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01653 618303

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01209 823717

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Practice Hours: 01653 618303

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Testimonials

Meet Sidney : our superstar senior dog

Case study by Nicole Plows, RVN

Sidney has presented multiple times over the past few years with gastrointestinal issues, commonly diarrhoea. Occasionally this resulted in him being hospitalised. He’s had tests and investigations ruling out neoplasia, endocrine diseases and any other critical conditions. The working diagnosis of Sidney’s chronic diarrhoea is inflammatory bowel disease and chronic enteropathy.

After his last episode of diarrhoea in 2024 and his hospitalisation, I decided to change his diet to Hills GI biome.  This was partly to help nourish the gut’s microbiome and sooth the digestive tract but also as a plan to stick on this diet long term to help prevent these bouts of gastrointestinal upset and reduce the probiotic supplements he was having daily.

Sidney also suffers from osteoarthritis. Due to his gastrointestinal issues he can’t tolerate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and therefore he was prescribed monthly Librela injections. Every 3rd injection is done by a veterinary surgeon and the rest are done by the nurses, this give me lots of opportunities to check in with Sidney (and his owner)!

Treatments
A. Monthly Injections
Medication
Dosage/Frequency
Purpose
Librela injection
Monthly
OA pain management
Paracetamol (if needed)
OA pain management
B. Dietary Management
Aspect
    Details
Prescription Diet
    Hills Gastrointestinal biome, dry kibble and stew
Feeding Routine
    Small, frequent meals (3–4 times/day) to reduce GI stress
Treats
    Hills Gastrointestinal biome (out of his daily feeding allowance)

Once Sidney started on the Hills GI biome he loved it! Unfortunately, due to his age he has got some dental disease and therefore prefers to have the Hills GI biome stew on top of his GI biome kibble to help soften it. I also decided to swap him onto the biome mini as he seemed to prefer the smaller kibble size and could manage this better. Rather than being fed two bigger meals, I suggested that Sidney has three to four smaller frequent meals to reduce the digestive overload and improve absorption. Sidney is very sensitive to any treats or food other than his biome and therefore I advised his owner to stick to the biome even for his treats.

C. Exercise Regimen
Activity
    Frequency/Duration
    
Controlled walks
    2× daily, 10–15 mins
Hydrotherapy
    Bi-weekly – low-impact, joint friendly
Avoid
    Stairs, slippery surfaces, high-impact play

Although Sidney can’t walk very far, it’s still very important for him to have plenty of mental stimulation to keep his cognitive function active. I suggested that Sidney should have more frequent short walks if he’s tolerating it, I want him to enjoy his walks and keep muscle mass as well as keeping his joints mobile and active. I also recommended to Sidney’s owner that he takes part in hydrotherapy, this is low impact but a great source of exercise and mental stimulation for him. Due to Sidney’s osteoarthritis, I suggested that he avoids stairs, slippery surfaces and lots of vigorous play.

D. Nurse Clinics
Clinic Type   
    Frequency
    Purpose
Weight Clinics
    Monthly
    Monitor weight and BCS
Mobility Checks
    Bi-monthly
    OA pain scoring and gait assessments
GI Monitoring
    Monthly
    Track stools, appetite, tolerance of diet
Weight clinics:
Every month when Sidney comes in to see me I weigh him. I think it’s really important to keep a track on his weight to ensure that he’s not gaining weight which could potentially exacerbate his osteoarthritis. I also like to track is weight to ensure he’s not drastically lost any weight as this could be suggestive of a disease process or incorrect feeding of his GI biome. I check in with his owner about how much she’s feeding him based on his hills quick reco and ensure his weight is stable. Here is his weight graph which is pretty stable.
Sidney’s Recommended Feeding Guide

“I am absolutely delighted with the results of Kayleigh from Station House Vets acupuncture treatments.
After a particularly challenging period with him both ridden and in hand, Chloe (Morton Animal Therapy), Vinnies chiropractor suggested working alongside Kayleigh to see if together they can make progress.
I was sceptical at first but I always try and do my very best for my horses and had nothing to lose. I can’t actually believe after only 2 treatments what a world of difference it’s made to him – and Vinnie absolutely loves the treatment.
Vinny and Caroline
The collaboration between Chloe and Kayleigh has been seamless and incredibly effective. My horse’s overall health and well-being have significantly improved, and I can see a remarkable change in his general attitude, mobility and comfort.
I highly recommend both these ladies service for any horse owner looking to enhance their horse’s quality of life. The care and expertise provided have truly been transformative for us.
Vinnie is a totally different horse. Thank you for your outstanding work; Vinnie and I look forward to continuing to work with you both.”
Find out more about the benefits of acupuncture to your horse – click here!
Call the practice on 01653 618303 to discuss acupuncture for your horse with our team.

