Wigan Vets for Pets

22/12/2024

🩵🥇PET OF THE MONTH🥇🩵

January... The longest month ever! ❄️

So let's try and have some fun! We have a fantastic model for this one, This is Brian who is Hayley's dog & We would like to know your pet's resolutions for the new year! ✨

As you can see, Brian is a little monkey when it comes to other dogs and doesn't like them very much! 😬🐒

Grab yourself a piece of paper, or card whilst you're gathering together this week and let us know your pet's new years resolution for 2025 🎉

We know everyone is super busy and having a well deserved rest but we would love it if you would still join us for Pet of the Month 💕

21/12/2024

This is Benji 🩵

Benji has been really very poorly recently and has needed emergency surgery, and there have been many times that we thought he might not pull through.

Benji is a real worrier and is easily stressed, so this has been a really difficult week for him all round.

However, we are absolutely ECSTATIC to tell you that our little star Benji is doing amazing 🌟

Benji’s family have been fantastic in caring for him and him getting better is partly down to them ❤️

The whole team have been thinking about you and asking about you every day Benji 🥰

We all love you Benji and you have absolutely made our week ❤️🩵💚

21/12/2024

And No, this does not mean a full plate of Christmas Dinner 🍽️😂

Please remember portion sizes and sensible snacks for pets during this festive week ahead! It's fine to treat your pets whilst celebrating, but be careful & more so, Enjoy! 🎄💚

20/12/2024

Stay safe this Christmas 🎁

Christmas dinner for dogs?

Christmas can be an exciting time for all the family, so it’s not surprising that people want to include their four-legged family members in the festivities. This may include feeding a few yuletide treats, but be warned, some of our favourite seasonal foods could spoil your dog’s day very quickly! Common Christmas foods can cause anything from digestive upset to serious, life-threatening toxicity.

Firstly, there’s absolutely no need to feed your dog anything in addition to their usual, complete food if it’s not right for them, or you’d prefer to play it safe. For example, those with sensitive stomachs, medical conditions such as pancreatitis, or requiring special food for nutritional support of a health problem should stick to their usual diet. If in doubt, don’t feel under pressure to feed anything different– your dog won’t know that they are missing out and you may help them avoid a poorly timed illness.— with Purina UK & Ireland.
If you do decide to feed treats, a small quantity should be given alongside your dog’s usual food. A completely different Christmas Day diet consisting mostly of human food is a bad idea.

Here are some common foods your dog might be sniffing out this Christmas:

✅Turkey: dogs can eat turkey meat, but it should be boneless and skinless. It’s best to avoid any meat that’s soaked in gravy, butter or seasonings and go for plain meat instead.
✅Other vegetables: small amounts of green beans, sprouts, parsnips, peas and
swede can all be given.
➡Potatoes: be careful. A small amount of cooked, peeled potato is fine, but the butter and cream added to mash or the fat that roast potatoes are cooked in could be a problem.
➡Cranberry sauce: be careful. Small amounts of cranberries are fine for dogs, but
other ingredients in the sauce could be toxic such as sweeteners (xylitol) and nuts. It
may also have a very high sugar content.
✅Dog treats: if you plan on giving treats other than your pet’s usual food, a safe option is to purchase some treats designed for dogs, produced by a reputable manufacturer.

❎Stuffing: avoid. Often contains onions, garlic and various spices. Plants in the allium family, such as onion and garlic can cause anaemia in dogs.
❎Gravy: best avoided. Gravy can be high in fat, sodium, and contain ingredients such as garlic
❎Bones: Avoid. Cooked bones from the turkey carcass, and other meats, can damage the gastrointestinal tract lining or get stuck.
❎Dairy products: best avoided. Often high in fat and containing lactose, these
products can be hard for dogs to digest and lead to stomach upsets and illness.
❎Macadamia nuts: avoid. Can cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, tremors, high
temperature and central nervous system problems.
❎Chocolate: avoid. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine that is highly
toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the higher the levels of theobromine.
Chocolate can cause a variety of problems including gastrointestinal upset, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures and heart problems. Even chocolate with minimal
theobromine e.g. white chocolate can cause gastrointestinal problems due to its high
fat content.
❎Christmas pudding and mince pies: avoid. They contain several hazardous
ingredients, the most worrying being dried grapes (raisins, sultanas, currants).
❎Grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs.
❎Pigs in blankets: best avoided. High in sodium and fat, it’s a good idea to substitute these for some lean meat instead.

