AUGUST PET
Bill - 4 years old

BREED Crossbreed

HOW WE HELPED Bill’s owners adopted him three years ago from North Macedonia., via a local rescue organisation, Strays Without Borders. When Bill first arrived he was quick to love his owners, but scared of everything else! With lots of love and patience he has made excellent progress, and will even tolerate some fuss from Harriet in the surgery waiting room (though not yet in the consult room!)

Bill has struggled with skin problems for the past few years. Until the end of last year, his allergies were well managed, but shortly before Christmas Bill started loosing hair and his skin became increasingly scaly and sore. All the usual tests came back negative, but Bill was loosing weight and increasingly lethargic. A referral to the vet school led to a diagnosis of Leishmaniasis, a disease spread by sandflies, that can lie dormant in the system for years. Happily, with the right treatment, Bill is now regrowing his lovely coat and is so much brighter and happier.

Strays without borders have been an ongoing source of support for Bill’s owners. You can read more about their work on their website

Home - strayswithoutborders | UK

JULY PET
Cassie - 14 years old

BREED Labrador

HOW WE HELPED Cassie is a proper little fighter when it comes to growing old. In 2023, she underwent surgery at the Vet School to correct respiratory difficulties caused by laryngeal paralysis. She has a couple of ongoing conditions, namely vestibular syndrome and hyperparathyroidism. She has also struggled with arthritis for the past few years, which is managed with supplements, hydrotherapy and a monthly Librella injection, which her owners have learnt to administer at home.

Just recently, Cassie had a bacterial infection in her spine, which has meant some longer term antibiotics. However despite all of this she is the most sensitive caring little soul you could ever wish for. Cassie has such a good spirit and wags her tail with everyone she meets. She never refuses a treat, and although she generally has selective hearing, and sleeps more soundly these days, she can still hear the rustle of a crisp packet or the lid of the cheese box from anywhere in the house!

JUNE PET
Jaskier - 9 years old

BREED Crossbreed

HOW WE HELPED Jaskier was adopted by his owners two years ago after four years with a Polish rescue charity. He was picked up as a stray with significant visual impairment so little is known about his past.

Jaskier is a lovely gentle boy. After so long in a shelter, he is used to his own company, but also loves affection and going for walks, and has adapted really well to family life.

Jaskier gets rather anxious coming to the vets and has had to undergo a lot of treatment in recent months. Our visiting eye specialist David Williams diagnosed retinal degeneration which is sadly untreatable. Jaskier’s owners also noticed blood in his urine and we were concerned about kidney disease or a possible growth in the bladder. Happily, further investigations at the vets school pointed to chronic infections as the cause and Jaskier is responding well to treatment. He has had a lot to contend with in his nine years so we thought he definitely deserved a Pet of the Month accolade!

Congratulations Jaskier!

MAY PET
Jack - 11 years old

BREED Mixed breed terrier

HOW WE HELPED Jack started life as a Russian street dog. He was rescued by a local charity, came to the UK in 2020 and was adopted by his current owners in 2023.Jack gets in the usual terrier scrapes, such as cuts on his face and paws from too much time investigating Badger sets. He recently gave us a bit of a fright stealing and eating the large cooked bone from the Sunday roast, which fortunately passed through his system without intervention.

Jack is a great character. He is fiercely loyal and completely convinced he is human. He has strong opinions about most things; Jack loves Badger sets, cheese, his owners bed. Jack hates tractors, trains, squirrels horses and cats! He even has his own following on TikTok!

https://www.tiktok.com/@jackiscute19?_t=ZN-8wOohcTvvoE&_r=1

Congratulations Jack!

APRIL PET
Teddy - 7 years old

BREED DLH

HOW WE HELPED Teddy was cared for by the Blue Cross after being abandoned near Elizabeth Way. He was a small scared kitten, but soon came round with lots of love from his new owner. He loves company, and is really missing his companion, Bella, who recently passed away.

Teddy had us all rather worried recently. His owner noticed he was struggling to urinate and further investigation confirmed a blocked urethra and possible kidney disease. Teddy was hospitalised, catheterised and given plenty of fluids. His kidney function improved, but he found the treatment very stressful and stopped eating. Fortunately, a change of pain relief and some appetite stimulants led to an improvement in Teddy’s condition. His owner would have been “heartbroken to have lost him” and is thrilled by his recovery.

Congratulations Teddy!

MARCH PET
Sunny - 13 years old

BREED
Flat-coated Retriever

HOW WE HELPED
Sunny has been through the wars a little in recent years. Now a golden oldie, she suffers from Osteoarthritis and comes in for a monthly injection that reduces joint pain and inflammation. Her condition has also benefitted from laser therapy. She has an ongoing skin condition and has had several surgeries, most recently an oral abscess and before that several growths.