Meet Junior, our vet Amelia’s horse.

When Amelia purchased Junior she knew he had kissing spine. She x-rayed him as a 4 year old and again at 7 years old. The second x-rays showed some improvement. 

As a 7 year old he was given steroid injections in his back which gave him about a 10% improvement.

Junior had an accident cross country and started to lose confidence.

His main symptoms (‘bad’ behaviour) were predominantly on the lunge. He would buck when going into canter, change behind in canter alongside lots of tail swishing.

Last year Amelia started an acupuncture course of 6 sessions once per week. Junior has since moved onto a maintenance programme which progressed from having acupuncture every fortnight, then every month and he now has acupuncture every 6 weeks on average, or as and when the ‘bad’ behaviour on the lunge returns.

Junior has a varied programme of work from lungeing, schooling, hacking, lessons and he also competes.

His regular schooling work has a strict regime:

  • a good groom to help promote blood circulation
  • lunge/in-hand work before being ridden which will start with 10 minutes in walk followed by 10 minutes in walk & canter with regular breaks
  • 20-30 minute ridden schooling work

This regime is only for Junior’s schooling work which might be once or twice per week.  However, this means that Amelia can keep a close eye on him and when the ‘bad’ behaviour starts again it’s time to book him in for his next acupuncture session.

Junior is doing really well and he’s loving his jumping, thanks to Amelia’s strict routine and his regular acupuncture sessions.

Find out more about the benefits of acupuncture to your horse – click here!
Call the practice on 01653 618303 to discuss acupuncture for your horse with our team.

Alice and Big B tell us their story about how they have managed to overcome big B’s fear of needles, working closely with Catriona and the team at Station House Vets.

My horse Big B has long had a nervous disposition. Visits from the vet, farrier and other equine professionals have been a trigger for her anxiety in the past, in fact any change to her daily routine can often be a cause for her to get upset.

Being nervous, for years Big B required sedation for clipping and dental work, all of which along with her routine vaccinations, involved one of her biggest fears – needles!

I realised I was going to have to do something about this fear when about 6 years ago my previous vet was trying to sedate her for clipping and she knocked him across the stable into the wall with just her head – she is over 18hh and being a shire cross, she is extremely powerful and although not nasty when she is panicking you don’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as her spatial awareness goes out the window. The next time the vet returned to see her he was wearing his hard hat and body protector and I knew if I didn’t address it properly it was only going to be a matter of time before me or the vet got hurt.

The first thing I decided to do was to create a routine for B, for anything to do with needles so she knew what to expect and could feel as prepared as possible. I knew she needed to be able to go out as normal on a morning and so I would arrange a time for the vet to come mid morning so she could have some time in her field before hand then come in to her stable in peace. She loves to be scratched and it always calms her down and so basically I would stand and scratch her for about 10 mins before the vet came helping her to relax. Importantly I also needed to remain calm, if I were to get tense then B would immediately know something was wrong and would start to worry, so I found singing or talking to her while waiting helped! I would tell my vet to come to the stable so she didn’t need me to leave her and he would walk in not speaking and just jab her with no faffing or wafting the needle around before hand. This improved the situation, but we would still find she was not totally settled and sometimes she would still jump or shoot up against the wall.

A big turning point was when I took B for a week long holiday where we tried our hand at positive reinforcement training. B absolutely loved this. She is very intelligent, and encouraging her to investigate scary things for herself with no pressure and the option to stop if she wanted really improved our relationship and confidence in each other.

Shortly after this I also moved vets to Station House Vets, Catriona became B’s main vet and this is where the improvement really started. I explained B’s nervousness to Catriona and the big difference was that she also took time to create a relationship with B so that B also began to trust her, not just me. When visiting our yard for other horses, sometimes Catriona would pop and see B in her stable while she was passing, not for a veterinary reason but just to say a quick hello and give her a treat so that she wasn’t always seeing her for something unpleasant.

B is also a frequent visitor to Station House so this has helped! Catriona is very patient and never rushes with B or raises her voice, she talks to her quietly and calmly and after any injection always gives her a treat and a fuss. This year we have been able to jab her just stood outside while chatting – she has come a very long way. It also meant that when she needed to go to Rainbow for lameness investigations, nerve blocks could be carried out with less stress than it would have previously involved, Catriona took the time to speak to the vets at Rainbow and let them know about B’s worry with needles so they too could be prepared.

