Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service

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Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service is part of Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd (A Mars Company).

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service is a state-of-the-art veterinary practice located in Solihull, West Midlands. We provide top-quality care both for pets in the surrounding area and also for those referred to us by their own veterinary surgeons for specialist investigation and treatment. We have a team of highly trained and skilled veterinary specialists working in the fields of:
• O

rthopaedics (bone and joint problems)
• Ophthalmology (eye disorders)
• Neurology (spinal, brain and nerve disorders)
• Spinal surgery (for patients with severe neck or back pain/paralysis)
• Soft tissue surgery (surgery for cancers, airway disorders, hernias, ruptures, blood vessel shunts etc)
• Internal medicine (problems such as vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, diabetes, cancer etc)
• Oncology (cancer diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy)
• Diagnostic imaging (X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI scanning)
• Anaesthesia, analgesia, critical care (general anaesthetics and pain management)

For more information about the services we offer and to access a wealth of information about pet care and health issues, see our fantastic website - www.willows.uk.net

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service is part of the Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd (A Mars Company). You can find our terms of use and privacy policy by visiting:

Privacy statement - https://www.mars.com/privacy
Legal notice - https://willows.uk.net/legal/
Contact Information - https://willows.uk.net/contact/

17/09/2025

🌟 Meet Harry! 🌟

This adorable crossbreed first came to see our Neurology team, where resident Alba Manzanedo-Delgado investigated his chronic back leg weakness (ambulatory paraparesis).
Scans revealed severe spinal changes, including chronic end-stage disc degeneration, a herniated disc, spinal column subluxation and significant spinal cord compression.

To give Harry the best chance of recovery, our team performed a vertebral stabilisation along with a left-sided mini hemilaminectomy to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord. 🧠🩺

After surgery, Harry’s dedicated owner committed countless hours to his rehabilitation, and what a difference it has made! 💚 Just a few months on, Harry now has a new spring in his step, enjoying his walks and the sunshine once again. 🌞🐾

These photos show Harry during his recovery, and the video captures him today, happy, mobile, and loving life!

15/09/2025

Meet Bessie 🐾💚

Lovely Bessie was referred to Will Robinson, our Head of Soft Tissue Surgery, for removal of her gallbladder after being diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele.

This condition causes the bile inside the gallbladder to become thick and gelatinous over time, which can lead to dangerous complications such as bile duct obstruction or even gallbladder rupture, both of which can be life-threatening. ⚠️

To prevent this, Bessie underwent a complex and technical surgery to remove her gallbladder. The procedure involved carefully dissecting the gallbladder from surrounding liver tissue and removing it at the connection point with the bile duct. As the gallbladder sits tucked beneath the ribs, the surgery required great precision to avoid bleeding. 🩺✨

To support her recovery, a feeding tube was placed in Bessie’s oesophagus, ensuring she could receive the nutrition she needed straight away. She was monitored closely in our Intensive Care Unit, where our dedicated team provided round-the-clock care. 💚

We’re delighted to share that Bessie made an excellent recovery! She was discharged just 48 hours after surgery, and her feeding tube was successfully removed after four days. Today, she’s back home with her family, feeling so much better. 🐶🌟

Well done Bessie, a true star patient! 🌸

12/09/2025

🎉 Celebrating Our New Student Nurses! 🎉

From left to right: Emily, Lauren, Chris, Natalia and Charlie 💚
All five have worked incredibly hard during their time at Willows as Patient Care Assistants, and this week they begin the next exciting chapter of their journey, starting their Student Nursing rota! 🩺✨

Student nurses are such an important part of our team, and over the coming months they’ll receive lots of support and guidance from the wider Willows family as they grow into their new roles.

We are all so proud of their dedication and determination to reach this milestone, the future of veterinary nursing is bright with stars like these! 🌟🐾

📹 Find out more about nursing at Willows by watching our video:
👉 https://bit.ly/426MQEW

05/09/2025

🐾 Meet Zipu 🐾
Zipu is a very cute and lovable 5-year-old cat who recently came to see our first-opinion vet, Noella, after her owners noticed she was urinating more frequently and passing blood.

Cystitis is a common issue in cats, so Zipu was given pain relief and extra support with her water intake. She responded well at first, but when her symptoms returned, further investigations were needed.

An ultrasound performed by our veterinarian, Giovanna, revealed the true cause: bladder stones. These were successfully removed with surgery and confirmed as struvite stones, one of the most common types in cats.

Struvite stones form when certain minerals crystallize in the urine, especially if it’s too concentrated or not at the right pH. Left untreated, they can cause pain, infection, or even a urinary blockage.

Happily, Zipu is now back home and doing really well 💚 She’s also on a special diet to help prevent new stones from forming.

This case is an important reminder: any change in your cat’s toileting habits should be checked promptly. Even subtle changes can be a sign of something more, and early investigation is key to keeping our feline friends happy and healthy. 🐱✨

01/09/2025

🚑 Meet Emily Phillips! 🐾💚
We’re so excited to introduce Emily Phillips as the newest member of our primary out of hours emergency team here at Willows! 👏

Emily graduated in 2019 from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, before spending a year in rural mixed practice. In 2021, she made the move to the UK, where she gained a wealth of experience working in first opinion practice and then as an out-of-hours vet in a busy veterinary hospital. 🌍✨

In 2024, Emily joined Willows as a Rotating Intern, and clearly she couldn’t get enough of us, because she’s chosen to stay on, joining our Emergency team to continue her passion for providing life-saving, out-of-hours care to patients when they need it most. 🩺💪

We’re thrilled to have Emily on board and know she’ll be an incredible addition to the team. Welcome, Emily! 💚

27/08/2025

🌟 Meet Maris 🌟

At 18½ years old, beautiful Maris was referred to our Dentistry team for investigation and treatment of oral pain. Under anaesthesia, we found and removed 13 retained tooth roots and 4 remaining teeth due to advanced tooth resorption.

