Feline Blood Type

We're in a beautiful countryside location between Congresbury, Churchill and Wrington.

Our address is Langford Vet Practice, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU.

We provide an out of hour's service on site, for our clients and those from neighbouring practices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply call our normal number (01934 852 422) and you will be able to reach the duty vet.

If you have an emergency please call 0117 3940513. For routine referrals please complete our referral form and we will contact the owner to arrange an appointment.

Our standard office hours are 9am-5pm. We also offer a 24/7 service for emergencies, our on call vet can be contacted by calling them on the number saved on our main office number, or by calling the pager. Out of hours charges apply at weekends and outside of normal office hours, but we may be able to give advice if appropriate, to save you an out of hours call out.

Most horses are seen at their homes where they are familiar with the surroundings. All the vets carry a full range of equipment and drugs to examine and treat the majority of problems “on the yard”. We have always aimed to have the best mobile diagnostic equipment, so many diagnostic procedures can be carried out “on the yard”, for example, X-rays ultrasonography and endoscopy. Some procedures and investigations are better suited to the clinic environment, but an initial assessment can usually be made at home and the options discussed.

We don’t offer zone visits, but we do offer FREE visits when we see three or more horses at one yard. There are no restrictions as to which weekday we visit and no time limit- therefore you choose WHEN, you chose WHAT we’re seeing and you chose which vet! Giving you the freedom to choose and not be limited by zone day restrictions.

The normal practice area extends from the Bristol Channel in the West, to Warminster in the East, North to Bath & Bristol and South to Wincanton and Somerton. For pre-purchase vetting or special examinations we will travel anywhere but time and travel expenses will apply. Alternatively you can bring your horse into our Conkerfield Clinic, if you are outside the area we cover.

In a word Yes! What should you vaccinate against? Tetanus is ubiquitous, infects wounds and penetrating injuries and will kill. Vaccination is very effective and need only be boosted every other year.

Equine Influenza can be a very nasty respiratory disease. It is probably under diagnosed due to the fact that much of the horse population is vaccinated and we only see mild cases and it doesn’t spread in a vaccinated population. All good reason for the population to be vaccinated. Outbreaks in unvaccinated populations are catastrophic with deaths and very rapid spread, not just within yards but via airborne transmission over 100s of metres. A single unvaccinated animal within a vaccinated population is at low risk, but the more horses that are unprotected the greater the risk to every horse, hence the requirement for competition horses to be vaccinated. Unless there is good reason not to vaccinate for flu, all horses should be vaccinated for their own protection and the protection of the horse population in general.

Equine Herpes Viruses 'EHV' is responsible for the majority of cases of “a virus” in horses, i.e. Loss of performance, lethargy, coughing etc. Horses that regularly suffer in this way will usually benefit from vaccination against EHV and competition yards which vaccinate all their horses see a definite benefit, with fewer training days lost. Breeding mares that are going to foal at a stud should also be vaccinated to prevent “abortion storms” caused by EHV. See our vaccination service for more information.

All the vets carry full mouth speculi and tooth rasps and perform routine dental examinations / rasping on a daily basis. For more involved procedures, such as wolf teeth extractions and molar extractions, these can be performed at your home or our clinic. (If carried out by equine dental technicians a vet must be present to supervise) Specialised procedures are carried out in the clinic by specialist veterinary dentists. See our Dentistry service for more information.

We have created our own “WormWise” program which is designed to minimise the use of wormers by regular worm egg counts. The cost effective package includes the Equisal testing and WECs and wormers as required. See our Worming Programme service for more information.

The 5 stage pre-purchase examination is the standard examination and allows a good assessment to be made as to the horse’s suitability for the intended role. Some people opt for the two stage “mortality” examination which does not include an exercise phase and should only be performed if the horse is well known to the purchaser. See our Pre-Purchase service for more information.

Starting an insurance claim is just a phone call to your insurance company to advise you are making a claim and for a claim form to be sent to you. These are normally in two parts, the first for you to fill in, usually with details about you and the horse and a ‘veterinary surgeons’ copy that we complete about treatment. When we receive the form the treating vet will have this completed within two working days. We will then post or email the claim to the insurance company with all invoices that are relevant your claim. Our policy at SEP is that you pay us and the insurance company reimburses you, therefore you can follow the claim and keep track of its progress. See our Insurance service for more information.

We are all horse owners and know that at what is a very sad moment the last thing we need is to be worrying about making arrangements. Whether it is in an emergency or a planned euthanasia, we can make all those arrangements.

Although it might seem rather morbid, it is sensible to have thought through what your preferences would be well before that fateful day arrives and have a plan.

Heart murmurs are caused by the blood flowing differently through the heart compared to normal. Some are more serious than others, either due to the type of blood flow abnormality or the severity of the condition. We may wish to investigate the murmur further to find out more about the abnormality. During anaesthesia, the heart and blood vessels are affected by the drugs we use, and this can change blood flow. In most animals with murmurs this change is not too significant although we need to carefully monitor the situation throughout anaesthesia. The risk of complications from anaesthesia can be higher in animals with heart murmurs but with our experienced anaesthesia staff we hope to minimise this.

Some breeds of dog are particularly sensitive to certain drugs we commonly use in anaesthetics. For example: some Collie-type breeds have an inherited genetic deficiency which leads to sensitivity to some drugs which can affect anaesthesia. We are used to dealing with these. However, if you have been told your dog is sensitive, it is important to pass this information on to us.

As animals (or people) get older, the internal organs tend to decrease in efficiency (e.g. the heart, lungs, kidney, and liver), even if they are still bright and cheerful. Anaesthesia places a strain on these organs too. It is often important to know how well the organs are working before anaesthesia, and so we sometimes recommend some tests (e.g. blood samples) first. Once we know about the organ function, we can design an appropriate anaesthetic for an older animal. It will have more risk than in a young, healthy dog, but by using careful preparation and monitoring during and after anaesthesia we successfully anaesthetise large numbers of older dogs.

