Beaconsfield Veterinary Clinic

*SPRING COVER PHOTO COMPETITION* It’s time for another cover photo competition! Please post pictures of your pets enjoying Spring and the winner with the most likes will be our next cover photo 😀 This is Wilma and Doris, practice owner and head vet Helen Avison’s 2 dogs, in the wild garlic 😍

🐶🐶🐶🐶 P U P P Y P A R T I E S 🐶🐶🐶🐶
When is a puppy party not a puppy party?
When you only have one puppy!
... So gorgeous little Shih Tzu ‘Mitch’ stayed for a social visit instead ☺️
We really encourage our clients to bring their pets in to visit us just for a treat and a fuss and a sniff around to help them get used to the veterinary environment and build a happy, relaxed relationship with coming to see the vet 🐕
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** Owner found, thank you **
Neutered male cat handed in to us this afternoon. He is micro chipped and we are in the process of trying to contact the owner. Hoping the power of Facebook reunites this lovely boy with his owner!
... If you have any information please contact the surgery on 01934 624608
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MEET OUR VET NURSES!
Lydney Bosley RVN
... I joined Beaconsfield in March 2019 whilst finishing my degree at Hartpury university to become a registered veterinary nurse.
I enjoy all aspects of nursing but have a special interest in exotics and animal psychology. I hope to complete courses in both aspects to further my knowledge and become a registered behaviour counsellor.
At home I have 5 beautiful guinea pigs, 2 African land snails and a royal python whom are mostly rescues.
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**UPDATE - we have several potential homes lined up for Mr Pickles! (Subject to home checks) thanks to everyone for sharing.
🐱🐱🐱SPECIAL NEW HOME NEEDED🐱🐱🐱
Hello everyone!
... My name is Mr Pickles and I am looking for a new forever home. My owner very sadly passed away recently and I am a bit confused about things.
The kind folks at Beaconsfield Vets have been taking care of me, but now I need to find a proper home to live out my days.
I am a super friendly chap 😺 very affectionate. I love a big fuss and a tummy rub and a lap to sit on.
So what do you need to know about me?
Well, I’m about 10 years young and a neutered male. I am microchipped. I have never lived with other cats or dogs and I really don’t like small children (they scare me) although I can cope if they are just visiting. I think I might learn to tolerate a cat friendly, calm dog but a home without other cats would be best. I like going outside. I have had a dental and my blood test showed that I am very healthy. I have been treated for parasites and vaccinated so I’m all good to go!
Do you think you could be my new family?
Please call the practice on (01934) 624608 and ask for Jodie to get more details and to arrange to visit me 😸
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FELINE HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH
So my cat has been diagnosed with Hypertension - what happens next?
Treating for high blood pressure is essential to prevent or limit potential damage to important organs.
... Alongside ensuring any underlying conditions are also controlled, treating hypertension will improve the quality of your cat's life and allow them to live longer & healthier.
Your Vet can prescribe an effective medication to treat hypertension. After starting treatment, the blood pressure will be checked regularly and the dose adjusted as needed. The treatment is needed life long.
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Today we had a visit from the very handsome Arrow 😍 who came in for a weight check.

