Small Animal Referral Hospital Langford Vets University of Bristol

09/06/2025

💚 A Warm Welcome to Our 2025/26 Small Animal Rotating Interns! 💚

We’re delighted to welcome our newest Small Animal Rotating Internship cohort to Langford Vets: Amy, Felicia, Joshua, Liana, Molly, Susanna, Hannah, Alice, Sumi and Renato.

Over the next 12 months, our interns will rotate through key disciplines including medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, imaging, emergency and critical care, and neurology - gaining hands-on experience in a supportive, specialist-led environment.

This year’s programme also kicks off with a brand-new four-week training course delivered by our Langford Academy, helping our interns hit the ground running with practical sessions, case-based teaching, and engaging lectures.

We hope you’ll join us in wishing them all the best as they begin this exciting next step in their careers! 🌟

05/06/2025

Meet Alfie!

Alfie is a lovely 8-year-old Boxer who was seen by Neurology Specialist Sophie for a 2-day history of sudden onset neck pain that rapidly progressed to having no voluntary movement in all his limbs.

Based on his neurological examination, the problem was localised to his cervical spinal cord, and Alfie promptly underwent an MRI scan of his neck which showed a large mass lesion (red asterisk) compressing his spinal cord. It was suspected to be a type of cancer called a meningioma which grows from the cells that form the protective layer around the spinal cord called the meninges.

Alfie underwent surgery with Sophie where all grossly visible parts of the mass were removedRelieving the pressure on the spinal cord isn’t always a quick fix and sometimes dogs can struggle to breathe by themselves following neck surgery. Alfie required ventilation and intensive monitoring and support in our ICU following his procedure but after 12-hours was successfully weaned from his ventilator and steadily improved. 4-days later Alfie was discharged home, able to walk well with a mild uncoordinated gait.

Here is a lovely video of Alfie 21-weeks (!) after surgery!

Alfie’s journey showcases the multi-disciplinary care available to patients here at Langford Vets, highlighted by the amazing support our Neurology team had from our Anaesthesia, ECC/ICU and Rehabilitation team.

04/06/2025

With Vet Nurse Awareness Month just behind us, we're keeping that momentum going - it's now less than a month until our Nursing & Animal Care Assistant Congress 2025! 🐾🩺

Designed by nurses, for nurses, this year's congress is bigger and better than ever! We're thrilled to introduce a brand-new Animal Care Assistant (ACA) stream - a much-needed CPD opportunity for ACAs - plus a hands-on suturing practical stream 🧵

We’re always looking ahead, and we've already got exciting plans in the works for 2026! There’s still time to book your spot - so don’t miss out!

👉 Book here: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/vet-nurse-congress-2025/

03/06/2025

This June, we’re thrilled to have our Neurology team take over our social media channels!

At Langford Vets, we’re proud to have a dedicated, Specialist lead team who are passionate about providing exceptional care for every pet that comes through our doors. Our Neurology team is made up of:

🐾 6 EBVS and RCVS Specialists in Veterinary Neurology

🐾 4 Residents in Veterinary Neurology

🐾 2 Core Neurology Nurses

Our Neurology team offer a comprehensive, friendly referral service for canine and feline brain, spinal cord and nerve/muscle disorders. They are experienced in dealing with diagnosis and management of both common and rare conditions, from epilepsy and intervertebral disc disease to complex malformations, spinal fractures and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system.

They work closely with our specialists in other departments to offer a first-class referral service and a holistic, multidisciplinary approach that is tailored to the needs of each individual patient and their owners.

They also provide invaluable support and assessments for patients that are being looked after by different departments in the hospital - if there is a concern about a patient's nervous system, our neurology team are happy to help!

Throughout the month, we’ll be introducing you to the incredible people behind our Neurology team, sharing their expertise, and showcasing the amazing work they do. Your pet’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we can’t wait to share our passion for Neurology with you!

Watch this space closely for the unveiling of a brand-new clinic our Neurology team are excited to launch!

02/06/2025

💚 Veterinary Nursing Residency Programme 2025-2028 💚

We’re excited to open applications for our Veterinary Nursing Residency Programme, based in our Small Animal Referral Hospital. This is a full-time, 3-year fixed term role starting in 2025, designed for experienced nurses looking to pursue a Veterinary Technician Specialism (VTS).

