Pride Veterinary Referrals

03/11/2026

A belated Halloween thank you!

Last week we had two 'fangtastic' felines visit us to start their journey to become life-saving feline blood donors.

Pickles and Joey were both superstar patients!

Both cats had a full physical health check from one of our vets, their blood pressure was checked and they had a blood test to check they were healthy and eligible to donate their blood.

Both Joey and Pickles have now been added to our feline blood donor list and may be called on in an emergency situation.

Thank you so much to Pickles, Joey and their owners for coming to visit us!

Does your cat fit the following criteria? If so they could be our next superhero!

- Aged between 1-10 years old
- Over 4kg
- Fit and healthy (no ongoing health issues)
- Up to date with vaccinations
- Not travelled outside of the UK
- Never received a blood transfusion
- Not pregnant
- Not raw fed
- Calm temperament and doesn't get too stressed in the veterinary environment

If you think your cat meets all of the criteria please click the link below to register -
https://wkf.ms/4vE1F1n

If you have any further questions, feel free to call us or email the team on [email protected]

Thank you!

31/10/2026

A busy few weeks of CPD across Europe for our Head of Neurology JJ!

We’ve spoken before about the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) within veterinary medicine, and we’re incredibly proud of JJ’s ongoing contribution to sharing knowledge, developing skills and supporting the wider Veterinary profession.

So, what has he been up to? Quite a lot!

18–19 September | Berlin - JJ attended the 38th ECVN (European College of Veterinary Neurology) Symposium, joining colleagues from across Europe to share knowledge and keep up to date with the latest developments in veterinary neurology.

25–26 September | Málaga - At Vetability, JJ delivered a course on Cervical Spinal Cord Decompression, including a practical wet lab, giving delegates the opportunity to develop and apply their surgical skills.

30 September | Sevilla - JJ returned to AniCura Guadiamar Veterinary Hospital - a hospital he originally founded - to deliver a presentation on ‘Brain Tumours: From Diagnosis to Surgery’.

2–3 October | Valencia - JJ then headed to Universidad Católica de Valencia, where he delivered a course on Cervical Vertebral Column Stabilisation, again including a practical wet lab.

Four events, three cities and plenty of knowledge shared! We’re incredibly proud to see JJ continuing to educate, inspire and support fellow veterinary professionals, helping colleagues refresh their knowledge, develop new skills and, hopefully, inspiring the next generation of veterinary neurologists along the way.

Well done, JJ!

29/10/2026

Exciting news at Pride Veterinary Referrals!

We are delighted to announce that we are expanding our team with the introduction of a dedicated Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) service.

Next month, we will welcome two new specialists to Pride, ECVECC Diplomates Emily Stacey and Abigail McNally, who will help us take the next step in developing our emergency and critical care provision.

This exciting development will allow us to support more complex cases and increase our capacity to care for pets who need critical, specialist attention.

Over the coming months, our new ECC team will be working alongside our existing teams to prepare for the launch and ensure we are ready to provide the best possible care.

From January 2027, we will begin accepting direct referrals to our ECC team.

We are incredibly excited about this next chapter for Pride and look forward to sharing more with you soon.

19/10/2026

Nala’s Road to Recovery

Meet Nala, a beautiful 2-year-old German Shepherd who had a frightening accident on 9th October involving an electric saw.

The accident caused a significant injury to the front part of her lower jaw and a fracture of her right lower canine tooth. Her owners rushed her to their local vets who then referred her on to us at Pride Veterinary Referrals to our surgery department.

That same evening, specialist surgeon Isabel performed emergency surgical resection of the affected portion of her jaw, followed by careful reconstruction of the wound.

We’re delighted to report that Nala recovered really well following her procedure and was able to go home the very next day!

We’re so pleased with how well this brave girl has done after such a serious injury.

A huge well done to Nala for being such a star, and we wish her all the best as she continues her recovery!

16/10/2026

Or Would you know what to do if your pet was suddenly injured or became unwell?

Emergencies can happen when we least expect them, and knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make all the difference.

Join us at Pride Veterinary Referrals for our Pet First Aid: Be Prepared for the Unexpected session, designed specifically for pet owners.

During this practical and interactive 2-hour session, our Referrals Nursing Manager will cover some of the most common emergencies pet owners may face, including:

• Wounds and bleeding
• Choking
• Toxins
• Seizures
• Heat-related emergencies
• CPR

You’ll learn how to recognise the signs of an emergency, what you can safely do at home, what you should never do, and when your pet needs urgent veterinary attention.

The session is designed to be easy to understand, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and discuss real-life scenarios. No previous first aid knowledge is needed.

Sunday 8 November 2026
10am–12pm
Pride Veterinary Referrals, Derby
Free to attend

Light refreshments will also be available.

Spaces are limited, so book your place via Eventbrite:

Book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pet-first-aid-be-prepared-for-the-unexpected-tickets-2000258379659

Please remember that first aid is not a replacement for veterinary treatment. The session is designed to help you provide appropriate initial care and make informed decisions while seeking professional veterinary advice.

Join us for a practical and informative 2-hour Pet First Aid session designed specifically for pet owners.

12/10/2026

A big thank you to Mackerel and Theo!

If you follow our page, you may remember a plea we put out for a life saving blood donor! The super sweet Mackerel donated blood for our patient in need and was the perfect donor!