Thanks to this treatment, Maris is now back to her old self — pain-free and able to enjoy her golden years to the fullest! 🐾💚

Her loving owner told us:
✨ “She has recovered quickly after an initial reluctance to eat and is back to sunbathing in the garden and playing with her favourite toys.”
✨ “The post-operative support was also outstanding. I really felt like Maris was treated as an individual, not just another patient.”

We’re so happy to see Maris thriving again! 🐱☀️

22/08/2025

🌟 Meet Rachel Godson! 🐾💚
We’re delighted to welcome Rachel Godson to our Primary Care team here at Willows! 👏

Rachel graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2022 and began her career working in a first opinion practice in Coventry. In 2024, she joined our Rotating Internship programme, and after completing her internship earlier this year, we’re thrilled she has chosen to stay on with us. 🩺✨

During her time in practice, Rachel developed a keen interest in surgery, and she’s looking forward to continuing to grow and develop her skills in this area as part of our team. 💪

We’re so excited to have Rachel on board and can’t wait for you and your pets to meet her! 🐶🐱

20/08/2025

Meet Percy 🐾💚

This brave little pup came to our Internal Medicine Service because his tummy looked unusually large. An ultrasound revealed the cause — hydronephrosis, a condition where one kidney becomes abnormally large and filled with fluid due to a blockage. In Percy’s case, this was likely caused by a congenital malformation of the ureter.

To help him feel better, Percy was referred to Soft Tissue Specialist Erika Villedieu, who performed surgery to remove the enlarged kidney, which was holding a whole litre of fluid (10% of Percy’s body weight!) 😮 At the same time, a retained testicle on that side was also removed.

We’re delighted to say Percy bounced back brilliantly, was discharged the very next day, and after two weeks of rest at home, he was back to his usual puppy routine. 🐶✨

Most dogs go on to live perfectly normal lives with just one kidney and we wish Percy the happiest, healthiest future ahead! 💚

16/08/2025

🌼🐝 Happy National Bee Day! 🐝🌼

Did you know that the 16th of August is national bee day? Here's one of our fantastic nurses, Katie Phayer, who is also a brilliant beekeeper! 💚🐾

Beekeeping is not only a rewarding hobby, but it also plays a vital role in supporting the environment. Bees are essential pollinators, helping plants, crops, and wildflowers thrive — which in turn supports entire ecosystems. 🌍🌸

Katie’s passion for beekeeping is a wonderful reminder of how small actions can make a big difference. By looking after her hives, she’s helping protect these incredible creatures and raise awareness of the importance of pollinators in our everyday lives.

So today, let’s take a moment to appreciate bees — and the people like Katie who care for them. 🐝💛

13/08/2025

Learning all about pet care at nursery!

One of our fantastic Surgical Nurses, Lisa Gimson, recently paid a special visit to Little Miss Muffet Day Nursery to teach the children all about caring for our pets. 🐶🐱

During her visit, Lisa covered lots of important topics, from bandaging and cleaning wounds to why it’s so important to tidy toys away so pets don’t accidentally eat them. 🧸🚫

The children even got hands-on experience using a special teddy with a zip-up tummy to perform a pretend surgery and remove “foreign objects” just like in real veterinary theatre! 🩺✨ They also practised giving pretend injections and learned how we help animals feel better when they’re poorly.

A huge thank you to Little Miss Muffets for welcoming Lisa, and well done to all the future vets and veterinary nurses in the making! 🌟🐾

08/08/2025

🐾 Happy Cat Appreciation Day! 🐱💛

Today we’re celebrating our fabulous feline friends, from the gentle purrs to the playful zoomies, and every head bump, slow blink, and cosy cuddle in between.

To all the cats who make our days brighter and our hearts fuller… thank you for choosing us. 🐾💚

06/08/2025

🐾💚 H***h’s Story: A Tri-Pawed Triumph 💚🐾

While enjoying a trip to Cornwall, H***h, a beloved Cocker Spaniel belonging to one of our fantastic nurses, sadly fractured his elbow. Despite every effort to save the limb, H***h ultimately needed an amputation.

But H***h wasn’t about to let that define him. 💪 Within weeks, he had fully adapted to life on three legs, bouncing back with his usual spark. Now, he’s not only thriving — he’s smashing it in agility, hoopers, and scent work like the absolute hero he is.

While the thought of amputation can feel daunting and life-changing, H***h is living proof that pets can still lead full, happy, and active lives. Within just weeks, he had adapted beautifully to his new normal, and his zest for life never wavered.

His story is a true reminder that with the right support, pets can continue to thrive. 🐶✨

***hTheHero

Address

Willows Veterinary Centre, Highlands Road, Shirley
Solihull
B904NH

Telephone

+441217127070

Website

https://www.willows.uk.net/

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Our Story

Extraordinary Vets for Extraordinary Pets

Willows is one of Europe’s leading Specialist small animal referral centres, delivering Specialist pet healthcare for over 30 years. Our state-of-the-art hospital located in Shirley, Solihull is led by internationally renowned Specialists committed to providing the very highest standards of veterinary care.

To find out more about Willows, the services offered and our team visit willows.uk.net