Blackwater Vets Mersea Island

06/01/2024

Dog training and behaviour is currently an unregulated industry. Sadly this means it is easy to find unqualified and unkind advice that damages your dog emotionally and sometimes physically.
A good starting point for training and behaviour advice is the national animal charities websites:
www.dogstrust.org.uk have lots of information and offer dog training at their centres.
www.woodgreeen.org.uk have free educational webinars.
More information and guidance on finding qualified, positive reward trainers who use kind and proven to work techniques is available on our website; https://blackwatervets.co.uk/pet-advice/dogs/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/

Dogs Trust is the UK's largest Dog Welfare Charity. Looking to rehome a rescue dog or to donate to an animal charity? Visit us today to find out more!

04/01/2024

Five year old Winston came into the practice suffering with an intermittent cough. As this had been ongoing, he was admitted for further investigations. The plan was to perform x- rays and an ultrasound whilst under general anaesthetic. Diagnostics such as x-rays and ultrasound scans allow us to view internal organs, soft tissues and the musculoskeletal system.
Following all the tests, Winston was diagnosed with early mitral valve disease (heart disease) and bronchitis. He was sent home with medication, strict rest was recommended and we are pleased to say he is back to his normal cheeky self!

01/01/2024

Wishing a very happy, healthy new year to all our clients and pets! 🥳

29/12/2023

Have you made your New Year's resolution yet? Many of us will be planning to get healthy and this is something our canine friends would like to help us with 🥰
We would love to see your pictures of your pets enjoying their walks with you over the festive period in the comments below 😀

25/12/2023

We would like to wish all our furry friends and their owners a very Merry Christmas from Ola, Wendy, Rachael, Ashleigh, Mandy and Holly at Blackwater Vets! 🎄🎄🎄

22/12/2023

Happy birthday to the queen of Blackwater Vets - Wendy! 🥳 May your day be filled with laughter and joy, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you for all your wisdom, teamwork and for being a fantastic colleague and friend to us all 🥰

21/12/2023

Opening hours over the festive period for 2023... ☃️

18/12/2023

Who can relate at Christmas!!?? 😹🎄🚫

17/12/2023

Dog safety over the festive period! 🎄

15/12/2023

Our Nose to Tail Healthcare Plan is designed to keep your pets happier and healthier whilst allowing you to budget monthly. The plan includes annual vaccinations and parasite control and we will even send you a text to remind you when to collect your pet's treatment. Joining the scheme also allows you to benefit from discounts on other healthcare services including medications and surgery.
For more details on our Nose to Tail Healthcare Plan contact us or see our website; https://blackwatervets.co.uk/health-care-plan/

12/12/2023

🎄As the season of good cheer is upon us and we start to decorate our homes, please take into account poisonous plants that can harm cats 🚫🚫🚫

10/12/2023

😼 Feisty Fingal attended our practice with his owner complaining he was licking his behind and making it sore. Due to the pain he was in (and his lively nature) he was admitted for further examination. Whilst with us he had blood tests, intravenous fluids and was sedated for further investigation. Upon examination a nasty a**l gland abscess and a bacterial skin infection was diagnosed. Swabs were taken to send to the lab, then the area was clipped, cleaned and flushed through. Fingal went home with his buster collar, along with some medication. We can gladly report he is on the mend and as sassy as ever!

03/12/2023

Christmas came early for our Blackwater Vets team! We had a wonderful evening at Marks Tey hotel for our Christmas party; good food, good company, good times! 🎄

01/12/2023

A recent article in the Veterinary Times highlighted that it is estimated that three million cats are not microchipped, and 600,000 more do not have up to date details on their file. Losing a much loved pet is such a distressing experience and a microchip will give your pet the best chance of being traced back to you. It also becomes a legal requirement for cats to be chipped from June 2024.
If your pet isn't yet chipped, talk to us 😃

Should I microchip my cat? If you’re wondering whether to book in to get your cat microchipped, take a look at our guide.

27/11/2023

Could you nominate a member of our team for a Petplan UK Veteriniary Award? 🏆 Whether it's an individual or our entire team, if someone has gone above and beyond for you and your pet, we want to give them the recognition they deserve. Every nominee will receive a certificate which means a lot to the entire team.
If you'd like to nominate our practice or one of our team, please click here; https://www.petplan.co.uk/about-petplan/vets/awards/

24/11/2023

Does your cat show unwillingness or hesitation when jumping up or down?
Does your cat show unwillingness or hesitation when going upstairs/downstairs?
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then your cat may be in pain and this obviously compromises their quality of life.
Pain management is something we are really passionate about and even getting advice on small environmental changes can make a huge difference to your pet.
If you see any changes in your pet's behaviour, talk to us as we can offer lots of advice to help keep your pet mobile, happy and healthy 😃
https://blackwatervets.co.uk/physiotherapy/recognising-pain-in-your-animal/

21/11/2023

🐾 Meet three year old Jet who recently visited us for his castration. We were all on hand to give him lots of love and cuddles after his op which it certainly looked like he was enjoying! 🥰

17/11/2023

Each of us came into the animal welfare profession because of our desire to learn and share our knowledge to love and care for pets in the best way. We chose this vocation driven by our desire to be kind. Sometimes we have to deal with sad situations and break sad news or discuss difficult subjects like the costs of veterinary medicine but everything we do is because we CARE and because we are KIND.
Thank you to everyone who embraces our desire for a culture based on a desire to be kind 🥰

15/11/2023

We 💙 our clients! We were delighted to receive a very generous voucher for White Hart Inn Mersea from one of our clients to say thank you for the love and care we recently gave their pet. We are so grateful 😊🥂🦪