During anaesthesia it is possible for any food or liquid in the stomach to leak out of the stomach into the throat. This can lead to damage to the throat and more dangerously can get into the lungs and cause serious pneumonia. For this reason, please do not feed your pet on the morning of any visit to the hospital. Water is unlikely to cause similar problems and should be freely available to your pet before its visit.

The MRI scanner generates a lot of noise when it is running – up to 130 decibels, louder than most rock concerts! The scan can also take over an hour to complete. If the patient moves during the scan, then the quality of the images can be seriously compromised, and they will need to be repeated. In order to keep a patient still in such a noisy environment for such a prolonged period of time we anaesthetise all cases undergoing MRI imaging. CT scans are quieter and faster, so can often be performed under sedation; however sometimes it may be safer to anaesthetise a pet for CT than sedate it and so we decide this on a case-by-case basis.

We need to clip hair at any site that is having an invasive procedure performed, e.g. catheter placement, epidural, surgical site. This is first to prevent infection which can be catastrophic to the patient (can result in serious illness, loss of a limb or even death). Secondly, we clip hair to allow correct and accurate localisation of specific sites where procedures are formed. The presence of hair often means that these small sites can be impossible to feel to allow a procedure to be performed safely.

If your animal is bright and alert, then it is fine to feed them. Allow an hour or so after you get home to prevent any motion sickness from the journey making them feel nauseous. Feed them a small amount to start off first (one third of their regular amount) and then repeat after an hour with the rest of their meal. They should be fed with an easily digestible food like chicken and rice or a specific sensitive food e.g. sensitivity control. If your pet is very sleepy, hold off feeding them until they are more alert and if worried contact the hospital.

Within our service every cat will receive some form of appropriate pain relief around the time of surgery, and depending on the procedure that has been carried out we may also prescribe pain killing drugs (usually NSAIDs) to be given at home. However, the degree of pain experienced by different cats after surgery can vary markedly between individuals, therefore it is important to be able to recognise signs of pain in your cat, so that you can alert us if you think more pain relief is necessary.

The exact nature of any change in behaviour associated with pain can vary depending on the individual cat and the surgical procedure that was carried out (for example pain after surgery on the limb for an orthopaedic procedure is likely to manifest differently to pain expression following surgery of the abdomen). However, the behaviours listed below can all occur in cats in pain. Note that an absence of normal behaviour (e.g. unwillingness to move, or hiding) can be very indicative of pain, therefore be aware of both positive (increase in behaviour) and negative (decrease in a “normal” behaviour) changes in the activity levels and behavioural repertoire in your cat.

Every dog is an individual and will react to pain differently. One of the most important things to look out for is a change in behaviour and your pet not being “his/herself.” Dogs which are normally very friendly and like interacting with people may be less willing to spend time with people and may even become aggressive if the pain is severe. Conversely, normally independent dogs may start seeking attention.

Other behaviours that may indicate pain include: a “hunched” posture when standing. Being unwilling to stand, move around or go for walks. Licking or rubbing the wound. Growling or snapping if the area around the wound is touched. Even very friendly dogs can bite if they are in pain so always take care. Do not let children play with the dog after surgery. Whimpering or crying. Inappetence.
Every animal in the Hospital is assessed regularly for pain after surgery and the Anaesthetists prescribe appropriate painkillers for each individual animal

If you are concerned that your dog is in pain after surgery in our hospital, please phone us for advice. The vet you speak to will ask you questions about your dog’s behaviour to try to work out the best course of action. If your dog has been sent home with painkillers, please continue to give these as per the instructions on the label for the full duration of the treatment though if your dog is vomiting or has diarrhoea, please phone us before giving any more. It is important that the correct dose is given so please do not increase or decrease the dose. Painkillers intended for people such as ibuprofen can be very toxic to dogs, so it is especially important that you do not give your pet any other medicines before speaking to the vet. It is worth making sure your dog has had the chance to go outside to urinate (a full bladder can be very uncomfortable) and has a well-padded bed in a warm, quiet area. A small, easily digestible meal such as boiled rice and chicken may help your dog to settle.

Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept up to date on new tests or visit our Cat Genetic Testing page.

International Cat Care run some “negative genetic registers” and the GCCF run some “active registers”. For cats to be placed on these registers the sample (mouth swab or blood sample) MUST be taken by a vet who confirms the cat’s identity using its microchip number. The microchip number must be written on the submission form AND sample.
We have a dedicated submission form for this purpose, which both the owner and vet must complete. The certificate will state that the cat’s identity was confirmed by a vet and you can use this to register the cat with the ICC negative or GCCF active registers.
If a breeder DOES NOT want their cat to go on these registers then they can take a mouth swab and submit it directly to the lab.

We do not currently offer this service, however we recommend using Animal DNA Diagnostics.

All of our tests are listed within our brochure, this includes all details such as sample types, cost and turnaround times.

All results are emailed to the registered email address you have provided.

Our Clinical Pathologists are happy to help you. Please email us at clinicalpathology@langfordvets.co.uk including any previous lab ID, animal information (Name, Species, DoB etc) and a contact telephone number. We aim to reply within 72 hours.

No, we close for normal Bank Holidays such as Christmas Day and Easter Day, but we remain fully staffed and open for business the rest of the normal working week.

The organism causes "blown-pack" spoilage of vacuum-packed chill-stored raw beef, lamb and venison by the production of gas (hydrogen and carbon dioxide) and foul-smelling sulphurous compounds. Vacuum-packs may become grossly distended with gas if contaminated with high numbers of C.estertheticum, or may just appear loose if contaminated with lower numbers. Invariably contaminated vacuum-packed meat has a foul smell when opened.

All samples are spiked with an internal amplification control (IAC) DNA and subjected to nucleic acid purification. QPCR is then performed to detect C.estertheticum and the IAC simultaneously in every sample. To ensure sample DNA has been extracted correctly and lacks PCR inhibitors we compare the IAC result for each sample to a known IAC control sample. Suitable QPCR controls are also included in every run to determine assay validity. Samples with IAC results significantly different to the known IAC control are deemed invalid. Normally we find between 1 - 2 % of results are invalid and for these samples we repeat the QPCR after re-extracting the DNA, almost all samples then give a valid result. We do not charge the customer extra for this.

