Vets4Pets Runcorn

24/12/2024

❤️💚Merry Christmas from our lot to yours 🌟🎄
We’d love to see photos of your pets enjoying the season! Feel free to share in the comments 😍👇🏻

19/12/2024

We will be adjusting our hours for the holiday season! Please note the following Christmas hours:

🎁 24th December (Christmas Eve): Open as usual
🎁 25th December (Christmas Day): CLOSED
🎁 26th December (Boxing Day): CLOSED
🎉 1st January (New Year’s Day): CLOSED

Any emergencies over the Christmas period where we are closed, will be referred to our out of hours service. If you have any concerns, please get in touch.

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas 🎄✨

16/12/2024

🎄With Christmas around the corner and plenty of foods and items that are toxic, or unsuitable for pets to eat, lovely gentle Lily wanted to take this time to remind everyone of the dangers associated with eating things our pets shouldn’t… 🤫

🤔 Lilys pet parents called us as they were concerned she had potentially eaten a ball that Lily had been playing with on the park with another dog. Their suspicions increased when Lily began vomiting undigested food 🥺 Lily was seen as an emergency appointment…

⏭️ Vet Katie 🩺 confirmed she is suspicious of a foreign body and recommended proceeding to perform diagnostic xrays. Not all foreign bodies can be visualised via X-ray, the main cause of this being if the item eaten is not radio opaque (a material that does not show on X-rays). 🩻 Other imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI & CT can also be utilised

❤️‍🩹 Lilys owners consented for Katie and the team to proceed to perform a surgical procedure called exploratory laparotomy. Once Katie and the team had visualised a large ball shape on her stomach, Katie proceeded to perform a gastrotomy. The item was given a thorough scrub 🧼 to reveal it was a soft ball (almost tennis ball size!) see image 3 😮

❤️‍🩹Lily has made a full recovery following her procedure 🥰 we think she looked great in her medical pet tshirt!

‼️ We are seeing a massive increase in patients currently that have eaten items they shouldn’t… we recommend keeping any foods well out of reach- we can say from experience they will sniff them out from under the tree (and usually eat the wrapping paper too!)

🎄We would like to remind our fur parents to stay vigilant this time of year. If your pet likes to chew toys into pieces, these can cause foreign bodies which sadly can be fatal if not treated rapidly… likewise with hard food chews, rope toys, bones 🦴

🎄Have a Happy Holiday everyone and stay safe ❤️

25/11/2024

❄️ With temperatures starting to drop below zero in the coming weeks, please keep in mind that ANTIFREEZE and GRIT are highly dangerous to cats

❄️We know not everyone has their own cat, but please consider neighbours cats too

❄️Once ANTIFREEZE has been used on your car, it then sits on the pavement or road. Antifreeze smells sweet to cats which may attract them. 😥 A recipe for disaster when keeping in mind this may be the only melted puddle available to a thirsty cat when everywhere else is frozen… 😔

❤️‍🩹If ingested, antifreeze can cause rapid organ failure and even death.

❄️GRIT is currently being spread, and can hurt pets paws and could make them poorly if licked off…

💔‼️ Let’s all keep our pets safe this winter- store antifreeze out of reach (if used atall), clean any spills and check your pets paws for any grit ‼️💔

18/11/2024

‼️ 🐕 XL BULLY DEADLINE 🐕‼️

🐕 For those pet parents that have an XL bully that has NOT yet been neutered (due to being too young at the previous deadline), please be aware the next government deadline for neutering is 31st December.

🎄 At the previous deadlines we worked tirelessly to help you all reach this deadline. With Christmas around the corner and therefore bank holidays on the horizon, we are urging all of our XL bully parents to get in touch now to avoid disappointment.

🐕 Please see the link below for further details, this appears to be the final deadline for neutering and the government website states without them being neutered by this deadline, their exemption will unfortunately not be valid.

📞 01928 750260

Owners and vets can use this form to confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered.

15/10/2024

A female cat has been handed into us, no chip, no collar
Handed in by a member of the public, found in Bournemouth Close, Murdishaw

If you think she is your cat or you know who’s cat she is, please get in contact with us on 01928 750260

Proof of ownership required

Runcorn Pets Lost & Found

11/10/2024

🌈🤍🖤 Handome boy Oswin was in with us recently for his routine neutering surgery

🏥 Following his procedure he recovered beautifully and wanted nothing more then to play and have cuddles

Following his post operative appointment today with nurse Heather, we are happy to report Oswin is recovering very well and of course wanted a dreamie or two for being such a brave boy❤️‍🩹 (see last pic 👇🏻)

19/09/2024

Meet Mango 🥭 🥰
🐾 Many of you may have met our lovely Mango on reception as he belongs to one of our student veterinary nurses 🐕

We wanted to share Mangos journey with you all, as we understand how stressful it can be bringing your fur babies in for the day and being apart from them 💔

Mango was in with us recently to have a general anaesthetic to perform X-rays on his hips 🧐 🩻

🩺 Dr. Andre Brenn performed a health examination on Mango to ensure he was fit enough for the anaesthetic to be administered. As you can see from pictures 1 & 2, Mango was super content following this and wanted to show his appreciation with kisses 🥰 😍

🩺 RVN Heather & SVN Alex monitored and maintained Mangos anaesthetic alongside Dr. Andre.
Our nurses play a vital role in monitoring patients while under anaesthetic. This includes the use of specialist equipment and continuously monitoring the patients vitals. This includes but is not limited to; temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, as well as checking eye position, gum colour, jaw tone and capillary refill time. 👩‍⚕️ 🏥

🩻 From the diagnostic images taken couple with Mangos symptoms, he recieved a diagnosis of mild hip dysplasia.

