Watkins and Tasker Sponsor Atlantic Vets

Paul Milnthorpe and Jim Houlton are two veterinary surgeons that qualified from Bristol University in the same year as our very own vet Andrew Fullerton.  This year they have taken up the extraordinary challenge of taking part in a charity trans-atlantic rowing race.  They departed, last month, from La Gomera on a 3000 mile trip to Antigua.

Those interested can visit their website and blog to track their progress.  Their trip is in aid of Farm Africa and Water Aid.  As a practice Watkins and Tasker Vets have sponsored the boat, and our logo is emblazoned proudly at the helm!
 

Your sponsorship and support would be much appreciated too and will help them raise as much money possible for these two excellent charities.

Please donate at their site via secure online payment, or you are also able to donate via any of the Watkins and Tasker Vet surgeries, and we will pass the money on to them on their return.

Victorian Evening at Portishead

The staff at Watkins and Tasker Vets, Portishead were in full Victorian mode for the Annual Portishead Victorian Fayre in Mid December. The annual event attracted a large number of local people, and we had our doors wide open welcoming all for Mulled Wine and Mince Pies, and a tour of the practice too!

Mary Lindo RVN Head Nurse at our Yatton surgery tells of her involvement with a small but important new charity in India which is having a significant impact on animal welfare at a local level, and may be extended throughout the nation to provide invaluable help to a great number of animals.

She explains:
''I am hugely proud to be a Trustee for a small but rapidly growing charity that I visited and worked for in November 2007.  The Tree of Life for Animals is based in rural Rajasthan in India and was set up by an English Veterinary Nurse to help the plight of the street dogs in the towns and villages in the area. Its main aim is to neuter and rabies vaccinate these dogs to help control their population, and also to start to reduce the number of human deaths from rabies each year.  The charity also takes under their wing any sick animals, ranging from the huge but gentle buffalo to monkeys and peacocks.  They also run free treatment clinics for the local farmers and their goats and cows and have started an educational programme in the local schools.

From very small beginnings nearly four years ago TOLFA is starting to have a noticeable impact on its locality.  You can read about my experiences on their website under previous volunteers.  TOLFA will be very happy to hear from anyone else who would like to volunteer with them, make donations or help in any other way - there are plenty of fun ideas on their website:

http://tolfa.org.uk

Or, if you would like more information from me personally please let me know (I work at the Yatton practice) or e-mail me at volunteers@tolfa.org.uk.

Mary Lindo RVN

Arthritis Awareness Client Evening

The first in a series of client evenings, our recent Arthritis Awareness evening was a great success. We filled our large waiting room at Yatton with eager clients, and our evening began with a superb talk by Watkins and Tasker vet Andrew Fullerton covering the basics of what arthritis actually is, and how it develops and progresses, through to treatment strategies that we can employ to help out our arthritic canine friends.

His talk was followed by a talk by Mark Wadland who works for Boehringer, makers of arthritis drug 'Metacam'. His informative talk was to promote the differences between dogs and cats when it comes to symptoms of arthritis, cats being the much more subtle species in this regard. Cats, for example, don't usually limp when they are arthritic, but may become generally slower, sleep longer in one place, show reluctance to jump onto higher surfaces or stop grooming themselves well. All subtle symptoms of pain, and these days easily addressed and treated.

The third talk came from referral vet Holly Mash whose interests and specialism lie with the more alternative methods of treating pets. She gave a well informed and interesting talk, mainly discussing, and demonstrating, the use of acupuncture. One of our patients at the practice, 'Emma' Horrigan was on hand to inform us (via her mum of course!) of her ongoing success story using acupuncture to help alleviate her painful symptoms.

The final talk was given by Sadie, a vet nurse from the Primrose Trust Hydrotherapy centre at Langford Vet School. She provided a hands on account of working alongside dogs treated with the various hydrotherapy methods available. this is generally regarded as a good form of exercise to build up muscular toning and general fitness, which in turn keep joints better supported which helps reduce painful signs.

All four talks were well received by our audience of clients, and we got a huge amount of positive feedback on the night and afterwards. One of our clients has even developed a mobile dog ramp for helping arthritic dogs into the back of the car, and was on hand on the night to demonstrate its use. Please ask at the practice for more information on this product if you feel it may help your dog. Finally our thanks go to our speakers and of course to our nursing and veterinary staff who turned out on the night to help with refreshments, and discuss individual cases with our audience.