Samples with valid IAC results have their C.estertheticum result scored between zero and 10 (zero being no C.estertheticum detected and 10 being the highest level). There is approximately a 10-fold difference in the number of C.estertheticum between each point on the scale.

No, the cost of your teleconsultation is deducted from the cost of your pet’s in-person appointment. 

Yes. Patients are referred because they have complex problems, that are either not fully diagnosed, are diagnosed but not responding to treatment as expected, are anticipated to have complicated or intensive treatments, or they have multiple different problems, that would benefit from specialist input. Therefore, it is crucial that we obtain all the pertinent information, about your pet’s problem, your concerns and your opinions regarding extent of investigation and treatment, in discussion with you, before making a recommendation about which diagnostic tests and treatments would best suit your pet.

As with all referral appointments, we need a referral request from your local clinic – your vet will need to fill out our referral form.

Our Front of House team will contact you to arrange an appointment within 2 working days of your vet submitting the request. If you have not heard from us, please get in touch.

After your appointment has been made, you will receive a telemedicine welcome pack – this includes all the information you need ahead of your appointment, including relating to insurance and making an insurance claim.

On the day of your appointment, you will receive an email with a zoom link for your teleconsult – often these are sent out immediately prior to your appointment – if you have not received this by the time of your appointment, please check your junk mailbox and if it is not there, please phone our hospital reception.

Our clinician will meet you in the zoom call. We require at least one owner to be present for the consultation; multiple owners or family members are very welcome to be present, either on the same device, or on separate devices if you are attending from different locations. We are a teaching hospital and provide clinical teaching to University of Bristol final year veterinary students. Often at least one student will be present in the teleconsult. Our clinicians will have discussed your pet’s referral with the student beforehand and the student will often be involved in asking the initial questions during the consultation – overseen by our clinicians, who are present for the whole teleconsultation process.

No – we only use teleconsults for cases that do not require urgent referral. The teleconsult is an information gathering process – your pet will be examined at their in-person appointment.

Whilst the service is set up to offer zoom consults, we can telephone you at the time of the appointment instead. You will need to arrange this with reception, when they book your appointment.

Of course. We provide remote (phone, email) support for the same condition, for 6 months following an in-person hospital appointment. This covers any guidance (management changes or medication adjustment) that can be provided remotely, for the same problem, based on the original diagnosis and is included as part of your original referral. If your pet requires ongoing support beyond 6 months, or develops an unrelated problem, we would usually need a new referral from your vet, for a further teleconsultation. 

The intention of the telemedicine service is that this is the first stage of a referral process prior to admission to the hospital for investigation. Occasionally, a definitive diagnosis is able to be made from the diagnostic results available, without further investigation necessary. In this instance, you may still choose to attend a hospital appointment for assessment, or we can provide a recommendation for a treatment plan based on the working diagnosis. In this instance, we would provide a written teleconsult report, outlining our suggestions for your local clinic, and your pet’s ongoing care would be transferred back to them. 

• Your pet’s local vet will make a referral 
• Our receptionists will contact you to book a telemedicine appointment 

• Our reception team will take payment for the consult over the phone or start the insurance process at this stage 
• You will receive an email from us confirming the date and time of your teleconsult and our telemedicine welcome pack, which will include information on how to join a zoom call and insurance claims 
• On the day of your appointment you will receive an email with a link to the zoom call 
• Log on to the zoom call at the given date and time – you will be met by our clinician who will discuss your concerns for your pet, their diagnostic results, and an ongoing proposed plan 
• If you choose to proceed with an in person appointment, our clinician will often arrange this with you, at the end of the teleconsult 
• You will then receive a hospital welcome pack via email – with directions and information about attending an in person appointment  
• Within 3 days following the teleconsult, you will receive a written report, which is also sent to your local vet, outlining your pet’s history, an assessment of the problem and ongoing recommendations 
• If any medications or follow up appointments with your local vet are recommended – please contact your local clinic to arrange collection of these or to book an appointment 

There can be major differences in the background, training and expertise of those providing behavioural advice. The veterinary behaviourist must first be a graduate of an accredited veterinary school. This insures a comprehensive background in anatomy, neurology, physiology, medicine, and pharmacology, as well as the type of medical problems that might have an effect on the behaviour of the pet. The veterinary behaviourist must also receive training in normal species typical behaviour, comparative animal behaviour, the principles of learning and behaviour modification, abnormal behaviour, psychopharmacology and the effects of disease on behaviour, and must work for at least two years seeing cases under the mentorship of a board certified behaviourist. In short, the veterinary behaviourist has a unique combination of education and training, clinical expertise and medical knowledge to be able to diagnose and design a treatment programme for your pet’s behaviour problem.  

Yes.

• Canine behaviour problems: For most canine behaviour problems including fear and anxiety, noise phobias, repetitive and compulsive disorders and aggression, a consultation will generally last two hours or longer but some problems such as house-soiling or unruly may require 90  to 120 minutes.   
• Feline behaviour problems: For most common behaviour problems of cats including house-soiling, urine marking, fearful behaviour (avoidance), eating disorders (such as excessive sucking or chewing) and repetitive or compulsive behaviours, the consultation will generally require approximately 90 to 120 minutes, with some aggression cases requiring longer time. 
• New Introductions: Bringing home a new baby, introducing pets to other pets, moving, bringing a new pet into your home with existing pets or integrating households, a consultation of approximately 30 to 60 minutes will help you with the transition and help you to prevent or prepare for potential problems. We offer a reduced cost for these consultations. 
• New pet consultations: If you are obtaining a puppy or kitten or are a first time pet owner, we offer a ‘new pet’ consultation of approximately 30 to 60 minutes to provide you with behavioural guidance on problem prevention, setting up to succeed, reward based training and how to deal with emerging problems such as house-soiling, destruction, stealing and play biting. We offer a reduced fee for these consultations. 
• Canine selection consultations: If are considering obtaining a new dog, we offer a 30-60 minute selection consultation to help you choose a pet that is appropriate for your needs (breed, age, sex, source) as well as advice on preventing and dealing with common behaviour problems. We ask that you narrow your choice to up to five breeds before the visit. We offer a reduced fee for these consultations. 
• Unruly behaviours and emerging problems: If you have a recently adopted pet that is difficult to control, hard to train or has some recently developed problems such as house-soiling, chewing, digging, scratching, stool eating, barking or garbage raiding, these consultations will generally require about 60 minutes and have reduced fee. 
• Clinical trials: We often serve as a site for clinical trials for a variety of drugs or products that might be useful aids in treating behaviour problems. During your visit you may be offered the opportunity to participate in a drug or product study, which would be supplied at no additional charge. 
• Legal consult/expert opinion 

