NEWS

Summer 2012
NEWS
Welcome to our summer newsletter. This is the third
newsletter I’ve written since I started managing the clinic
and I’m pleased to say the practice is thriving and we are
extremely grateful for all your loyalty – we are well aware
that there are many vet practices for you to choose from
and as ever always welcome your feedback.
One of my primary aims when I started here was to
stabilise the team which had seen a lot of change, to
improve continuity for our clients and their animals. We
certainly feel like a close knit bunch now. Sadly though,
staff do move on for various reasons and unfortunately we
are going through a bit of a spell at the moment.
Our trainee nurse Maisie Forward has gone on maternity
leave, Daniel Denness our ever enthusiastic nurse is
becoming head nurse at our out of hours service provider
Vets Now, in Tunbridge Wells and Claire Simpson is
expecting her second baby in January. We wish them all
well. I hope none of you need to use our out of hours
service but if ever you do Daniel is looking forward to
making it as good an experience as possible. Emily
Parton our part time receptionist has decided to spend
more time with her son, Henry.
So we look to the future and some new faces to welcome
you whenever you need us. Abby Stuchbury (pictured
right) has temporarily replaced Maisie as a trainee nurse.
She’s a fast learner and a pleasure to have on the team.
Lucy Ireland is a very experienced veterinary nurse and
will join us at the end of August and Caroline Markowski
has replaced Emily to greet you on reception. They all
look forward to getting to know you and your pets.
Tina walking our dogs, Maud and
Roxy at a rain delayed Brightling
Horse Trials
Congratulations!
Maisie and her partner James
welcomed Esme to the world
on July 6th (pictured below).
Francesca and Geoff had a
wonderful wedding on April
14th and thank you for all your
kind wishes (pictured left).
www.goudhurstvets.co.uk 01580 211 981
Holistic approach to veterinary care
Vicky Payne BVetMed MRCVS offer Holistic Veterinary Care to all our
clients. She is an experienced conventional vet (she helps out here
regularly when vets are ill or on holiday) but also uses herbal medicines,
acupuncture, diet, exercise and lifestyle changes to bring animals back
to health . Acupuncture is mostly used for animals with muscle
problems, arthritis or recovering from surgery but can be useful in other
cases too. Herbal medicines can be useful in complicated or chronic
conditions, where conventional drugs don’t help or to reduce the sideeffects of conventional treatments.
Pesky slugs are a real threat
Why do we advise spot-on every month?
Advocate is the only product licensed for prevention
of lungworm which is prevalent in this area.
Lungworm infects dogs and foxes and is transmitted
via eating snails or slugs, which are in abundance
due to the wet summer.
Slugs and snails in their juvenile stages can be
accidentally ingested by eating grass or drinking
from puddles.
Lungworm causes breathing problems, bleeding
problems, behavioural changes, weight loss,
vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and can be fatal.
Prevention is much simpler than cure and the only
prevention available is advocate spot-on, on the
back of the neck monthly.
Advocate also covers your dog against fleas, lice,
mites and roundworms.
Rabbit Awareness Week
15th – 22nd September
A new vaccine has been released
for rabbits this Spring. This
combined vaccine gives protection
against Myxomatosis & Viral
Haemorrhagic Disease in a single
yearly injection. We recommend
vaccination of all rabbits (both
indoor & outdoor) as both diseases
are transmitted by biting insects &
are often fatal.
Don’t forget to check your rabbit
regularly as the weather warms up.
Make sure they have shelter &
water & are not becoming soiled
underneath which will lead to fly
strike – call us for more information.
www.goudhurstvets.co.uk 01580 211 981