JUNE PET Scooby - 10 years old

BREED‍ Hungarian Vizla ‍

HOW WE HELPED Scooby may be senior in years, but he still behaves like a puppy! Full of energy, affection, and enthusiasm, Scooby loves everyone he meets.

When not out exploring with his humans, Scooby’s favourite thing is snuggling up with his loved ones, enjoying plenty of cuddles and attention.

Scooby has spent a lot of time at the practice in the last nine months. We first saw him late last summer as he was shaking his head a lot and seemed to be uncomfortable when lying down.

He was sedated a few days later, and vet, Rachael was able to give both ears a thorough examination. There was thick discharge in both ears which we swabbed to check for bacterial infections. The Tympanic Membranes (eardrums) in both ears were badly damaged, allowing infection through to the sensitive middle ear.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Scooby, and a real team effort. Rachel has worked up the case with real dedication, matched by that of Scooby’s owner. There have been multiple visits to the surgery, long courses of antibiotics and lots and lots of ear cleaning. Lovely Scooby has shown incredible bravery throughout, always arriving with a wagging tail, happy face, and hopes of receiving a few well-earned treats.

Congratulations Scooby!‍ ‍

MAY PET Molly - 9 months old

BREED‍ West Highland White Terrier ‍

HOW WE HELPED Miss Molly may be little, but she has enough personality to fill the whole house! She loves nothing more than snuggling up with her favourite humans, playing with her polar bear toy, and bullying her older sister Freya.‍

Poor Molly had a rather difficult start to the month. Her owners bought her in having noticed a reduction in appetite since her first season, 3 weeks previously and a few episode of vomiting. Our first line of treatment was probiotics, hoping they would help settle any digestive problems. A few days later, with no improvement, we booked Milly back in for further investigation. Her abdomen was a little tender, but X-rays showed no evidence of a foreign body. Blood tests did however indicate an infection so antibiotics were dispensed.

The following day, Molly’s owners reported a discharge from her vulva. At this point a pyometra was our key concern. A pyometra is a serious womb infection, not uncommon in older entire females, but rare after a first season. Surgery confirmed this suspicion and we carried out a full ovariohysterectomy, removing Molly’s womb, ovaries and all the associated infection.

Molly has now made a full recovery. Her appetite is back and, as ever, she has everyone she meets wrapped around her little dewclaw (except of course her sister, Freya!)
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APRIL PET Pickle - 14 years old

BREED DSH

HOW WE HELPED Pickle’s owner describes him as a much loved, constant companion, who brings great joy with his quirky ways and grumpy expressions!

Pickle came into the surgery at the start of March, having been increasingly lame on his left front leg. His owners were very concerned about his sudden deterioration. It was difficult to examine the limb in any detail as Pickle was very tense and clearly in a lot of pain, so we booked him in for sedation and X-rays the following day.

There were no obvious growths or annorrmalities visible on the X-rays, and Pickle’s owners mentioned a small oozing wound at the top of the limb a few weeks ago. We dispensed a course of antibiotics, in case of infection, and some stronger pain relief, and sent the X-rays to Granta referrals for a second opinion.

Granta agreed that the most likely diagnosis, given Pickle’s history, was brachial neoplasia, a growth affecting the nerves controlling the leg or shoulder. This could be confirmed with an MRI scan, but given the prohibitive cost of the scan we decided to treat with ongoing pain medication and steroids and monitor Pickle’s response.

Two weeks on, Pickles is much improved, and back out enjoying the garden. It’s probabable that his condition can only be managed rather than cured, but his owners are thrilled with his progress, as are we!

MARCH PET
Bailey - 5 years old

BREED
Chihuahua

HOW WE HELPED
Meet Bailey, aka Cookie Monster, our Pet of the Month for March. Bailey is incredibly affectionate, fast as a whippet, loves long walks, and takes his self-appointed role as household supervisor very seriously. Nobody in the house is allowed to wander off alone. Even a quick trip to the loo requires Bailey patiently waiting to escort you back to the sofa.

When he’s not managing the household, Bailey’s favourite place is under a blanket having a well-earned nap.

