Socialising your puppy at a young age is crucial, as their window for readily accepting new experiences starts to close at around 16 weeks. It is important therefore, that you make the most of early puppyhood and pack in as many good experiences during this time as possible. One of the best ways for puppies to build their knowledge of dog communication systems is for them to attend well-run puppy socialisation parties and training classes. Our puppy parties are run by Louise Williamson. Louise is a receptionist at our Chichester clinic and also runs puppy training classes in Chichester and Emsworth. Our puppy parties are run at Denmead, Havant, Emsworth, Chichester, Barnham and Hilsea.

Our puppy patients are invited to attend our puppy parties once they have started their vaccination course. All puppies that complete the 2 week socialisation receive a certificate and a rosette!

Cranial, or anterior, cruciate ligament rupture is a common cause of lameness in dogs. The dog’s stifle joint, or knee, acts as a hinge and has various ligaments which aid this action by preventing abnormal movements. On either side of the joint there is a collateral ligament which prevents sideways movement. Internally there is a pair of cruciate ligaments arranged in a cross which prevents the tibia (shin bone) from being pulled forwards as the quadriceps muscle contracts.

The cranial cruciate ligament is the most commonly affected and in many species, including humans, the ligament is usually damaged by a traumatic force such as being hit by a car or getting the leg caught. Although this is can also be the case in dogs, more commonly the ligament is damaged, or ruptured, during moderate or normal exercise. This is due to the fact that the ligament has degenerated over time and the first subtle signs of a problem can be easily missed. In other dogs, a low-grade chronic lameness may have been present before a sudden deterioration as the ligament ruptures.

Commonly dogs will prevent with lameness along with pain and swelling in the stifle joint. Damage to the ligament can be confirmed by finding instability in the joint by doing a test called a ‘cranial draw’, however some animals may need to be sedated or anaesthetised to perform this. To make a full diagnosis radiographs will be taken under general anaesthesia and the joint will be fully manipulated.

In very small/light dogs conservative management, consisting of rest and pain killers, may help but the results are often very slow and unrewarding. In almost all cases surgical intervention is advised.

There are several different techniques reported for the repair of cruciate ligament rupture. The one chosen will depend on the characteristics and conformation of the individual affected as well as the preference and surgical ability of the surgeon.

At Downland Veterinary Group, we offer a range of different cruciate ligament repair techniques, to ensure your pet receives the procedure most suitable for them.

For more information on cruciate ligament repair, please contact the Emsworth clinic.

Your pet’s heart is a muscle that has to work all day, every day. There are many diseases and abnormalities that can cause the heart to not pump as well as it should, which means that heart diseases can affect your pet all day, every day, dramatically affecting your pet’s quality of life. We offer screening tests for heart murmurs, congenital abnormalities, and cardiac diseases that show up later in life, as well as specific cardiac tests such as echocardiograms and electrocardiograms.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart, which allows your pet’s veterinarian to measure how thick the heart’s muscular walls are, how well the heart contracts, and how well the valves are working. Your pet’s veterinarian can also prescribe the appropriate medications after a successful diagnosis, to keep your pet’s heart as healthy as possible. Some symptoms of diseases of the heart may include exercise intolerance, lethargy, collapse, and difficulty breathing. It is important for your pet to see the veterinarian if your pet has any of these symptoms.

Laparoscopic, or “key hole”, surgery is seen as gold standard in human medicine and is now making the transition to the veterinary world. It is well documented that it causes fewer complications and less post-operative pain in people, compared to traditional surgery, and we are now seeing data in animals which supports this.

Laparoscopic procedures have the advantage of:

• Reduced tissue handling
• Greater precision
• Less trauma
• Haemorrhage (bleeding) is often reduced and more easily controlled
• The whole abdomen can be examined to ensure there is no unexpected disease evident
• Procedure time may be reduced

This procedure can offer a quicker recovery time often allowing dogs off the lead and running around three days after surgery. The wounds are also smaller meaning your pet is less likely to lick them and cause complications.

The procedure is performed by a small needle being placed into the abdomen which is then used to inflate the patient with carbon dioxide. This creates a space for the camera to be placed and gives the surgeon room to move instruments around. Three small tubes are then placed into the abdomen which act as ports for instruments to pass down and through which the ovaries can be removed. The wounds are small and are closed without external stitches.