New Pet Accessories

Fun & Funky Pet Accessories!

We are now stocking a great range of fun and funky pet accessories, from hedgehog chews (!) for dogs, and dog and cat snuggly blankets and beds, to high quality dental chews.
 

We have a selection of products to help with behavioural issues or to relieve boredom for pets who have to stay at home for parts of the day.

One great product is the Catmosphere Ball.  Ali, one of our nursing staff, has this to say about the ball, having been trying it out with her cat.

''This is Carlos having his daily exercise with his Catmosphere ball.  He chases it around the living room trying to get treats from it. Afterwards he relaxes on the settee in the sun - exhausted!''

New Pet Health Plan

Pet Health Plans – explained

We have recently launched our new Pet Health Plans available for all dog and cat patients. This is a way of providing top quality preventative care (vaccinations, worming, flea control etc) and spreading the payments across the year by monthly direct debit. Here is a summary:-

• Premium health care for preventative care, NOT insurance
   
• Premium worming: 4 times per year with top quality product
   
• Premium Flea control: monthly with safe, effective treatments
   
• Full vaccinations including standard vaccines plus kennel cough for dogs and viral leukaemia for cats
   
• A free 6 monthly 10 point health check in between vaccine visits

We now offer this service as our top quality care plan for your pet, AND you can spread your payments throughout the year, by monthly direct debit.



Extra incentives if you sign up to the plan:

• 10% discount on micro-chipping
   
• 10% discount on Hills pet food purchased at the practice
   
• 10% discount on neutering

Please pop in for a leaflet and a chat, or ring us on 01934 833685 for more details.
 

Top-level care - easy, transparent payments
 

      The Latest Special Offers from Watkins & Tasker Vets

4 for 3 on Cat and Dog Wormers

If you buy 3 Milbemax Tablets for your cat or your dog, we give the 4th one free!!

Yatton based event rider sponsored by Watkins & Tasker Vets

Selina Elliott, the Yatton based event rider sponsored by Watkins and Tasker, has been chosen to front the next catalogue from Shires Equestrian.

Those horse owners among you should check it out – Torzo, owned by Mrs Watkins, will be on the front cover!

Visit their website at:
www.shiresequestrian.com

Ant and Dec: animal antics

Recently, two unfortunate dogs were pushed through the door of our Yatton practice. There was no owner anywhere to be seen.

Head nurse Mel Frost named the two Ant and Dec (something to do with the size of one of the dog’s forehead I believe).

Ant was limping badly, and after some investigation work we diagnosed a condition of the hip in which the joint failed to grow properly.

 

The solution was an operation to remove the top of the thigh bone at the hip joint.

A national TV programme got to hear about Ant’s plight, and before we knew where we were, we had Channel 5 TV cameras at the practice filming the operation.




Fortunately the outcome for all was good. The dogs were successfully rehomed, care of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary in Barrow Gurney near Bristol, and Ant’s operation proved successful and he was able to walk well without pain.

Vet of the Year Nominees – 2 for 1!!

Both Liz Watkins and Steve Tasker were nominated by clients of the practice, for the prestigious Petplan Vet of the Year Awards, presented at the annual BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) Congress in April 2008.

“We were delighted to be nominated this year – many thanks to those clients who nominated us”.

November 2007: Success in the National “Cat Friendly” Awards!

Watkins and Tasker Veterinary Group of Yatton and Nailsea took part in the national Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) competition for Veterinary Practices to find the most “cat-friendly” vets in the UK, and were proud to achieve a Silver Award, presented earlier this month at a London awards ceremony.
The practice was initially nominated for the award by clients, who felt the practice had gone the extra mile to deliver what the scheme called “Cattitude”.  They were then visited by two national judges, who were looking at aspects of the vets’ day to day work which was geared to providing the up to date, special considerations that cats need, including staff training, cat-only appointment clinics, and specialist care and equipment for feline inpatients.
Vet Steve Tasker said “We are very proud of our Silver award, having gained a Bronze award in the competition last year. Our whole practice team is very dedicated to our feline patients, and the FAB scheme seemed an obvious competition to enter. We had to be nominated, then submit a formal presentation, and ultimately be judged, and to achieve our award is a credit to the team.”



The FAB charity is looking to roll the scheme out across Europe in the next few years, and the aim is to enhance standards of veterinary practice for feline patients generally.