What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 8:30am - 4pm

Jonathan Wood Veterinary Surgeons

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United Kingdom
Devon
Jonathan Wood Veterinary Surgeons

Serving the pets, horses and farm animals of Devon since 1953.
(1)

A busy mixed animal veterinary practice in mid-Devon, providing a high level of personal, professional care for all our patients.

01/06/2026

🐾 Guide to Administering Eye Drops to Cats and Dogs
Giving eye medication can feel challenging, but with calm handling, preparation, and the right technique, most pets tolerate it very well.
🐱 How to Give Eye Drops to a Cat
Cats can be wiggly and sensitive around their faces, so patience is key.
✅ 1. Prepare the Environment
• Choose a quiet, well lit room with minimal distractions.
• Gather supplies: eye drops, a towel, treats, and clean hands.
• Warm the drops slightly by holding the bottle in your hand for 1–2 minutes.
🐈‍⬛ 2. Position Your Cat
• Place your cat on your lap or a stable surface.
• If your cat resists, wrap them gently in a towel burrito to keep paws contained.
• Sit behind your cat for support and to steady their body.
👁️ 3. Hold the Head Steady
• Use your non dominant hand to cradle the cat’s head from above.
• Rest your hand gently on top for stability—don’t squeeze.
💧 4. Apply the Drops
• With your dominant hand, hold the bottle close to (but not touching) the eye.
• Use your thumb or finger to gently raise the upper eyelid.
• Place one drop in the eye, aiming for the center or inner corner.
• Let your cat blink; blinking spreads the medication.
🎉 5. Praise and Reward
• Immediately reward with treats, petting, or play.
Positive reinforcement makes next time easier.

31/05/2026

So we had to ask the age old question Dogs or Cats? to our nursing team to mark the final day of Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month.

Head Nurse Shelly refused to pick one!

29/05/2026

💊 Treatment Options for Diabetes
Diabetes management requires consistent daily care and is a balance of:
1. Insulin Therapy (Primary Treatment)
• Insulin injections are required for both diabetic dogs and most diabetic cats.
• Dogs: Diabetes is typically lifelong, requiring ongoing insulin therapy.
• Cats: Some may achieve remission, especially early-stage or type II like cases.
2. Diet & Nutrition
• Dogs often benefit from high-fiber, complex carbohydrate diets.
• Cats respond best to high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets supporting weight loss and insulin sensitivity.
Monitoring
Monitoring blood glucose levels is important and can either be done at the surgery or potentially done at home with the investment in a monitoring device.
⚠️ Complications to Watch For
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – A life threatening emergency with vomiting, lethargy, dehydration.
• Hypoglycemia – Low blood sugar from too much insulin; causes weakness, disorientation, collapse. Owners should know emergency steps.
• Urinary tract infections – More common in diabetics.
• Cataracts (dogs) & neuropathy (cats).
🐕🐈 Long Term Outlook
• With correct insulin dosing, diet management, and monitoring, most pets live comfortably for many years.
• Consistency in feeding, insulin timing, and monitoring is just as important as the medications themselves.

28/05/2026

Cat basket available for £5 donation to Hector's House Cat Rescue
We have a large sturdy cat basket available for a new home! Clasps and body all in good condition, some rusting on parts of door but doesn’t effect use. Comment below or phone the surgery to claim - first come basis!

27/05/2026

… it’s exhausting just watching them! 😩🐾

When your pet is constantly itchy, it’s more than just a nuisance - it’s a cry for help! Whether it’s allergies, skin irritation, parasites, or something else, we can help them find relief so they can get back to being their happy, relaxed selves.

Book a check-up today!

26/05/2026

🚨 URGENT HELP NEEDED! 🚨

DO NOT COMMENT ON THEIR PAGE AS YOU ARE GENERATING INCOME FOR THEM!

We are horrified this morning to discover a page stealing images etc from Hector's House Cat Rescue and other hard-working rescues, purely to make money.

FRAUDULENTLY!

We need you to share this post EVERYWHERE and report the page to Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ChigXngpR/

Not only is this financial fraud, but also causes kind hearted people to lose faith in GENUINE rescues.

If you have the time, PLEASE REPORT it for Copyright infringement as this gets taken more seriously 🙏

Report it for Copyright infringement, or Scam, or whatever you see fit.
Use a laptop ideally as you'll need several tabs open to report Copyright.

This is STEALING MONEY from true rescues that need it for the animals that are most in need.

If you have more than one Facebook profile, use them all.