🦴 Hip dysplasia is a lifelong condition in which the femoral head and the hip socket (acetabulum) do not sit together perfectly as they should. Instead, the joint is unstable. This results in pain, swelling and eventually arthritis. An early diagnosis is crucial, meaning we can begin a prescribed treatment plan to keep Mango comfortable and happy 🐾🐕

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:
🦴Difficulty rising after laying down
🦴’bunny hopping’ (running with both back legs moving together)
🦴 Stiffness and limping
🦴 Difficulty using stairs
🦴 Wobbly or swaying walk
🦴 Hesitation jumping into the car
🦴 Arthritis
🦴 Muscle wastage

Mango has been prescribed a home care plan, including a joint specific veterinary diet and hydrotherapy / physiotherapy.
Mangos response to treatment will be closely monitored. Depending on advancement of the disease, pain relief 💊 monthly arthritis injections 💉 and hip replacement surgery can be considered.

🥹 Following his anaesthetic, we wanted nothing more then to show Mango how loved he is… and what better way then cuddles and a foot rub by the Practice manager?!

🧡 Mango is back to his usual happy self and will be closely monitored for progression of clinical signs.

We can’t wait to see him again for more kisses

🧡🐕

19/09/2024

The gorgeous and incredibly fluffy Elsa and Cosmo came in to see us yesterday. They had arrived in separate carriers but insisted on squashing in one together!
They are the sweetest pair ❤️

12/09/2024

🐈‍⬛We can’t resist a cuddle!

This LOVELY boy is Smokey!
Smokey recently spent the day with us and had a general anaesthetic to be castrated.

Following recovery from his anaesthetic, he wanted nothing more than cuddles… here he is with vet Annita after he’d woke up from his procedure ❤️‍🩹🥰

👇🏻video to follow in comments of Smokey cool as a cucumber in his post op check appointment! 🐈‍⬛

29/08/2024

🐾 🐈‍⬛ If you’re a cat owner (or would love to learn more about our feline friends!) then check out this event below from Northwest Veterinary Referrals!

Covering topics such as;

🐾 How to create a happy home for your cat, and reduce stress when traveling to the vets

🐾How to spot distress at home

🐾How your cat can help save lives

👏 Please contact Northwest Veterinary Specialists directly for more info 🐈‍⬛

21/08/2024

We are now officially an approved Training Practice here at Runcorn Vets4Pets 🎉🩺🐾

We were approved as an RCVS Registered Training Practice (TP) back in July with the Chester Veterinary Training Centre

This means we will be training student Veterinary Nurses! 🩺🐾

SVNs will be involved in all aspects of your pets care under the supervision of RVNs and Veterinary Surgeons.

09/08/2024

Meet Katie - our new lead vet! 🩺🐾

Katie joined our team as our lead vet in July and brings many years of experience in small animal practice.
Katie’s skills include but certainly aren’t limited to:

🐾 Katie has worked for Vets4Pets since 2016 at another branch before transferring over to our practice in July.

🩺 Having routinely locummed with us, you and your pets may have already met!

✈️ Planning to travel with your pet? Katie is an OV which means she is qualified to supply Animal Health Certificates which allow your pet to travel.

🔬 A clinical interest in cytology and dental health 🦷🪥

🐶 You may have already met the lovely Leo, Katie’s cocker spaniel, who is often sleeping under the desk in reception! Katie also has two rescue cats, Loki and Eissa 🐱🐱

Katie is a great asset to our team providing extensive knowledge and experience to give your lovely pets the best care ❤️

19/07/2024

Ahead of the hot weather today (27C 😮) here are some tips from Veterinary Voices for coping with the weather with all of your precious fur babies 🐈‍⬛ 🐕

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0kAEz4NI4n8-n4Lpw4Bg7wc8kS-qa98giq5E4O-eRgITBTRFn3tGw2rGQ_aem_fuS1rCmk3bSEnc-bMrv0-A

Stay safe everybody and have a lovely weekend 🌞

Team Runcorn x

Let us investigate the myth behind cooling animals with heat stroke with tepid water.Although it is generally agreed that rapid, effective cooling increases survival in heat stroke, there continues to be debate on the optimal cooling method. As with many things, we often find ourselves with lots of....

