News

Blood Products

and

Canine Blood Transfusion

Hosted by the Pet Blood Bank

Tuesday 31st January 2012, 7pm buffet for 7:30pm start

At Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9BE

Places limited so please book early. Call 01275 838 473 or email referrals@highcroftvet.co.uk

Congratulations to vet Gareth Cross, from Devon, who is the winner of opthalmology quiz that was featured in our autumn newsletter.

Gareth answered all questions correctly and was chosen at random to win the Apple 32GB iPod Touch.

Many thanks to all those who entered. We will keep you informed of ay future competitions.

The quiz answers are as follows:

Picture 1 - Corneal sequestrum

Picture 2 - Uveitis

Picture 3 - Prolapsed 3rd eyelid (Dog)

Picture 4 - Prolapsed harderian gland (Rabbit)

Picture 5 - Heterotrophic calcification (G.Pig)

Highcroft Veterinary Referrals are please to offer a two day course, providing both the theory and practical techniques involved with performing laparoscopic ovariectomies.

Date: 2 and 3 March 2012

Fee:£1200 (inc accomodation, meals and bring a nurse FOC)

Tutor: Juliet Pope BVSc CertSAS MRCVS

For further information or to register interest please contact: referrals@highcroftvet.co.uk or call 01275 838473

After a successful Exhibition in 2011 Highcroft Veterinary Referrals will be making a return to BSAVA Congress in 2012.

Please come along to meet our Vets, Nurses and staff who will be happy to answer any questions about the services we offer.

It is also the ideal opportunity to enter our competition and take advantage of some great offers.

See us at Stand 526 in the main exhibition hall. 

Highcroft Vet Referrals Cardiology and Surgical Teams have been working closely together to perform Interventional Cardiology techniques such as PDA occlusions with an ACDO.

Guided by fluoroscopy, a catheter is introduced via the femoral artery, into the PDA, an angiogram is performed by injecting dye through the catheter, to confirm the correct placement and the ACDO is deployed. This occludes the vessel, and the murmur is resolved within 15 seconds.

Interventional techniques remove the need for thoracotomy procedures, this in turn allows for a quicker recovery.

Last week this procedure was carried out on a 9month old, female, canine, Corgi. We are happy to report success, the patient was discharged 24 hours post procedure, without any trace of a murmur.

Highcroft Vet Referrals would like to pass on thanks to our Cardiology and Surgical team members; Dr Luca Ferasin, Oriol Domenech DVM MS DiplECVIM/CA(cardiology), Oliver Garrod CertVC MRCVS, Juliet Pope BVSc CertSAS MRCVS, Chris Gudge RVN and Sarah Knowlson RVN.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY IN ORTHOPAEDICS

Arthroscopy and fracture repair

Hosted by  Nick Macdonald BVetMed MVB CedrtSAS MRCVS

Wednesday 16th November,  7 pm buffet for 7.30 pm start.

At Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9BE

Places limited so please book early.

Please download the invitation (see blue link below) or reply to Highcroft Veterinary Referrals on 01275 838473.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD INVITATION USING THE LINK BELOW:

12 September 2011

We are pleased to announce that tonight’s CPD “An evening of Exotics” is fully booked. We have called and emailed all delegates to confirm a reserved place. 

For those delegates who have not been confirmed for this evenings talk, an alternative date has been set and we have emailed to re-invite you to attend. 

If you have not received an email or call from us and are unsure if you have a space reserved then please call 01275 838 473.

Highcroft Referrals is pleased to offer you a full out-patient service for those cases only requiring a CT scan.  We invite your client, or ambulance driver, to wait with us whilst the procedure is carried out, before returning the patient home or back to your care.

In the majority of cases we use a reversable sedation, allowing us to complete the scanning process in approximately 30-60 minutes. We offer this service Monday - Friday.

Nick enjoys all aspects of orthopaedic surgery and has a particular expertise in arthroscopy. We are pleased to offer advanced procedures such as complete arthroscopic removal of meniscal tears.

The combination of digital radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and arthroscopy allows the diagnosis of many challenging orthopaedic and neurological problems. Both conservative (supported by in-house physiotherapy and acupuncture services) and surgical management of problems can be offered with some of the most advanced orthopaedic equipment available.

Procedures which we offer include:

Arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of joint problems including medial compartment disease of the elbow, cruciate and meniscal problems in the stifle, and ligamentous and tendinous problems of the shoulder.

Treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease using Tibal Tuberosity Advancement, Cranial Closing Wedge Osteotomy or minimally invasive lateral extracapsular stabilisation in combination with arthroscopy.

Fracture repair using conventional and locking bone plates, external skeletal fixation, screws, intramedullary pins and wire. Intraoperative fluoroscopy allows minimally invasive techniques and improves accuracy of implant positioning.

Treatment of growth abnormalities including severe patellar luxations and antebrachial deformities.

Treatment of intervertebral disc disease and spinal fractures or luxations using conventional radiography and myelography or CT scanning for diagnosis.

If you would like to refer a case to us, please click here How the Service Works.

Dr Luca Ferasin DVM PhD CertVC DipECVIM-CA MRCVS has been busy this last month fitting two pacemakers.

Using Medtronic pacemakers, Luca has successfully implanted into an English Spinger Spaniel and a Jack Russell Terrier. Both patients are doing well post surgery.

