Lucy and Anna-Marie are both qualified OV’s (Official Veterinarians) and therefore able to complete the new Animal Health Certificate for pet travel abroad.

If you are planning on travelling with your pet, please contact the surgery at your earliest convenience and we can talk you through the process. We have helped many people already travel successfully with their pets. For more details of how to obtain an Animal Health Certificate and to book this service please call the surgery. We offer a competitive fee for this service.

For more information about the Animal Health Certificate, follow this link to the UK government information about taking your pet abroad.

Our physiotherapists are Emma-Jayne Rudkin and Melanie Bruder, both qualified in Veterinary physiotherapy run clinics at Highfields Vets.

Veterinary physiotherapy is a non-invasive technique to provide treatment for soft tissue injuries, orthopaedic conditions and neurological conditions.

Common conditions treated include:

Osteoarthritis
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Cruciate damage
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Weight management
Tendon/Ligament injuries
Soft tissue strain and tears
Muscle imbalance

We understand that sometimes it is difficult to bring your pet to the vet and so we are pleased to be able to offer a home visit service from the practice. There is a call out fee for this service which will depend on how far we need to travel. For more information, please contact us.

Some pets just hate going to the vets and this can make a visit particularly stressful for both animal and owner. So, aside from a large jar of treats, what can we do?

Sometimes, this anxiety is made worse by being sat in a waiting room with other animals. We are happy to see nervous patients at quieter times, out on the grass if needed. We are also able to have later admit appointments for anxious animals coming in for operations so that the total time they spend at the practice is kept to a minimum.

We also have separate cat and dog waiting areas and kennel rooms to keep cats and dogs apart. Pet remedy diffusers are installed throughout the surgery to help promote a feeling of calm.

We understand animals and sometimes all they need is a bit of time to settle in, time which we can give them. 

Keeping care of your pet’s teeth is not always easy. Ideally, we should all brush their teeth like we do every day, but for various reasons this is not always possible. However, their teeth are subject to the same disease and decay processes as our own if left uncleaned or untreated. If the teeth are kept in better condition they will last longer. Signs of teeth decay include salivating more, smelly breath, eating less or eating to one side of the mouth and weight loss. If left untreated dental disease leads to abscess formation and nasty bacteria can spread to the heart and kidneys causing other problems.

To help keep mouths healthy we recommend using some dry food in the diet that can mechanically help clean them and using toothpaste’s suitable for pets. Sometimes they may need a scale and polish. To do this we use a short anaesthetic to allow us to clean them thoroughly on both sides and under the gum-line. If we need to take teeth out, we use a drill to enable us to lever all of the roots out. Dental disease is so commonly missed and can be extremely uncomfortable for a pet. Owners often comment after a procedure that their pet is acting like a kitten/puppy again.

When the time comes to say goodbye to your beloved pet, please be reassured that we will be here for you. We are able to attend to your pet in your own home if you so wish. We only use a local pet cremation service that we have used for many years.