Working on this also gave me the confidence to tackle other things that B found frightening, I no longer need sedation to clip her, she can be hot shod without panicking and I can worm her without a headcollar. It didn’t happen over night; it was years of patience, routine and reward but the improvement from 8 years ago is huge and I am very grateful to Catriona and the other vets at Station House who have since also had to jab B and followed the same routine to create the calmest environment for B and the safest environment for me and for them!

Meet Rosa and Elspeth.

I brought Rosa our welsh section D 15 year old mare into see Amelia for a lameness work up after a period of time off and treatment didn’t seem to be doing the trick for her.  She was still refusing to jump and wasn’t happy in her work.

 
Rosa is primarily used as a hunter and my mum’s hack.
 
Amelia worked Rosa up, assessing her thoroughly using the facilities at station house. It was decided that her earlier diagnosis of osteoarthritis was still causing her lameness.
 
As a next step we opted to use stem cells. Rosa was medicated early July 2021 and after a 8 week rehab programme was sound enough to increase her work load for the first time in over 18 months.
 
Since treatment Rosa has been able to maintain a high level of work and has hunted regularly throughout the season. She has even restored her love for jumping.

Testimonials

We would like to wish all of our clients, friends and peers within the industry a very Happy New Year.

Alex one of our wonderful student nurses is looking for dog owners to complete a short questionnaire about your habits, views and opinions around feeding your dog.

Alex (and we) would would be so grateful if you could complete the short questionnaire by clicking on the button below.

Alex says “I’m in my final year of veterinary nursing, and as part of my dissertation I am researching owners’ views on raw feeding. I’d really appreciate your answers in this questionnaire. All responses are confidential, it should only take a few minutes and your participation means a lot—thank you!“

The study seeks to investigate public perceptions of raw feeding for dogs and the underlying determinants that shape individuals’ choices either to implement a raw diet or to refrain from raw feeding.

Respondents must be over 18 years of age and the questionnaire can be totally anonymous. You can also withdraw at any time. Many thanks in advance.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=A_D0_MohlkGoHefjRlrlfxbM7nLo5tpDlKVugYsWagNUMDhXMUlPR1FWTkpOWlI2MFZIU0Y3M1NJQS4u

12 ‘dangers’ of Christmas for your pets

Christmas is approaching which is an exciting time for your pets and they can enjoy the festivities with you and your family (as well as joining in with festive fancy dress!). However, with lots of unusual things being brought into your home, as well as tempting foods, we see a huge increase in mischievous behaviour around Christmas. Here are the top 12 ‘day(ngers) of Christmas – and indeed winter, to be vigilant for.
1. Chocolate

Theobromine in chocolate can cause gastrointestinal signs, heart rhythm changes and seizures. It is one of the few toxins we can calculate a toxic dose for, so it is extremely important to keep wrappers and information about the quantity and type of chocolate your pet has ingested.

2. Raisins, sultanas and grapes
       
Often in festive treats (e.g. Christmas cake, pudding and mince pies, panettones) can cause acute kidney injury which can be deadly.
3. Antifreeze
Antifreeze has a very sweet taste and smell so is highly palatable to pets, especially cats. Even a very small quantity ingested can be fatal due to significant kidney damage. Ensure this is not left lying around and any spillages thoroughly cleaned up.
4. Medications

With lots of family and friends visiting it can be easy to lose track of human and animal medications and supplements which can be appealing treats for pets. It is important to find out how many and keep hold of any packaging/information which comes with it.

 

5. Alliums

Not specifically festive but often seen more at this time of year, onions, garlic and leeks, used especially in gravy and stuffing can cause issues. These can cause gastrointestinal upsets and red blood cell damage, leading to anaemia.

 

6. Tinsel, ribbon and other decorations

These can be very appealing ‘toys’ to pets, particularly kittens and puppies and can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages.

 

7. Packaging

Whilst pets can sometimes be ‘helpful’ to unwrap presents with, ensure they do not consume paper, stuffing or packaging materials as these too can cause blockages.

 

8. Festive plants

Plants including poinsettia, holly, ivy, mistletoe and Christmas trees can cause mild and usually self-limiting symptoms if eaten or chewed.

 

9. Toys and batteries

Often left lying around these can cause obstructions and batteries can cause chemical burns and poisoning if chewed or eaten.

 

10. Blue cheese

Contains ‘roquefortine C’ from fungi, which dogs are sensitive too. Also, it’s high fat content, alongside other cheeses and rich food, can cause potentially serous pancreatitis.