11/11/2023

Remembering all those who have given their lives in conflict, including the many working animals 🐾 Join us in observing the two-minute silence at 11am today as we pay our respects ❤️ 🕊️

10/11/2023

We understand that recognizing pain in pets can be really difficult to do but our knowledge and experience enables us to recognize the signs, and once we do, alleviating that pain becomes an urgent priority.
Dental pain in particular is something that we often pick up on and a common misconception is that pets stop eating when they are in pain. They don't!
This is a great article and highlights just how many pets are suffering in silence.
We are here to help and keeping your pets happy, healthy and pain free will always be our priority 💕

New RVC research gets to the root of dental disease in dogs  Published: 10 Aug 2021 | Last Updated: 10 Aug 2021 00:01:38 Dental disease is one of the most common health problems experienced by dogs but often remains unrecognised by owners as a major welfare issue. The latest research from the Royal...

08/11/2023

We understand that a pet is part of the family, and we never want any of our clients to experience the discomfort of an unexpected financial burden. For this reason, we always provide a maximum when we estimate for veterinary treatment. This fits with our ethos of clarity and honesty and is very much about being respectful to our clients, in order that they can plan for the financial side of caring for their pets 😊

05/11/2023

Beautiful Bella had a long history of urinary tract infections which we were determined to get to the bottom of. Bella’s owner was determined to do whatever she could to help her and booked Bella in for some x-rays to begin the process of diagnosis.
We then referred her to the experts for more indepth diagnostics and treatment. It was established that Bella had bladder & Kidney stones and required specialist surgery.
Bella now has a prescription diet and medications. With regular check ups she is living a happy, full and pain free life 😊

02/11/2023

As we prepare for firework parties in the coming days, and throughout the festive season we wanted to share information on how to support rabbits and smaller pets during this time. Our focus is always on both postive physical health as well as emotional health for all our pets 💕

Rabbits are easily stressed by bangs, whizzes and other loud noises. Keep your bunny happy on Bonfire Night and beyond with our top tips.

30/10/2023

Did you know about our one vet policy? 🤔 Why would you visit several doctors? Surely you would prefer to keep all of your clinical notes under one roof for cross referencing purposes. Our expectation is that if you choose us as your primary veterinary service, we remain your sole veterinary provider. This helps us ensure consistency to provide your pet with the best care and advice possible 😊

30/10/2023

Although ghosts and ghouls might give us a scare, nothing frightens us more than our pets being in danger 👻🎃

With the most spooktacular time of the year upon us, our Vets have pulled together the ultimate Pet’s Halloween survival guide: 👉 http://pdsa.me/jeh5

27/10/2023

Happy National Black Cat Day!
Today is an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful black cats in our lives. We would love to see your pictures in the comments 💕
The day is also about creating awareness around the number of black cats that get overlooked in rescue. If you are considering welcoming a cat into your home, please do consider a rescue but don't forget that cats prefer to live as an only cat 🥰

National Black Cat Day is held each year on 27 October, recognising the black cats in our lives. Get involved with our latest campaign.

23/10/2023

Here at Blackwater Vets we are proud members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Practice Standards Scheme. The accreditation is only given to practices that meet the high standards set by RCVS and appropriate accreditation is the primary indicator of clinical excellence in the field of veterinary medicine.
Maintaining accreditation to this voluntary scheme requires continual investment and dedication as detailed inspections are carried out every four years, with spot checks in between. Find out more here; https://animalowners.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/about-the-rcvs/

21/10/2023

New addition to our practice; we have created a collage of our own pets to share with everyone who comes in. Featuring F***g, Sif, Nyx and Juno, Huey and Blanche, Molly, Peanut, Lady, Crumpet, Kyra, Major, Donkey, Millie and Phoebe and Bertie. Your task is to guess who is who! 😄

20/10/2023

A purring cat is a happy cat, right?
This is such a common misconception as whilst purring can be a sign of contentment, cats will also purr to self soothe when stressed, in pain or scared.
As veterinary professionals we have the knowledge, skills and experience to enable us to recognise signs of pain in pets and this is a welfare concern we will never compromise on.
Always contact us if you have notice any subtle behaviour changes in your pets, as it may be a sign of pain;

Worried about your cat's health? Take a look at our advice on spotting signs of pain in your cat. We offer advice on how to care for your cat.

17/10/2023

🏎 At the weekend we celebrated Wendy "the boss" 10 year anniversary working at Blackwater Vets! Always up for a challenge, we decided to surprise her with a trip to Anglia Indoor Karting Ltd for 36 laps of competitive racing! Congratulations Wendy we love working with you - our Mum who keeps us all in check and on our toes. Thank you for always looking after us 🥰

15/10/2023

Our team recently had a delicious meal at Seafood At Dawn in East Mersea - check out the incredible meals in the photos 🥰 We love supporting our local businesses in the community of Mersea Island.

13/10/2023

Happy Veterinary Nurse Day to both of our amazing nurses Rachael and Ashleigh! 🥰
Behind every healthy pet and every successful surgery, there's a super hero in scrubs - our incredible vet nurses. They are the backbone of the veterinary profession, and their dedication and hard work are essential to the health and well-being of our pets.

13/10/2023

Pain is a welfare concern and we will never compromise on pain management but we also understand that recognising signs of pain in a pet can be really difficult to do.
We have some excellent support tools on our website including mobility questionnaires to help you recognise signs of pain in your pets which are on the link below.
If you notice any behavioural changes in your pet it is always worth discussing these with us 😊

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