Pacemaker implantation is just one of the cardiology services offered by Highcroft Referrals. For further information please call our cardiology team on 01275 838 473

An Evening of Exotics

Approach to Feather Plucking Birds

Michelle Barrows BSc BVMS DZooMed (Avian) MRCVS

G.I. Stasis and Urine Scalding in Rabbits

Richard Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc MSB CBiol DZooMed MRCVS

A Case-Based Approach to Post Hibernation Anorexia in Tortoises

Rowena Killick BVM&S MSc DZooMed MRCVS

Monday 12th September,  7 pm buffet for 7.30 pm start.

At Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9BE

Places limited so please book early.

Please download the invitation (see blue link below) or reply to Highcroft Veterinary Referrals on 01275 838473.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD INVITATION USING THE LINK BELOW:

We are very happy to welcome Holly Mash BVSc certIVAS MRCVS to our team, one of the South West’s only qualified specialists in veterinary acupuncture.

Acupuncture is well known as a safe and effective form of pain relief, especially for those suffering from chronic pain.  It does not have any side effects and is well tolerated by most animals, with some even falling asleep during treatment.

Acupuncture is of particular benefit to geriatric patients where it offers a range of benefits including analgesia for arthritis and can be used alongside medical treatments, or as a stand-alone form of therapy.

Conditions suitable for acupuncture treatment include:

• Neck & back pain
• Hip Dysplasia
• Shoulder, elbow & stifle conditions
• OCD
• Back problems/pain
• Lameness
• Rehabilitation post surgery
• Arthritis
• Muscle & Ligament sprains/strains and spasms

• Paralysis/Paresis (inc CDRM)

If you would like to refer a case to us, please click here How the Service Works.

BSAVA 2011 turned out to be a fruitful weekend for Jan Morris, Practice Manager at Dryfield Veterinary Practice in Monmouth.  Jan was the lucky winner of the brand new version of Apple’s iPad after entering Highcroft Veterinary Referrals’s prize draw at BSAVA.

Unfortunately the presentation was delayed, as the new version of the iPad went out of stock as soon as it was launched, but Jan was still over the moon, "I've never won anything before", she exclaimed when she was presented with the iPad by Richard Killen MRCVS, Partner at Highcroft Veterinary Referrals, Bristol. Jan went on to say "However, my husband is doing his best to convince me that it's something he’s more likely to use!"

Well done Jan, we hope you have lots of fun with your new iPad!

X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI?  Which modality and why?

Hosted by  Margaret Costello MVB DVR DipECVDI MRCVS, RVCS recognised specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

Tuesday 7th June,  7 pm buffet for 7.30 pm start.

At Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9BE

Places limited so please book early.

Please download the invitation (see blue link below) or reply to Sarah Knowlson RVN via Highcroft Veterinary Referrals on 01275 838473.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD INVITATION USING THE LINK BELOW:

Lid Disease, A Medical or Surgical Approach?

Hosted by Jim Carter BVetMed DVOphthal MRCVS, RVCS recognised specialist in veterinary ophthalmology.

Monday 9th May,   7 pm buffet for 7.30 pm start.

At Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9BE

Spaces limited so please book early.

Please download the invitation (see blue link below) or reply to Sarah Knowlson RVN via Highcroft Veterinary Referrals on 01275 838473.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD INVITATION USING THE LINK BELOW:

For free advice from our referral vets, please do not hesitate to call them at the times below on 01275 838473.

• Exotic species - Monday 3-4 pm
• Cardio-respiratory - Thursday 1-2 pm
• Orthopaedics - Tuesday 1-2 pm
• Imaging and CT - Friday 1-2 pm
• Soft tissue surgery - Wednesday 1-2 pm

Please note this service is for vets only.

Join us at BSAVA this year and you may be the lucky winner of an Apple iPAD!

Our referral team are thrilled to be there this year and look forward to meeting you. We’re on stand 426B, opposite Kruuse on the right hand side of the Arena.

Highcroft veterinary surgeon, Joe Fox MRCVS, recently spent a week at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, Texas, shadowing Dr Bill Laska, one of the most experienced Biomedtrix hip replacements.

Joe Fox  is currently completing his Certificate in Small Animal Surgery and his time with Dr Liska was part of his training towards assisting our orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Cedric Rasmont CertSAS MRCVS with Biomedtrix hip replacements.

Dr Liska commonly carries out 3-4 hip replacements in a day, and the experience gained will be invaluable to Joe as part of our orthopaedic team.

Since its arrival last November, the CT scanner has proved particularly useful in disease and trauma cases involving the head.

One such case was sent to us as a second opinion from another referral centre after a previous biopsy had proved non-diagnostic.  The pet owner had been unwilling to agree to having a second opinion carried out under general anaesthetic, but agreed to the CT scan under sedation.

The CT scan characteristic of nasal aspergillosis aided in differentiating between fungal infection and a soft tissue tumour of the nose.

Joe Fox MRCVS is now a certified PennHIP member so can perform the x-rays for the PennHIP scheme at our Whitchurch Hospital.

PennHIP is a hip laxity measurement scheme which determines the risk of hip osteoarthritis in dogs. 

This radiograph shows the hips when they are distracted out of their sockets highlighting how loose they are.  This means this dog is very likely to develop hip osteoarthritis in the future, and also means he should not be bred from as he is likely to pass this on to future generations. Click here for further information.