Origin Vets Clinic

18/08/2025

Dr Sophie is off this week for a well earnt break and back 28th August.

We have an amazing locum called Jade Mackinley who is covering Monday and Tuesday this week and Tuesday next week. Jade is very capable with exotics and loves her cats too ! Georgie is also here Thursday and Friday so we have you covered !

Don’t forget we are closed bank holiday Monday next week and all out of hours are covered by VetsNow in Newport.

We are leaving you with this funny video that one of our wonderful clients Carrot Cottage Rabbit Rescue have made dubbing over Sophie’s video.

☀️

09/08/2025

This week we said really tough and emotional goodbyes to both Leanne and Adina as they take their next steps in their journey of life.

Adina has been with us for over four years and has dedicated so much of her time and knowledge to both other members of the team and to many students along the way. We have been truly grateful for the expertise, compassion, and welfare minded approach Adina has brought to our practice.

Leanne has been with us over three years and has been an essential member of our team providing the welcoming support to clients as they have entered the doors and taking on many different roles within the practice.

Both Adina and Leanne really have been the heart and soul of so much we have achieved over the last few years and we will really miss them both. There are no words to express the gratitude we have for all they have given over this time.

Please join us and wish them all the best in their new roles. We will miss you.

❤️ 🐇 🦦 🐈 🐸 🦎 🦜 🩺 ❤️

06/08/2025

06/08/2025

Rabbiting neutering is an important part of ownership.
This is (graphic) 30 second Timelapse of Dr Sophie Jenkins performing a rabbit spay showing you what happens during the surgery (permissions from carrotcottagerabbitrescue as the owners to post)

19/07/2025

🐇 🐰 Calling All Rabbit Owners 🐰 🐇

We are running another vaccination day for Yurvac RHD 1 and 2. This is the only vaccine that is currently proven to cover against the more virulent new strain of RHD 2 that has been spreading cross north Europe and is creeping across the UK.

The Nobivac Myxo RHD plus is not currently proven to cover against this strains and whilst it is still essential to have bunnies vaccinated with that too , the Yurvac gives the much needed protection against this highly virulent RHD 2 new strain.

The vaccine is £45 and we are running the vaccination day on Tuesday 29th July. We have around 20 slots left to book and we do require prepayment to secure the slot.

New clients are welcome (we require any previous vet history) and clients from other practices are also welcome (history also required) if they would just like the vaccine and we will send the vaccine history back to your normal vets.

Please contact us on 02922362166 to book your slot or via PetsApp or email via [email protected]

Please share to help spread word about the availability of this vaccine as it isn’t commonly becoming available at the moment and we need to protect as many rabbits as we can before this virus spreads over the UK.

16/07/2025

Meet Georgie our Summer Vet !

Those eagle eyed amongst you will remember Georgie from her seeing practice with us multiple times in the past

Georgie graduated earlier this year and is with us until September when she makes her very big move across the world to Canada to work in a mixed and exotic animal vet practice!

Before becoming a vet Georgie undertook a Biology degree at Oxford University before going onto do a masters in Tropical Forest Ecology ! She is one talented cookie !

Give Georgie a big welcome hello !

13/07/2025

For all our cat owners

🐾 Protect Your Purr-fect Companion! 🐱💉

Did you know kittens need a series of vaccines to stay healthy and strong? Vaccinating your kitten is one of the most important steps in giving them a safe start in life.

✔️ Protect against deadly diseases
✔️ Support lifelong immunity
✔️ Give your kitten the healthiest start possible

📅 Kittens should start their vaccines at 8 weeks of age — don’t wait!
📍 Book your kitten’s vaccine appointment today with our caring team.
🩺You can join our cat wellness plans from just £10 a month too in order to spread out the cost of ongoing preventative health care for your kitten /cat

📞 Call us at 02922362166 or book online via https://www.originvetsclinic.co.uk/cat-vet-cardiff

Because every meow matters. 💛

06/07/2025

🦎 Meet Gweny the giant leopard gecko!🦎

Gweny is a beautiful big boy weighing in at a whopping 103 grams !

He presented this week with small swellings at the base of his tail and a hemipenile prolapse.

Hemipenes are paired reproductive organs that are stored in hemipenile pouches at the base of the tail.

Hemipenile plugs occur in many male lizards (usually of sexual maturity) but are often seen in leopard geckos. They are accumulations of shed skin, waxy secretions, or debris that collect in or around the hemipenes.

They can occur due to a combination of factors including:
• Shedding issues due to husbandry eg too low/high humidity/heat or lack of vitamin A / D
• Infrequent or incomplete sheds
• Lack of mating (in older males)
• Excessive sebaceous gland secretions
• Debris buildup from substrate or faeces
• Trauma

👩‍⚕️ Dr Sophie examined Gweny and confirmed the diagnosis of pr*****ed hemipene due to hemipenile plugs. Gweny was given a warm bath to help soften the plugs and lubricant was used to aid removal of the plug each side without any difficulty. The pr*****ed hemipene was cleaned with saline and gently replaced into its normal position


🤔 Why is it important to seek veterinary attention ?

