Services
Our practice provides a complete range of pet care services. If you have any questions about your pet’s need for treatment or a specific aspect of our service, please call the veterinary practice on 01903 200187 or email us reception@heeneroadvets.co.uk
The practice provides a full range of services and our veterinary care is underpinned by the use of a full range of modern equipment. Services include:
Blood Tests
We have the latest in-house diagnostic equipment for both haematology and biochemistry. This allows us rapid diagnosis of your pet’s disease or monitoring of chronic disease and treatment. We have a same day courier that delivers our histology and blood samples to our external lab should they require further investigation, allowing rapid turnaround times.
Dental Health
Common signs of dental problems include:
- Sore mouth
- Difficulty eating
- Loose teeth or tooth loss
- Pawing or rubbing the mouth
- Bleeding gums
- Yellow or brown tartar on the teeth
- Dribbling
There are some factors that can contribute to dental problems:
Dietary Advice
Our team have undertaken extensive training in nutrition, and are well equipped to provide you with tailored dietary advice to suit your pet.
Appropriate nutrition is an essential part of keeping your pet healthy, and can be vital in managing many medical conditions including:
- Diabetes
- Urinary problems
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- Obesity
- Skin conditions
- Kidneys, liver and heart disease
- Joint disease
Correct nutrition can help to prevent many of the diseases that we commonly see, so please ask our staff for advice on feeding your pet, from puppy or kittenhood, right through adulthood and into their senior years.
Sue Griffiths RVN
Veterinary Nutrition Expert
Sue has an interest in all things to do with health and diet and last year completed a certificate in Canine and Feline Veterinary Health Nutrition.
High quality nutrition
We are pleased to stock Specific diets among our range of veterinary prescription and lifestage diets. This range of high quality and highly palatable food has products to suit every pet and is designed to keep them in optimum condition. There is a very good ongoing loyalty scheme for all of the diets. This makes high quality nutrition very affordable. Our staff have extensive knowledge about the range and will be happy to discuss your pet’s requirements with you.
Buy 5 bags of SPECIFIC food and
get 1 for free
Members of the VIP club get 10% off all veterinary diets & 15% off our Specific Life Stage diets
Food & Pet Accessories
Members of the VIP club get 10% off the whole rangeof life-stage diets and pet accessories
Laser Therapy
We have a specialised laser that can be used to treat a variety of inflammatory issues such as osteoarthritis or anal saculitis. It is also used to accelerate wound and bone healing and is often used after surgery, especially orthopaedic procedures, but can also be used after neutering. It is extremely safe for the pet (they often seem to love the effect) and you can be present-we just ask you to wear a pair of cool goggle to protect your eyes.
Medical Investigations
Microchipping
Neutering
Unless you are planning to breed from your pet, we would always advise early neutering.
Dogs – Neutering helps to avoid mammary tumours in bitches as long as they are speyed before their second season (ideally bitches should be speyed before their first season, the exception being dobermans and some other large breed dogs). Castration can also help avoid undesirable behavioural problems in dogs and should be done at around nine months.
Laparoscopic ovarectomies (Keyhole speys)
We have been doing laparoscopic speys for a considerable period now & most of our clients chose this method for a less painful procedure withfewer complications
Cats – In order to avoid potentially large litters of unwanted kittens in a climate where the re-homing shelters are inundated and to help prevent the spread of feline AIDS, we would advise that cats are neutered at six months old.
Rabbits – Rabbits are neutered to avoid unwanted pregnancies and for behavioural reasons, especially aggression in females.
Other small animals – Speak to the surgery for advice regarding the suitable age for neutering.
Get 10% off Neutering
Nurse Clinics
Our nurse clinics are an excellent opportunity for you to take advantage of our nurses’ knowledge and enthusiasm in to support you in providing the best care for your pet.