There are four components to a behaviour consultation: 

1. Diagnosis: In order to explain why your pet might be exhibiting problem(s), we must first determine the cause as well as any factors that might be reinforcing or aggravating the situation. Our diagnosis will be based on the information you provide in your questionnaire, the information you provide at the visit, and observation of your pet’s behaviour at our clinic. We also advise that whenever possible, you collect a video or recording of the problem so that we can best assess the pet's actions as well as your interactions. If there is the possibility of an underlying medical problem, additional diagnostic tests may be recommended.   
2. Assessment: The next step is to determine what might be achieved and how this can be accomplished to best suit your needs. Although we hope we can come up with a treatment programme that will resolve your pet’s problem, it is not always practical once we determine the diagnosis, the cause of the problem, as well as your needs and expectations.   
3. Management: Next, we will help you to implement a treatment programme that is suited to your pet and your household. Often by achieving a better understanding of canine and feline behaviour, and how pets learn, you will be able to better understand how to manage the problem. A treatment programme generally involves behaviour modification techniques based primarily on positive reinforcement and shaping (i.e. what to do and what not to do) and environmental management (i.e. adjustments to your environment to better manage the situation). We might also suggest the use of products such as a head halter, body harness or clicker to help modify your pet’s behaviour, or in some cases medications, pheromones, or other natural products. Demonstration of products or techniques, videos or handouts may also be used in our consultation. At the end of the visit we will provide you and your veterinarian with a summary of our suggestions and appropriate handouts or other support material.   
4. Follow up: The final aspect of the consultation is the follow up on the case, so that we help to guide you through the programme and monitor the pet’s response. For most canine and feline cases, a follow up visit will be scheduled within two to four weeks. Follow up visits are 50 minutes long. Telephone support for minor adjustments or modification to the initial program will also be available. 

An intradermal test should only be performed when a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis has already been made and to enable avoidance of the allergen or to identify allergens to formulate a course of allergen specific immunotherapy for the patient. 

• The test kit is prepared in advance. Our kit comprises 50 everyday allergens including house dust mites, grass, tree and weed pollens, with positive and negative control. 
• Your pet will be sedated, to keep them nice and calm and ensure they don't feel any discomfort.  
• An area is clipped on the side of their trunk, to allow the dermatologists to visualise your pet's skin. The test site is marked with a felt tip pen, to show where the injections will be placed.  
• A tiny amount of each allergen is then injected into your pet's skin. 
• The test is then read after 15 minutes.  
• Any positive results appear as wheals (skin bumps). This means that their immune system has had a strong reaction to one of the allergens injected into that part of their skin. The dermatologists will read this result and it will assist them to determine which allergens may be important for your pet. They will discuss the implications of these results with you. 

Our tests vary in price and the most up-to-date list can be requested here, pricing is competitive and discounts for multiple tests on the same sample are available.

Turn around times vary by test, typical is 3-5 working days, however please see our turnaround times guide for a more accurate upper time limit.

A results report will be sent back to the email address that is on your client account.

Yes you can, please go to this feedback form with your questions 'advice to veterinary professionals'

Langford Vets do not offer a post mortem service. Should you require University of Bristol Post Mortem Services they can be contacted Monday to Friday. Please telephone them directly on 0117 428 4767, email pmservices@bristol.ac.uk, or visit the University of Bristol postmortem services web page. Langford Vets cannot accept cases on behalf of the Post Mortem Service.

Unfortunately, we are currently not offering imaging on an out-patient basis, though we do provide a film-reading service for referring vets to assist with radiograph referrals. 

We are happy to provide images acquired in the hospital on request, either for your own interest or to pass on to other veterinary professionals. Radiographs can be provided in standard digital formats such as jpeg, however we are only able to provide CT and MRI images in DICOM format. This is the standard for medical grade imaging and requires DICOM viewing software to open. 

The first vaccine is normally given at 8-9 weeks of age, a second 3-4 weeks later and a booster at around 12 months age. 

It is best to have your kitten neutered (spayed or castrated) BEFORE you let them go outside. Typically 2 weeks after their second vaccine at around 16 weeks of age. 

This can be done any time after 8 weeks of age and is best done BEFORE you let them outside 

Whilst it is most common for UK cats to be allowed outside, it is entirely possible to provide an enriched indoor life for your cat. Some countries ban pet cats from going outdoors due to the damage to wildlife. 

It is important to check that pet food is “Complete and balanced.” This ensures the correct minimum nutrient levels. It is also essential that your cat likes the food. Kittens start to fix their food preferences after the first few months, so it is often sensible to expose them to a variety of appropriate diets to allow you option should manufacturers change recipe or brands go out of stock. We recommend feeding an age-appropriate pet food. 

In most cases vaccine protection will drop gradually following a booster and booster vaccines are recommended. The interval between vaccines does vary depending on the vaccine but also the lifestyle of your pet. We always try to provide individualised health advice so that you can choose the best option for you and your pet. 

Vaccines for puppies are most effective if given at around 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age. 

YES, please book an appointment as soon as possible so we can start your pup’s protection. Older puppies may require a slightly altered vaccine schedule and we will ensure your puppy gets the best protection whatever their age. 

After 6 months of age is normally safe for most dogs/bitches although in larger breeds it may be appropriate to delay until they are more mature. Please book in, call or email for individual advice. 