 

11. Nuts

Large nuts and shells can cause gastrointestinal upsets. Macadamia nuts are particularly toxic to dogs causing vomiting, weakness, tremors, dullness and high temperatures.

 

12. Xylitol

A common sweetener in many treats but if eaten by our pets it can cause rapid and dangerously low blood sugar leading to collapse, seizures and latterly liver failure.

We wish you a happy and healthy festive period for you and your pets. If you have any concerns with your pets at all over the festive period don’t forget we provide 24hr emergency cover for our clients.

Yurvac RHD vaccine for rabbits

‼ Rabbit vaccination update – new rabbit vaccine available ‼
 
Due to a new highly virulent strain of RVHD2 (Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2), an additional yearly vaccination (Yurvac RHD vaccine) is advised for all rabbits – alongside the Nobivac Myxo RHD Plus vaccine.
 
Vaccination is advisable for both rabbits with outdoor access and those kept solely indoors, due to risk of virus transfer from shoes, hay and other objects.
 
We have the vaccine in stock so if you’d like to book in please call the Client Care Team on 01653 618303 – or don’t forget you can book online now at : https://bit.ly/4kMG0O2
Frequently Asked Questions

Can the new vaccine be given at the same time as the existing Nobivac Myxo RHD vaccine?
No – there should be two weeks gap between the Nobivac Myxo RDH vaccine and the Yurvac RDH vaccine

How often does the new Yurvac RHD vaccine need to be given?
Every 12 months

What is the price of the new Yurvac RHD vaccine?
£40
What if my rabbit is on the Station House Vets Wellness Plan?
The price is just £30 – you get 25% discount off the standard price
Do I need to see a vet or a nurse for the appointment for the vaccination?
If you’re a new client, or your rabbit has not been seen recently by one of our vets, you will need to book an appointment with a vet.
Click “Book Online” above to book your appointment now.

Meet Sidney : our superstar senior dog

Case study by Nicole Plows, RVN

Sidney has presented multiple times over the past few years with gastrointestinal issues, commonly diarrhoea. Occasionally this resulted in him being hospitalised. He’s had tests and investigations ruling out neoplasia, endocrine diseases and any other critical conditions. The working diagnosis of Sidney’s chronic diarrhoea is inflammatory bowel disease and chronic enteropathy.

After his last episode of diarrhoea in 2024 and his hospitalisation, I decided to change his diet to Hills GI biome.  This was partly to help nourish the gut’s microbiome and sooth the digestive tract but also as a plan to stick on this diet long term to help prevent these bouts of gastrointestinal upset and reduce the probiotic supplements he was having daily.

Sidney also suffers from osteoarthritis. Due to his gastrointestinal issues he can’t tolerate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and therefore he was prescribed monthly Librela injections. Every 3rd injection is done by a veterinary surgeon and the rest are done by the nurses, this give me lots of opportunities to check in with Sidney (and his owner)!

Treatments
A. Monthly Injections
Medication
Dosage/Frequency
Purpose
Librela injection
Monthly
OA pain management
Paracetamol (if needed)
OA pain management
B. Dietary Management
Aspect
    Details
Prescription Diet
    Hills Gastrointestinal biome, dry kibble and stew
Feeding Routine
    Small, frequent meals (3–4 times/day) to reduce GI stress
Treats
    Hills Gastrointestinal biome (out of his daily feeding allowance)

Once Sidney started on the Hills GI biome he loved it! Unfortunately, due to his age he has got some dental disease and therefore prefers to have the Hills GI biome stew on top of his GI biome kibble to help soften it. I also decided to swap him onto the biome mini as he seemed to prefer the smaller kibble size and could manage this better. Rather than being fed two bigger meals, I suggested that Sidney has three to four smaller frequent meals to reduce the digestive overload and improve absorption. Sidney is very sensitive to any treats or food other than his biome and therefore I advised his owner to stick to the biome even for his treats.

C. Exercise Regimen
Activity
    Frequency/Duration
    
Controlled walks
    2× daily, 10–15 mins
Hydrotherapy
    Bi-weekly – low-impact, joint friendly
Avoid
    Stairs, slippery surfaces, high-impact play

Although Sidney can’t walk very far, it’s still very important for him to have plenty of mental stimulation to keep his cognitive function active. I suggested that Sidney should have more frequent short walks if he’s tolerating it, I want him to enjoy his walks and keep muscle mass as well as keeping his joints mobile and active. I also recommended to Sidney’s owner that he takes part in hydrotherapy, this is low impact but a great source of exercise and mental stimulation for him. Due to Sidney’s osteoarthritis, I suggested that he avoids stairs, slippery surfaces and lots of vigorous play.

