Downs Link Veterinary Surgery

21/09/2026

Meet lovely Brandy! 💚

Brandy is a gorgeous 5-year-old Cocker Spaniel who recently visited us for a dental procedure.

After a thorough examination, Brandy needed three teeth extracted to help keep her mouth healthy. 🦷

She recovered really well from her procedure and was soon back to her lovely self, charming the team! 🐶💚

Brandy is also one of our VIP Plan members, which meant her owners received 10% off her dental treatment.

Well done, Brandy! 💚

16/09/2026

💚 Meet Millie! 💚

Millie is a lovely 9½-year-old West Highland White Terrier who recently came in for a major dental procedure. 🐶🦷

Millie was already missing 10 teeth, but examination and dental X-rays revealed very advanced periodontal disease, with marked gingival overgrowth and significant loss of the supporting bone around many of her remaining teeth. As a result, Millie needed a further 23 teeth extracted.

The degree of gingival overgrowth and inflammation raised suspicion that Millie may have an underlying chronic inflammatory oral condition, causing an exaggerated inflammatory response alongside her periodontal disease.

Despite such an extensive procedure, Millie did brilliantly under her anaesthetic and recovered really well afterwards. With the diseased teeth removed and inflammation reduced, we're hoping she'll have a much healthier mouth going forward. 💚

Well done, Millie! 🐾💚

15/09/2026

🐰💉 Don’t let age stop your rabbit from being protected! 💉🐰

Meet Liquorice, Marshmallow & Thumper ❤️ These lovely bunnies are all enjoying their senior years, but like many older rabbits, they have developed age-related arthritis and are receiving medication to help keep them comfortable and mobile. 🐇💊

Being older doesn’t mean they should miss out on their routine preventative healthcare. Vaccination remains an important part of protecting rabbits throughout their lives, helping to reduce the risk of serious diseases such as myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

In older rabbits, regular veterinary checks are particularly valuable. Alongside keeping vaccinations up to date, we can monitor their weight, teeth, mobility and overall wellbeing, and assess whether their arthritis medication is still providing the best level of comfort. ❤️

🐰 A few things to remember: • Rabbits need protection from potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, even as they get older.
• Arthritis is common in senior rabbits and can often be managed to help maintain quality of life.
• Never stop or change arthritis medication without speaking to your vet.
• Regular health checks allow us to spot subtle changes early — rabbits are experts at hiding signs of illness!

Senior rabbits deserve just as much preventative care as their younger friends. 🥰

If your rabbit is due their vaccination or you’re concerned about their mobility, book an appointment with our team — we’re here to help keep those long ears happy and healthy 🐇🐇🐇

14/09/2026

🐾 Meet Chester! 🐾

We’d like to introduce the newest member of our VIP Health Plan family — Chester! ❤️

This gorgeous little boy has officially joined the team and will be getting the very best in preventative care, regular health checks and vaccinations, helping to keep him happy, healthy and thriving for years to come. 🐶💙

We’re so pleased to welcome Chester to our VIP family and can’t wait to watch him grow! 🥰

Welcome to the team, Chester! 🐾❤️

11/09/2026

10/09/2026

🐾 Could Your Dog Be Living With Arthritis? 🐾

Meet Rosy a 13 and a half year old labrador. Rosy comes to see us Monthy for a Librela injection for Arthritis.

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of ongoing pain and reduced mobility in dogs, particularly as they get older. But stiffness and slowing down shouldn't simply be dismissed as “just getting old.”

There are often subtle signs that your dog may be uncomfortable:

🐕 Taking longer to get up after resting
🐕 Stiffness, especially in the morning or after exercise
🐕 Slowing down or struggling on walks
🐕 Reluctance to climb stairs or jump into the car
🐕 Difficulty getting comfortable
🐕 Less interest in playing or interacting
🐕 Changes in behaviour or becoming more irritable

The good news is that arthritis can often be managed successfully. While there is currently no cure, a tailored treatment plan can help reduce pain, improve mobility and support a much better quality of life.

❤️ Don't assume your dog is simply slowing down because they're getting older. They may be telling you they're in pain.

If you've noticed changes in your dog's mobility or behaviour, please get in touch with us 01403 732219. We'd be happy to assess your dog and discuss the best ways we can help them stay comfortable, active and happy.

🐾 Because every dog deserves to enjoy their golden years

08/09/2026

🍂🐾 Hello, Autumn! 🐾🍂

As the days get cooler and the evenings draw in, our pets need a little extra care too! ❤️

🍁 Keep an eye on those chilly walks and wet paws
🦔 Be mindful of seasonal plants, fungi and fallen conkers
🐶 Check your pet after walks for ticks and grass seeds
🐱 Make sure outdoor cats have a warm, cosy place to retreat
💊 And don’t forget to keep preventative treatments up to date!

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to enjoy adventures with your four-legged family members. 🐕🐈

If you have any concerns about your pet as the seasons change, our friendly team is always here to help. 🩺💚 01403732219

Stay safe, stay cosy and enjoy the season!

07/09/2026

Everone say hello to Polly 🐶🐕You may have seen her around the square. She belongs to our Nurse Jo. Polly is recovering from surgery, after having a pacemaker fitted. Her heart was beating very slowly, and irregularly 💔💔💔 This in turn was causing fainting episodes as the blood wasn't being pumped around the body sufficiently.

Polly is on Kennel arrest for the next few weeks to ensure the site heals well. She has a big brother at home , who she likes to play rough and tumble with😳😬 hence being at work with Jo. We hope Polly continues her recovery well 🙏 ❤️

03/09/2026

💚 Meet Theo! 💚

Handsome Theo is an 11-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross who recently came in for a dental procedure. 🐶🦷

After a thorough examination and dental X-rays, Theo needed 10 teeth extracted, including three of his canine teeth. Despite being a fairly big dental, he did brilliantly under his anaesthetic and recovered really well afterwards. 💚

Dental disease can often be more extensive than it appears from the outside, which is why a full examination and dental X-rays under anaesthetic are so useful for assessing what’s happening below the gumline.

Well done, Theo — we hope you’re enjoying your new smile! 🐾💚

02/09/2026

💚 Meet Barney & Dallas! 💚

These gorgeous brother and sister kittens came in to see us and were more than happy to pose for a photo with our Head Nurse Jo! 🐱🐱
With those beautiful blue eyes, fluffy coats and impressive ears, can you guess what breed they are? 👀

We’ll reveal the answer later! 💚

Did you know? Our VIP Care Plan can help spread the cost of routine preventative healthcare, including vaccinations and parasite treatment, throughout the year. Ask the team for more information. 💚