If you are concerned about the health of your dog or worried that they may have eaten something toxic, you should contact your vets immediately as prompt treatment may be needed.

It pays to be prepared for stomach upsets over bank holidays. See our post on acute
diarrhoea for more information and consider stocking up on any essentials in advance: https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/.../help-my-pet-has-diarrhoea...

18/12/2024

😍 Look who came to pay us a little visit?! 😍

A few weeks ago, we took this little beauty in from someone who had found her outside and she needed some TLC as she was so tiny! 🥹 We couldn't let her go untill we knew she was healthy enough, she needed us! Our receptionist, Nicola offered to take her home to make sure she got the care she needed overnight to help 🏡

So, it definitely was a team effort from all 💚

She's doing so well with Fluff and Flock Rescue CIC and she's growing up strong and healthy so we can't wish for more! 🩷

17/12/2024

💚 POLITE REMINDER 💚

📢 MEDICATIONS & FLEA/WORM TREATMENT!

Please BE AWARE & Ideally the last day to order before Christmas is the 18TH DECEMBER to ensure a delivery of your medications before Christmas and New year, as we need at least 48 hours 🎄

💚 We can't guarantee a delivery on time with an order placed after this date due to our supplier open hours 💚

📍 18TH DECEMBER LAST CALL 📍

16/12/2024

🩷 Today we had the beautiful Willow in for a Spey Procedure...

She tried to give us a little smile all things considered 🩷😬

14/12/2024

We honestly can't tell you how hard this week has been for us, it seems like it's been one case after another 🕊️ and today was no different, as we had yet another emergency situation that needed our full attention, and on limited staff as it's a Saturday, it was even more difficult 🌈

We've had to rearrange appointments and other sick pets who needed us have waited so patiently to make sure this patient got the very best care, and there's not one person who hasn't understood fully, and been so kind to our receptionist, Nicola.

💚💚💚

So, THANK YOU for making a hard day, just that bit easier for us all 💕 We have the best clients!

13/12/2024

Why not swap those cheeky treats for something that will help with food weight management and still provide fun and games for your pets 🩵🩵🩵

We need your help!

Tell us the best toys, training or activities you do with your pet whether that be a cat, dog, rabbit or anything else!

Christmas is around the corner, but upwards of 60% of our pet population are overweight, so rather than buying lots of treats that they don't need, why not try something else?

✅ Puzzle feeders
✅ Enrichment games
✅ Licki mats
✅ Snuffle mats
✅ Toys and games
✅ Training games
✅ Grazing and foraging

Please tell us what you've found really helps you and your pet bond, whilst also instilling more healthy decisions by slowing down meal times, reducing unnecessary snacks and spending quality time together bonding and proving physical and mental stimulation.

Photos welcomed too! We love to see these happy animals.

12/12/2024

Everyone meet.. INDY! A beautiful St Bernard 😍

Indy came in to see us today for her vaccinations, and she truly is a sweetheart 🤍🤎

12/12/2024

We know Christmas can be a stressful time.
It's important to look out for each other.

If you're struggling, please communicate this with us, calmly. We try our best to help.

Please share some kindness at a time of year that can be challenging for many people working because of abusive behaviour.

Thank goodness the majority of our clients are the most lovely people we could ever wish for 💖💖💖💖💖💖 thank you

The high emotional stakes, the staff shortages, the cost of treatment.
When did it become so acceptable to abuse other people who are trying to help you?

It has been reported in a survey by the British Veterinary Association - BVA that 51% of vets in clinical practice have to work over the festive season but only one in ten feel happy to do so.

Reasons for this concern included:

❄️Being away from family and friends
❄️Lower staffing levels
❄️Higher levels of euthanasia
❄️Lack of support for difficult cases
❄️Coping with upset clients

In an informal poll ran by Veterinary Voices UK a number of Registered Veterinary Nurses also reported they would be working at some point during the festive period with issues mainly arising from:

❄️Travel to family being difficult
❄️ Missing time with family and friends
❄️ Being an locum away from home and finding it difficult to find a good Christmas meal!
❄️ Night shifts on Christmas Eve causing broken sleep before Christmas Day

It's especially important this time of year to look after one another, as Christmas can be especially lonely for many.

Despite it being a tough time of year for many, it is made worse by increased levels on negative interactions - and this isn't just veterinary. Police, medics and retail workers are also facing this awful behaviour.