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There are many pros/cons to neutering but for most pets it does provide more benefits than risks. Please book in to see one of our vets who can help explain the benefits and risks to your pet’s individual circumstances, which will help you decide what is best for your pet. 

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Vaccines are a medicine that are designed to help your immune system fight of disease. They are typically used for very dangerous diseases that are otherwise difficult or impossible to treat. There are reported side effects to all medications including vaccines, however they have gone through extensive testing prior to being used in pets and side effects are constantly monitored to identify any concerns going forward. The risk of side effects is extremely low, and the overall benefit of appropriate vaccination is overwhelming. 

In veterinary medicine animals are grouped in the following categories; Farm, Companion (cats & dogs), and Equine. All other animals are grouped together as exotics and commonly include rabbits, rodents, birds reptiles, and fish. 

Rabbits are the third most common pet in the UK so they really should not be regarded as exotic, but they are often classified as such for convenience. 

We have a wide range of facilities and equipment making it easier to provide the best level of care for the exotic pet, including specialist anaesthetic equipment and experience in anaesthetising less common species. 

For exotic surgery we have avian/exotic fine-tipped instruments for precision surgery and access to electrocautery.

Reptiles – We have a vivarium to house reptiles at specific temperatures appropriate for their species. 

Rabbits and small furries - We have a dedicated non-predator room for the hospitalisation of rabbits and small rodents. This ensures they do not encounter the smells and sounds of cats and dogs, which can be very stressful for them. 

We are happy to see most exotic pets, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and even invertebrates. We also often care for a range of mammals including rabbits, rodents, ferrets, chinchillas, and the more exotic mammals such as sugar gliders and African hedgehogs. We do not work with large mammal species (deer, pot-bellied pigs etc), primates, venomous animals and animals licensed under the dangerous wild animals legislation. Langford Vets also has a Farm Animal Practice and Stables Equine Practice.

All small animals should be transported in a suitable container. It is not possible to be sure what species will be present in the waiting room, so it is vital that you pet is secure. 

Birds - It is important you bird is transported in a safe secure manner. For parrots cardboard boxes are not ideal as they can often eat their way out of the box. A small travel cage or top opening cat basket is ideal. Front loading cat baskets make it difficult to get the bird out.  

Birds should not be brought into the practice out of cages. (Except for Birds of Prey on the hand). 

Reptiles - The most important thing for transporting reptiles is that they are kept warm. Travel boxes that plug into the car’s cigarette lighter are available but, in most cases, a hot water bottle, covered by some towels on the bottom of the box are adequate.  

Snakes travel well in a cloth bag or pillowcase (Duvet cases for larger species). 

Fish - With sick fish the decision needs to be made whether to bring the fish into the surgery.  Fish should be transported in their own water. Put their water into bags and then within a box or tub.  

When examining fish, we briefly anaesthetise them in the water that they are in, they are then recovered in fresh water. This means that ideally, we need two bags of the water that the fish are kept in. 

All Pets are seen by appointment only and availability of appointments for exotic pets may vary with the availability of the vet responsible. 

Please bring a small amount of your pet's normal food and some treats to your appointment.

Many of the problems seen with exotic pets can relate to the way that they are kept, diet, housing etc. Please bring diagrams or photos of the animal's housing, details of any supplements or medications given (if possible bring the packet). The more information we have on the care of your pet the easier it is to determine what may be going wrong. 

We recommend reading the advice pages from Rabbit Welfare.

We understand that being separately from your pet is difficult when they are unwell and you are able to come and visit your pet whilst they are hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit.

If they are well enough to leave the ICU for a short time, then we can allow you to sit in a consult room or outside in our beautiful gardens to spend some time with your pet.

If they are too ill to leave the ICU then we are able to accommodate visits to see your pet in their bed, but this may only be short (10 minutes) depending on how busy the ICU is. Your clinician will discuss the most suitable visit arrangements with you based on your pet’s needs.

We provide fresh bedding daily and offer a range of diets suitable for your pet’s condition.

We have toys and blankets and grooming equipment. If they are currently on medication we would be grateful if you could bring enough labelled and packaged medication with you so it can be continued during their hospitalisation.

Your pet will stay in ICU until their condition is stable and they can be moved to our surgery, neurology, medicine or feline ward areas.

• Health Certificates: Most countries require a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, confirming that your pet is in good health and up to date on vaccinations. Some countries may have specific forms or requirements for this certificate. 
• Microchipping: Many countries mandate microchipping for pets, so ensure your pet has a compatible microchip with up to date contact information. 
• Vaccinations: Verify the required vaccinations for your destination country and ensure your pet is vaccinated accordingly. Common vaccinations include rabies, distemper, and kennel cough. 
• Parasite Treatments: Some countries may require proof of recent parasite treatments, such as for ticks and tapeworms. 
• Import Permits: Certain countries may require import permits or other documentation. Research the specific requirements well in advance of your trip. 

• Travel Carrier: Invest in a sturdy, well-ventilated travel carrier that's appropriately sized for your pet. Allow your pet to become accustomed to the carrier before the trip. 
• Comfort Items: Bring familiar items like blankets or toys to help your pet feel more at ease during the journey. 
• Hydration and Nutrition: Ensure your pet has access to water and food as needed, especially during long journeys. Consider freezing water in a bowl attached to the carrier to prevent spills. 
• Regular Breaks: Plan for regular breaks during road trips to allow your pet to stretch, relieve themselves, and get some fresh air. 
• Temperature Control: Avoid exposing your pet to extreme temperatures. Ensure proper ventilation and temperature regulation in transport vehicles. 

• Visit your Vet: schedule a pre-travel check-up with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and meets all travel requirements. 
• Behaviour Training: Train your pet to become comfortable with their carrier and the travel experience. Practice short trips to acclimate them to the process. 
• Identification: Ensure your pet's identification tags and microchip register are up to date with your current contact information 
• Research Quarantine Regulations: Some countries have mandatory quarantine periods for incoming pets. Research these regulations and plan accordingly. 
• Pack Essentials: Bring along enough food, medication, and familiar items to last the duration of your trip, plus some extra in case of delays. 