Our dedicated team of nurses run clinics to offer advice and guidance in the following areas:-
- Weight watcher clinics (First check free & subsequent clinics free whilst on prescription diet)
- Flea and wormer advice (free)
- Adolescent health checks (free)
- Senior health clinics (nurse consultation fee)
- Nail clipping (half price)
- Anal sacs (half price)
- Noise phobia (free)
- Removal of sutures (free)
- Diabetic clinic (nurse consultation fee)
- Microchipping
Get unlimited access to Nurse Clinics
Worming
Not all pet problems are visible, and this is the case with worms. If your pet becomes infected, they’ll happily spend the whole of their adult lives hiding inside your dog or cat. There are several species of intestinal worms that can infect cats and dogs in the UK. Some feed on the contents of the gut, scavenging your pet’s food, and others attach themselves to the gut wall to feed on your pet’s blood. Some potentially life threatening worms live in the other organs including the heart and lungs. As well as causing serious damage to the health of your pet, some worms can infect people, giving you another reason to keep your pet worm-free.
Lungworm
A potentially fatal parasite that infects dog is spreading across the country. Lungworm infection, caused by the parasite Angiostrongylus vasorum, can cause serious illness, and even death if not treated correctly. A recent nationwide survey of UK vets has revealed that over 25% of those questioned had either confirmed or suspected a case of this potentially fatal condition, yet many dog owners have never even heard of the disease. At Heene Road Vets we have identified many dogs infected with this parasite, some with quite serious symptoms & tragically, one nine month old puppy which died within 24 hours of developing a cough.
Lungworm – is my dog at risk?
Dogs become infected with the lungworm through eating slugs and snails which carry the larvae of the parasite. Southern England is known to be a part of the country where infections are particularly common. While some dogs eat slugs and snails intentionally, some slugs and snails are very small and could accidentally be eaten when your dog is rummaging through the undergrowth on a walk or in the garden, or picked up from an outdoor food/water bowl or toy. With this in mind, Heene Road Vets is taking part in a ‘Be Lungworm Aware’ campaign to help raise the profile of this parasite amongst dog owners. The initiative aims to make a wide range of advice available, including signs of infection and how to obtain treatment, and to promote the benefits of a parasite control programme that takes into account the risk of dogs becoming infected.
What should I do next?
Lungworm is a particularly dangerous condition as if left untreated, it is often fatal. Signs to look out for include coughing, reluctance to exercise, depression, weight loss, fits, vomiting, diarrhoea, and persistent bleeding, even from small cuts. Dogs known to eat slugs and snails should also be considered candidates for a check up with a vet, even if they are showing no outward signs of infection. Speak to your Heene Road vet or nurse who can talk to you about a parasite protection programme for your dog that includes the treatment of this lungworm.
Other types of worms
Roundworms
Roundworms live in the intestine, moving freely and feeding on the gut contents. Pets can pick up worm eggs if they come into contact with contaminated soil. Dog to dog contact can also transmit roundworm eggs found in their coats. The eggs can survive in the environment for a long time. Puppies are usually born infected and both puppies and kittens can become infected via their mother’s milk. People in contact with infected pets are at risk from Toxocariasis where migrating roundworm larvae can cause permanent damage to human’s eyes.
Hookworms
Hookworms attach to the gut wall and feed on the animal’s blood. Cats and dogs can pick up larvae from contaminated soil and within 2 weeks these can develop into adults in your pet’s gut. They can be very damaging, particularly in young animals, causing diarrhoea, anaemia, weight loss and apathy. If there are foxes in your neighbourhood, dogs are at risk of getting hookworm, which is passed on via foxes’ faeces.
