All owners want their pets to have the best quality of life possible; we want them to be happy, healthy and comfortable. If you are caring for an old, severely ill or terminally ill pet you may be worrying about whether their quality of life has declined and if the time has come to say goodbye. … [Read more...] about Assessing your pet’s quality of life
Antimicrobial resistance
What are antimicrobials? 'Antimicrobials' include antibiotics, antiparasitics, antivirals and antifungals and are essential to the treatment and prevention of the spread of diseases in both animals and humans. What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability … [Read more...] about Antimicrobial resistance
Phovia Light Therapy
We are very proud to now offer Phovia light therapy at Heathfield Vets, the latest innovation in veterinary dermatology. Phovia is a clinically-proven, two-part system, comprised of a powerful LED lamp that emits a blue light that when it comes in contact with a special chromophore gel applied to … [Read more...] about Phovia Light Therapy
Anaesthesia Q & A
What is general anaesthesia? General anaesthesia (GA) is a loss of consciousness and sensation. This enables us to perform procedures on our patients without them feeling pain or moving around. There are three aims that we have for each general anaesthetic: Unconsciousness Muscle … [Read more...] about Anaesthesia Q & A
Saying Goodbye
Making the decision to say goodbye to your beloved pet is one of the most difficult decisions you will make as an owner. Euthanasia or having a pet 'put to sleep' is often the kindest way to give your pet a dignified passing, without pain and suffering. When is the right time to euthanise my … [Read more...] about Saying Goodbye
Travelling to the EU post-Brexit
As the UK has now left the EU, UK issued PET passports will no longer be valid for entry into the EU. The UK has been classed as a part 2 listed country; this means that your pet must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and have an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official … [Read more...] about Travelling to the EU post-Brexit
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy has been in use in medical circles since the 1970s, but it is only in the last few years, with the advent of the Mark IV version, that is has become possible to deeply penetrate tissues in a relatively short time, making it a practical proposition to treat animals. Before going ahead, … [Read more...] about Laser Therapy
Parasite Control
Fleas A flea is small, dark brown, flattened from side to side and has the ability to jump huge distances. This means that only a few moments of contact with an infested animal can lead to problems for you and your pet. Flea bites are not only irritating to your pet but can lead to more serious … [Read more...] about Parasite Control
Neutering
Although the obvious reason for neutering your ferret is to prevent unwanted litters of baby ferrets, there are other medical benefits listed below. Why is neutering important for female ferrets? Female ferrets (jills) will start to come into heat from March-September, the ferret breeding season. … [Read more...] about Neutering
Dental Care
Why is dental care so important? Ferrets use their mouths a lot, not just for eating; they enjoy chewing on cage bars, toys and moving things around with their teeth. They are susceptible to dental disease which begins with a plaque deposit on the teeth (as with humans). This hardens to form … [Read more...] about Dental Care