Active Pet

28/05/2026

🚨 MISSING CAT – PLEASE SHARE 🚨

A cat patient escaped from his carrier in the car park at The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, Marlow earlier today and is still missing. He is not local to the area, so may be very frightened and disoriented.

🐾 **Hamza**
• 8-year-old neutered male black domestic short hair
• Distinctive bald patch above one eye
• Ulcer in the right eye
• Microchip number ending in 7600

If you are local to the area, please check sheds, garages, bushes and quiet hiding places. Please do not chase him if seen.

📞 Any sightings or information:
The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre – 01628 308330

Please share to help get Hamza safely home to his very worried carers ❤️

19/05/2026

🐾 Meet Olive 🐾

Olive is a lovely 4-year-old Labrador who came to see us after starting to limp on her right forelimb. Philippa suspected she has elbow dysplasia and this is causing some arthritic change in the joint.

Her owner was keen to explore options that avoided medication if possible, so Olive’s treatment plan focuses on a combination of laser therapy for pain relief, a tailored home exercise program, and hydrotherapy on the underwater treadmill to help build strength and support her recovery.

This photo was taken at Olive’s second hydrotherapy session… and clearly someone was feeling rather confident! 😄

In fact, Olive hopped into the treadmill before Philippa had even managed to get her treat ready as a reward for going in 🐶🍖

Safe to say she’s settling in beautifully 💙

If you’ve noticed your dog starting to limp or showing subtle changes in movement, early intervention can make a real difference. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss how we may be able to help 🐾

24/04/2026

We are aware of the posts circulating regarding a dog that very sadly died after visiting a tulip festival.

We want to make it very clear that, despite what is circulating in the press and on social media, this dog did not die as a result of tulip poisoning.

As the UK’s only animal poison centre in the UK, we have managed over 1600 cases regarding tulips. Based on this evidence and our research, we can reassure the public that the clinical signs described in this case are not consistent with tulip toxicity. While tulips may cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested, severe cases are very uncommon. Other potential causes should be considered in this case.

If you’re concerned your pet may have been exposed to something harmful, please call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000. Veterinary professionals can call the VPIS on 020 7305 5055.

11/04/2026

🚨 Warning: Microchip scam emails.

We are seeing lots of reports online today of an email scam which states that your pet's microchip has expired and you need to pay for a new one. The email may use your name, your address, or even your pet's name to seem genuine. If you receive an email like this, be wary - pet microchips do not expire.

➡️ Forward suspicious emails to [email protected].

If you think you may have lost money as a result of a scam, contact your bank and report it to Action Fraud.

09/04/2026

🦴 Early detection of arthritis in dogs

This interesting research from the Royal Veterinary College highlights how new imaging techniques may help identify very early changes associated with osteoarthritis.

Arthritis often develops gradually, and the earliest changes can be difficult to detect — even though pets may already be starting to feel some discomfort.

Advances like this could help improve our understanding of how arthritis develops, and potentially allow for earlier diagnosis and intervention in the future.

At Active Pet, we often see dogs in the early stages of arthritis, where subtle signs such as stiffness, reduced mobility or changes in activity levels can easily be overlooked.

Early intervention and a veterinary-led rehabilitation and pain management approach can make a significant difference in maintaining comfort, mobility and quality of life.

If you’re noticing small changes in your pet, please feel free to get in touch to discuss how we may be able to help 🐾

🦴 Novel research has identified new markers to look for in the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis in dogs, using high-resolution three-dimensional bone mapping.

This advanced form of evaluation has not previously been performed, even in humans, and has generated new insights into osteoarthritis.

The findings will help improve understanding of the earliest changes that occur within the osteoarthritic joint, offering a potential opportunity for much earlier detection of the disease in both dogs and humans.

➡️ Read more at: https://rvc.uk.com/osteoarthritis-in-dogs

For more information regarding the PhD studentship, please visit: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/phd/studentships/osteoarthritis

02/04/2026

🐣 Happy Easter from Active Pet 🐾

We are now closed for the Easter break and will reopen on Tuesday 7th April at 9:30am.

Wishing all our patients a weekend of gentle walks, comfy naps and maybe a few Easter treats (pet-friendly, of course 🐾).

We look forward to seeing you all again next week!

01/04/2026

Reality:
“I brought you a stick.”

Also reality:
Still loving life… but maybe a little slower getting there.

We often see dogs who still enjoy their favourite things, but are starting to show small signs of stiffness or discomfort.

Catching these early can make a big difference 🐾

If you’re noticing small changes, feel free to get in touch to discuss how we can help.

19/03/2026

🐾 Vet School Open Day - This Saturday from 10am! - Some activities outside in the sunshine ☀️

Join us at the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine for a fun, family-friendly day as part of the

🧬 Crack DNA codes
🦇 Discover bat viruses
🐾 Help solve a Tasmanian Devil mystery
🔬 Explore the world of microbes
👩‍⚕️ Meet real vets & students

🎤 Plus live talks at 1pm and 2pm in our Lecture Theatre - Find out how to safely anaesthetise a giraffe with a neck taller than your classroom!

📅 Saturday 21 March - 10am - 4pm
📍 West Cambridge Site - off Madingley Road, CB3 0ES
🎟️ No tickets needed – just drop in!

Perfect for families, curious minds, and future vets 🐶✨

Full details on our website: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/research/cambridge-festival-march-2026

12/03/2026

🐾 Rufus’ first acupuncture session

Rufus came to see us this week for his first acupuncture treatment, alongside his second laser therapy session, to help manage arthritis affecting his elbows and paws.

Many pets find acupuncture very relaxing, and it can be a helpful part of a veterinary-led pain management plan for arthritis and mobility problems.

As you can see from the photos, Rufus gradually became sleepier and more relaxed during the session — something we often see once pets settle into treatment.

He took everything in his stride and looked very comfortable by the end of his session.

If you’re concerned about your pet’s mobility or comfort, please feel free to contact the clinic to discuss how we may be able to help.

05/03/2026

🐾 “My pet is slowing down… is it just old age?”

We hear this a lot at Active Pet.

Many changes that owners notice — slowing down on walks, reluctance to jump in the car, stiffness after resting, or difficulty with stairs — are often early signs of pain or reduced mobility, not simply ageing.

The good news is that there is a lot we can do to help.

At Active Pet we use a combination of:
• Veterinary physiotherapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Laser therapy
• Tailored exercise programmes

to help pets stay comfortable, active and enjoying life for as long as possible.

Small changes can make a big difference to your pet’s quality of life.

If you're worried that your pet isn’t moving quite as freely as they used to, it may be worth a check-up.

📞 Get in touch to discuss whether rehabilitation could help your pet.