Small Animal Services

Diseases of heart, vessels and respiratory tract are commonly encountered in Small Animal practice. Successful management in part depends on making an accurate diagnosis. We are able to offer a wide spectrum of diagnostic tests and therapies to our patients at The Pet Clinic Blackmore.

Cardiorespiratory cases are seen by our senior Small Animal associate, Thomas Schulze CertVC MRCVS, and his dedicated team.

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Thomas joined House & Jackson in 1998 and gained the Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology in 2002. He has since been working with referring, local practices in the Chelmsford area and beyond.

We welcome all cases of congenital and acquired heart disease in dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits and horses.

Furthermore, we also offer investigation of dysrhythmias, heart murmurs, chronic cough, episodic weakness/collapse, nasal discharge, epistaxis, sneezing and respiratory distress.

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The wide range of diagnostic tools and tests available include:

• Six-lead ECG

• Ambulatory (Holter) ECG monitoring

• Digital radiography

• Blood pressure monitoring (Oscillometric and Doppler devices)

• Capnograph

• Blood gas analysis

• In-house haematology and serum biochemistry run by our full-time qualified  lab technician

• Cardiac biomarkers

• Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)- spectral and colour flow Doppler, pulsed-wave tissue Doppler)

• Tracheobronchoscopy (flexible 2.8 mm bronchoscope)

• Rhinoscopy (rigid 2.7 mm rhinoscope)

Book an appointment with one of our fully qualified nurses who are happy to give advice on all aspects of caring for your pet.

All of our nurse clinic appointments are free of charge

Some examples of the Nurse Clinic appointments we currently provide are:

• Puppy & Kitten Checks

• Senior Checks

• Dental Checks

• Nutritional and Dietary Advice

• Weightwatchers Appointments

• Diabetic and Kidney Patient Checks

• Rabbit Checks

• Flea & Worm Advice

Please call our Small Animal reception in 01277 823858 to book your free Nurse Clinic appointment.

Veterinary surgery is always changing and the vets at House & Jackson move with the times. By investing in equipment and training we are able to offer a high level of surgical expertise, no surgeyr should be seen as completely 'routine'. Our techniques for surgery and anaesthesia help to minimise the risks and help your pets on their way to a speedy and comfortable recovery.

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Intensive Care, Hospitalisation and Isolation Wards

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Sometimes pets need to stay at our clinics as in-patients. When patients require hospitalisation overnight, they are cared for in our spacious Cattery or Kennels at the Blackmore Hospital. Both wards have bright, spacious cages and equipment such as electronic intra venous fluid pumps to ensure rapid and effective delivery of therapy to our patients. We also have piped oxygen to allow intensive care when required.

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When a patient is hospitalised with us, the vet responsible for his or her care creates a treatment plan. Each day, that plan is reviewed by the nurses in charge of the in-patients so that progress can be kept closely monitored. We also have an isolation area for infectious cases and vulnerable patients.

Available at our Blackmore Hospital, below is a brief description of a few of our diagnostic services for small animals.

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Diagnostic Ultrasound

Regularly used in Small Animals to aid the investigation of a plethora of conditions including pregnancy, tumours, bladder complaints, gastro-intestinal conditions, uterine infections and heart condition.

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Tonometry

Used to measure the pressure within an animals eye when investigating a number or eye conditions 

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Digital Radiography

Producing fast, high resolutions images essential for the diagnosis of many orthopaedic and internal conditions

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Video Endoscopy

Enabling us to visualise the inside of your pets gastro-intestinal tract and also their upper airways using long, tubular, flexible cameras.

We are pleased to be able to offer our own Hydrotherapy unit at our Blackmore Hospital. This form of therapy is proving to be very popular and beneficial. 

Kathy Johnson, Small Animal Head Nurse, is responsible for the management of our Hydrotherapy facility.

Why is Hydrotherapy recommended? 

• Hydrotherapy may be recommended by your vet after an operation to aid your dogs recovery.

• Hydrotherapy may also be recommended as part of a treatment for strengthening joints and muscles, aiding their movement and mobility. It is ideal for easing the stiffness and pain associated with arthritis and other joint or muscle disorders.

How Hydrotherapy works

• Water reduces the dog's body weight thereby reducing stress on joints, tendons and ligaments. This permits a dog to increase its range of movement and build muscles.

• Water provides a support for unstable or healing structures, allowing dogs to exercise in a controlled environment that reduces the likelihood of injuries.

• Water provides more resistance than air which assists in building muscle.

• Warm water increases the temperature of the muscles, thereby reducing swelling and soreness.

• Initially increasing and then maintaining long term mobility is critical for successful hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy may be covered by your pet insurance and is an excellent way of helping your animal recover from orthopaedic or spinal surgery.

Most vets do not have Hydrotherapy facilities so we are happy to take patients from other practices and liaise with their veterinary surgeons to manage their care.

At House & Jackson, we are lucky enough to have our own behavioural consultant, Joy Davis DipCapt. Joy has attended Association of Pet Behavioural Councellors (APBC) conferences, seminars and workshops since 1991, held by many eminant behaviourists and scientists i.e. the late John Fisher, Sarah Whitehead, Prof. R. Coppinger and Peter Neville. Joy is part of COAPE and CAPBT, a teaching college headed by Peter Neville, Val Strong, and Robert Falconer MRCVS. She took a diploma course in Pet Behaviour through the college in 2000, and attends ongoing CPD.

Joy specializes in Canine Behaviour problems, i.e. seperation problems, puppy development and management, and can advise on aggression towards humans and/or other dogs. She is fortunate to be linked to local dog training clubs run by qualified trainers.

Behavioural consultations mainly take place at the client's homes by veterinary referral, ideally with the whole family attending for 1 - 1.5 hours. Joy collates information based on EMRA (see the COAPE website), a holistic method, then prepares a plans which she discusses and agrees with the family, then returns to the surgery to document this plan and provide ongoing support.

Veterinary science is becoming increasingly sophisticated and, as with human medicine, we are now using an increasing range of laboratory tests to aid diagnosis and treatment.

At House and Jackson, we have our own fully equipped laboratory facilities and a qualified, full-time technician. This enables us to undertake a complete range of tests on our own premises. This means we can obtain results quicker and facilitates more precise diagnosis and treatment at an early stage as an aid to rapid recovery.