The Ralph

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The UK's largest private independent (non-corporate) multidisciplinary specialist veterinary referral centre for dogs and cats. We opened in February 2019.
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Our hospital is in Marlow, Bucks. Named after Ralph, our Founder's cat :-)

31/10/2026

💉 Trick or treat: Oncology edition, our final one of the week!

Will your dog or cat lose all their fur during chemotherapy? And can a normal-sized lymph node really rule out micrometastasis? 🔬

Swipe to find out.

Thanks for playing along this week! 💛 Which myth surprised you most? And is there one you’d like us to bust next? Drop it in the comments 👇

Oh...and Happy Halloween! 🎃

30/10/2026

❤️ Trick or treat: Cardiology edition!

A heart murmur always means heart disease. A cough always means heart failure. Or does it? 🫀

Swipe for the facts, one for carers and one for vets 🫶

👉 Tomorrow: our final edition of the week. It’s a big one🎗️

29/10/2026

👁️ Trick or treat: Ophthalmology edition!

Can dogs only see in black and white? And can you rely on squinting to spot a painful eye? 🤔

Swipe for the answers, and a few facts that might change how you see things (sorry, we had to!)

👉 Tomorrow: our hearts are in this one ❤️

28/10/2026

💉 Trick or treat: Anaesthesia edition!

Anaesthesia can feel scary, so we’re setting the record straight.

Make sure to swipe! We think you’ll feel a little more reassured by the end 💙

👉 Tomorrow: keep your eyes peeled 👁️

27/10/2026

🦷 Trick or treat: Dentistry edition!

Your pet’s still eating, so their teeth must be fine, right? 👀

Swipe to find out why that’s a myth, plus a reminder for our referring vet that calculus doesn’t tell the whole story.

👉 Tomorrow: a myth we hear a lot, and one we’d love to put to bed 💤

26/10/2026

🎃 Trick or treat? Aka, myth or fact?

It’s spooky season, and we’re busting some veterinary myths all week! 👻

Every day, we’ll share a different specialty with one myth for pet carers and one for vets. Some might surprise you. Some might make you say “wait, really?”

Today we’re kicking off with neurology 🧠 Swipe to see if you’ve been tricked or treated!

👉 Tomorrow: it’s time to sink our teeth into something 🦷

24/10/2026

Prince (Wonder Boy) was referred to our Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) team after his primary care vet raised concerns about internal bleeding. An exploratory procedure was carried out to assess his abdomen; however, Prince developed a fast, irregular heart rhythm, which led to his referral to our emergency department.

CT imaging revealed a significantly enlarged prostate with several large cysts pressing on his urinary and digestive tracts. An echocardiogram (a detailed heart ultrasound) also showed reduced heart function alongside an abnormal rhythm. Subsequently, Prince developed fluid around his lungs, which was thought to be secondary to the inflammation in his body. Our team started targeted heart medications, antibiotics, and round-the-clock monitoring. Following stabilisation, Prince headed home for a rest before his next planned step.

To relieve the pressure from the cysts, Prince returned to us for surgery with our Soft Tissue team. The procedure involved opening and draining a large infected cyst, a castration, and repairing a perineal hernia. Following his operation, Prince needed a little extra support with a temporary urinary catheter for two days. After four days of recovery and nursing care, he was comfortable and ready to head home with his family.

When Prince returned for his post-operative check, his carers reported that he was officially back to his happy, normal self! His wounds had healed well, his blood tests were clear, and a Holter monitor (a wearable 24-hour heart monitor) showed that his heart rhythm was wonderfully controlled. Since then, Prince has been tapered off all of his cardiac medication, and his cardiac function appears to have returned to normal. We could not be happier with how far our "Wonder Boy" has come 💙

23/10/2026

If you've ever found a tablet spat out on the carpet, or felt your heart sink when the vet said "twice a day", we get it. The good news: it doesn’t have to feel daunting! There are lots of tips and tricks to make medication easier and less stressful for both you and your feline companion 💚

Here at The Ralph, we follow a no-tableting policy, focusing on low-stress techniques and making medication as positive as possible. From tasty treats and food rewards to gradual training and positive reinforcement, we use many approaches to help our patients feel comfortable.

✨ A few things to remember:

✅ Take it slowly – if your cat becomes worried or distressed, give them a break and try again later.
✅ Use positive reinforcement – reward calm behaviour with something they love.
✅ Think tasty! – depending on the medication, tablets or liquid may be suitable to hide in Easy Pill, a Dreamie Sandwich, Lick-E-Lix or another high-value treat. 🍗
✅ Presentation is key – sometimes placing the treat with the hidden medication into your cat’s usual empty food bowl and allowing them to approach and eat it at their own pace can be less stressful than offering it directly from your hand.
✅ Check before crushing or splitting – some medications must be given whole, so always check with your vet first.

Before you start:

💡 Always check with your vet before crushing or splitting tablets, as some must be given whole.
💡 Don't mix medication into their normal food without checking first. Bitter medicines can put cats off their food.
💡 Don’t assume manually giving a tablet is your only option – there may be an easier method for your individual cat.

Remember, you don’t have to figure it out alone! If you’re struggling, speak to your veterinary team. They can help you find an approach that works for you and your cat.

📖 Our ‘How to Medicate Your Cat’ resource covers oral medication, inhalers and eye medication, with lots more practical tips.

Read the full resource via the Internal Medicine page on our Pet Carers page: https://theralph.vet/pet-carers/

What trick or treat does your cat absolutely love? 😻

21/10/2026

A very special reflection from Nurse Alexa on Misty’s journey with us 💙

20/10/2026

Following her shunt surgery, Misty unexpectedly developed severe neurological complications, becoming confused and experiencing muscle tremors and seizure-like activity. Blood tests confirmed her ammonia levels were completely normal. Instead, she was experiencing Post-Attentuation Neurological Syndrome (PANS) - a rare and complex complication where the brain reacts to the sudden restoration of normal blood flow.

Because her symptoms were severe, Misty was immediately transferred to our Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) team for intensive 24/7 care. As her condition progressed, she temporarily lost consciousness and required a breathing tube to protect her airway, anti-seizure medications, and a temporary feeding tube for nutrition.

To give Misty the best possible chance of recovery, our multidisciplinary team performed an advanced treatment called Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE). This process allows us to separate and remove a portion of the patient's blood plasma and replace it with donor plasma, helping to clear substances that may be irritating the brain.

Following TPE, Misty made a remarkable turnaround! Day by day, she became more alert, regained her balance, and started standing, walking, and eating independently again. After two weeks of round-the-clock intensive care, Misty had made such incredible progress that she was ready to continue her recovery at home!

Misty was discharged to her carers with anti-seizure medication, gut support, and a Purina HA diet to keep her liver comfortable as the cellophane band continues its work. While she retains a mild visual impairment, her mobility and personality have returned, and she will be back to see our Soft Tissue Surgery team in two months for a routine recheck.

Check back tomorrow for a special reflection from Nurse Alexa on Misty’s journey with us 💙

Address

Fourth Avenue
Marlow
SL71YG

Telephone

+441628308330

Website

http://www.theralph.vet/

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