News

Friday, 27 January 2017 - 3:58pm

Our nursing team is headed up by Sarah Woodvine (pictured below, top right). She is a fully qualified veterinary nurse with many years of practical experience. She is ably assisted by Sadie, Ali & Sammi (top row) who are fully qualified RVNs.  We also have our two trainee nurses, Deanna (bottom left) and Leanne (bottom right).  Finally, we have Grace, who is an ANA (pictured in the centre of the bottom row with Tarn and Alfie).

Together, they look after the day to day running of...

Friday, 20 January 2017 - 6:30pm

Did you know that every year, our dogs and cats age 7 times faster than we do? By the age of 7 (dogs) and 8 (cats), our pets are considered to be senior, or geriatric.

Like humans, being aware of the first signs of ageing, is the first step to ensuring your pet lives a long and comfortable life.

The signs of ageing and age-related diseases in dogs and cats are not always obvious. Even pets that appear normal can have an underlying problem, which is why regular visits to the vet...

Tuesday, 17 January 2017 - 9:53am

The most likely diseases to cause scour are the viruses; Rota Virus and Corona Virus along with protozoa; Cryptosporidium and Coccidia and the bacteria; E. coli and Salmonella.  As only two of these causative agents are bacterial, antibiotics are often not required.

The age at which the calf is affected will give an idea of the likely pathogen and therefore appropriate treatment;

  • 1-3 days old is commonly bacterial in origin, therefore antibiotics may be...
Monday, 16 January 2017 - 10:17am

St Boniface Vets has recently been invited to write an article for Horse & Rider Magazine.  The article discusses Thrush and how to prevent it.

Thrush is a very common destructive infection that affects the frog, particularly the central sulci (or cleft) in the middle of the base of the frog and the grooves between the frog and sole.  The condition is characterised by a really unpleasant smell with a thick, black, gungy discharge, which is actually dead keratin tissue.

The...

Friday, 30 December 2016 - 4:09pm

A more unusual patient visited the practice recently...

Buzzby was brought in by a very kind and thoughtful member of the public who saw a car in front knock the buzzard over.

The buzzard was knocked into a puddle and presented to Kate in respiratory distress, soaking wet and cold.  On admit he wasn't moving, and open mouth breathing. 

After a very hands off approach, to begin with; to include warming and supplemental oxygen Kate was able to examine him. He was in good...

Monday, 19 December 2016 - 12:55pm

Our pets love a routine and the holidays can seem like a very strange time for our cats.  Their usual environment is filled with trees, flowers and other decorations, plus, unfamiliar visitors popping in every day can be very unnerving.

This, teamed with crackers and fireworks, can result in an unhappy cat.  Be aware of these changes and try and provide a 'staff zone' for your cat over the festive season.

There are also additional hazards for our cats, so we have put together a...

Tuesday, 13 December 2016 - 11:42am

"I’m a final year Vet Student at the University of Nottingham, and I’ve just finished a 4 week farm placement with St. Boniface. This was for my farm elective, a higher level placement, which can be undertaken at any XLVets practice  - chosen because they have the facilities and clinical caseload to provide experience of specialist practice.

Under the supervision of the Vets here, I’ve had the opportunity to perform reproductive exams of cows, including rectal palpation....

Saturday, 10 December 2016 - 3:04pm

Rabbits are well adapted to deal with cold weather, they have thick fur and choose to reside in burrows which keep them insulated from severe cold and sudden changes in winter weather, although they do prefer temperatures between 10-20C. Unfortunately domestic bunnies live above ground so are more prone to the cold weather. Here are 5 top tips to keep your rabbit warm and happy over the winter months

1. Keep the hutch damp and draught free

Use a tarpaulin,...

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 - 2:01pm

From time to time we come across conditions or illnesses that need specialist attention. In these cases we may sometimes arrange for your pet to a visit a referral centre that deals with advanced techniques. One such patient is "Bess" a 4 &1/2 year old Korthals Griffon who has recently undergone surgery for her heart condition.

Bess was diagnosed with a heart murmur which on further investigation turned out to be a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus)

A PDA is a tiny vessel in...

Tuesday, 29 November 2016 - 3:13pm

Many pets will explore the world via their mouth and nose, sniffing and tasting their way around their world.  While they do this they are innocently ingesting the toxins left behind by third hand smoke.

Quitza are trying to raise awareness of the dangers pets face with second and third hand smoke.  Many people are simply unaware that they are harming their pets by smoking around them, or by letting them live in an environment that is regularly smoked in  (Quitza is a non profit...

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