When more blood was required for a further transfusion a couple days later, her brother Theo came in to be screened. Unfortunately he wasn't able to be used on this occasion, but has now been added to our register for potential future donations.

We enjoyed watching him make biscuits whilst having his health check! What a cute boy!

Blood donors are literal life savers for some of the critically ill patients we see, so we are always on the look out for more relaxed and happy cats to welcome to our donor list.

If your cat meets the criteria below and you'd like to get them health checked to see if they could help save a life please follow this link -
https://wkf.ms/4vE1F1n

1-10yrs
Over 4kg
Healthy
Up to date with vaccines
Up to date with flea/worm
Not travelled abroad
Not had a transfusion themselves

Cats that donate get a health check including blood pressure and bloods and a goodie bag!

The whole process is completely free to you and your beloved cat can help save the life of another feline patient at our hospital!

For more information please contact us 01332548911 and ask to speak to one of the medicine Nurses!

11/10/2026

Thank you Ron, What a superstar!

Ron came to the rescue last Friday evening and donated some of his blood to one of our patients that urgently needed a blood transfusion. Thanks to Ron, the patient in need has now been discharged to continue his recovery at home!

He was such a good boy and has now been added to our list of blood donors to continue being a superhero for future cats in need.

If you have a cat like Ron, who fits the criteria below, please follow the link - https://wkf.ms/4vE1F1n to register today, or contact us on 01332 548911 to discuss the process with one of our Medicine Nurses.

Criteria to become a blood donor -

1-10years old
Over 4kg
Fully vaccinated
Up to date with flea/ worm treatment
Healthy
Not travelled abroad
Has not been the recipient of a blood transfusion.
Calm and relaxed temperament at the vets

Cats that donate receive a full health check including blood pressure and bloods, as well as a goodie bag of treats, toys and a voucher for more goodies!

Please join us in celebrating Ron, one of our amazing feline lifesavers! Keep your eyes peeled for Monday’s post, where we’ll be celebrating more of our incredible feline blood donor heroes.

09/10/2026

Celebrating Happiness at Work at Pride Veterinary Referrals!

This week, we've been spreading a little extra happiness across our hospital by dedicating the week to celebrating the incredible people who make Pride Veterinary Referrals such a special place to work!

Behind every patient we care for is a team of dedicated, compassionate and hardworking people, and we wanted to take some time to recognise and appreciate them.

Throughout the week, we've been celebrating in lots of little ways:
Monday –You Make a Difference: Sharing messages of appreciation with colleagues and recognising the little things that make a big difference.
Tuesday – Treat the Team: Enjoying some well-deserved treats as a thank you for everyone's hard work!
Wednesday – Better Together: Sharing ideas about how we can make our hospital an even better place to work.
Thursday – Kindness Counts: Encouraging small acts of kindness and reminding ourselves how much a kind word or helping hand can mean.
Friday – Celebrate Your Team: Celebrating our wonderful colleagues and everything we achieve together!

Working in veterinary medicine can be challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. From the clinical teams caring for our patients to the amazing people working behind the scenes, every single person plays an important part in what we do.

Happy teams, supported colleagues and a culture of kindness all contribute to the exceptional care we strive to provide for every pet.
We're incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the compassion, dedication and teamwork they demonstrate every day.

Here's to celebrating the people who make Pride so special, not just this week, but all year round!

08/10/2026

Brilliant People Award winners 2026

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Jo Carrier RVN and Molly Cabourn RVN, who have both been recognised as winners in the Brilliant People Awards 2026!

Jo Carrier, our Team Leader for the Rotating Nurses, was recognised for her outstanding transition into leadership. Since stepping into her role, Jo has embraced her new responsibilities with confidence and professionalism, adapting quickly and effectively while continuing to support and develop the team around her. She is a fantastic example of how strong leadership can empower others to grow and succeed.

Molly Caborn, our Theatre Nurse, was recognised for her exceptional commitment to professional development and her dedication to advancing patient care. Molly has been working towards her VTS in Anaesthesia, demonstrating a real passion for learning and a strong drive to provide the highest standard of care for her patients.

Both Jo and Molly are fantastic members of the Pride team, and these awards are very well deserved.

Congratulations Jo and Molly! We’re so proud to have you both as part of Pride Veterinary Referrals.

06/10/2026

Meet Brody, a lovely and very active 4.5-year-old Border Collie who came to us after two days of lethargy, followed by a rapid and dramatic deterioration.

Shortly after arriving, Brody suffered a respiratory arrest and required emergency resuscitation by our ICU team. Thankfully, they were able to bring him back, but an MRI scan revealed a suspected brain infection, with significant increased pressure within his skull.

Brody needed emergency brain surgery, including a decompressive craniectomy, with sampling and careful flushing of the affected area.

The days that followed were a real rollercoaster, but Brody showed just how much of a fighter he is. With nine days of intensive hospital care, he gradually began to improve and was eventually well enough to head home to continue his recovery with his family.

Now, six weeks after surgery, we are absolutely delighted with his progress. Most importantly, Brody is back to doing what he loves - enjoying life and chasing balls!

We couldn't be happier to see this gorgeous boy back on his feet and thriving!

A special thank you to Brody's family for sharing the gorgeous pictures and videos of him post recovery!