** UPDATE - REUNITED WITH OWNER**
🐰🐰 PLEASE SHARE 🐰🐰
Young entire male rabbit found on Severn Road, Weston-super-Mare. Not microchipped.
... Distinct tan and white markings.
If this is your bunny, please contact the surgery on 01934 624608.
Thank you 🐇
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FELINE HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is more common in middle-aged and older cats.
Quite often, there is an underlying condition causing the blood pressure to be high.
... Chronic Kidney disease & Hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid gland) have been identified as the most common reasons for the development of hypertension.
Alongside our blood pressure checks, we also provide Senior Cat Clinics that provide a comprehensive health screen for your older cat. Contact us for more information on (01934) 634608.
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FELINE HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH
Is your cat aged 7 years or over?
Cats over 7 years of age should have their blood pressure measured at least once a year.
... We are currently offering blood pressure checks with the nurse for only £7!
To book your cat an appointment ring us on (01934) 624608
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🐶🐱 IMPORTANT NOTICE 🐹🐰
We at Beaconsfield Veterinary Clinic are very sad that Clarendon Veterinary Centre are leaving our Out of Hours sharing system known as Weston and Worle Veterinary Emergency Service. This will happen at the end of May. Clarendon have been purchased by one of the largest Veterinary Corporates in the country, IVC, and will therefore be sending both their out of hours emergencies and hospitalised patients to the IVC owned hospital at Vale Vets in Portishea...d. As the only remaining privately-owned practices in Weston-super-Mare, Beaconsfield Vets, Summer Lane Vets and Green Pastures Vets are committed to continuing to fund a local veterinary emergency and critical care service; so you have the peace of mind of knowing your pets can be seen and cared for 24/7 in Weston-super-Mare. We would like to reassure our clients that this service will be continuing for the clients of these 3 practices and we are strongly committed to continue to provide this service.
Vets employed by Summer Lane Vets, Beaconsfield Vets and Green Pastures Vets participate in out of hours rota because we are willing to give up some leisure time to look after our patients and our clients when they need us most. Our skills and standards are developed by specifically trained emergency and critical care nurses and vets. It also means that our hospitalised patients have 24 hour dedicated nursing care with transfers of only 5 minutes by veterinary staff. Other veterinary surgeries including from 1st June, Clarendon, require clients to transfer their own animals to and from their out of hours hospital.
Patients in Weston-super-Mare are so fortunate to have this local service with this level of skill and dedication. Hillyfields Vets, Winscombe have recently joined Weston and Worle Veterinary Service to ensure their patients and clients benefit from our gold standard care and accessibility.
Clients have a freedom of choice as to where their pets are registered. That said, for continuity of care of your pets, we do recommend that each pet has only one record at one veterinary centre. Clients must use the out of hours service provided by their own vets unless in extreme circumstances when extra costs will apply as their practice is not contributing to the running of any other out of hours service.
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MEET OUR VET NURSES!
Antonia Newton SVN
... Hi, I'm Antonia.
I am a student veterinary nurse here at beaconsfield and I'm half way through my second year!
I started working here in 2011 and have had two babies In that time! I love all aspects of nursing especially caring for our hospitalised patients.😸
I have always wanted to work with animals from a young age and feel very lucky to work in such a great and caring environment with a fantastic team 😆
I have two cats, Elsa (4) and Maui (2) both fosters that never left!
I can't wait to complete my training and carry on with my passion of caring for our furry friends ❤️
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MEET OUR VET NURSES!
Fi Davis SVN
... I’m Fi (my sidekick is Barney my adorable German Shepherd) and I am Beaconsfield’s newest Student Veterinary Nurse! I previously worked in Marketing and after 4 years I decided to have a change of career and become a Veterinary Nurse. It was a big and quite scary decision to change my job so drastically, but after 5 months of being a part of the Beaconsfield family, I feel at home, made some wonderful friends and all in all, working at Beaconsfield is one of the best choices I had ever made!
I started volunteering at Beaconsfield in August 2018 on Saturday’s whilst I still continued my full time job. Helen, Fran and Jodie then offered me a permanent job to train as a Veterinary Nurse – I was stunned and my answer was obviously yes. I start my qualification in September.
Since starting in January I have already come a long way and learnt so much! I also have a very large interest in weight loss and nutrition so I am hoping to do a lot of work in that area and hopefully run Weight Watchers here in the practice during and after my training!
You’ll see me running around most days here at the practice! Quite often I will come in and help the vet or nurse hold animals during consults. I’m also often out the back in our kennels taking care of inpatients too; though you may see me on reception though covering for some of our lovely receptionists!
At home I have Barney and I also share two loveable cats with my partner; a fluffy black cat called Sullivan and a Bengal Cross named Moomin!
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FELINE HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH
How does hypertension affect my cat?
Hypertension is when the pressure under which the blood moves through the body increases above normal values.
... When the pressure increases it can become harmful to the body. Prolonged high blood pressure can cause damage to important body organs, such as the eyes, kidneys, heart & brain.
In severe cases, cats can become blind due to bleeding within the eye or detachment of the retina.
Bleeds can also happen in the brain causing neurological signs such as wobbly gait, seizures, dementia and even a coma.
Bleeding can also damage the kidneys or worsen any kidney disease already present.
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FELINE HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is a medical term for high blood pressure. It is a very common and well known disorder in people.
... Many pet owners are not aware that cats can suffer from hypertension too.
Cats with hypertension do not show any outward signs. This is why the disease is often called a 'silent killer' as it can stay undetected for a long period of time before symptoms suddenly appear with severe consequences.
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What qualifications do Veterinary Nurses need?
The British Veterinary Nurse Association have put together this handy guide which tells you all about the training nurses go through.
It also gives different options to how to become a Veterinary Nurse and the experience they need.
... For additional information, please visit: www.bvna.org.uk
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Found a hedgehog and not sure if you should intervene?
This handy information poster from British Hedgehog Preservation Society gives clear advice on when a hedgehog needs your help and what to do.
We are very happy to treat wildlife and work with our local wildlife rehabilitation centre ☺️... #hedgehogweek
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This month is Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month…
You may ask, what is a Veterinary Nurse? What do they do?
You may see us in clinics, helping out the vet or maybe even on reception; however, the job of a veterinary nurse is never done and in some practices have nurses on site 24/7.
... Here at Beaconsfield, our dedicated nurses and veterinary care assistants take on huge tasks daily to ensure that our patients are getting better!
Not only do we help our patients, we’re also here for clients to ask us questions and have regular nurse clinics to see the patients who need regular checks. These checks can be post-operative, weight watchers, blood pressure checks, administer flea and worming treatment or social visits…just to name a few!
In theatre, a nurse will be monitoring anaesthetics of patients and another will be preparing the patient for surgery as well as looking after other inpatients and being an assistant to the vet when needed.
Alongside this we also test urine samples and run blood samples, which sometimes have to be sent off to external laboratories to be tested.
In addition to this, we also admit patients for surgery in the morning, have to make sure everything is clean and tidy and ensure everything is switched on and off at the start and end of each day.
It is a difficult yet rewarding job being a Veterinary Nurse. Some days are emotional, some are tiring and yet no matter what, we are here for your animals!
Throughout May we will be hearing from our team of nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants. They will tell us all about what they get up to and what led them working with animals in a veterinary practice.
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