Heathfield Vets

05/06/2026

A few photos of our recent CPR training with poor Ralph the dog (he'd already had a leg bandaged during student nurse training!). In this scenario he played the part of a French Bulldog who required immediate CPR. When an emergency happens, it's important that all of our staff (including our non-clinical team) are able to step in to help until a full clinical team can get to the hospital building. This week receptionist Laura practised compressions under the expert tutelage of our nursing team.

Fortunately, emergency situations like this happen very rarely but making sure our team is ready if the worst happens is vital.

Oh and Ralph the dog made it, but he does have ear bandage practice next week, sorry Ralph! 😆

02/06/2026

Buzz Buzz! It's summer and the bees are out pollinating our gardens while the wasps are ruining our picnics! Pets are most likely to be stung after shoving their head in a bush or accidentally stepping on a bee, so be sure to check their feet and faces for stings. If you are worried about whether to bring your pet to the vet, please feel free to call us for advice on 01435 864422. 🐝

27/05/2026

Meet Mouse and Mushroom, two adorable kittens that visited us for neutering. They would not stop flirting with our nurses (we think it was the other way around!). ❤🐁🍄

26/05/2026

22/05/2026

Most responsible dog owners know that leaving a dog in a car when the weather is warm is incredibly dangerous. Cars can heat up extremely quickly, leading to dangerous temperatures that could cause heat stroke. If you do see a dog in a hot car, we recommend following the advice from the RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars.

21/05/2026

It looks like this weekend and next week are going to be scorching! ☀😎 Whilst we hope you all make the most of the wonderful weather, please remember that your furry pets may enjoy it less! Here are some top tips for a safe sunny day:

🌡️ Walk dogs in the early morning or evenings when it's cooler.
🌡️ Don't walk dogs if it's too hot, missing one or two walks is safer than risking heat stroke.
🌡️ If your dog needs to wear a muzzle when out, ensure it is breathable.
🌡️ Ensure pets have access to shade and fresh water all day.
🌡️ Encourage cats to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day.
🌡️ Add ice to water bowls to keep it cool, contrary to internet rumours, this will not cause bloat!
🌡️ Apply pet safe sun cream to exposed parts of your pets skin like their nose and ear tips.
🌡️ Keep an eye out for signs of heatstroke.

If you are worried about your pet during the upcoming heatwave call us on 01435 864422.

Please don't blame us if it's freezing and raining now we've posted this! 😆

20/05/2026

A big thank you to all our vet nurses for all their hard work, dedication, passion, and care they give to their patients. We are so proud as a practice to have trained so many amazing nurses, both past and present. This Vet Nursing Awareness Month we want to highlight how important vet nurses are in promoting animal health and wellbeing, with much of their work going unseen by pet owners.

Thank you to Jason, Sophie, Natasha, Victoria and Jess. 💚

19/05/2026

Who's ready for another bank holiday weekend? Make sure to order any medication or food if you're running low.

We are open on Saturday 23rd May from 8:30-11:30am for emergency and urgent appointments. If you are worried about your pet this week, please don't leave it to the last minute to call us for advice.

We hope you have a lovely weekend, any emergencies outside of our opening hours, please call 01435 864422 to be put through to Vets Now.

18/05/2026

Feline diabetes is a condition in which there is an increased level of glucose in the blood due to a hormone called insulin. Cats mostly duffer from type 2 diabetes in which the body does not respond to insulin properly.

Signs of diabetes
🐱 Increased thirst
🐱 Increased urination
🐱 Weight loss
🐱 Increased appetite
🐱 Lethargy and weakness
🐱 Urinary infections
🐱 Sunken back legs – walking or standing with hocks close to the ground as a result of nerve damage

Diabetes is diagnosed with blood and urine tests; these are also used to monitor your pet's condition if they do have diabetes. With correct management and medication, cats with diabetes can live for prolonged period of time with a very good quality of life.

If you are worried your cat may be showing signs of diabetes, call us on 01435 864422. 🐱

15/05/2026

May is National Smile Month and we'd love to see some pictures of your pets that make you smile! 😄