The successful candidates will work within their chosen speciality alongside boarded specialists and VTS-qualified nurses, with dedicated off-clinic time and mentorship to support their development.

Residents will also support the teaching and supervision of veterinary and veterinary nursing students on rotation and will take part in weekend and OOH rotas, including twilight and night work.

Closing date: 18th July

Apply now:

Langford Vets - Veterinary Nursing Residency Programme 2025-2028

31/05/2025

🐾Thank you for joining us for Dermatology Month! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about some of our patients, as well as getting to know our dedicated dermatology team and the expert care they provide.

🌟 Don’t forget - our special offer is still available! This May and June, we’re offering 50% off new dermatology referral consultations for ear disease, with a reduced consultation fee of just £215.

To refer a case, please complete our online form: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/small-animal-referral-hospital/make-a-hospital-referral/

Find out more about our dermatology service: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/small-animal-referral-hospital/clinical-services/dermatology/

30/05/2025

🌟 Celebrating the launch of our Recently Qualified Nurse Scheme! 🌟

At Langford Vets, we’re proud to champion career-long learning and development for every member of our team. That’s why we're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new Recently Qualified Nurse (RQN) Scheme via the Langford Academy! 🎓

Sitting alongside the Academy’s Recent Graduate Scheme for Veterinary Surgeons, the RQN Scheme is designed to support and mentor newly qualified nurses in both first opinion and referral settings, the RQN Scheme offers monthly, easy-to-access online webinars - streaming soon on our YouTube channel! 🎥

We hear from Claire Usher, our Deputy Head Theatre Nurse on her involvement in the creation of the scheme:

“I'm proud to be leading the Recently Qualified Nurse Scheme. Its focus is to support newly qualified nurses in their first few years as RVNs, to build on clinical and non-clinical skills. I'm passionate in advocating for the new cohort of nurses starting in practice for a career of lifelong learning. The beauty of the scheme is we will endeavour to be reactive to the requirements of members to support them in the transition from student to RVN and beyond!”- Claire Usher

Langford Academy is here to nurture and support! Got a topic you’d love to see covered? Drop it in the comments below!

📬 Sign up to our mailing list, stay updated and be the first to hear about our new releases each month: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/langford-academy/recently-qualified-nurse-scheme/

29/05/2025

Boris has struggled with allergic skin disease for 2-3 years, with recurrent itchy, smelly skin and hair loss. There was no difference following a diet trial, making a food allergy unlikely. Samples were taken to rule out parasites and infectious causes. Having ruled these things out, we can diagnose Boris with “Atopic Dermatitis” - sensitisation to allergens in the environment.

He was doing well over the winter months, but had a big flare this Spring, when the pollens increased. He came to see us with red, inflamed, itchy skin, as well as patchy hair loss. Samples were assessed under the microscope, and he was found to have a secondary overgrowth of Malassezia yeast.

We took a blood sample to test for antibodies to environmental allergens – this identified positive reactions to birch trees, w**d pollens, and house dust mites. This means we can consider Immunotherapy – the lab makes the allergens into a vaccine, which Boris will be given by injection every month. It’s the only treatment which targets the allergy itself and is helpful in approximately 60% of dogs.

It takes up to 12 months to take effect, so we also started a treatment plan to calm Boris’ skin down and address the secondary infection. After 1 month, he was back to his happy self. His hair was regrowing, and his skin was pink and calm. We are now finding a maintenance regime for Boris to help prevent these big spikes in itch.

We are excited to announce that this May and June, we're offering a 50% discount on new dermatology referral consultations for ear disease, with a discounted consultation fee of just £215.

If your patients are struggling with ongoing ear problems, now is the perfect time to refer them for a thorough assessment. If you would like to refer a case, please complete an online submission form here:

https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/small-animal-referral-hospital/make-a-hospital-referral/

27/05/2025

Monty was a lovely Miniature Poodle referred to us for hair loss. It had started on the backs of his legs and spread to include his body. He was not itchy, and there had been no other problems with his health. He’d had blood tests with his own vets to rule out an underactive thyroid, or any other causes of hormonal hair loss. A urine sample had also been assessed and was normal.

We looked at a hair sample under the microscope to rule out Demodex mites, but none were seen. We also took samples to check for infection, and these were clear.

