Drake Vets

23/08/2024

Friday morning giggle 🤭

22/08/2024

Today is National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day. At Drakes, when your cat comes in for their annual booster vaccination, the vet will give them a thorough health check. They will discuss with you any concerns you may have.
Here are a few simple checks you could do yourself at home throughout the year. You could check their ears to make sure they are clean and pale pink, with no signs of redness, discharge or any black build-up.
To check your cats eyes they should be clear and moist, with no cloudiness, inflammation or discharge. There should be no crustiness or weeping.
Your cats nose should be clean and moist with no discharge.
To check your cats teeth, carefully pull back your cat’s lips to inspect their teeth and gums. Look out for broken teeth, lumps or inflammation.

16/08/2024

Friday morning giggle 😂

15/08/2024

We had the pleasure of Oscar coming in to see us today for some blood work to be done. He was such a good brave boy and munched his treat biscuits afterwards like a true star. 🥰🥰🥰

30/07/2024

☀️☀️☀️ 🐶 🐕 🐶 ☀️☀️☀️
We suggest to try and walk your dogs early in the mornings or later on in the evening to avoid the high temperatures, and remember to test the heat of the pavement/road with your own hand, if you cannot keep it down for long then do not walk your dog on it. Their paws can be easily burnt on hot pavements. Also synthetic turf is 40-70 degrees hotter than surrounding air temperatures, so avoid this for your dogs too.

30/07/2024

Laparoscopic (keyhole) Spay Surgery at Drake Vets

Spaying (neutering) your female dog has many health benefits and can now be performed in both a safer and more painless way here at Drake Vets.

Spaying can reduce the risk of mammary tumours, and completely prevent ovarian tumours, unplanned pregnancies, and potentially life-threatening uterine infections. Spaying can also help with behavioural problems.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy, or ‘lap spay’, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure which is now considered to be the gold standard in neutering for female dogs.

Advancements in surgical techniques and equipment now mean that spaying can be completed with a significantly reduced recovery time, reduced pain, and a lower risk of complications.

This surgical technique uses two very small (1 - 2cm) keyhole ports to enter the abdomen of a female dog. The first allows camera access to give a clear image of the internal organs. The other incision allows for surgical instruments to enter cleanly, removing the dog’s ovaries.

This form of surgery has significant advantages over the alternative method.

Less painful

The incision made between the muscles of the abdominal wall during a traditional spay is between 5cm and 7cm long. These incisions are more traumatic than the small incisions made during the laparoscopic procedure.

Removing the ovaries during laparoscopic surgery is much more controlled, too. The ovaries are suspended by a long ligament with broad attachments to the body wall, and during keyhole surgery these are precisely cauterised and cut, as opposed to the stretching and tearing needed during a traditional spay.

This results in far less pain both during and after the surgery, making for a more comfortable overall experience.

Safer

Magnification, lighting and inflating the abdomen during lap spays allows clear visualisation of the abdominal organs and surgical site. This means the procedure is both safer and often quicker than a traditional spay.

No collars required

Traditional incisions in the abdomen are significantly larger than the laparoscopic incisions. Our traditional spays tend to go home with either an Elizabethan collar or a medical pet shirt. Most of our laparoscopic patients are uninterested in their wounds, and generally no form of wound protection is required.

Quick road to recovery

One of the greatest benefits of lap-spay is its significantly shorter recovery period. Dogs undergoing standard spaying are usually left recuperating for 10 to 14 days. Keeping young and active dogs restricted for this length of time can be a real challenge for owners.

With a lap-spay, your dog can be spayed, rested, and back to normal in as little as two to three days – meaning less stress for both of you during the recovery period.


Please discuss with a member of staff if you require further information regarding Lap spays at Drake Vets.

29/07/2024

A few of the staff (and their dogs) will be joining Wingletang on their walk4rescue. If you would like to sponsor us, please pop into Tavistock or Yelverton where we have sponsor forms at reception.

There's just over a month to go until our Walkies for Rescue returns!

We'd love for you to join us on Sunday 1st September for a beautiful walk through the Devon countryside, to help us raise vital funds for our rescue animals.