08/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/h5Wm2vqvgPaBgQHe/?mibextid=WC7FNe

08/07/2024

📢 Still in search of her owner! 📢

We have had a tabby and white female cat handed into us, chipped but details are not up to date
Found on Caenarvon close, castlefields

If you think she is your cat or you know whose cat she is the please call us on 📞 01928 750260

Proof of ownership required

12/06/2024

📢 with the deadline approaching, if you do need to book an appointment please call the practice 01928 750260 📢

If your dog was 12 months or older on 31 January 2024 it must be neutered by 30 June 2024.

If your dog isn’t neutered yet, speak to your vet to arrange this. Booking soon will avoid the risk of not getting an appointment before the deadline.

It will also help you plan for the costs involved.

Once your dog is neutered, you need to send a completed confirmation of neutering form to Defra.

Don’t risk being prosecuted and having your dog seized.

Read more: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs

07/06/2024

✨ £10 MICROCHIPPING OFFER✨

In line with the new legislation, it will be compulsory for all cats to have a microchip by the 10th June 2024.
This includes indoor cats.
Cats found to not have a microchip will have 21 days to be microchipped or face a fine.

Give us a call on 01928 750 260
or send us a message on 07360276735
to book an appointment with one of our lovely nurses!

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."

03/01/2024

Six-foot-long boa constrictor Astrix was the centre of attention when he called in for a routine "top to tail" health check at Vets4Pets Penzance.

Astrix, who's four, is part of a menagerie of six snakes, bearded dragons and six dogs belonging to veterinary nurse Lowenna, who works at the practice, and her partner Mark. The team looked at Astrix's eyes and mouth and checked his breathing to rule out any respiratory infections and also checked his scales.

Lowenna said: "He got a clean bill of health, he was absolutely fine and everyone had a turn holding him. Asterix is quite reserved, a little bit shy usually. He did really well when he came in as everyone wanted to touch him and he was like 'okay I quite like the attention.' Astrix has got a lovely big set-up at home. He's quite a big boy, weighing in at nearly 10 kilos, so the vivarium is more than seven foot long. We have a reptile room and he has the run of it. He has a large bucket of water too if he ever wants to submerge himself."

02/01/2024

This brave girl is collie-cross Sherpa, who the team at Vets for Pets Livingston say was "impeccably calm" when she was rushed in for emergency injury after hurting her eye in a freak accident.

Sherpa's owner Caroline was taking Sherpa for a walk when Sherpa caught her eye on a stick as she went exploring a bush. She was quickly admitted into surgery where she received X-rays and, after a two-hour procedure by practice owner Dr Adam, aided by nurse Erin, the stick was removed. Adam said: "Sherpa was amazingly tolerant following an extremely random occurrence. It was astonishing." Sherpa didn't lose her sight and is now making a great recovery.

Caroline said: “We were suddenly thrown into the worst living nightmare, it was absolutely horrifying. It’s truly a miracle what Adam and the team achieved from the moment they answered our call for help. They gave us hope."

24/12/2023

This little Christmas cracker is Molly, who survived against the odds and gave birth to three premature puppies after being brought in to Vets for Pets Cirencester as a pregnant stray with severe injuries from a fight with other dogs.

Martina, who owns the practice, said: ”It was really touch and go and we thought Molly might not make it. The team treated mum first, got her on a drip and stabilised her before successfully managing to deliver the puppies – two boys and a girl – by caesarean section."

Molly, who's a Cairn Terrier, and her three pups are recovering well at home with Martina. “As they needed 24/7 care I took them home and emptied the whole spare bedroom so there was a nice, warm and comfortable quiet place for Molly and her puppies. I was attached to her for the first five days – my husband Matt even brought food up to the bedroom for me as I stayed there all the time. It was really hard work but it was all worth it. They’re absolute darlings and doing really well now – mum is already brave enough to go on dog walks.”

Martina says Molly will continue living with her in the future, and the puppies will be adopted when they are stronger.

19/12/2023

This beautiful buzzard is on the mend after undergoing surgery on a broken wing at Vets4Pets Newmarket after he was hit by a car.

A member of the public rescued the buzzard and brought him in to see if the team could help. After a successful operation and five days of recuperation he's ben taken to The Raptor Foundation rehabilitation centre to continue his recovery.

Practice manager Natalie said: "We put him under general anaesthetic and performed orthopaedic surgery. We'll see him again next month to see how he's progressing and then hopefully he'll be released back into the wild. We wish him a speedy recovery as he's such a handsome chap.”

17/12/2023

Here's a salutary tale in the run-up to Christmas Day ... the story of poor little Tego, who had to be rushed to Vets for Pets Morpeth for emergency treatment after snaffling 48 Quality Street chocolates, their wrappers and part of the box.

Owner Sarah realised chocolate was toxic for dogs so phoned the vets who told her to get the five-year Tibetan Terrier there immediately. Sarah said: "They were brilliant with him. The chocolates were a birthday present for my daughter Olivia, and they were all wrapped up and put in the lounge with the door shut. I went to work and when I came back Tego had somehow managed to get in the room and rip into them."

Vet Eleni and the team helped Tego cough everything up and took blood tests and put him on medication before he was allowed home. Eleni said it's a useful reminder to keep chocolates well hidden – and to act fast if your dog eats any and induce vomiting within one to two hours to prevent the body from absorbing the toxins.