Chichester Vets

01/06/2026

Happy Honey recently came in to see us for her spay. Here she is a few hours post-operatively, enjoying some fuss from nurses Sue and Rachael and showing off her lead 🤩 She truly has taken everything in her stride and is still so excited to come in to see us for her post op checks! Well done Honey 💛

25/05/2026

Meet the lovely Sapphire who came in to see us because her owner had noticed blood in her urine. She had an initial course of treatment for a UTI as there was a lot of bacteria in her urine, but the blood unfortunately persisted.

The next step was an ultrasound scan that showed a bright area within the bladder that created a shadow. This made us suspicious of a bladder stone, so we then took x-rays to confirm. Sure enough there was a 2.5cm diameter stone visible on the x-rays!

Sapphire underwent a cystotomy to surgically remove the stone from her bladder. Although her bladder was very inflamed, she made a fantastic recovery and was back to her normal self the following day! The stone was sent for analysis and came back as struvite, which is one of the most common types of stone, especially in female dogs.

Sapphire is now on a special diet to reduce recurrence of struvite stones and she will be monitored regularly for UTIs, which are a significant causal factor. Hopefully with careful management Sapphire will remain happy and stone free! 🐕

23/05/2026

We hope you're all enjoying the glorious bank holiday weather! ☀️

Please do consider the effects of the heat on your pets though, especially those who are particularly young or old, overweight, brachycephalic (flat faced), thick coated or with pre-existing heart or lung conditions.

Ensure your pet has somewhere cool to relax and access to fresh water at all times. Never leave your pet in a car or a hot room such as a conservatory. Only walk your dog either early in the morning or late in the evening, otherwise not at all.

Signs of heatstroke include:
🌡️ Panting
🌡️ Restlessness
🌡️ Drooling
🌡️ Red gums
🌡️ Vomiting/diarrhoea
🌡️ Lethargy/weakness
🌡️ Confusion
🌡️ Seizures

If you notice any of these signs please call us on 01243 779111, where you'll be directed to our emergency providers.

Please also see below for the most recent advice regarding initial treatment for heat stroke. The main takeaway message is to use soak/immerse your animal in cold water, then get straight to a vet!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JMyLNwki8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hot Forecast Due 🌅

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, at risk, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧Note: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

And listen to our podcasts on Vet Voices On Air

Too Hot to Handle: The Truth About Canine Heatstroke

Heatstroke is one of the most lethal yet most misunderstood emergencies in veterinary medicine—and it doesn’t only happen on scorching summer days.

In this in-depth episode Robyn from Vet Voices on Air is joined by two leading voices in the field: Dr Emily Hall, primary care vet, educator, and researcher whose PhD focused on the epidemiology of heatstroke in UK dogs, and Emily Cockerill, referral RVN and Lowland Rescue search dog volunteer with extensive real-world experience managing dogs working in extreme conditions.

Together, they unpack what heatstroke actually is, why it’s so dangerous, and why time and temperature matter more than almost anything else. Using clear, evidence-based explanations, they explore what happens inside the body when temperatures rise—how proteins “cook,” organs fail, and why once a critical threshold is crossed, the damage is irreversible.

The conversation tackles long-standing myths head-on, including:
The belief that cold or ice water causes “shock”

➡Why wet towels can worsen overheating
➡The dangers of lemon juice in brachycephalic dogs
➡Misconceptions around double-coated breeds and clipping
➡Why ice cubes might not meaningfully cool dogs but can be used for indoor and cool enrichment

Crucially, the episode highlights that exertional heatstroke is the most common cause, not hot cars—and that heatstroke can occur in winter, during travel, stress, anaesthesia recovery, or even inside veterinary practices. Certain breeds and health conditions increase risk, but any dog (or cat, rabbit, or other small animal) can be affected if heat production exceeds the body’s ability to lose it.

