to make sure you have a plan in place to help reassure them before it is needed.
🌟Turn your television on with the volume up or make sure you have adequate background noise to help drown out the pops and bangs.
🌟Provide a safe space for them to hide in, such as a blanket fort or sheltered bedding. Wherever your pet feels safest is the best place for them to be.
🌟Keep them company, if your pet is anxious it is best not to leave them alone. Having a family member nearby can help to reassure them.
🌟Draw all curtains and blinds, so your pet cannot see what is going on outside and they can remain blissfully unaware.
🌟If you have to take them out (i.e. for toileting purposes), try to do a big walk before the fireworks might start (such as just before dusk) or aim to take them out during intervals where the fireworks have stopped.

If your pet is still anxious and worried despite your best attempts to help them, please give us a call and a vet will be able to talk you through different options such as calming supplements which can be started ahead of time for their full effect.

22/10/2024

⚡️POWER OUTAGE⚡️

We are currently experiencing a power outage which means our phones are not on, and our computer system is down. Please bear with us whilst this problem is resolved.

01/10/2024

💚 PET OF THE MONTH 💚

This is Bert the border terrier. He came in to go under sedation so we could remove a small mass growing on his gum. This went smoothly and Bert recovered very well with us.

Unfortunately this was just the beginning for Bert. After an uneventful recovery from this procedure, and having been signed off as all healed up from this, Bert then began to feel sick and his owner brought him back to us for a vet to take a look. It seemed he had potential gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) which can sometimes be a side effect of the pain relief medication he was taking.

However, once Bert's situation did not improve despite stopping this medication, anti-emetic injections and symptomatic treatment, he required further investigations. Bert came back for abdominal ultrasound, xrays and some blood tests. Imaging showed a potential foreign body in his abdomen, with nothing moving through his gastrointestinal tract like it should.

This warranted Bert undergoing yet another surgery, this time under general anaesthesia to open his abdomen to take a look at what this could be. No foreign body was found but we did find a nasty ulcer in Bert's stomach. Once we knew this was the problem we could start treatment right away.

Bert started to improve drastically on treatment, much to the relief of his owner. Now, bert is signed off and finally recovered.

Bert was very popular with our staff, and it was a resounding agreement on choosing him to be this month's star. That being said, hopefully we won't see him again for a long while!

18/09/2024

10/09/2024

💙National Pet Memorial Day💙

Blue cross is a charity that offers support surrounding the loss of a pet. Everyone has different ways of coping with loss. For those who need a listening ear, compassionate words and a space to grieve openly, their support page is in the link below.

Pet Loss Support Here to take your hand when they let go. For 30 years, we’ve been here to help you cope with the loss of a pet, either through death, enforced separation or theft. With a free and confidential helpline, webchat, email and Facebook group, you can find support when and where you nee...

06/09/2024

💚 PET OF THE MONTH 💚

Little Buzz had trouble eating, and had been in and out of our doors with this issue. When rabbits stop eating altogether it can cause them to go into 'gut stasis', which is where their gastrointestinal tract stops working the way it should.

This was a big concern with Buzz. Once his symptoms had not improved, it was time for further investigations.

Whilst Buzz was asleep under general anaesthetic, our vet Daniella could take a good look in his mouth, to see if there were any problems with his teeth that would stop him eating. During this examination, Daniella found a spur - a sharp tooth growth in Buzz's mouth.

This spur was swiftly burred away, along with all of Buzz's symptoms. Once recovered, Buzz gained a new lease of life and is now back to normal! It is likely he'll need future dental work if he is prone to spurs growing, but for now Buzz can enjoy life spur-free, and without a sore mouth!

Buzz's story really highlights the importance of checking your rabbit's teeth, as any undetected issues can lead to much bigger problems! 🐰

02/09/2024

🦷Considering a dental for your pet?🦷

Take a look through Dimitra's step by step dental, where you can find out just exactly what we do with your pet when they come in for their procedure.

Dental procedures- What actually happens?

07/08/2024

❕ NEW BLOGPOST ❕

Ever wonder what it's like being a vet? Join Catherine, who takes you through her day working here at Rochford Vets.

A day in the life of a vet

01/08/2024

💚 PET OF THE MONTH 💚

Jaffa was rushed into us as an emergency after collapsing in her back garden. Her breathing was abnormal and she was showing neurological signs such as shaky eyes and wobbliness when walking.
Jaffa had previously been in to see us for a runny nose, it was unclear whether this was related.

We took some Xrays of Jaffa's chest and nose, to make sure there was no foreign body or masses growing which could have triggered her condition. Luckily, all the films came back clear of this. What we did see was a pattern in the lungs which implied a chronic bronchitis.

Although there were other clinical signs that warranted further investigation at a referral centre, Jaffa made a remarkable recovery after staying in with us for treatment. Her wobbliness has completely gone and she's back to her normal lifestyle.

After coming in to us in the condition she was in, to now being completely recovered shows the resilience of this lovely little kitty and we can't wait to see how well she's doing at her check up!

24/07/2024

You may have heard of Brucella Canis, particularly if your dog is from abroad. To help keep you informed we have put together this blogpost on our website with everything you should know about this disease.

Brucella Canis - Your questions answered