Alopecia X was our main differential - a condition seen commonly in Pomeranians but also Miniature Poodles. To confirm this, and rule out any other causes of hair loss, we booked Monty in for a small procedure to take biopsies of his skin. We also took a sample for Dermatophyte (ringworm) culture.

The Dermatophyte culture was negative and the biopsies confirmed that Monty does have Alopecia X.

Alopecia X is a skin condition which causes progressive alopecia (hair loss) - it mainly affects the body and spares the head and legs. Over time, their body becomes completely bald, but affected dogs are otherwise healthy. Most commonly affected breeds include Miniature Poodles and "plush coated" breeds (e.g Pomeranians, Huskies and Malamutes). It's not a well understood condition and is unfortunately not something that can be cured.

There is some evidence that Melatonin can be helpful in approximately 40% of dogs. For dogs where the hair does regrow, it is likely to be lost again in the future - it's important to protect them from sunshine and cold weather. Monty's owner was keen to trial Melatonin, so we have started him on treatment twice daily and will monitor his progress.

We are excited to announce that this May and June, we're offering a 50% discount on new dermatology referral consultations for ear disease, with a discounted consultation fee of just £215.

If you would like to refer a case, please complete an online submission form here: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/small-animal-referral-hospital/make-a-hospital-referral/

23/05/2025

💚 Exciting recruitment update! 💚

As part of Vet Nurse Awareness Month, we're proud to share a major milestone for our veterinary nursing team - we’ve successfully recruited 10 amazing new nursing interns to join our re-launched Veterinary Nursing Rotational Internship, starting this August! Our Veterinary Nursing Rotational Internship builds on our Veterinary Nursing Graduate Programme which started in 2017.

This program originally began with 4 passionate nursing graduates, and to see it grow so significantly is a true testament to the dedication of our team, the strength of the program, and the increasing interest in structured pathways for veterinary nurse development.

The rotational internship offers a unique opportunity for new graduates to build confidence, gain hands-on experience across multiple disciplines, and develop a strong foundation for long-term career success in veterinary nursing.

We're incredibly excited about what this means for the future - not just for our new interns, but for the ongoing growth and recognition of the vital role vet nurses play in patient care and the veterinary profession as a whole!

22/05/2025

🐶 Our Late May Bank Holiday Opening Hours 🐶

For emergency referrals (from a veterinary surgeon), we're available 24/7 – call 0117 394 0513. For Langford Vet Practice out-of-hours emergencies, call 01934 852 422.

22/05/2025

💚 Roxi's Story - Ear Infection 💚

Roxi was referred to us as she had been struggling with recurrent ear problems for the last 2 years. Malassezia (yeast) had been previously, but rod bacteria (Pseudomonas) had been found prior to referral.

Roxi had been shaking her head, chewing her feet and licking her tummy. Roxi's left ear was inflamed, red and sore, with profuse discharge. She also had red, inflamed skin in her groin. Samples were taken to be assessed under the microscope - a large volume of rod bacteria were identified, as well as low levels of yeast. Cytology from her tummy and feet showed only very low levels of Malassezia.

Roxi was booked in for a head CT (to assess her middle ears) and an ear flush with the video otoscope. In the meantime, we started treatment with oral steroids, pain relief, drops for her ear, and antibacterial foam and cream for her tummy.

When we saw her back 1 week later, she was already much improved - there was a lot less head shaking, and the licking had reduced. The ear was a lot more settled, and the skin on the tummy more comfortable. CT identified no evidence of middle ear changes, and the video otoscope was used to help flush the ear with saline. This means we can assess the ear drum and get the ear really clean ahead of further treatment.

Her vets confirmed that the infection had resolved 3 weeks later. We recommended a maintenance regime using a little steroid into the ears twice a week, and antibacterial foam for her tummy and feet twice a week.

We received a lovely photo of Roxi (right) and her brother, Bailey (left), enjoying the sunshine. Her owner said "Roxi is very much back to her bouncy self - thank you so much for the care and attention given"

We are excited to announce that this May and June, we're offering a 50% discount on new dermatology referral consultations for ear disease, with a discounted consultation fee of just £215.

If your patients are struggling with ongoing ear problems, now is the perfect time to refer them for a thorough assessment. If you would like to refer a case, please complete an online submission form here:

https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/small-animal-referral-hospital/make-a-hospital-referral/