Bailey came into the surgery for a free dental check last month. His gums were sore and his teeth had a heavy build up of tartar. He was very sensitive to being touched around his face and would not allow his owners to clean his teeth at home. Bailey was booked in for dental treatment the following week and during the procedure we removed a whopping 17 teeth!

For such a small dog, Bailey made a very quick recovery. His teeth had clearly been causing him some discomfort and he is now much happier to have his mouth handled. He was such a lovely little character and coped so well with his surgery that we thought he deserved a special mention.

Congratulations Bailey!

FEBRUARY PET
Cutie - 8 years old

BREED Shih-Tzu

HOW WE HELPED Cutie is an affectionate, funny, and clever little dog who understands a great number of human words - sometimes to her owner’s detriment!  She loves cuddles more than food and particularly likes humans who are adept at a shoulder massage.

Cutie came in the the surgery with a sore eye. An ophthalmic examination revealed a very deep ulcer. There were concerns that without prompt treatment, Cutie might loose the eye, so in order to give the eye the best chance of recovery, the vets recommended a hood graft.

A hood graft is a surgical procedure in which a small section of the conjunctiva is used to cover the damaged area of the eye. The graft offers protection and increases blood supply, speeding up the healing process.

After her surgery, Cutie’s owners were tasked with applying eye drops three times a day. Cutie was not impressed by either the eye drops or the cone so treatment was a bit of her struggle, but her owner persevered, with a little help from the Church Street team, and six weeks after the surgery Cutie is once again fighting fit. We really enjoyed Cuties frequent visits to the surgery and she is under strict instruction to continue to pop in for a treat and a chat whenever she is passing the surgery!

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JANUARY PET
Ebony - 11 years old

BREED Labrador Retriever

HOW WE HELPED ‍ ‍Ebony is an playful, intelligent cuddle monster who loves water, tennis balls, chewing socks, digging holes in the garden, and is a gentle guardian of the owners’ granddaughter.

She also has a delightfully neurotic streak, and is terrified of the window cleaner’s ladder, wind and hedgehogs, from whom she will dramatically flee!

Ebony came into the surgery a few days into the new year. She had been off her food for a few days, was drinking more than usual, panting a little and lethargic. Ebony had finished her last season just before Christmas. Her abdomen was slightly tense, and blood tests suggested she was fighting an infection.

The vets suspected a pyometra, a serious uterine infection that can occur in un-spayed female dogs following a season. Pyometra can be a life threatening condition if not promptly treated, and usually requires surgery to remove the infected uterus. Pyometra surgery can be high risk, especially for an older dog, but is usually the only viable treatment.

Happily, Ebony’s surgery was a complete success, and she has made a steady recovery. Ebony is a true champion, who has never once cried or grumbled, and her owners are so happy to have extra years to love, spoil, and care for her.

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DECEMBER PET
Harvey - 15 years old

BREED
Lurcher

HOW WE HELPED
Rescue dog Harvey was adopted by his current owners (then aged 93) in 2016, after they lost their much loved lab.

Harvey settled well, and is great company. He has always loved his walks and food, once managing to almost help himself to the Christmas cake (the sound of the tin hitting the floor gave him away!)

He's now an old boy and spends most of his day dozing on the sofa. Despite his size and his age, Harvey is a really healthy boy, visiting Patrick just twice a year for his checkup. He knows exactly where he is when the car pulls up at the surgery, and tries his very best to drag his owners in the opposite direction. We don’t take it personally!

Congratulations Harvey!

NOVEMBER PET
Nala - 3 months old

BREED Golden Retriever

HOW WE HELPED Nala is an extremely loving, playful and typically energetic puppy. She is very mischievous and loves to chase the Autumn leaves on her walks and dig in the garden for gold! 

We have seen a lot of Nala over the past few weeks after she sustained a nasty dog bite to the head and came into the surgery for emergency treatment. We were concerned re potential nerve damage, as her right eye was drooping a little and she had a reduced blink reflex. Nala was given pain relief, antibiotics, fluid therapy and we took a few X-rays to check the extent of the damage. Nala’s face continued to swell, and a few days later she required sedation to lance and drain the large abscess on the right side of her face. 