Listeners will come away with clear, practical guidance on:

➡Recognising early and late signs of heatstroke
➡What owners should do immediately at home or in the field
➡Why pre-cooling before transport dramatically improves survival
➡Current best-practice protocols for active cooling in clinic
➡When to start and stop cooling based on body temperature
➡How prevention, timing, and informed decision-making save lives

If you’ve ever wondered when it’s too hot to walk your dog, how heatstroke presents beyond “just panting,” or what the evidence really says about cooling, this episode is essential listening—for veterinary professionals and pet owners alike.
Because when it comes to heatstroke, minutes matter—and myths can kill.

Listen Here on Vet Voices On Air

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MMO1STWzFzyhYiExBp9gN?si=achtyAFISSSt8bwmykDHqg

22/05/2026

🐾 Bank Holiday Opening Times 🐾

Saturday the 23rd of May we will be open as usual from 9am until 12pm.

Monday the 25th of May, we will be closed for the Bank Holiday.

Open as usual on Tuesday the 26th. ☀️ 🤞

If you have an emergency, please call Chichester Vets on 01243 779111 where you will be directed to our out of hours emergency cover. 🩺

🐾 Have a lovely Bank Holiday everyone 🐾

20/05/2026

✨ Meet Lisa – Our expert Galen Myotherapist from K9s in Motion! ✨

At Chichester Vets, we are proud to work with trusted specialists to give your pets the best possible care – and Lisa is one of our most valued experts 💙. She is a fully qualified Galen Myotherapist, and her work is all about helping dogs feel more comfortable, move freely, and live without pain.

What is Galen Myotherapy, and what does Lisa actually do?

It is a gentle, effective therapy that combines advanced massage, rehabilitation exercises, and red light therapy to improve muscle health, ease stiffness, and repair soft tissue. It targets the root of discomfort – not just symptoms – and works brilliantly alongside veterinary care.

Lisa starts every session with a full assessment: she studies your dog’s posture, how they stand, weight distribution, and how they walk or run. She looks for tight muscles, areas of tension, or changes in movement that happen when a dog is trying to protect a sore joint or injury – these are called compensatory changes, and they often cause new problems over time.

Techniques she uses:
🐾 Specialised Massage & Soft Tissue Work: Deep, targeted techniques to release tight, knotted muscles, stretch connective tissue (fascia), improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. This helps ease pain, restore flexibility, and relax areas that have been overworked or strained.

🐾 Rehabilitative Exercises: Tailored movement plans to strengthen weak muscles, improve balance, and support joints. These are gentle, fun, and designed just for your dog’s age, breed, and condition – you also get simple exercises to do at home to keep them progressing.

🐾 Photizo Red Light Therapy: A safe, non-invasive treatment that uses specific light wavelengths to boost cell repair, speed up healing, and naturally relieve pain and swelling – perfect for sore joints, arthritis, or old injuries.

🐾 Choice-Led Approach (Positive PACT®): Lisa always lets your dog lead – treatments are low to the floor, no restraint, and she checks constantly how they feel. It’s kind, calm, and stress-free, so most dogs absolutely love it 🥰.

It helps dogs with:
• Osteoarthritis, hip & elbow dysplasia
• Subluxating patellas (wobbly knees), cruciate ligament issues
• Spondylosis (spine changes), ongoing lameness or stiffness
• Soft tissue injuries, strains, or post-surgery recovery
• Compensatory pain – when one part hurts because another part is working too hard
• Even behaviour changes: grumpiness, reluctance to walk, or being less active – often linked to hidden pain.

Latest updates from our clinic:

We’ve been seeing amazing results already! Several of our own team’s dogs have now had 3 treatments, and the difference is clear: better posture, smoother walking, and much more energy and comfort 🐾.

Tuesday this week was lovely – sweet Minnie came in for her very first session, she was so good and settled right in 🥰.

Lisa also treats Luna – whose mum is one of our vet nurses. Luna is having chemotherapy, so Lisa visits her at home, and as you can see, she absolutely loves her sessions, helping her stay happy and comfortable ❤️.

If you think your dog could benefit, or you want to know more about how Galen Myotherapy works, you can contact Lisa directly on 07925 923253 – or K9's In Motion - she’d be happy to help.

Sessions can be arranged at your home, or here in the surgery. 🐾

19/05/2026

Some good advice from our neighbouring Woodhorn Farm.