Please contact the surgery via telephone you can use our online order form, call (01934 852650) or email (farmpractice@langfordvets.co.uk) to order medications. We will need to know the medications and quantities you require as well as the species you intend to treat and why. While we aim to complete prescriptions promptly, please do allow 24 hours where possible, as some medications (eg: antibiotics) will need to be signed off by a vet to ensure it is the most appropriate treatment for your animal(s).

If you cannot collect medications between 8:30am and 5pm we can either leave your order behind the reception of our small animal practice or in our lockbox at the farm animal practice. Please inform us if you have ordered medication but cannot collect them in office hours.

Please either fill in our new client registration form or phone our office to register as a new client 01934 852 650. 

Appointments for vet visits can be made by phoning our office on 01934 852 650. Phone consultations can either be booked by phoning the office or by sending us an email to: farmpractice@langfordvets.co.uk with some details about the case you want to discuss, a contact number and the best times for us to contact you. We are also happy to give advice on cases via email (where we feel appropriate). Phone consultations and email advice may incur a consultation or advice fee. 

To book a TB test please phone the practice 01934 852650 or send an email to: farmpractice@langfordvets.co.uk, letting us know your CPH number and farm name, your TB test window (if applicable), a contact phone number and your preferred dates for booking your TB test.

Every farm or smallholding requires a unique parasite control plan for their holding.  Get in touch with us to arrange an a parasite control calendar that fits your farm and animals.

We regularly complete herd health plans for alpacas, please get in touch with the practice to book an appointment with a vet to complete a health plan or calendar.

Samples dropped off in the morning will normally be processed and reported the same day. Samples arriving later in the afternoon may be the next day before result are available.

Samples must be fresh to allow results to be accurate. Worm eggs will hatch out if l faeces are left at room temperature and thus will not be their at counting. Samples should ideally be taken on the day of submission and if collected from the field take “warm and pliable” samples or samples taken after seeing the animal defecate. If not coming straight to the practice then you can refrigerate overnight.

Minimum 5g faces per animal, are needed for worm egg counting a good guide is the size of a 50 pence coin. However 50g faces is needed if fluke egg counting is required too.

Yes you can refrigerate overnight if required

Any breed of puppy can attend classes.

A maximum of 6 puppies will be in each class. This allows time for you and your puppy to have the individual help you need during the class. 

The Life Skills course aims to teach your puppy how to behave around people and other dogs. If there are less than 3 puppies enrolled onto a course, the course will be postponed by one or two weeks to allow other puppies to join. This will ensure you and your puppy get the most from the 7-week course. 

The cost of the seven-week course is £135.

The first class will be held in the Small Animal Practice; this will allow you time to pay for the course before we start the class. 

Once you have paid for the course, you will receive your free copy of the book which accompanies the Life Skills course “Life skills for puppies: Laying the foundation for a loving, lasting relationship”. 

The classes will be laid out so there is plenty of room between you and the next puppy. If your puppy is struggling, visual barriers can be used to block your puppy's view of the other puppies until they have settled into the classes. 

Your nervous puppy will never be made to interact with other puppies unless they want to and will always be allowed to move away if they need to. 

Your excitable puppy will have closely monitored and appropriate interactions with other puppies and will be moved away before they become excited or boisterous. 

After each class you will be emailed class notes detailing what was covered in the class. If you have any questions, you can contact us and we will get back to you. 

If your puppy is not well, please contact the practice before you are due to attend the class to discuss this with a member of staff. 

If there are concerns, you will be asked to skip a class until you puppy is better, alternatively, if you puppy is unwell for an extended time, you may be advised to join another course, so you do not miss a large amount of the training. 

There will be a mixture of Veterinary Surgeon students and Veterinary Nurse students attending the classes while they are on rotations gaining some practical experience. 

They will be there mainly to observe the classes and will not disturb you when you are training your puppy. 

You are more than welcome to chat to them and ask for help. If they cannot help, they will find our instructor to help you. 

The course is a set seven-week course. You will be expected to attend once a week for 7 consecutive weeks to complete the course. 

The first week is an introduction to the course lasting an hour and a half, and is attended without your puppy. This will be held in Langford Vet Practice and includes refreshments. 

The remaining 6 weeks are held with puppies and are each one hour in length. These will be held in the covered arena. 

You will receive class notes for the class you miss, if you read through these and need help with anything you can email us and we will try to accommodate this during the next class. 

In addition you can go over everything we cover throughout the course in your free “Life skills for puppies: Laying the foundation for a loving, lasting relationship” book. 

I would encourage anyone who is going to be part of your puppy’s life to come to the classes. 

Sarah qualified as a Veterinary Nurse 2002, since qualifying, she has specialised in Animal Behaviour and holds an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Lincoln. 

We use evidence-based, non-confrontational methods to training your puppy and address any problems you may be having. 

Each puppy and owner are different, so we aim to work with you and your puppy to make the training positive and enjoyable to you and your puppy. 

Positive training methods teach your puppy what to do and increase their desire to keep doing it. In addition, you will learn how to encourage your puppy to repeat those desirable behaviours instead of engaging in undesired behaviours. 

We use reward-based methods during training to provide your puppy with something they want when they have showed the desired behaviour. Not only does it encourage your puppy to repeat a behaviour, but it also encourages positive interaction and a puppy who is eager to learn and do things with you. 

Negative training methods are based on punishment and aversive tools, including water spray bottles, shouting at them, and rubbing their noses in a soiled area of the house, through to lead corrections, choke chains and prong collars. While punishment may stop your puppy from showing any behaviour by making it afraid of the consequences, it does not teach them what to do. 

The outcome of using punishment is a feeling of fear and anxiety which leads to your puppy not wanting to be near you in the future and may lead to aggression because through these techniques you cause pain and discomfort to your puppy. In addition to causing fear and anxiety, punishment does not teach your puppy what to do. 

Langford Vets are against the use of any negative training methods because there is ample research proving that these methods are not efficient in addressing undesired behaviours and damage the owner-pet relationship. 