I think it's best NOT to comment on their page as you will be blocked by them immediately.

Our page has already been blocked by them in the hope we won't see it.

Act fast.

Act now.

Let's get these scammers shut down! 🙏

25/05/2026

Throughout Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month we are going to share with you some of the preferences of our amazing nursing team.

The penultimate one is vomit versus diarrhoea!

24/05/2026

🐶🐱 A Pet Owner’s Guide to Diabetes in Dogs and Cats
Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease in both dogs and cats. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use it properly, leading to high blood glucose levels.
🔍 What Is Diabetes?
• Diabetes is caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency, which prevents glucose from entering cells. As a result, sugar stays in the bloodstream, causing high blood glucose and resulting metabolic problems.
• It is most common in middle-aged to older dogs and cats.

🐾 Symptoms of Diabetes
The classic signs are similar in both dogs and cats and relate to excess sugar in the bloodstream.
Common Symptoms
• Polyuria – increased urination
• Polydipsia – increased thirst
• Polyphagia – increased appetite
• Weight loss, despite increased eating
• Lethargy or reduced activity
• Poor coat condition
• Weakness, sometimes hind-limb weakness in cats
🧪 How Vets Diagnose Diabetes
Key Diagnostic Tools
1. Blood glucose testing – Confirms elevated blood sugar.
2. Urinalysis – Detects glucose and sometimes ketones in the urine.
3. Fructosamine testing – Distinguishes stress induced high glucose from true diabetes.
4. Physical examination – Weight trends, hydration status, coat condition, secondary issues like cataracts or neuropathy.

later in the week we will look at treatment and potential problems associated with diabetes.

23/05/2026

It was a lovely warm sunny day yesterday and it promises to be sunny and hot for the next few days, so this is just a reminder about heatstroke and our pets.

Heatstroke cases in pets are all too common; share the below far and wide!

Many dogs get heatstroke when their owners take them out during high temperatures. Let's prevent heatstroke by knowing when it's safe to take your dog outside, and please contact us if you think your dog might have heatstroke!
And remember to keep your pets hydrated and are given plenty of shade.

Exercising in temps over 20 degrees can be a risk to fit healthy dogs, much lower for elderly, obese, flat-faced or large breed dogs 🌡️🔥

Take them for a walk early morning or evening when it’s cool.

Enjoy the sunshine, but please keep tabs on your pets x

22/05/2026

🧪 Diagnosing Hyperthyroidism
Diagnosis usually requires a combination of physical exam and laboratory testing.
Key diagnostic steps
1. Physical exam
o Palpation of the neck for enlarged thyroid
o Check heart rate, blood pressure
o Assess body weight and muscle mass
2. Blood tests
o Total T4: Elevated levels confirm most cases.
o Blood chemistry panel + urinalysis to check kidney function, liver enzymes, and other organ systems.
3. Additional tests (when needed)
o Blood pressure measurement
o ECG or ultrasound in cats with heart abnormalities
o Repeat T4 testing if concurrent disease may mask results
💊 Treatment Options for Hyperthyroidism
There are four main treatment approaches, each with pros and cons. Most cats can be managed successfully long term.
1. Radioactive Iodine Therapy (I 131)
• Cures >95% of cases.
• No anesthesia required and no daily medication.
• Targets abnormal thyroid tissue while sparing normal cells.
• May not be available everywhere; typically requires short hospitalization.
• Small risk of iatrogenic hypothyroidism afterward.
2. Oral Antithyroid Medication
• Controls, but does not cure, hyperthyroidism.
• Useful for cats not suitable for surgery or radioactive iodine.
• Requires daily dosing and periodic blood monitoring.
3. Surgical Thyroidectomy
• Can be curative; removes the abnormal thyroid gland(s).
• Requires anaesthesia.
• Potential complications include damage to parathyroid glands.
4. Prescription Iodine Restricted Diet
• Special low iodine diet (only food source).
• Helps normalize thyroid hormone production in many cats.
• Strict feeding control required — no treats, table scraps, or access to other pets’ food, indoor cats as hunting and eating prey will affect levels.
• Some cats do not fully normalize T4 even with strict adherence.

🧩 Choosing the Best Treatment
Your vet will help determine the ideal option based on:
• Your cat’s age and general health
• Presence of kidney or heart disease
• Your ability to medicate or control diet
• Access to facilities
Many cats with early detection and appropriate treatment can live happy, healthy lives for years.

Address

Devon

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm
Saturday	8:30am - 4pm

Website

https://www.jwoodvet.co.uk/

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