D. Nurse Clinics
Clinic Type   
    Frequency
    Purpose
Weight Clinics
    Monthly
    Monitor weight and BCS
Mobility Checks
    Bi-monthly
    OA pain scoring and gait assessments
GI Monitoring
    Monthly
    Track stools, appetite, tolerance of diet
Weight clinics:
Every month when Sidney comes in to see me I weigh him. I think it’s really important to keep a track on his weight to ensure that he’s not gaining weight which could potentially exacerbate his osteoarthritis. I also like to track is weight to ensure he’s not drastically lost any weight as this could be suggestive of a disease process or incorrect feeding of his GI biome. I check in with his owner about how much she’s feeding him based on his hills quick reco and ensure his weight is stable. Here is his weight graph which is pretty stable.
Sidney’s Recommended Feeding Guide

Laura’s first day at Station House Vets was anything but ordinary.

On her morning drive to the practice, she spotted a cat struggling on a footpath near Malton. The cat, later identified as Zak, was visibly distressed; his back legs weren’t working properly, and he was wobbling dangerously close to the road.

By the time Laura managed to turn around, a few kind passers-by had already intervened, moving Zak to the safety of a grassy verge. As they debated what to do next, Laura stepped in, introduced herself as a vet, and swiftly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, she scooped Zak up, placed him gently in her car, and drove straight to the clinic, beginning her first day with her very first patient!

Thanks to the power of social media, Zak’s owners were quickly located. They had posted about his disappearance, and the good Samaritans who found him shared updates that led them straight to Station House Vets, where Zak was already receiving expert care from Laura and the Station House Vets Tam.

Zak, a sweet-natured 1year and 4 month old domestic shorthair, had suffered a serious road traffic accident. His injuries included multiple pelvic fractures; among them a sacroiliac separation and an avulsion fracture of the iliac wing; as well as nerve damage that left him unable to walk or use the bathroom unaided.

He underwent complex surgery to repair his pelvis, with titanium screws and a transilial pin placed to stabilize the fractures. His recovery has involved intensive pain management, physiotherapy, laser therapy, and urinary catheterisation. Zak is now on cage rest and undergoing mobility rehab.

Though the road ahead is uncertain, Zak is already showing signs of progress. He’s beginning to regain feeling in his hind limbs and is tackling rehab with determination. His spirit remains unshaken – he’s affectionate, curious, and full of fight.

Laura and the team at Station House Vets are asking everyone to send Zak their love and support as he continues his journey toward healing. If you’ve ever doubted the resilience of animals, let Zak be your reminder: recovery is possible, even after trauma.

Meet Laura – a new vet on the Station House Vets Team

Laura joined Station House Vets at the beginning of September, fresh from graduating at Bristol Vet School in July. Her path to becoming a vet has been a winding one, driven by passion and perseverance. Before vet school, she earned a degree in bioveterinary science and has spent 13 years working as a veterinary care assistant in Newmarket, London, Bristol, and Manchester.

Now happily settled in Yorkshire with her rescue cat Bea (pictured), Laura is thrilled to meet all the pets, horses, and wonderful clients of Station House Vets. If her first day is anything to go by, she’s already making a remarkable impact.

Preparation is key to help your pets cope with Bonfire Night and fireworks.

As the dark nights draw in, bonfire night will be here faster than you think. Whilst many humans find fireworks exciting, they can be stressful and scary for our pets.
These days bonfire night is rarely one night and often a week long event which makes it hard to prepare.

As bonfire night is approaching we will release a blog on our website of our ‘top tips‘ for helping your pet cope on bonfire night, and making a safe space for your pet on bonfire night, but, with just under 5 weeks to go – there is still time to consider desensitisation, so that your dog or cat learns not to be so worried rather than having to resort to how to manage their fear on the night.

If you have a puppy or kitten, a young age is the perfect time to start desensitisation.  Dogs that are safely and gradually exposed to many different experiences, including loud noises, during their essential socialisation period of three to 16 weeks of age, are often able to cope more effectively with loud, frightening sounds like fireworks or loud engine noises.  Desensitisation involves playing firework sounds from your radio, TV or computer at home at a very low volume while pairing it with positive experiences like treats or play, keeping sessions short and increasing the volume gradually only when the dog remains calm.

Start weeks in advance (NOW!!) and monitor your pets body language for any signs of stress, stopping or lowering the volume if they show fear.

There is a great resource available free on the dogs trust website called ‘Sounds Scary’ which is a downloadable sound track to pay in the background at home to help to desensitise your pet.