The Grove Veterinary Hospital & Clinics

23/01/2025

We are often asked if patients can have their own belongings, such as toys and bedding when they visit the Swaffham and Dereham branches, or have a longer stay at the Fakenham hospital.

Whilst we would like for our patients to have something that smells of home, unfortunately we can't allow any home belongings to be admitted.
Items can become lost, or in the event of items needing to be washed, they can get mixed up. We also do not have the room to store everything.

We do however have blankets and comfy hideaway beds, we have a large box of toys that our patients can play with or cuddle up to where possible. Our longer stay patients even get to visit our toy stand in reception.

Please do not be offended if we refuse to take bedding or toys, but be rest assured we have plenty of toys to keep your pets entertained should they stay with us.

22/01/2025

Animal safety and restraint

Our first priority when your pets visit us is their safety at all times.

Please ensure that cats are restrained in a suitably sized and secure carrier, and that dogs are kept on a lead and under control at all times in the car park and waiting room.

If you need any assistance to meet these requirements please let us know so that we may help

21/01/2025

OWNER FOUND

Fakenham have had the following cat taken in this evening.

Found in Dodma Road, Weasenham this afternoon.
No collar, is microchipped but unfortunately not registered.

Currently receiving treatment at the fakenham hospital.

If you think they may be yours please contact the fakenham team on 01328 862137 and as always proof of ownership will be required.

21/01/2025

Meet Percy

Percy is just one of the many stray and feral kittens that were admitted last year.

All stray kittens that are admitted are given a health check and given parasite treatment before being found a place at a rescue centre or with an approved foster.

With Percy however, things were a little different. He was incredibly frightened and showing several very feral traits. He was unable to be handled without protective gloves, due to his biting and scratching. We were unsure if he would be able to be socialized or whether he would live his life as a feral cat.

Due to his behavior he stayed at the hospital a little longer than usual whilst the teams working on the wards worked with him, gaining his trust all in order to be able to handle him and give him a health check, so that he could move onto a new home.
Percy finally realized that people mean no harm, and that the hands that provide food and fusses shouldn't be bitten, and he found a loving home where he loves nothing more than to cuddle up with his new family.

20/01/2025

Blue Monday typically falls on the third Monday of January and is often considered the saddest day of the year.

Fortunately, we all know that our pets are great at cheering us up, and here's how they can help raise your spirits this January.

•Studies show that interacting with pets, like stroking their fur or playing, releases oxytocin (the feel-good hormone) and lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone).

•walking a dog or playing with a cat keeps you active, which boosts endorphins and helps combat sadness or depression.

•Pets are very intuitive, meaning they can sense when you are feeling down. Their comforting presence alone can be enough to soothe any feelings of stress, anxiety or sadness.

How do your pets help you beat the January blues? Share your stories and photos in the comments.

17/01/2025

This is Fries who came in for a medicated bath and skin care, and as you can see he made the job for SVN Tash very easy, and treated the whole process as a spa day.

This weekend as always should you need our assistance, we have a team ready to help.
You can reach our Out Of Hours Team on 01328 851144

Happy Weekend

16/01/2025

During procedures that require a patient to have an anaesthetic or a sedation, we use different methods to keep them warm. From jumpers and cosy blankets to warm air systems and heat mats., we even use socks to help keep our patients warm.

As is often the case with socks a pair will go into the washing machine and only one will come back out, nobody knows where these socks go, but it means that we eventually run out of socks to keep our patients warm.

If you are having a clear out of baby or small children's socks we will gladly give them a new home, and the best bit is, our patients aren't too fussed if they are wearing a matching pair or an odd pair.

Any sock donations can be dropped in at any of the surgeries, and we will pass them around.

Thank you

15/01/2025

Why are rechecks so important?

Many conditions we see that present as an acute problem are actually a sign of something underlying.
The most common example is an ear infection due to underlying allergic skin disease. Although we can treat the ear infection, if we don't address the skin disease the ear will continue developing infections and eventually, develop chronic problems. The active infection is the priority and diagnosing and managing this should be the focus of the initial consultation. At follow-up appointments the vet will have more time to discuss other signs of skin disease and suggest further investigations or long-term management options to help control this and reduce the likelihood of recurrent infections.
This is the case for many other problems that are likely to recur or persist, such as urinary tract disease (particularly in cats), lameness, diarrhoea or pancreatitis to make a few.
For more information on why rechecks are important visit. www.vetcollection.co.uk/health/why-rechecks-are-so-important

14/01/2025

Unexpected findings.

Meet Olive, an 18 month old Labrador X Vizsla.

Olives owners noted that she was lame on her hind legs and occasionally stiff. As she was booked into be neutered it was decided that she would have her hips x-rayed at the same time, to see if she had hip dysplasia. However something unexpected was seen in her abdomen, which needed to be removed before it caused any issues.

Olive is recovering well, and is back to her naughty self already.

Can you see what the foreign object was?

14/01/2025

Fakenham branch have had a tabby male cat, approx 2 years old brought in this morning. Unfortunately deceased, no microchip or collar found in Fakenham. If you think this may be your cat please contact us on 01328 862137

13/01/2025

The pet insurance market can be very overwhelming, but it can be made easier by deciding the type of policy that would suit you best to narrow your search.