The route will begin from our Wingletang centre at 10am and finish at the wonderful Peter Tavy Inn, where you'll be able to enjoy a well-earned drink or meal to celebrate your hard work.

If you would like to book a table at the pub, please call: 01822 810348 as they will be very kindly donating 20% of their takings to Margaret Green Animal Rescue!

For further details about this event, and to download a sponsorship form, please click here: www.mgar.org.uk/walkies-for-rescue-2024 to find out more.

27/07/2024

Key found in Leg O Mutton car park on Friday. Has a distinctive keyring

19/07/2024

Meet the gorgeous Bob. He was bought into us today because he was sneezing a lot. Our vet Ellie noticed a tiny bit of grass sticking out of his nostril. Just look at the size of the blade of grass she pulled out! Bob was such a good boy and we hope he’s feeling much better now 🥰

17/07/2024

We are having phone issues this morning, if you have an emergency, please come straight to Yelverton. All other enquiries email [email protected] or call later. Sorry for the inconvenience.

03/07/2024

We were lucky enough to have Silver in today for her post operative check after her surgery at the beginning of the week. We are happy to say she is doing really well as you can see, and she loved her little treat whilst she was waiting. The first photo is of her being kept warm after the surgery as she comes out of the anaesthesia.
A few interesting facts about rats: they can giggle, they cannot vomit, their ears go pinker when they are happy and they are very clean and groom themselves more than a cat. 🐀 💕

24/06/2024

As today we celebrate World Cat Domination Day we, here at Drakes, thought it would be lovely to see your ‘before and now’ photos of your feline kings and queens of your homes. Do we really think they are planning to take over the world? As there are over 10 million pet cats in the UK it could be a possibility 😉

22/06/2024

Meet Robina the fledgling robin who was handed into us yesterday. As you can see she is doing very well. Just for your information, if you find a fledgling on the floor and they do not appear to be sick or injured, it is best to leave them where they are. They intentionally leave the nest before they can fly, and their parents are usually nearby and still caring for them.

21/06/2024

We had the pleasure of meeting Agnes today who came in for her 2nd vaccination. She was super sweet and cuddly, we found it hard to give her back 🥰

17/06/2024

Let’s brighten up our Monday, share with us your funniest or favourite photo of your dog, cat, rabbit …….. the list goes on. I’ve started you off with my Luna 🥰😂

16/06/2024

Jess, one of our lovely nurses, had one of the best treats in the world today by giving the gorgeous Gus a big scrunchy cuddle after he was such a brave boy having his 2nd vaccination. He will soon be able to go out and safely say hello to all the other dogs. Bet he can’t wait, just look at those eyes 🥰🥰🥰

12/06/2024

This is the gorgeous Toa one of our nurses dogs, celebrating his 10th Birthday week, one day to celebrate just isn’t enough 😂🥳🥰

26/04/2024

Muriel the naked Guinea pig came in for her teeth to be checked on Wednesday. After lots of cuddles from all the staff she enjoyed her favourite treats 🐹❤️

19/04/2024

We had a royal visitor today- Prince Pan of the Panier in his robes👑👑🐶

27/03/2024

Pan Prince of the Pannier market came in this morning for his yearly checks (and cuddles of course).

18/03/2024

Phone lines are now working

02/03/2024

02/03/2024

Poodle mix missing from Green Lane area of Yelverton. Chipped and has identification on collar.

22/02/2024

It's a chihuahua takeover this morning 🤣❤️

21/02/2024

Stray dog seen running down Drakes trail (Tiddybrook Meadow end). Hunterway/shepherd type. Quite spooked.

20/02/2024

Today is National love your pet day. Here is some of our loves. We would love to see all your furry/scaley/shelled friends

21/08/2023

Some of the staff from Drake Vets are joining Wingletang on their walk4rescue. Please join us or if you would like to sponsor us then pop in to either Yelverton or Tavistock surgery.

14/08/2023

Little Chihuahua Cross missing. Please contact mob number in post below with any sightings

25/05/2023

*PLEASE READ*
Our Tavistock surgery will be CLOSED on the following Wednesdays:
Wednesday 7th June 2023
Wednesday 14th June 2023
Wednesday 21st June 2023
Wednesday 28th June 2023