Vets4Pets Sidcup

17/06/2024

Back to work at the biscuit factory straight after surgery 😂

14/06/2024

An amazing age!! Have any of your cats come close to this World Record?

13/06/2024

Just over 2 weeks to go for XLs that were over 1 year on the 31st January 2024 - Very limited surgery spaces available if you still need to book

01/06/2024

Please read 😢. This week a patient passed due to Flea Anaemia - a condition that can occur when the quantity of fleas living on an animal becomes so prolific that the pet is not left with enough blood to remain healthy.
The normal PCV (a measure of red blood cell concentration) for a cat is around 45%, with a blood transfusion being recommended if PCV is

28/05/2024

Vets4Pets Sidcup is accepting new clients! 🥳
Whether you have a new pet, or are looking to change to a different practice, we are always happy to register you with us.🐾
We have a range of care plans available in practice which can help with your pets preventative and routine treatments.
Give us a call and one of our lovely reception team will be happy to discuss the plans on the phone!📞🩺

24/05/2024

£10 OFF CAT MICROCHIPPING
till 20th June - Appointments available

15/05/2024

After a stray cat had to have his leg amputated having been hit by a car, one of our vets fell in love with him during his stay and decided to adopt him! Thank you to Animal Samaritans for their work supporting his recovery

10/05/2024

We have had to treat 2 dogs for heat stroke over the last three days now the weather is warming up! Please be careful when exercising your dogs in the heat, particularly bulldog breeds

30/04/2024

We have had an entire male tabby-and-white domestic longhair cat (not chipped) brought into us requiring urgent medical attention. If you think he may be yours please get in contact with proof of ownership.

27/04/2024

We would like to share a massive thank you to our three vets this World Vet Day for all the amazing things they do ❤️

25/04/2024

It’s always lovely when we receive appreciation for our work, and Pax’s Mum made an extra effort with these beautiful handmade and decorated biscuits! 🌸

22/04/2024

In honour of Vet Receptionist Week, thank you to all our Client Care Advisers for all their hard work 🤩

16/04/2024

🤯April is National Stress Awareness Month, and travelling to the Vets can be very stressful for cats. Check out these tips to help your cat feel safer coming to us

12/04/2024

Happy World Hamster Day! Here is Toast, who was rescued by one of our Receptionists when someone came in threatening to release him in Danson Park 😢

11/04/2024

The gorgeous Tiger is a rescue cat who came in for a lion-cut under sedation as his coat was neglected by his previous owners and he became extremely matted. Although he doesn’t look impressed with his new short hair-do, he will be feeling a lot more comfortable 😸

10/04/2024

Disappointing to see. After nicely asking some young teens if they could put their chicken bones in the bin because of the risk to our patients of intestinal obstruction, they then proceeded to throw the bones at our windows and leave them right outside out door. Please be careful when walking your dogs

04/04/2024

In Celebration of World Stray Day today, meet Bruno, one of our rescues that was found locally. He’s a cheeky little boy who love to play with his toys and has a big brother called Charlie who he loves to play with.

He has found his forever home with our senior receptionist Rosie

03/04/2024

Boa Boa tried his best to camouflage himself in our sink before his castration 😂

02/04/2024

We hope everyone had a great Easter Weekend! Did you know that the Easter Bunny needs his yearly vaccinations too! Have you checked that your bunny's vaccinations are up to date?🐰

29/03/2024

The best way to check if your dog has ticks is to give them a close examination, looking and feeling for any unusual lumps and bumps. Any lumps should be thoroughly inspected – ticks can be identified by the small legs at the level of the skin. If you aren’t sure, your vet can help you – any new lumps should always be checked by a vet anyway, so don’t be shy asking for advice if you need it.

27/03/2024

Do you know that one of the popular flea and worming treatments, "Advocate", does not protect your pet against ticks? If ticks are an issue for your pet, you may wish to discuss with us to find a suitable anti-parasitic product that contains tick protection

25/03/2024

has arrived!! Watch our video to learn how to safely remove ticks from your pets

20/03/2024

Today is ! Try out our guide below to check your pets teeth, as you may spot something like inflammed gums or a broken tooth that your pet needs our Vets to help with 🦷

15/03/2024

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝SPRING STINGS🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
From early spring to late autumn, your dog could be at risk of being stung. Often, stings occur on the paws, when a dog accidentally treads on an insect. Some dogs enjoy chasing flying insects and if they catch a bee or wasp, they can get stung on the face or in the mouth.

Single stings are usually painful but not life-threatening unless they cause swelling in the mouth or throat. However, there can be serious consequences if your dog or puppy is stung multiple times.

If a dog is having an allergic reaction to being stung, symptoms include: swelling around the mouth, drowsiness, disorientation or collapse, pale gums, vomiting, difficulty breathing and seizures. If you are concerned your dog may be reacting to a sting, contact your vet immediately, as this is an emergency.

14/03/2024

We have a new practice owner here at Vets4Pets Sidcup!!
Hayley has worked for Vets4Pets as a Registered Veterinary Nurse for almost 12yrs. She joined Sidcup as a Head Nurse in May 2022, and alongside a strong team, has made many improvements to the day to day running of the practice.
Hayley saw an opportunity and decided that the next stage of her career would be as a practice owner.
She has been qualified now for 18 years so has a huge amount of experience to add to a growing team of vets, nurses, care assistants and reception staff.
Away from work, Hayley has a husband and two teenage daughters, as well as 10 cats, a dog, 4 rats and a leopard gecko!!

“I couldn’t have done this without a strong team behind me, and I hope we can continue to provide the best care to our clients and their furry friends!”
Hayley

12/03/2024

We have had a stray adult male un-neutered cat with black and white fur, bought into us, it has sadly passed away. If you think this is yours please get in contact with the practice. Proof of ownership is required.

12/03/2024

04/03/2024

SPRING PLANTS THAT ARE POISONOUS TO PETS
Spring is a time for planting bulbs, but it’s important to remember that bulbs often have a higher concentration of nutrients than leaves or flowers, meaning they can be more dangerous for your pet. Lots of different species of bulbs can be poisonous, so keep them in areas your pet can’t access – or avoid them completely.

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!"