Elands Veterinary Clinic

31/07/2026

* ROAD CLOSURES * There are several road closures that could impact your journey to the clinic, please leave enough time for your trip and plan your route. Sorry we can’t list all the closures, there are just too many!

27/07/2026

Please be aware before travelling to your appointment, to check for any road closures and allow yourself enough time to arrive to our practice for your appointment. 🚧⚠️

We have been made aware of the closure of London Road by the school for two weeks from today, the 27th of July.

Linked below are websites which provide information about various road closures. Please feel free to take a look.

https://www.duntongreen-pc.gov.uk/community/dunton-green-parish-council-12635/news/roadworks---summer-2026-90382

https://www4.kenttraffic.info/tabular/planned.html

Local news from Dunton Green Parish Council, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks

18/07/2026

🌾 It’s that time of year – grass seed season is here! 🌾

Grass seeds are a very common hazard for pets during these dry summer months. They come in all shapes and sizes, but even the tiniest seed can cause big problems.

These little seeds can work their way into your pet’s paws, ears, eyes, nose, armpits, and even between their toes. Once lodged, they can cause pain, swelling, irritation, and infection.

🐾 Tessa recently visited us with a swollen foot. Under sedation, our team was able to remove a pesky grass seed that had become stuck between her toes. Great news for Tessa—and, if we're honest, very satisfying for vet Iona too! 😄

🔍 Signs to look out for:

• Sudden swelling between the toes
• Excessive licking of the paws
• Limping
• Head shaking or ear scratching
• Sneezing, nasal discharge, or coughing
• Red, irritated eyes

✅ How to help protect your dog:

• Check your dog thoroughly after walks, especially between the toes, under the legs, and around the ears
• Keep long-haired dogs well groomed—we recommend keeping the hair around the ears and feet trimmed during the summer months
• Avoid long grassy areas during peak grass seed season (late spring to early autumn)
• Contact us promptly if you notice any signs of discomfort or unusual behaviour

Grass seeds may be small, but they can lead to BIG problems if left untreated.

📞 If you have any concerns or would like advice, please give us a call on 01732 452 333.

18/07/2026

⚠️ Visitors to our practice today, please be aware that a water main on London Road has burst. 💧🌊

We are open as usual, but there are repair works affecting the traffic on London Road, and the entrance to our car park is in the path of the leaking water, so please take care when entering or leaving our premises.

17/07/2026

We’re sure that many of our dog-owning clients are familiar with one of the hazards of this time of year (apart from the heat!) – naughty grass seeds getting into places that they shouldn’t 🚫🌱

Although sore paws and ears are what probably spring to mind when you hear the dreaded phrase “grass seed” that’s not the only way that they can become a problem for our pets, as the lovely (although somewhat unlucky) Lottie demonstrated to us the other week.

Lottie, an Imperial Shih Tzu, first visited the practice with a recent history of repeatedly clearing her throat, sometimes coughing and potentially showing signs of nausea, although she was able to eat and drink normally and was otherwise bright in herself. After an examination by vet Iona didn’t reveal anything immediately concerning, it was decided to monitor her at home whilst having a course of anti-inflammatory medication as it was possible that Lottie had picked up a respiratory or mild sickness infection or – considered less likely at the time – that she had potentially inhaled or swallowed a foreign object.

After a week of treatment, Lottie was re-examined by vet Becca as she was not improving – in fact, she was now a rather sad girl and was not wanting to eat her usual food (treats were still A-OK though!) or go on her usual walks. In addition to the coughing/throat clearing, Lottie’s owner also reported that she had started to sneeze earlier that day, although there was no obvious discharge from her nose. As her signs were progressing, Becca recommended further investigations, as it was now more likely that Lottie had ingested something that she shouldn’t have.

Lottie was placed under general anaesthesia to allow Becca to perform a complete examination of her mouth and upper airway using one of our endoscopes. Although her mouth and the top part of her throat and larynx were all normal, when Becca used the flexible scope to look up and over the back of Lottie’s soft palate (looking at the nose from the back), there was some mucoid discharge as well as something suspicious visible (green circle on the picture) on the screen. Using special grasping forceps that are designed to fit down the channel of the endoscope, Becca – assisted by vet Tasha and student nurse Nat – managed to remove what turned out to be a large grass seed (purple square on the picture) that had been well and truly stuck!