When using positive based training to teach your puppy the desired behaviour and encourage it to continue, we choose a reward that motivates your puppy. While it is true that food (including treats) is highly motivating for most puppies, it is not the only available reward. 

Some puppies are motivated by toys, play, affection, or praises. 

Together, we identify what would work best for your pet in different situations. 

Every time you interact with your puppy, go for a walk or play with them, you have the opportunity to teach them and reward appropriate behaviour. Having small tasty treats on hand is therefore a good idea. 

In the future as your puppy grows and behaviours become easier for them, you can slowly wean them off of needing a treat every time they perform a behaviour. You cannot, however, expect your puppy to work for free, so even when they are well behaved and performing cues well, they will still need the occasional treat to keep them motivated to do these things. 

The smell is coming from bacteria in your pet’s mouth, which your pet will also be able to smell and taste. The bacteria will be: 

1. Damaging the structures that hold teeth securely in the jaw.
2. Causing pain, especially as teeth start to loosen.
3. Causing infection. The low grade, constant bacterial load causes strain to your pet’s immune system and organ function, increasing the risk of other diseases. 
4. Occasionally the bacteria can form an abscess around the tooth root, this is extremely debilitating and painful. 

• In most cases human dental products contain high levels of fluoride to strengthen teeth. They are designed for use in people and not to be swallowed. If swallowed, they can be extremely dangerous. 
• Human dental products are often very strongly mint flavoured or contain alcohol which pets normally find to be offensive flavours. 

To have the best preventative effect, daily dental care is best and toothbrushing has been shown to provide the best effect. 

• Toothbrushing is the best preventative treatment, but it is not always possible for all dog and cat. 
• A variety of other dental care products are available from food additives, dental foods or water additives. The effectiveness of these products is less well established, but some carry the VOHC logo (Veterinary Oral Health Council) which indicates that these products have been studied and are beneficial for your pet. 

• Veterinary nurses can help you with many aspects of pet care and husbandry, they are experienced and have undertaken extensive training to earn the title of Registered Veterinary Nurse. Most are also pet owners and can draw on personal experience to provide you with individual advice for your pet care. 
• They can administer medication that has been prescribed by a Veterinary Surgeon 
• They can carry out some minor surgical procedures under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. 
• They are extensively trained in anaesthetic monitoring and the care of hospitalised pets. 

Veterinary nurses are not able to make a diagnosis or prescribe medication. 

We have produced a quick guide to explain the process.

Please bring your dog in their usual lead/ harness. Please bring any favourite treats and toys they like for motivation and encouragement.

Yes, please give you pet their medication as normal.

Yes, you can feed your pet, they will likely be given treats during the appointment so you may want to give then a little less food than normal.

Initial assessment appointments can last up to one hour.

Follow up appointments are up to 45 minutes long, please arrive 5 minutes before your appointment to allow time to check into reception.

o Your dog’s collar/harness and lead. Please ensue they are on lead when entering the building
o Any mobility aids e.g. hind leg harness
o Towels/ blankets from home
o Your pet’s favorite treats - no wet food or fresh meat treats please
o A coat or drying robe for your dog to keep their muscles/joints warm after treatment

• Make sure your dog is clean and mud free
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early for your first appointment
• You can come straight to the rehab building if you know where it is or check in at main reception
• Allow your dog a short walk to encourage them to toilet, there are plenty of grassy areas at Langford Vets 

• Keep your dog calm and warm in the car on the way home as this will prolong the effects of hydrotherapy by maintaining warmth in joints and muscles .
• Let your dog rest for a few hours post treatment but get them up for a little potter each hour to prevent stiffness and to remove/replace any damp bedding.
• Your dog may be tired for the rest of the day or for some of the following day. This is expected but please contact us if you think your dog is painful or they’re tired for a more than 24 hours

We understand when meeting us for the first time and introducing your pet to the process of hydrotherapy can feel a little daunting, so please read below on how the sessions are normally planned out. The team are trained in providing your beloved pet the best possible experience when visiting us, and will monitor their feedback signals and use clinic enrichment techniques to help them feel settled and relaxed.

• On each session we will start by asking you a few questions . this is so we can gain valuable feedback on how they have been managing at home, any concerns you may have or any positive changes that have been made. This ensures we are tailoring each treatment session to meet the needs of the individual patient. Please note if you do have any concerns, bringing a video of your pet walking slowly, on lead can be useful for the therapist to review at their appointments so please bear this in mind.
• We tend to weigh patients at each session and monitor their weight throughout their treatment. This is part of a health care assessment among others that we will use to monitor the individuals heath needs and conditions.
• Following this they will be fitted with and appropriate therapy aid and their own items will be removed. They will then be showered to remove any outdoor pollutants and provide some heat therapy before entering the underwater treadmill to warm their joints and muscles before exercise.
• On the first session of hydrotherapy this is more about gently acclimating the patient to the process of hydrotherapy. We will regularly assess each individual patient for coping signals to see how well they are managing, and use clinical enrichment activities to calm any anxiety. We will continue this on following sessions but we are likely to progress more quickly as they become more acclimatise.
• As part of this process the patient will then be lead into the underwater treadmill and walked through and out the other end to assess how they feel about walking into a confined space. This process may be completed a few times dependent on each case and assess how well they are coping. Once showing signs of being more comfortable the doors we then be closed.
• At this point we will encourage the dog to move around and explore the underwater treadmill and the therapist will utilise further clinical enrichment techniques to help them settle. Water will be introduced gradually and again we will encourage movement within the treadmill. Once we know your dog is coping well enough, we will then introduce movement of the belt and tailor the treatment session to the patient. Please note this process can take just one session or several dependent on the individuals needs and coping ability.
• Following exercise in the underwater treadmill, the patient will then be showered again to remove any chemicals from the sanitised water. we will towel dry your dog, and after care advice will be provided.

You will need to check your policy, as each one is different. Sometimes hydrotherapy will be mentioned under ‘complementary’ or ‘additional’ therapies.

Yes, please give you pet their medication as normal.