Whipworms
Given the chance, whipworms will embed their head in the lining of your dog’s large intestine and feed on blood. The whip-like action of the tail will cause further damage to the lining of the gut. Whipworms are mainly seen in dogs.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms look like long, flat ribbons or tapes, divided into segments and all tapeworms attach to the intestinal wall. The mature tapeworm segments are filled with eggs, and individual segments break off, passing via a cat or dog’s faeces into the environment. The flea tapeworm uses fleas as its intermediate host and is the most common tapeworm to infect cats and dogs in the UK. Cats and dogs are infected by swallowing fleas when they are grooming and once in the gut the worm larvae carried by the flea begins to develop into an adult worm that can quickly grow to 50cm. Hunting cats in particular are at risk of being infected by the mouse tapeworm which uses mice and other small rodents as it’s intermediate hosts. Cats and dogs can also become infected by tapeworms if they scavenge the carcasses of animals (e.g. livestock), or if they are fed a raw meat diet.
Heartworms
Heartworms are bad news for dogs and cats that travel abroad. Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworms can develop in your pet’s bloodstream, then live as adults in their heart, and can be fatal.
Fleas
Fleas are very common in cats and dogs throughout the UK. Pets are becoming more and more integrated into family life and as a result, vets are increasingly concerned about controlling fleas and their ultimate consequences.
Fleas can cause disease in cats and dogs, including flea allergy dermatitis and anaemia. Pets can also become infected with flea tapeworm by swallowing a flea during everyday grooming.
Adult fleas are small wingless insects with extraordinary jumping ability. Hanging on to your pet’s fur with their claws, their needle-like mouth parts bite through the skin to suck up blood. Sometimes all you will see are flea faeces or “flea dirt” (small brown flecks in the fur). Fleas can lay 30+ eggs per day. These eggs drop to the ground and flea larvae will hatch and hide in dark places on the ground, in carpets or upholstery. The larvae feed on flea droppings and other organic debris defore developing into cocoons/pupae.
Adult fleas emerge from their cocoons when they sense that a dog or cat, or other animal host, is near. The cycle, which can take as little as 12 days or as long as several months, can then begin again. If you find fleas on your pet, their eggs, larvae and pupae will also be found in your pet’s bedding and the carpets in your home.
Keep your pet parasite-free with the VIP Club
Why not join today?
Pet Passports
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), or Pet Passport as it is often called, is designed to protect human health. It is the system that means people in the UK can take their pets to certain countries and bring them back without the need for quarantine. It also allows pet animals from these countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain conditions.
To enable your pet to travel within the EU, it will need microchipping and a vaccination against rabies. A pet passport can then be issued which allows for travel from 3 weeks of the date of Rabies vaccination. There are requirements for worming treatment to be administered by a veterinary surgeon 1 to 5 days before re-entering the UK. Rabies vaccinations need to be repeated every 1-3 years.
Further information can be found on the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) website – www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets
Pets are likely to need extra medication to protect them from foreign diseases and parasites.
Brexit
NB at the present moment there are many different scenarios that may occur after 31st October when we leave the EU with or without a deal. We strongly uerge you to consult the DEFRA web site if you are planning to go abroad after this date. Unfortumnately we are no informed than you in this regard and if you need to go to the EU or return after this date our advice is to have a rabies vaccination, a blood test 30 days later & then you can be issued with a health certicficate to travel with in 10 days of your intended travel date from 3 months after a positive blood test titre if you wish to maximise your chances of travel.
Puppy Parties
In order to help your puppy settle into it’s new environment and become a balanced and well behaved adult dog, we would like to invite you and your puppy to our free puppy parties. These parties will help your puppy learn to socialise with other dogs, a skill they began learning with their litter mates. Having another dog at home will not be enough as they need to learn how to behave around other dogs with whom they are not so familiar.
The most vital time of socialisation is between 3-13 weeks of age which is when a puppy is most receptive to new experiences. They can continue their development after the puppy parties by attending training classes and while out for their daily exercise.
These classes are free and are held at Heene Road most Tuesday evenings at 7pm.
Classes will include many different topics:
- Vaccinations
- Parasites
- Nutrition
- Dental care
- Grooming
- Neutering
- First aid
These sessions will be very client orientated and questions will be welcomed.
On a more practical note, all puppies must be wearing a collar and lead and be in good health. The practice will endeavour to prevent any infection from disease but there is a small risk. If your puppy is having, or has recently had treatment of any kind, please inform us before attending any class. Please note we only take puppies until they are 16 weeks of age.