🌿 A tiny surprise on the farm today 🌿

Our farm team came across a newborn fawn tucked into the grass while they were out fencing today - absolutely still, perfectly camouflaged, and very sweet indeed! 🦌

A gentle reminder for anyone who comes across one:
Please don’t touch or move a fawn - Its mum leaves it hidden while she feeds, and human scent can cause her to abandon it ⛔️

So if you spot one: admire from afar, keep dogs close, and leave nature to do its thing.

Little moments like this make our job even more special 🤩

18/05/2026

⭐ OUR SUPERSTAR CLIENT: ⭐
🐾⭐️ MEET FYRE, THE TV STAR! ⭐ 🐾

We are absolutely buzzing with excitement here at Chichester Vets—because one of our favourite four-legged patients is a TV celebrity! 📺🐶

You may well recognise handsome Fyre from Amandaland Season 2, where he has been stealing scenes and winning hearts everywhere he appears. We’ve loved seeing him shine on screen—we’re huge fans of the show anyway, so spotting our very own patient up there has been such a proud moment for the whole team!

Fyre has always been a delight to have at the practice—always well-behaved, full of charm, and an absolute pleasure to care for. None of this stardom would be possible without his incredible trainer, Jennie Dean. Jennie is simply brilliant at what she does; the bond she has with her dogs is wonderful to see, and the work they do together is truly amazing.

We’ve even had the joy of welcoming Fyre and Jennie here to the clinic for photoshoots for our own website—they brought so much energy and fun to the day, and the results were fantastic.

From our consulting rooms to your screens, Fyre is proof that our patients really are the stars of the show! 🌟

👇 Did you spot Fyre in Amandaland Season 2? Let us know in the comments if you recognised him before reading this post!

16/05/2026

🐾 There’s something a little different going on here today! 🏗️

We’re creating a calm new space for our team 💚

At Chichester Vets, our team works incredibly hard every day.

While we have a spot to make tea, there’s no proper place to relax, unwind or eat lunch peacefully.

It’s well known that veterinary work carries a heavy emotional weight, and research confirms veterinary professionals are at much higher risk of stress, burnout, and mental health struggles, with su***de rates significantly above the general population.

Rest, quiet time, and proper support aren’t luxuries — they are essential.

That’s why, with the help of Danny Mears Transport Ltd, and his crane! We have installed a dedicated garden room: a quiet, peaceful space just for our team, where they can step away, breathe, recharge, and enjoy their break without interruption.

It’s part of our ongoing commitment to their health, happiness, and wellbeing — because caring for people is just as important as caring for pets.

We’re proud to look after those who give so much every single day. 💙

All we need now is a few homely essentials ☺️
💡 🪴 🫖 📻 📖

13/05/2026

💙 This May we shout loud for our AMAZING veterinary nurses 🎉🐾

Here’s why they’re absolute legends:

✅ They care for every patient like their own 🐶🐱🐰

✅ Expert skills + endless patience + huge hearts ❤️

✅ Comfort nervous pets and worried owners 🫂

✅ Work hard, always learning, and go the extra mile every single day!

The 2026 Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month celebrates COMPASSION & EMPATHY — that’s exactly what our nurses live & breathe ✨

Big love to Sue, Lizzie, Emma, Rachael, Katie, Meghan, & Jane — YOU ARE THE BEST! 👏👏

👇 Drop a ❤️ or a story to say THANK YOU!

📞 01243 779111
🌐 www.chichester-vets.co.uk

13/05/2026

Meet Flo, one of our oldest patients at 80 years old!

Flo belongs to our wonderful nurse Sue, who noticed that she had been digging to lay eggs for the last couple of days, but hadn't produced any. An x-ray showed Flo had 4 retained eggs.

As she was otherwise clinically well with no signs of obstruction, oxytocin was administered into her leg muscle to help her uterus contract and expel the eggs. Sure enough, within an hour Flo had produced 4 completely normal eggs!

She should now feel much better, especially after a well deserved Reptoboost bath to help her recovery 🐢