 Nala has been back for regular visits, including cytology and blood tests to check for infection, further pain relief and lubrication for her right eye. Happily, Nala is making e a slow but steady recovery. The swelling on her face has subsided and we are keeping a close eye on nerve function.  

Brave little Nala has taken it all in her stride. When she gets out of the car and realises where she is, she cannot wait to get inside to see everyone for lots of fuss and treats! We are really pleased she is still pleased to see us and thought she deserved a special mention for being so brave! 

OCTOBER PET
Basil - 2 years old

BREED
Collie X Labrador

HOW WE HELPED Basil is an absolute bundle of energy! He will catch a ball as many times as you can throw it, but his absolute favourite activity is swimming. Basil is a real river dog, and will launch himself off the bank or the side of a boat with complete abandon.

Being such a young and energetic dog, it was particularly hard for Basil when he had to rest for the best part of a month after injuring his paw.

Basil cut his pad deeply while out walking in a very muddy estuary one Sunday afternoon. His owners spotted the injury during his post-walk bath, and took him straight to the emergency vets, who gave him overnight pain relief.

Basil came into Church Street early the following morning for sedation and stitches. Deep cuts to pads can take a long time to heal, as they are hard to keep clean and rested. Basil’s owners and our clinical team did a great job keeping the paw clean and bandaged. Basil tolerated the ‘cone of shame’ for weeks on end without complaint and is now back to his usual bouncy self. We thought he deserved a special mention for being so brave. Congratulations Basil!

SEPTEMBER PET
Lily- 2 years old

BREED British short hair

HOW WE HELPED In the words of her owner 

“Lily is such a princess! Spoilt rotten, and a fair-weather cat, she loves being outside in the sun and does NOT like the cold weather! She loves her belly rubs and lays on her back with her paws up to be pampered! She’s like my little shadow and follows me around everywhere.”

Lily was bought in to the surgery by a member of the public on a Saturday, just before we closed. It looked like she had been hit by a car, and to start with she was completely unresponsive. We administered oxygen, intravenous fluids and pain relief and were very happy when, five minutes later, she tried to raise her head. We took X-rays which showed no damage to her limbs or spine, but the suspicion was a traumatic brain injury. Lily was transferred to our colleagues at Dick White Referrals for further tests and hospitalisation over the weekend. 

A month on from the accident, we are all thrilled with how well Lily has recovered. She is eating and drinking normally and almost back to her normal self.  

Congratulations Lily! 

AUGUST PET
Toby- 12 years old

BREED DSH

HOW WE HELPED Toby was adopted from Woodgreen animal Shelter when he was 4 years old. Not only is he handsome, he is also very loving, although only on his own terms! Like many ginger cats, he is a strong character with rather firm opinions on life!

A year after coming to live with his owners, Toby developed a persistent dry cough. X-rays of his chest and cytology led to a diagnosis of Feline Asthma. It took a month or so for Toby to get used to daily medication via an inhaler, but he is now completely used to the daily routine, appearing at his owner’s feet when his medicine is due. His asthma comes and goes a little and can be worse in the summer months, but is generally very well managed.

He came into the surgery a few months ago as he was drooling a lot and refusing his treats. He responded well to pain relief and returned for dental treatment, including 4 extractions. He was out-of-sorts for a few weeks following the proceedure, spending most of his time outside, but happily he is now fully recovered and back to his usual cheerful self. Congratulations Toby!

JULY PET
Margo- 4 years old

BREED Cairn Terrier

HOW WE HELPED Margo is a typical Cairn terrier. A loving and happy-go-lucky, live wire whose favourite activity is rolling in the stinkiest thing she can possibly find, and who enjoys her food just as much as a cuddle!

Poor Margo was not so cheerful when she came into the surgery a few weeks ago. She had been off colour for a few days and her owner had noticed her licking her mammary glands and spotted a small hole with a little discharge. We opted for sedation, first checking that the drugs required were safe for the litter of puppies Margo was still feeding.

Closer examination revealed a small grass seed, which had worked its way in between the swollen mammary glands, possibly pushed along a little by the feeding puppies.

Margo recovered well from the procedure and was back to feeding her 10 day old pups later the same day.

Well done Margo!