Places are limited. Please contact us on 01903 200187 to book your place.
Surgical Procedures
Within our practice we can offer a wide range of routine and more complicated surgical procedures. Both Jeremy and Fiona are very experienced surgeons, and have gained a further qualification in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. Recent investment in new surgical equipment means that we have increased the range of procedures that we are able to perform. We are now able to offer TTA (Tibial Tuberoscity Advancement) for cruciate ligament disease and Laparoscopic (Key Hole Surgery) proceduresfor laparoscopic speys and laparoscopic investigations -including minimally invasive biosies of abdominal organs.
Anaesthetics
Surgical procedures are performed in our refurbished theatre. Experienced nurses are present to assist the vets in monitoring anaesthesia, with a range of monitoring equipment. We have chosen to use anaesthetic drugs and protocols that are safer and more reliable than many of those commonly used in veterinary practices, and careful postoperative monitoring and great attention to providing adequate pain relief help to make surgery safer and less distressing for your pet.
When your pet is discharged all aspects of wound care, medications and pain relief will be explained to you, and follow up appointments will be arranged to ensure that healing is progressing as expected and to ensure the best possible outcome.
It is only natural to worry if your pet is to undergo an anaesthetic for a surgical procedure, but with modern anaesthetics and equipment and the best possible care of your pet, complications are kept to a minimum.
Vaccinations
Why is vaccination important?
Pets can and do become seriously ill or die from infectious diseases that could have been prevented through vaccination every year. One easy way in which you can help to ensure your pet is protected from infectious diseases is to ensure that they are vaccinated from a young age and regularly throughout their adult life.
How vaccines work
Vaccines work by training the white blood cells in your pet’s body to recognise and attack viruses or bacteria contained in the vaccine. This should protect against disease caused by that particular organism if your pet is exposed to it again.
Primary vaccinations
For the first few weeks of life, young animals are usually protected against disease from the immunity they receive from their mother’s milk. However, this maternal immunity may also neutralise any vaccine given at this time. Gradually this protection decreases, and the maternal immunity acquired at birth declines to a sufficiently low level for the animal to no longer be protected. This also allows the animal to respond to vaccination and so this is the best time to start the vaccination programme.
Annual vaccination
Many people believe that if they have their pet vaccinated when it is young the immunity it receives will protect it for the rest of it’s life. Unfortunately this is not always the case. After the first vaccine course, the immunity level reaches a peak and then begins to decline. After a year the level of protection offered to your pet may no longer be sufficient. Re-vaccination stimulates the immune response so that protection is maintained for another year. Without these yearly boosters, your pet’s immune system may not be able to protect it from serious, often fatal diseases. Therefore, maintaining your pet’s booster vaccinations is critical.
What diseases do vaccines protect against?
Dogs are vaccinated against:
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis
- Parainfluenza (kennel cough)
Dogs can also be vaccinated using an intranasal vaccine against bordetella (another form of kennel cough). When necessary, due to oversees travel, it is possible to vaccinate against rabies.
Cats are vaccinated against:
- Feline infectious enteritis
- Feline herpes virus
- Feline calici virus
- Feline leukemia virus
When necessary, due to oversees travel, it is possible to vaccinate against rabies.
Rabbits are vaccinated against:
- Myxomatosis
- Viral haemorrhagic disease
Speak to your Heene Road vet who will advise a programme of vaccinations to suit your pet’s particular requirements.
Puppy and kitten pack
Puppies and kittens will receive a special pack containing their vaccination and health record booklet with lots of useful information on how to look after your pet. You will also be given a free flea and worm treatment and 4 weeks free insurance with Petplan. You will be invited to attend a free adolescent health check with one of our nurses at six months old, to check on your pet’s growth and development, and discuss neutering, diet and ongoing preventative care.
Why not come along to one of our puppy parties – great for socialisation and tips!