Well there are other differential diagnoses such as abscess, cloacal prolapse , tumours or cysts and therefore veterinary support it’s vital to ensure the correct treatment approach is undertaken. It is also important as even some hemipenile plugs can be severe enough for antibiotics and pain relief due to secondary infection

Luckily Gweny owner sought help quickly and the plugs were remove allowing the hemipenile prolapse to be safely replaced.

Gweny will require some adaptations to his diet to include more vitamin A and to increase his crunchy legged bugs such as hoppers and crickets over a less balanced grub of meal worms.

Gweny is making a great recover and as you can see he was much happier after the removal giving us one very big smile -or maybe it was a little warning of his little teeth that could attack us at any point if we took our eyes of him 🤔 😂 🦎

26/06/2025

Here at Origin Vets Clinic, we are acutely aware of how stress can negatively impact our rabbit patients, from worsening of pre existing ailments to triggering bouts of gut stasis! 🐰

Prey species, like rabbits (and other small pets) can be heavily affected by stressful events and this can lead to a process termed trigger stacking. Trigger stacking occurs particularly when the buns don't have time to relax and recover after one stress, before the next insult occurs.

As rabbit owners we can greatly reduce the incidence of trigger stacking by allowing time between stressful events and creating positive experiences.

Some top tips for reducing stress before arriving for a veterinary appointment:

🐇 Consider the use of pheromones or calming sprays such as pet remedy, when a stressful event is anticipated, such as travel or bonding

🐇 Ensure that your pet has had their medications prior to travel (particularly pain killers if they are on them), Being driven in the car when uncomfortable can quickly move rabbits up the trigger stacking ladder

🐇 De-sensitise your rabbits to their travel carriers, making them a safe, familiar space rather than a warning that they are about to be caught and travelled somewhere

🐇 Ensure there's plenty of enrichment available to distract your rabbit (tasty food items always go down a treat) particularly when travelling in a carrier!

🐇 Transport buns with their bonded friends - there's safety in numbers!

🐇 Keep car noise levels to a minimum, consider classical music on a low volume

🐇 Hold the carriers level, with your hand under the base, at the height of your waist rather than at your side, this will reduce swinging of the carrier as you walk

🐇 Check the weather on days you plan travel, consider warming/cooling aids to prevent dangerous temperature fluctuations fans, air con, good ventilation are all good ways to prevent over heating, and heat pads and carrier covers can help to keep them warm in cold snaps

🐇 Take water to top up drinking bottles/bowls, use plenty of hay and soft, non-slip bedding and make sure you have extra food for the case of emergencies

*Massive thank you to our lovely vet student Heloisa for the wonderful picture!*

What are your best "tricks of the trade" you utilise to reduce stressors? Comment below to help spread the positivity ❤️

25/06/2025

One of the most important things we can do as rabbit owners is protect our floofers with life saving and disease preventing vaccinations. We are pretty well versed on the devastating consequences of myxomatosis and RVHD, but what about the new RVHD strains? 🤔

Theres a lot to un pick, but Dr Richard Saunders has answered some of our hot FAQs on the newly emerging highly virulent strain... Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15n9V3u29J/

24/06/2025

We absolutely LOVE this poster by Willow Grove Designs illustrating, with humour all the things buns need to keep healthy 😍

Nutrition is the cornerstone to good gut health in rabbits

🧁🍦🍫🥧🍭

23/06/2025

Today is the first day of rabbit awareness week 2025!

This years theme is happy hoppy homes 🐰🐇

There have been lots of amazing campaigns surrounding appropriate housing for rabbits like "A hutch is not enough"

So lets delve in to what makes a good rabbit enclosure!

🐰 Space: Buns need space for all of their activities, it is reccommended that the minimum space for two medium-sized rabbits, should be at least 3m x 2m x 1m (10ft x 6ft x 3ft). Though more space is always better.

🐰 Enclosure:
The living space should be tall enough for the rabbit to stand on its hind legs turn around easily and hop freely, there should be sheltered areas (particularly if outdoors) - protected from the wind, rain and of course well ventilated for those hot sunny days too!

🐰 Run:
A run should be large enough for the rabbits to run, jump, and play. Made of robust, rabbit safe materials, Chew-proof, non toxic and fully secure to keep them safe from predators. Adequate ventilation is vital, to prevent overheating and ensure fresh air is circulated .

🐰 Enrichment:
Litter boxes, dig boxes, natural treats like herbs and weeds are fantastic enrichment, pe***ng them up in new places will encourage foraging and stretching (bunny yoga 🧘‍♀️) .

🐰Food and water:
Access to high quality, fresh hay, food and water at all times is essential

🐰Grassy area:
A grassy area is ideal for grazing and allows rabbits to exhibit natural behaviors.

🐰🐰Companionship:
Rabbits are social animals, so keeping at least two neutered, bonded rabbits together is recommended. Social bonds help rabbits to feel safe and encourages natural behaviours ❤️

We would love to see some of your hoppy enclosures... Post us some inspiration in the comments!!

Think a bun might be for you?
Download RAW25 owner pack to fibd out more!!

https://rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/downloads/owner-pack/

Get involved with Rabbit Awareness Week 2022 and download your free pack full of great resources to share with your family and friends.