Although there was some irritation and inflammation, there was no serious damage to Lottie’s nose, and once she recovered from her anaesthetic, she was in much better spirits and has made a good recovery from her misadventure.
Lottie’s case highlights that although a cough can be a common symptom, sometimes it’s more than ‘just’ a cough and warrants further investigation!

As this year seems to be particularly bad for grass seeds, we urge our clients to be aware where their pets are exercising (and sniffing!) and if they notice any unusual signs, particularly if they start suddenly, to seek advice sooner rather than later. It could be nothing, but it could be a case of your pet deciding to take up container gardening with their nose!

14/07/2026

🐶 Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads between dogs in a similar way to the human cold.

Symptoms can include:
🐾 A dry, hacking cough
🐾 Sneezing
🐾 Runny nose
🐾 Eye discharge

Despite its name, kennel cough isn't only caught in kennels. It spreads wherever dogs come into close contact with one another, including dog parks, training classes, daycare facilities and other social settings. It can also be spread via contaminated toys, bowls and even our hands.

To help reduce the risk:
🧼 Regularly clean toys and bowls with a dog-friendly disinfectant
👐 Wash your hands before handling your dog
💉 Keep vaccinations up to date - the kennel cough vaccine can help reduce symptoms and lower the chance of infection

If your dog develops a persistent cough or you’re concerned about their symptoms, contact your vet team for advice.

11/07/2026

Cats need summer care too! ☀️💧

While cats may seem independent, warm weather can increase the risk of dehydration - especially for older cats, kittens, and those with underlying health conditions.

To help keep your cat cool and comfortable this summer:
💧 Provide fresh water throughout the day🧊 Try multiple water bowls around the house🌤️ Keep cool, shaded areas available🥣 Wet food can help increase water intake🏠 Encourage pets to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day

Some cats only shown subtle signs when they're unwell. Keep an eye out for signs such as lethargy, panting, drooling or loss of appetite.

10/07/2026

☀️ The heat got a bit much for Andi and Tina on reception yesterday so the delightful Dotti stepped in to give them a hand! She was paid handsomely in dog biscuits! 🦴 ☎️ 📝

In all seriousness though, the heat this past week has been quite intense but at Elands we are very fortunate in that the entire clinic including waiting room, consult rooms, treatment rooms and all surgical suites all have air conditioning. This keeps our staff and patients beautifully cool. Whilst lovely for our staff, this air conditioning is hugely important for our patients as it means that a trip to the vets in the heat can be carried out safely and without adding the additional risk of heat stroke to unwell patients.

❄️ ❄️ This week Elands has been the place to be! ❄️ ❄️

09/07/2026

☀️ Hot weather can become dangerous for dogs much faster than many people realise 🐶💦

Unlike us, dogs can’t cool themselves down easily which means heatstroke can develop quickly and become life-threatening.

From recognising the warning signs to knowing when it’s too hot for a walk, our article shares everything you need to know to help keep your dog safe this summer.

👉Read more below and learn how to spot, prevent, and respond to heatstroke in dogs: https://www.vetpartners.co.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/seasonal-dog-advice/how-to-prevent-heatstroke-in-dogs/

08/07/2026

🐾 Sweet Rosie was in with us today for her annual Wellness Screen. She was an absolute star! 💙

Even when our pets seem perfectly happy and healthy, wellness screening is a great way to check what's happening beneath the surface. Rosie's visit included a full health check, along with blood tests to assess her organ function and check her red and white blood cell counts. These tests can help us spot early changes before they become bigger problems, giving pets the best chance of staying healthy for longer.

We're also excited to announce that annual Wellness Blood Screening and a Wellness Urine Test are now included for all dogs and cats on our Pet Health Plan! 🩺🩸

As well as helping spread the cost of routine preventative care, our Pet Health Plan includes annual vaccinations, year-round flea and worm treatment, health checks, discounts on routine dental treatment and neutering, and more.

If you'd like to find out more about how our Pet Health Plan could benefit your pet, our team would be happy to help.

Well done again, Rosie, for being such a good girl! 🐶💕