Depending on the age of your pet and the level of cover you would like to protect them with, you can start considering the different policies for that type of insurance.

Remember not all pet insurance is the same so it is a good idea to check the cover provided and ask if you will be paying more for claiming.

10/01/2025

Something to make you smile.

Bert had a short stay at the Fakenham Hospital last week, and he made sure that everyone knew exactly what he wanted.

This weekend, as always, we have a team waiting to help should you need it.

You can reach our Out Of Hours Team on 01328 851144.

Happy Weekend

09/01/2025

At the Grove, we are proud of the sustainable practices we have implemented, and we continue to strive for improvement.

Here are just some of the things we have implemented across all three sites.

♻️ Our uniforms are made from recycled plastics.
♻️Our lighting in non-clinical areas is on motion/light sensors, and staff are encouraged to turn lights off in unused areas at the end of a working day.
♻️All laundry is now being done in-house, reducing the carbon footprint of the laundry couriers.
♻️Reusable sharps and medical waste bins reduce the plastic waste and production of single use bins.
♻️Prescribing anti-parasitics responsibly to help prevent and reduce the amount of chemical leaching into the UKs waterways.
♻️The reduction of the use incontinence sheets within practice.
♻️Repurposing/reusing items around the practice before sending for recycling.
♻️We have switched to paper cups rather than plastic in our client waiting areas.
♻️Where possible, staff car share, have switched to electric and hybrid cars, or walk and cycle to work.
♻️Toilet Hippos have been installed, and sinks have been adjusted, so water pressures are decreased to reduce water consumption.
♻️We offer for sale eco-friendly pet care products; biodegradable pet waste bags, and dog toys made from recycled materials.
♻️The switch over to reusable rather than single use items, such as rechargeable batteries and metal sterilisation tins.
♻️Comprehensive sorting of waste for recycling.

Our recycling processes alone mean that in the last year over 100 kilos of soft plastics, used PPE and medication blister packs have been processed into, many different items from bin liners, to construction materials to garden furniture .

We are proud of what we have achieved so far and remain committed to finding new ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote sustainability without compromising our patient care.

08/01/2025

Today is National Labrador Day

Help us to celebrate this popular breed by sharing your labradors below.

07/01/2025

Simon Gilbert, one of our Orthopaedic Referral Vets, is also a lifeboat volunteer with the Wells Inshore Lifeboat Crew.
Over the Christmas period during Simon was involved in the rescue of an Airedale Terrier who got into difficulties in the water and required rescuing.

Well done, Simon and, of course, the rest of the Wells Inshore Lifeboat Crew.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DsZhUooaH/

Vet steps in after lifeboat dog rescue

A Norfolk-based vet and lifeboat volunteer has been called in to treat a dog that had to be revived after being cut off by the tide. Members of the Wells Inshore Lifeboat crew found the Airedale terrier, named Olive, unresponsive in the water following an alert in the town during

https://www.vettimes.co.uk/?post_type=news&p=296199

07/01/2025

We have several ways for you as clients to contact us

☎️By telephoning any of the three surgeries
📧By emailing our enquiry address
✉️By sending a letter through the post
💻You can even send a message through Facebook messenger
📱We may also give a mobile number for you to send us any photos and videos we request from you.

However, in the case of an emergency, to book an appointment or to order medications, we ask that you call us only.

Whilst we check any messages sent on a regular basis, we may not see these quickly enough in the case of any emergencies, or even see them at a reasonable time that we can respond to you.

If we do ask you to send any photos or videos to the mobile number, we ask that you add your name and your pets name to the message so that we are able to add them to your pets record.

You can contact the surgeries on the following numbers

☎️Fakenham Hospital 01328 862137
☎️Swaffham Clinic 01760 723739
☎️Dereham Clinic 01362 696772
☎️Out of Hours service 01328 851144 (based at Fakenham)

Or you can email [email protected] (non-emergency advice only)

06/01/2025

Bird Flu

The current status of bird flu putting Norfolk in an Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

With birds that are usually free-range/have access to outside, they can quickly become bored. Therefore, it is important that while the birds are under the enforced housing measures that they are given enrichment to prevent pecking induced trauma.

Enrichment can be in the form of toys or even hanging vegetables for them to peck at. Indoor sand baths, and deep litter for them to scratch around in. Whatever you decide to do to keep your birds happy, make sure that wild birds can not access the areas and that you keep the areas clean.

Photo credits: The Same Star Sheep Sanctuary

03/01/2025

Let's end the week with a patient update.

A few months ago we introduced you to one of our more unusual patients, a ferret named Beans, who was brought in due to weight loss and hair loss.
After testing Beans was diagnosed with cushings and began his treatment shortly after diagnosis.
Well look at him now!
The first picture shows Beans on his first visit when undergoing tests. The second picture shows Beans now, he has put weight on and his coat has grown back with improved condition.

It's always nice to see how patients are doing once they've recovered and back to their normal selves.

This weekend as always we have a team on hand ready to help. You can reach our Out Of Hours Team on 01328 851144

Happy Weekend