Health & Wellbeing

Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year. Costumes, carved pumpkins, sweets, spooky decorations and eager trick-or-treaters create a fun atmosphere for families across the UK. However, while Halloween is enjoyable for people, it can present a surprising number of hazards for our four-legged friends. Every year, veterinary practices see an increase in pets needing emergency treatment

We are delighted to introduce Well Pet Screening — a comprehensive health check for your cat or dog designed to give you peace of mind about their wellbeing by helping identify potential health issues at an early stage. This screening is available to Well Pet Club members only, and as an add-on to your pet’s annual booster vaccination or 6-month

Understanding Canine Lymphoma: What Pet Owners Need to Know 🐾 Hearing that your dog may have cancer is one of the most worrying moments for any pet owner. At our practice, we believe knowledge is power — and the more you understand about conditions like canine lymphoma, the better equipped you’ll be to make decisions that help your pet live

As summer draws to a close, the changing seasons bring a wide variety of autumn fruits to our gardens, parks, and countryside. While many people enjoy the colours and abundance of this time of year, it also presents potential hazards for our pets. Dogs in particular are naturally curious and often investigate or eat fallen fruits during walks or while

Signs Your Pet Might Be in Pain: How to Recognize the Symptoms 🐾 Pets can’t tell us when they’re hurting, so it’s up to us to be extra observant and watch for signs of discomfort. Whether they’re in physical or emotional distress, it’s important to address their pain as soon as possible. Here are some signs that your pet might

This tale highlights the incredible value of having a specialist endoscopy service at Orchard House. More importantly, it showcases why an experienced vet can make all the difference… Meet Ziggy, a typical puppy with a zest for life! This 15-month-old Cocker Spaniel is always happy and bouncy. On a recent adventure, Ziggy was bounding through a field, leaping up and

As part of Pet Dental Awareness Month, we are encouraging owners to prioritise their pet’s oral health. To support this, we are offering a discount of at least £100 on scale and polish dental procedures throughout this promotional period. This offer makes now the perfect time to take proactive steps toward improving your pet’s dental health, preventing disease, and ensuring

Arthritis, or Osteoarthritis, is a common condition in both dogs and cats that cause joints to become swollen and painful. Whilst it is an uncurable condition, pain management is an effective way to suppress symptoms. Osteoarthritis can affect dogs and cats of any age, but it is more commonly seen in older pets. What is Osteoarthritis? This is unfortunately a

Everything you need to know As your veterinary practice, our aim is to support you and your pet to help them live happier, healthier lives. Pet blood tests cover all aspects of your pets’ health and these tests are important in helping us diagnose and arrange a treatment plan for your pet. Pet blood tests are not just limited to

If you suspect your dog has eaten rat poison, it is important to remain calm. Rat poison can be fatal for dogs, cats and all small animals, so it is extremely important to see a veterinary surgeon. Below is information on why rat poison is dangerous to your dog, and what to do in the event of them ingesting it.

Periodontal disease in pets occurs when the tissues that surround teeth become infected and inflamed. Bacterial plaque build-up on the teeth causes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) if not removed. Over time, infection and inflammation spread deeper into the tooth sockets, destroying the bone around the tooth roots – meaning teeth may need to be extracted (if they haven’t already

Pet Dental Care: How to Keep Your Pet’s Teeth and Gums Healthy Good pet dental care is an important part of keeping your dog or cat healthy, comfortable and happy. Just like us, pets can develop plaque, tartar, gum disease and painful dental problems if their teeth are not looked after regularly. Unfortunately, dental disease is not always obvious. Many

Brachycephalic is a term you may have heard of before. Dogs with flat faces such as pugs and French bulldogs are examples of brachycephalic breeds, and the health issues associated with these breeds are widely known. However, did you know that there are examples of brachycephalic cats, and that these breeds are on the rise? Breeds such as Persian cats

Pet health checks are an important part of pet ownership. Your pet will receive a health check during a booster vaccination, so that is at least once a year. We recommend every 6 months and that is why our Well Pet Club is great value, as it includes a health check with the booster vaccination, and then a health check

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is urging pet owners to take steps to keep their dogs safe when walking near freshwater bodies this summer, as the warm weather brings with it an increased risk of toxic blue-green algae growth. Whilst we are not aware of any local cases, it is important to stay vigilant.  What is blue-green algae Blue-green algae,

Summer is a wonderful time of year for both people and pets. Longer days, warmer weather and family holidays mean more opportunities to spend time outdoors and enjoy the beautiful countryside around Hexham, Stocksfield and Bellingham. Whether it is a walk along the Tyne, a trip to the coast, relaxing in the garden or heading away on holiday, many of

Caring for Your Senior Pet: Keeping Them Happy and Healthy in Their Golden Years Have you noticed your senior pet slowing down, behaving differently, or starting to look a little older? Just like us, pets go through natural changes as they age. While this is a normal part of life, it’s important to adapt how we care for them so

Adder bites in dogs are quite rare and whilst we are lucky in Northumberland to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, the adder is a rarely seen but ever present member of our countryside. Every year, we see an increase in the number of dogs who are bitten by the only venomous snake native to the UK, the European adder (Vipera

Just about everything! Vet nurses are a staple to the vet practice and they offer many services which a client would not see, but they also offer clinics which can be a great benefit to you, our clients. It can be easy to forget when you take an animal to the vets that there is a whole team of people,

Many of us know about the joys and impact our pets have on our lives, many of us are unaware of just how many mental health benefits having a pet can bring us. Over time pets have evolved to become acutely attuned to human behaviour and emotions. For example, dogs are now able to understand many words of the human