Yes, you can feed your pet, they will likely be given treats during the appointment so you may want to give then a little less food than normal, or if their appointment is in the morning, you may bring their breakfast with you.

Appointments are up to 45 minutes long, please arrive 5 minutes before your appointment to allow time to check into reception.

Please bring your dog in their usual lead/ harness. Please bring any favourite treats and toys they like for motivation and encouragement. Please bring a list of your pet’s current medication including dose and names of other medications they may have tried.

Yes, please give you pet their medication as normal.

Yes you can feed your pet, they will likely be given treats during the appointment so you may want to give then a little less food than normal.

Yes, there is plenty we can tell from speaking to you about your pet’s pain and observe from your pet without handling them. We can use a minimal handling or hands- off approach when it comes to examining your pet.

• Routine vaccinations
• Routine neutering
• 24/7 emergency service
• Around the clock care for sick patients
• Qualified nursing staff for advice
• Nurse run clinics
• Exotics vet on our team
• Puppy & kitten packages
• Dedicated theatre
• X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound
• Hydrotherapy & physiotherapy
• Appointment system
• Blood sampling & lab diagnostics
• Home visits

Yes if this is the payment option you prefer, please see our payments page for more details.

Dogs: 

Here at Langford Vet Practice, we have a variety of kennels where your dog can stay. The team provide your dog with suitable bedding, food and treatments depending on their needs.
Common reasons for your dog to stay in the practice:

• Stay for the day to have and recover from a surgical or medical procedure.
• Treatment for diarrhoea or vomiting. Many patients will need rehydrating with fluid therapy.

Cats:

When your cat needs to stay over for treatments or procedures, we have a dedicated cat ward with cages facing one direction, rather than facing one another which avoids visual contact and reduces the spread of potential respiratory infections.

Each cage has a litter tray, bed and box that enable your cat to hide and has a raised level for them to sit up high. These are important mechanisms to reduce stress during their stay.
Our staff are all trained in cat-friendly handling techniques, we use towels, cat dedicated equipment and examination rooms. If necessary, a sedation can be administered to minimise their stress.

Many cats are hospitalised in the practice if they are not eating, are vomiting or are having a surgical procedure or treatment for medical conditions e.g. diabetes or kidney disease.

Other pets:

In veterinary medicine animals are grouped in the following categories: Farm, Companion (cats & dogs) and Equine. All other animals are grouped together as exotics and commonly include rabbits, rodents, bird's reptiles, and fish.

Rabbits are the third most common pet in the UK and are routinely seen at the practice for preventative health care, such as vaccines, or treatment for a wide range of illnesses.

The practice has dedicated facilities for the care of prey species, to allow them to be safely hospitalised away from the smells, sights, and noises of predators.

Exotic animals are hospitalised for many reasons, common reason for them staying might be,
Rats having a lump removed,
Rabbits with gut stasis,

Brucella canis is a reportable disease because there are potentially life changing consequences if human infection occurs. The risk of transmission to humans in day to day contact with a brucella infected dog is considered low. The risk to laboratory staff and veterinary staff is considered much higher due to possible contact with contaminated fluids or tissues, eg blood, urine and reproductive.

At Langford Vets we consider any pet that has been in a higher risk country or lives with such a dog, to be a "high risk". They will be considered High Risk until that dog has been away from any sources of infection for at least 3 months and has then had a negative test run at APHA.

High Risk patients are always handled with appropriate PPE. There may be a limit to some laboratory tests that can safely be carried out. Some tests may have to be sent to a specific laboratory to be safely handled, which can increase the cost of testing. In-house (patient side) blood and urine tests will not be possible as all samples must be sent to an appropriate laboratory. Additional costs for the extra safety measures may be applied during treatment.

Most behavioural therapy primarily involves understanding why our animals behave as they do. By altering the way we deal with them we can alter their behaviour too. Specific training programmes and supportive therapy with drugs can also be used in some cases.

Some behaviour problems are a reflection of medical disease and investigation of these is vital before embarking on any behavioural modification programmes so there is a distinct advantage of seeing a vet for behavioural therapy.

The most common problems we help with in dogs are:

• Destructiveness in the house
• Nervousness with strangers or visitors
• Noise phobias – such as to fireworks or thunder
• Inappropriate barking (for example in the house or car)
• Fighting between dogs in the household or outside
• Aggressiveness towards people
• Chasing bicycles/livestock/joggers
• House-soiling

Cats can be helped with:

• Toileting/house-soiling
• Fighting other cats within the household
• Eating/stealing fabrics such as wool
• General timidity or specific fears

As many members of the family as possible should attend the consultation with your pet. The first session is likely to last at least an hour. The time will be spent asking you in great detail about how you and your pet live together, and about the problem behaviours. To help you do this you will be given a questionnaire to fill in before the consultation and to bring with you to discuss. You can soon download the questionnaires from this site.

Towards the end of the consultation a plan of treatment will be discussed and agreed with you. This will be supported by a written letter with full details of all the suggested treatments. If we recommend any investigations, such as blood or urine tests, this will be arranged with practice staff.

Follow up appointments are usually made on a weekly or fortnightly basis as the problem dictates.

We are lucky enough to have access to a Behavioural Referral Service on our site at the Small Animal Referral Hospital. The service is led by Sagi Denenberg DVM, DACVB, Dip. ECAWBM, MACVSc (Behaviour) MRCVS.

Our Langford Vets Practice vets regularly perform a wide range of operations every day from routine neutering to fracture repairs and tumour removals. And they don't just stick to cats and dogs! Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and other small mammals as well as the occasional fish, bird and reptile are operated on. We have even treated wildlife patients such as a hedgehogs.

Langford Vet Practice are very lucky to have access to the state of the art diagnostic imaging facilities of the Small Animal Referral Hospital.

This means that if your pet needs an X-Ray, ultrasound, heart, MRI or CT scan they will be able to use our top of the range machines, ensuring fantastic quality images to assist their investigation.

It also means that if they encounter an unusual complaint, they have the back up of our specialists to help interpret their images at no extra cost.