👮‍♀️The police quoted: "The run-up to Christmas means more people are out enjoying the revelry, and with alcohol consumption comes an increase in assaults, both physical and verbal. "Our ask is simple – emergency workers want to help you, so please treat them with respect and work with us, not against us."

🛍Retail Trust Quoted: The Retail Trust’s survey of 1,200 retail workers found 80% of shop workers and 90% of store managers have faced abusive incidents, with one in three experiencing this weekly. 47% of staff say they feel unsafe at work as a result.

❎Too add insult to injury, when disgruntled veterinary clients post negative and slanderous reviews online, veterinary teams are advised to not engage - this is often the right thing to do, but it leave teams with a huge amount of disillusionment when there is no ramifications for online abuse. We do not share the true story. We do not post the clinical history and the background. We do not share the facts. Because we are unable to.

❎Please, you do not have to agree, you do not need to hold the same opinions or have the same outlook on life. But you can still be polite. You can communicate dissatisfaction without shouting and intimidation.

💚As a result of the statistics around loneliness in the profession, and especially around Christmas when shift patterns may make people feel even more excluded and isolated, Veterinary Voices UK have set us 'Veterinary Voices - Save a Seat' where veterinary families can buddy up to people locally who have room for one more.

💚When they go low, we go high.

💚Be the person to make a difference, be the person to share some kindness.

12/12/2024

🍩 Never too early for a sweet treat! 🧁🎄

Our Vet, Huseyin has treated us all this morning (Thank you soo much!) and this is definitely APPRECIATED after a tough couple of days we've had here at the practice! 😍🤤

11/12/2024

🎄✨ OPENING TIMES ✨🎄

📱💚 If you need Emergency Care outside of these hours then Please call Pet Medics on 0161 794 4999 💚📱

11/12/2024

Yesterday was a really difficult day for the team, complex cases, complex situations.
It's difficult physically and emotionally on our team.

But they we look down at our beautiful patients, especially our special friend Luna 🍭 and the world is happy once again ❣️

Say sweet special girl 💖💓💖

10/12/2024

🕊️ National Grief Awareness Week 🕊️

Last week was 'National Grief Awareness' and although we are a little late on this one, we thought it's so good to remember those who have passed over the rainbow bridge ✨🌈

Christmas is a time we reflect on the year just gone, and maybe those we have lost along the way, including our pet family members who are no longer with you at Christmas 💕🐾

We always put up our Memory Tree in Reception during this time so please feel free to come, write a note or put up a little photo of those you've lost!🌲

- "Don't cry because I'm gone, Smile because I was here" 🕊️

10/12/2024

Here's an easy guide if your pet accidentally eats chocolate this Christmas 🎁 🎄

ALWAYS seek advice, contact your vet or Out of hours emergency care if your practice is closed over this period, such as Pet Medics! 🎄

Also, this is a very easy to follow Chocolate Calculator with VetsNow if in doubt to help you! 💚

https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/

10/12/2024

🎉✅ Now covers tapeworm too!

Recommended testing depends on risk factors for the pet but we would recommend every 3 months as a general rule. We can test more regularly for high risk pets.

In an effort to offer a wider range of options, we have a short term trial of a faecal (poo) analysis machine that can check for some of the common worms in cats and dogs.

If you would like your cat or dogs poo tested for the following we can do so free of charge if you are on a health care plan (we would price as a nurse consultation for the time spent analysing) or we can offer it for £15 for those not currently on a plan.

Please just pop into us and collect a stool sample pot, or bring in a poo bag, and bring in the sample for analysis.

🐶Canine:
➡️Roundworm (including Toxocara spp, Toxascaris spp)
➡️Hookworm (including Ancylostoma, Uncinaria)
➡️Whipworm (including Trichuris)
➡️Coccidia
➡️ Taenia spp. Echinococcus spp

🐱Feline:
➡️Roundworm (including Toxocara spp)
➡️Hookworm (including Ancylostoma, Uncinaria)
➡️Coccidia
➡️ Taenia spp. Echinococcus spp

High risk animals include those with a flea burden, those who hunt, those who are scavengers, especially on farmland or dead animals and those fed some raw meat based diets.

09/12/2024

It's that time of year again 🎄 we can get so wrapped in the festivities that we forget what can be harmful to our pets whilst we are enjoying ourselves! 🎉

Please be aware of these festive foods and decorations that if eaten can be a serious emergency! 💚

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."