Traditionally in the UK we have performed ovariohysterectomy where the ovaries and the whole of the uterus are removed. In mainland Europe and the US ovariectomy has always been used whereby the ovaries are removed but the uterus is left in place. The rationale in the UK for removing everything was to eliminate risk of pyometra, an infection in the uterus. This has now been disproven, as pyometra does not occur when the ovaries are removed and this data shows that we only need to perform an ovariectomy. Therefore in laparoscopic surgery only the ovaries are removed which further reduces tissue handling and trauma to the patient.

The procedure is highly successful with great results following surgery however as with all procedures there are risks and potential complications. If at any point the surgeon is unhappy with how the procedure is going, i.e. due to equipment failure, abnormal bleeding etc, the decision may be made to convert to an ‘open’ surgery. This decision would always be made with the safety of the patient in mind.

Here at Downland Veterinary Group we welcome patients in all shapes and sizes and over the years we have developed a firm foundation of exotic animals under our care. Exotic pets have become more popular in recent years and our dedicated team have been enhancing their knowledge and keeping up to date in the ever developing exotic medicine field by attending regular courses taken by specialists from around the globe.

Our experienced team routinely carry out comprehensive work ups for exotic animals using diagnostic equipment and techniques on site in addition to being able to send samples off to our external laboratory for further analysis.

If you would like to book up a consultation for your exotic pet then please make an appointment at our Emsworth clinic with either Dean or Gus who will be more then happy to investigate any problems they are experiencing.

Please call 01243 377141 for more information.

Exotic pets seen include:

• Lizards
• Snakes
• Tortoises
• Skunks
• Turtles
• Crocodiles/Alligators
• Rabbits
• Guinea Pigs
• Degus
• Birds of Prey
• Parakeets
• Fowl
• And many more

AVIAN

It is imperative to keep your avian pets in optimal condition. Due to birds' rapid metabolic rate they can deteriorate quickly if they become ill and will likely need rapid supportive treatment. It is not uncommon for us to see avian patients presented to us as an emergency. To help with prevention of disease and promote early detection, we recommend yearly check-ups and health screening. In addition to yearly screens, if you have any concerns about your pet bird's health, then we would prefer to see them too soon rather than too late.

Here at Downland Veterinary Group we have the facilities to perform a wide range of therapy for your avian pets including extensive diagnostics, emergency care and overnight hospitalisation.

REPTILE

Very few reptiles are native to the UK and so the vast majority kept as pets need to be provided with an environment that replicates that of their natural habitat. In recent years there have been large steps taken forward in the world of herpetology allowing for improved husbandry and veterinary care.

At Downland Veterinary Group, we aim to optimise our reptilian patient care by constantly updating our veterinary knowledge to maintain us at the forefront of diagnostic and treatment techniques.

SMALL MAMMAL

Small mammals such as ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, skunks and pigmy hedgehogs are also encompassed under exotic veterinary medicine. Like other exotic animal care, husbandry, nutrition and regular health checks are paramount in maintaining their optimal health. They can present with a number of conditions which need to be addressed early to allow rapid treatment and recovery.

The exotic animal team at Downland Veterinary group are primed to provide rapid and precise care for your small mammal companions.

Endoscopy is a process of using small cameras to examine the internal structure of certain hollow body parts. This non-invasive technique can allow visualisation or areas that would require, in some cases, radical surgery to access otherwise. The cameras can be used to examine and record the appearance of structures, to obtain samples via biopsy or washes or to remove foreign bodies. 

Endoscopy takes a lot of time and patience to learn but can be a hugely rewarding and vital diagnostic tool. Most endoscopy work is performed at our Emsworth clinic. Here we have 3 flexible cameras which can but manipulated through areas of the body and 3 rigid cameras for use in more external areas. With our full range of equipment, we can examine;

• Upper and lower airway, including nose and lungs
• Upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach, duodenum)
• Lower gastrointestinal tract (rectum and colon)
• Bladder (in female dogs and a certain size)

We now offer arthroscopy (allowing visualisation of a joint without surgery to open it) and also laparoscopic surgery whereby body cavities (such as the abdomen) can be examined and surgery performed through ‘key hole’ incisions.

With the range of exotic species we see, it is not unusual for our exotic vet Dean to be using the cameras in some unusual animals! 