Sunny is a much loved member of her family, who despite her arthritis still loves to get out and about. She finds swimming a bit more of challenge these days, but still loves to be near the water. Sunny is a little less keen on visiting the surgery after so much intervention, but remains friendly and cooperative and always brightens our day.

Congratulations Sunny!

FEBRUARY PET
Buster - 8 years old

BREED
Rottweiler

HOW WE HELPED
Buster has had his fair share of medical challenges. A couple years ago, suddenly lame after chasing a tennis ball, he was diagnosed with a ruptured cruciate ligament, and referred for surgical repair. Shortly afterwards, Buster was attacked by the family cat and developed a particularly nasty infection. Late last year, Buster developed bilateral otitis externa, an inflammatory disease of the external ear canal, which can be very persistent and uncomfortable.

Buster’s owner describes him as the friendliest and most social dog you could hope to meet. He is a typical clumsy Rottweiler (weighing 55 kg) who walks through things rather than round them. He loves his daily walks around Milton Country Park, trips to the local pub, play fighting with his owner and sleeps for about 19 hours a day! 

JANUARY PET
Luna - 17 years old

BREED
Domestic Shorthair

HOW WE HELPED
Luna (short for ‘lunettes’ due to the light fur around both eyes during kittenhood) has only been coming to the surgery for a year or so but we have become rather fond of her. She enjoys human company even more since sadly loosing brother, Enzo, last year. Luna loves snoozing on a lap, surveying the scene from a high vantage point or being involved in whatever is going on, be that sitting on the keyboard, the open book or a drawing in progress!

Luna has chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is common in older cats. She also suffers from recurrent urinary tract infections, which after further investigation turned out to be resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics, adding to the difficulty of management. Despite these challenges, Luna is a gentle and patient soul and her owners love her to bits!

DECEMBER PET
Harvey - 15 years old

BREED
Lurcher

HOW WE HELPED
Rescue dog Harvey was adopted by his current owners (then aged 93) in 2016, after they lost their much loved lab.

Harvey settled well, and is great company. He has always loved his walks and food, once managing to almost help himself to the Christmas cake (the sound of the tin hitting the floor gave him away!)

He's now an old boy and spends most of his day dozing on the sofa. Despite his size and his age, Harvey is a really healthy boy, visiting Patrick just twice a year for his checkup. He knows exactly where he is when the car pulls up at the surgery, and tries his very best to drag his owners in the opposite direction. We don’t take it personally!

Congratulations Harvey!

NOVEMBER PET
Erskine - 19+ years old

BREED
Domestic Shorthair

HOW WE HELPED
Erskine is a venerable cat, over 19 years old, who lives with his sister May.

Erskine is a lucky boy, enjoying the peaceful domestic surroundings of the Master’s Lodge at St Catharine’s College, and will always be grateful to Harriet whose deft removal of dental plaque helped reverse a life-threatening infection. Erskine is a gentle, patient and affectionate soul with a love of food and nature and an adventurous and curious spirit that has made him beloved and cherished by all who have met him.

We are all very happy that Erskine continues to enjoy good health and a fantastic quality of life!

OCTOBER PET
Bessie - 13 years old

BREED
Basset Hound

HOW WE HELPED
Bessie was adopted aged 8 months old from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Bessie is all about food and cuddles! She has never been interested in toys but does love a pizza crust, cucumber or carrots. She's the best therapy dog, loves a Sunday sofa nap and is amazing with children. She's surprisingly speedy for her little legs and enjoys her regular trips to Scotland where she hangs out with the family Italian Spinone.

Bessie has been a regular visitor to the practice over the years, including an allergic reaction to a spider, emergency treatment after eating a whole punnet of grapes and in more recent years ongoing treatment to manage her allergic skin disease, heart condition and age related incontinence. Bessie puts up with all these tribulations with great stoicism. Harriet is her favourite (sorry Patrick!) and she has lots of love for Anna and Nancy and the rest of the team too.

SEPTEMBER PET
Kiki - 1 years old

BREED
Domestic Short Hair

HOW WE HELPED
Lovely Kiki has just celebrated her first birthday. Kiki and her siblings were born at Woodgreen Animal Shelter. She was the smallest of the litter but has grown into a lovely, friendly family cat who adores people and purrs whenever anyone comes in the room! Happily, she has not required much veterinary attention so far other than routine vaccinations, anti-parasite treatment and neutering aged 6 months, which is great news for Kiki but means we don't see quite as much of her as we would like! Congratulations Kiki.