Ultrasound is a non-invasive (and therefore non-painful) way of imaging which we find invaluable in the work-up of a lot of medical and surgical cases. We have had many years' experience with ultrasound at the Bognor Regis surgery (Annette Moyart has 10 years' experience). We find it a very useful tool to obtain definitive diagnoses and prognoses in a wide range of cases. Ultrasound ensures that we get the most information possible, with the least risk to the patient and guides prompt treatment. We provide pain relief if the patient is uncomfortable but they remain conscious throughout the procedure. The patient lies on a nice comfortable bed and is held gently by nurses. We clip some hair over the region we are imaging and to improve contact of the ultrasound probe with the skin, gel is applied to the skin.

CRITICAL CASES

These cases are often very unstable (weak and collapsed or having breathing difficulty), so ultrasound has the advantage of being non-invasive, allows rapid assessment and it doesn’t necessitate anaesthesia which could be dangerous in these individuals.

Such cases include:

• To investigate the cause of internal haemorrhage in an elderly dog with a splenic tumour and then to check for metastasis to liver and heart, prior to performing surgery
• Diagnosis of pyometra
• Confirmation whether a cat in acute respiratory distress has fluid around its lungs or heart failure

MEDICAL CASES

These cases are often of a more chronic nature; such as weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal masses, abnormal urination or ongoing discomfort. They have often been unresponsive to standard treatment eg a course of antibacterials of bacterial cystitis in a dog. There has often been prior investigations such as blood or urine tests and radiographs, but a definitive diagnosis or prognosis has not been reached. We have a lot of experience in the investigation of a wide range of medical cases involving internal organs such as liver, spleen, pancreas, gut and urinary system including prostate disease. We routinely perform ultrasound-guided biopsies, cystocentesis, thoracocentesis and abdominocentesis. The fine needle aspirates are often submitted to a specialist cytologist to obtain a definitive diagnosis.

WIDE VARIETY OF CASES

Ultrasound can also be used in a wide variety of other cases; including assessment of skin masses or, hernias and for the presence of free fluid in a body cavity. Please contact us if you are unsure if a case could benefit from ultrasound imaging.

DVG’s orthopaedic service is run at the Emsworth surgery by Fabio Cabriolu and Gus Nieves. We offer a wide range of services including TTA and lateral suture for cruciate ligament repair, luxating patella surgery, lameness work-up, fracture repairs and arthrodesis.

We also do arthroscopy, where by small cameras can be placed into joints to help diagnose and treat certain conditions.

At Downland Veterinary Group we are very proud of our nursing team. Our team consists of registered veterinary nurses or RVNs, student veterinary nurses, and animal care assistants. We follow the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, RCVS, code of conduct to ensure that all members of the nursing team only undertake skills that they have undergone appropriate training in, and have been deemed competent. Different members are easily recognisable by the colour of their uniform. All of our nursing team are a very crucial part of the team at DVG. Without them our days would simply not run smoothly.

During working hours they are ensuring that the clinic is clean and tidy and ready to welcome patients. They provide care in kennels for all the ill pets and those recovering from surgery. They assist in theatre and monitor anaesthetics whilst the vets are operating. They also run the in-house laboratory and ensure that consultations are running smoothly by providing assistance there. In many cases you will see a member of the nursing team if your pet is coming in for an operation and they will admit them and go through the pre-operative procedures with you. They also ensure that all of the medications are stocked up.

A member of the nursing team is also available for clinics and can provide a whole range of services, which include:

• Nail clipping
• Expressing anal glands
• Senior pet checks
• Microchipping
• Removing sutures
• Post-operative checks
• Discharging of pets after surgery
• Taking blood at the direction of a veterinary surgeon
• Giving injections as directed by a veterinary surgeon
• Changing bandages or dressings
• Weight watchers clinics
• Youth club – weight checks for growing pets, monitoring their growth and advising about flea and worm treatment
• Weight checks for any age, often including advice about flea, tick and worm treatment
• Socialisation visits for those pets that are scared of the vets and need to have a positive experience
• Some branches offer renal clinics for patients on long term care for renal failure
• Some branches may be able to offer behavioural advice. Please check with reception

If you would like to see someone about any of these services, please do contact reception who can advise about making an appointment for you.

Join one of our fabulous puppy parties  at our Goffs surgery. Call 01323 721087 to make sure that your new puppy doesn't miss out on all the fun.

Vaccinations are important to keep your pet safe and protected from infectious diseases. Don't take the risk, book your dog or cat's vaccinations today.

Keep your dog looking and smelling fantastic, call Sharon on 01323 840 876 for our expert grooming, clipping and bathing services.

In some situations we can issue repeat prescriptions for your pet, but generally you will need to bring them to the surgery. Please ask if you are unsure about our policy.